Tourists sleep overnight at Changi Airport to avoid ‘astronomical’ hotel prices, draw criticism from netizens

Tourists sleep at Changi Airport Terminal 1’s ‘Sleeper Village’ during layover to save costs

Following the F1 weekend, which saw hotel prices skyrocket, a couple of tourists decided to sleep through the night at Changi Airport before their morning flight.

Faced with “astronomical” accommodation rates, they chose the airport’s Arrival Garden as their resting spot, joining dozens of other travellers who were doing the same.

The incident has sparked online discussion, with some netizens criticising their planning, while others offered budget-friendly alternatives.

Tourists choose to sleep at Changi Airport

In a TikTok post on Sunday (5 Oct), the Original Poster (OP) shared her and her husband’s experience spending the night at Changi Airport before a morning flight.

As their layover coincided with the F1 weekend, hotel prices were “astronomical” for the night, she said.

Thus, after getting off a ferry from Bintan Island, the couple decided to sleep at the airport.

“We did not want to pay 400 dollars just to rest our heads,” the OP stated, adding that she was unsure if it was “allowed” or “even possible”.

Initially, the couple had a “rough time” finding a suitable resting location.

After some searching, they came across Terminal 1’s Arrival Garden, where at least 30 others were reportedly sleeping among the indoor greenery.

“Behold the sleeper village,” the OP humorously wrote on the onscreen text.

The pair, who came prepared with blankets and neck pillows, settled down at the Arrival Garden for the night, hoping that their belongings would remain safe.

“Necessary? No. Economical? Yes,” the OP said in her post caption.

Netizens call out couple for bad planning

The video drew strong reactions online, with several believing that the OP should not have slept at the airport.

Some criticised the couple for poor planning, warning that if more people treated the airport as a bedroom, it could affect Changi’s reputation.

One commenter pointed out that Singapore was “one of the most expensive cities on the planet” and therefore lodging prices would be expensive “regardless of the season”.

Another netizen reiterated that prices spike during the F1 season, discouraging the OP from visiting during this period.

In response to the comment, the OP acknowledged that this was a result of “absolute terrible planning” on their part.

Meanwhile, some users came to the OP’s defence, assuring her that she would not get chased out as long as she had flight tickets.

Helpful netizens also offered more cost-efficient suggestions, such as budget hotels in Geylang or hostels in Chinatown.

Free ‘snooze lounges’ available at Changi

According to the Changi Airport website, there are free rest areas located around the airport.

These “snooze lounges” allow commuters to “unwind” and “take a break” and are even equipped with charging stations for electronic devices.

While there are no strict time limitations for their usage, the lounges are intended for “short-term relaxation and naps”.

Apart from the complimentary lounges, passengers have the option to book airport cabins for as little as four hours.

While Changi Airport does not explicitly prohibit sleeping at the airport, reviewers on TripAdvisor have warned that security might wake people up for doing so.

Also read: US tourist pays S$45 for meal at Newton Food Centre, says he prefers M’sia’s cheaper food

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Featured image adapted from @sheridan.tate8 on TikTok.