Flights? PCR tests? We break it down for you.
Singapore's quarantine-free travel lane with Germany and Brunei officially kicks off on September 8. We'll be able to travel to Germany without the need for quarantine. But unlike in the past, you can't just grab your bags and head off to the airport now. Travelling now requires careful planning, from making sure you've booked designated flights, fulfil the requirements for your PCR tests and more. With travel advisories constantly changing, you should also set aside some cash for alternative plans in case something goes awry.
Maybe you've decided your destination in Germany, but do you know how much you have to budget for the trip? We break it down for you, using Frankfurt as an example.
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All travellers under this scheme will need to book a designated Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flight from Singapore Airlines or Lufthansa. The designated flight will have the following flight numbers:
Singapore Airlines: SQ325 or SQ 331
Lufthansa: LH778
For the travel dates of September 10 to 25 to Frankfurt, airfare starts from $1,009 on Singapore Airlines for a return flight.
The burning question is, how much would you have to pay in total for the PCR tests if you want to travel to Germany?
You will need a total of five PCR tests if you're going to travel under this scheme: before your flight to Germany ($160), on arrival at Changi Airport ($160), before the flight back to Singapore ($200), Mandatory Day 3 testing $94.17) and Mandatory Day 7 testing ($94.17). There's also an admin fee of about $5.
That amounts to about $708 in total.
The best part about the quarantine-free travel lane is that there are no restricted itinerary travellers will have to adhere to. You're free to do whatever you want, and you can choose your own accommodation too – whether you want to stay in a luxury hotel or a cosy Airbnb for a more local experience.
Airbnbs in Frankfurt range from $40 to $100 or more a night, while the average hotel room costs about $100 a night.
Likewise, the cost of food would depend on personal preferences. As a gauge, however, a meal for two people at a decent restaurant may cost you on average 45 euros ($71.49). At a smaller restaurant, the price for a meal may vary between 8 to 14 euros ($12.71 to $22.24).
Just like Singapore, Germany is known for the efficiency, speed, and reliability of its transport systems. In Frankfurt, you can navigate the metro, tram and bus lines that make up the Rhine-Main Transport Association (RMV) transportation network.
Single way trips within Frankfurt costs between 1.80 euros and 2.80 euros ($2.86 to $4.45), and a journey to the suburbs outside Frankfurt costs between 4.65 euros and 9.10 ($7.38 to $14.45) euros.
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