The delights of shopping in Singapore and her wealth of shopping centers and shopping directories that would make mapmakers of the globe shudder in fright are both legendary and on the tips of the lips of every traveler who comes to Singapore to experience this mad craze – crowned off by the great Singapore sale and other mini bargain seasons that seem to crop up just as pay day rolls by.

If Singapore could be described as a maze then it is somewhere that the ladies and anyone who is passionate about shopping would love to get lost in. On last count there are more than 200 major shopping malls and centers all over the island, from massive redoubts and golden palaces of retail opportunities to the more humble buildings that are scattered along the many suburbs and quaint little towns all over Singapore.

Shopping should be declared as sin as many ladies after a night out of disco and cocktails top off the night with a champagne and a trip to the largest 24-hour shopping centre in Singapore. While this is not a typical list a guy would draw up as a good time on a Friday night, this is the extent of the shopping culture in Singapore. Orchard Road has more than 2, 000 local and international brands in buildings of old and new, some of which reach to the skies. A bus full of ladies in a bus riding past orchard will always make an excuse to stop by and experience the delights it has to offer. It is an addiction to retail, a drug induced stupor, lightheadedness and a buoyant mood everytime they start shopping around.

What’s more is that they get treated like royalty in Singapore. Shopping centers are designed to make their retail experience as fluid and as velvety as possible. Well trained concierge staff, retail staff and cashiers who seem to have a smile transfixed on their face and a warm greeting always on the tip of their tongue are predominant in many of these department stores. Shopping is a delight in Singapore – simply because this country has been designed to give such pleasures.

1. Bring more credit cards. Almost all boutiques and malls here accept credit cards. So if you want to shop happily, make sure that you bring along a few types of cards such as American Express, VISA, MasterCard and Diners.

2. If you are using cash, make sure to change money at licensed money changers. You can find a lot of money changers along the street of Singapore. Go to a few shops and look at their exchange rates before you change your money.

3. Goods and services in Singapore will be taxed 7%. Currently the GST is 7%. This means that there will be an additional 7% charges on top of the retail price for your goods and services. Sometimes, the GST is not reflected on the price tag. So make sure that you check the price before checkout.

4. If you are not shopping in malls, make sure to ask for the price before purchasing. Prices are fixed when you shop in malls like Tangs, Takashimaya and Suntec City. But for other places like Bugis Street and flea markets, the prices are not fixed. So, always bargain with the seller to try and get a good price. You never ask, you will never know.

5. Visit Singapore between May to June. This is the period where GSS will be held. There are crazy discounts everywhere and you should take advantage of this. If you cannot make it during this period, you can visit Singapore either during January for Chinese New Year sale or end of the year for Christmas sale.