Singapore is now a 'world-class destination'

Formerly quiet country is now home to buzzing metropolises

Singapore is an ideal destination for people planning solo holidays, as the country - which has until recently been seen as slow and relaxing - is embracing excitement.

The ultramodern metropolis is a great place to explore what it means to be a modern-day city and if people want a more active adventure holiday, they can just cross the border to Malaysia with its ample opportunities for hiking holidays.

Frank Barrett, who edits the Mail on Sunday's travel section and has written many books on travel, put forward the opinion in the newspaper that Singapore is growing into a destination of its own.

"The most frequent description of any visit here has long been 'nice but slightly dull' and for the Singapore Tourist Board this verdict is ... stinging," he said.

"[A] new attitude means that a city that was once content to make a reasonable living as an unspectacular stopover place for senior citizens en route to Sydney to see the grandchildren is now establishing itself as a world-class destination in its own right."

Mr Barrett was previously named the Travel Writer of the Year at the British Press Awards.