Singapore may be thought of in many people's minds as a thriving metropolis, and location of one of the globe's key financial hubs, nevertheless there is far more to this Asian jewel. Its beaches are particularly impressive, well known to Singaporeans, and growing to be ever more appreciated by an increasing numbers of foreign visitors.

Sembawang Beach

Sembawang, a tranquil beach and park, stands on land once occupied by the British army. Indeed, the former colonial residence of Admiral Beaulieu stood here, at Sembawang Jetty, an austere building which has been lovingly restored. Thankfully, there is little evidence of its martial past, as locals congregate here to take advantage of its excellent leisure opportunities – for swimming, bathing, jogging, or simply relaxing and enjoying the restful ambience.

Senotosa Palawan

This beach is particularly popular as a weekend getaway spot. After a long week's toil in Singapore's commercial, financial and retail outlets, workers love making the short journey out to Senotosa Palawan to chill out. It is easily accessible, either by taking the Yellow Line bus to Dolphin Lagoon, next to the beach, hopping on the train from Tanjong Beach, or choosing from the Blue or Green Line buses to Siloso Beach then swapping to the Red Line.

This sandy beach offers superb walking opportunities, and is especially popular with dog walkers while enjoying the sunsets. The beach incudes a suspension boardwalk that will allow you to stroll to the southernmost point of the Asian continent. Surrounded by tall coconut trees and lush, fragrant shrubs, you'll find many perfect vantage points to relish the view over the South China Sea.

The beach also hosts two renowned bars – Bora Bora and Club Islander (Singapore's first ever beach club). The atmosphere is second to none, and as well as the stunning landscapes you can listen to jazz musicians while sampling Singapore Slings and other fabulous cocktails.

Sentosa Tanjong

Tanjong is often referred to as Singapore's finest. The waters are clear, the extensive sands uniformly golden, and the landscape is shrouded with nodding palm trees. While the beach is particularly peaceful during the daytime, things get a whole lot hotter after the sun has set. Many Ibiza and 'Zouk Out' parties have been hosted here over the years. The beach bar km8 resonates to pulsating dance rhythms as a succession of DJ's spin the discs, frequently augmented by percussive grooves on steel drums or bongos. What else? This beach bar boasts a 7.3 x 3.6 metre Jacuzzi on a raised wooden deck – you can't get a more temperature-rising attraction in any club than that!

Whether going to Singapore on holiday or for business, one common question arising is a fairly straightforward one. How good is its transport system? In fact, Singapore has a fully-integrated internal and external transportation network that is renowned.

Because Singapore itself lies on an island surrounded by more than 60 islets, the network utilizes road, rail and water services. One major method of moving smoothly from A to B is Singapore's rail system, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). Opening in 1987, this metro system, South East Asia's second oldest after the LRT system in Manila, Philippines, has become the backbone of public transport in the metropolis.

(Note the image is from Japan.)

The average number of MRT passengers reached an incredible 2.6 million in 2012. Travelrs speed between 102 stations across 148.9 kilometres of track. Unlike other urban centres that are focused on functionality, the MRT is known for much of its quirkier station architecture. The artwork that is used in each station is specifically designed to reflect some aspects of its identity. For instance, the Expo Station, serving the Singapore Expo exhibition facility, boasts a sleek, ultra-modern titanium roof, resembling something from a science fiction film. Changi Airport station, the easternmost point of the network, has the widest platform of any of Singapore's stations. It has also been rated tenth out of the 15 most beautiful subway stations in the world.

Travelers wishing to take the short hop over to Sentosa or Jurong Island can make the most of Singapore's regular ferry services. In addition to internal links, Singapore has bridges spanning the short distance into neighbouring Malaysia: the 1,056-metre Causeway, and the 1,920-metre Second Link.

Singapore was one of the first countries in the world to pioneer the use of toll roads, a development that became more necessary as the city grew ever congested. The toll is collected electronically. There are nine expressways traversing Singapore, allowing traffic to run smoothly across the city state. It is worthwhile noting that as with most Commonwealth countries, traffic in Singapore drives on the left-hand side.

Singapore also boasts a popular cable car system, running between Mount Faber on the main island and the Sentosa resort (site of two golf courses, five-star hotels, Resorts World Sentosa and Universal Studios Singapore).

There are two bus networks: SBS and SMRT. The larger one, SBS, plies over 300 routes, with a fleet of more than 3,000 buses. SMRT run 900 buses over 100 routes. In addition, Singapore is well served with taxis. At least half the population of Singapore use its public transport system on a daily basis.

Resorts World Sentosa is one of the jewels in the crown of Singapore's many fantastic tourist attractions. As well as offering unforgettable glimpses of marine life up close and personal, the resort offers terrific dining opportunities and the chance to browse through excellent retail outlets, as well as world class attractions. On top of all that, there is a luxurious hotel and spa facilities.

Marine Life Park

This is the world's largest aquarium, an undersea world that is teaming with literally tens of thousands of marine creatures. Over 800 species are included, spanning some 49 undewater habitats. The oceanarium is home to massive goliath groupers and ferocious-looking hammerhead sharks, as well as numerous smaller fish.

One particular highpoint of the park experience is an opportunity to interact with Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. As well as being a wildlife park, this venue specializes in a range of research programs. So as well as marveling at the sight of these magnificent marine mammals, you can find out all about them, learning about the steps that are being taken to conserve them so that they can be enjoyed by future generations of visitors to Singapore.

Maritime Experiential Museum

Singapore's development has been heavily influenced by its location on the South China Sea. This has always placed it at a key point at the apex of the biggest trading routes that have criss-crossed this part of the globe over the centuries. The Maritime Experiential Museum is highly innovative, and has built a fantastic reputation for its blend of informative exhibits and entertaining displays, many of which are fully interactive and offer a multi-sensorial experience. This is Asia's only museum that is completely dedicated to uncovering the continent's rich maritime heritage. Your trip into the past commences with a journey to the centuries-old maritime silk routes. Here history is faithfully brought to life with exhibitions that recreate the sights and sounds that would have been experienced by traders in the thriving bazaars and seaports.

As well as the chance to view artifacts from shipwrecks and other archaeological sites, such as the Bakau wreck and the Temasek dig, you will be able to view life-sized replicas of trade ships. Your educational experience concludes with an unforgettable white-knuckle ride, as you clamber aboard a virtual ship and experience the full wrath of a South China Seas typhoon. The 360-degree multimedia theatre will certainly give you a sailor's eye view of marine perils!

After you have experienced this perfect blend of education and thrills, you'll be ready to head for any of the resort's first-class cafes and restaurants for some well-earned refreshments.

Raffles has earned its place in the hearts of holidaymakers and commercial travelers the world over after years of dedicated service: 125 to be precise. At the heart of a bustling Asian metropolis, this hotel has traditionally been seen as a reliable and comfortable oasis. Undoubtedly elegant in ambience, Raffles boasts generously proportioned accommodation, with a sense of calm and space pervading. Its eyecatching layout consists of generously designed courtyards, overlooked by sumptuous architecture. Within its main building there are presidential and grand hotel suites.

Its courtyard suites are located close to the lush flora within the hotel. Inside the many guest rooms, the first thing that visitors take note of is the immense space. Standing at 14 feet tall, the ceilings provide excellent ventilation, while also retaining heat when temperatures dip during Singapore's night-time. There are dressing areas and ensuite bathrooms, while the décor includes period furnishings such as teak flooring and eye-catching Oriental rugs. Raffles offers a 24 hour butler service and daily newspaper delivery, with each room containing two remote-controlled colour TV sets.

As well as offering the best accommodation Singapore has to offer, Raffles is also constantly in demand as the perfect backdrop for event management. This can be for a variety of reasons, from board meetings or gala dinners to business conferences and seminars. Within each of the function rooms there is ample accommodation for delegates, including comfortable cushioned chairs, and the latest audiovisual equipment. The internet connections are guaranteed high-speed, while the less technologically-advanced facilities include ample paper and marker pens!

Raffles famous Ballroom is the ideal venue for parties of any kind, from corporate events to wedding receptions. The architecture is superb, incorporating arched openings and French doors. The ambulance is completed with wall-to-wall carpets, landscape murals and dazzling chandeliers.

Another fabulous function area is the Lawn. Located at the heart of the hotel, this boasts a large fountain and exudes a Far Eastern atmosphere. It is a perfect fusion of colonial austerity and Singapore's backdrop of lush plants and gorgeously-bright flowers.

This Singapore hotel's reputation for business excellence extends across the world, and Raffles employs a dedicated team of events planners with experience of liaising with events organisers from Australia to the United Arab Emirates.