I spent two days at the 'best airport' in the world, is it worth the hype?

What you expect at an airport are long lines, sitting on uncomfortable chairs, and boring waits for your flight; what you don't expect is to be jumping on a trampoline net five stories high overlooking an indoor waterfall.

It sounds like science fiction, but that's exactly what I found myself doing at the Jewel Terminal at Singapore's Changi Airport.

With its vortex waterfall and rainforest garden at the centre, it, quite literally, is the jewel in the crown of the airport, which was once again named the world's best for a second year in a row.

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It's a popular airport for Australians, but is it worth the hype? I spent two days covering almost every corner of the airport to find out.

The Jewel

The thing that sets Changi apart from any airport in the world is The Jewel, a massive shopping mall connected to three of the four terminals at the airport; travellers must clear immigration to visit.

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While this means you can only really safely get to The Jewel if you arrive well before your flight or have at least a four-hour layover, it is incredible the number of things to keep you and your whole family occupied.

Some of these you have to pay for, like the Jewel Canopy Park, which is where, for the purposes of thorough journalism, I jumped like a child on a 250-metre-long net that is a trampoline.

There is also a walking net where people can walk above the complex, and it offers incredible views of the waterfall, but those with vertigo may want to steer clear; it is a sheer drop to the bottom.

Also up here are slides, gardens and two mazes, as well as a canopy bridge 23 metres in the air looking directly over the vortex.

Much of the Jewel is free to walk around, but your eye immediately goes to the centrepiece vortex.

It is 40 metres high and even goes through the underground levels of the mall, and looks as good as the pictures suggest.

Apart from this, much of the Jewel is a shopping mall, with retail and food outlets spanning four of the above ground stories and at least two of the underground stories.

For those who have stayed in Singapore and are visiting before their flight home, there are also early check-in facilities for certain airlines, as well as luggage storage spaces and a lounge, where you can pay for food, a private room or a shower if you want to freshen up before your journey home.

I had been to Changi Airport as a traveller multiple times before but never had time to experience the Jewel; it was well worth the visit.

Inside Singapore Changi Airport

Despite the majesty of the Jewel, there is plenty to like about Changi Airport itself, and I got to see a fair bit of it as I spent two days exploring all four terminals.

What you notice walking around is that the airport tries to take the stress out of travel. The floors throughout are carpeted, calming music plays overhead in between PA announcements, and several gardens, both outside and inside, are designed to calm the senses and make you feel like you aren't in one of the biggest hubs.

Some of these garden experiences are great, like the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3, where you are surrounded by nature and can see butterflies emerging from their cocoon.

However, other outdoor displays, like the cactus garden, can be skipped, unless you prefer oppressive heat and dealing with other travellers who like to use it as a smoking area.

If you get hungry there is a plethora of food options, both western and local, to help get you by while you wait, and there's even a movie theatre which plays some of the latest films at all hours of the day.

Staying in an airport hotel

If you want a bit of privacy, there are multiple hotels transit-side where you can book your own room for at least three hours, but can stay for a whole day.

Some of these are as Spartan as a bed, desk and light if you just need to catch up on sleep, while others have the full hotel room package with a window, TV, and food on offer.

One of these hotels, the Aerotel in Terminal 1, even has its own pool, bar and gym, the only airport transit hotel in the world where flyers can also go for a dip.

It's a nice touch and could be a welcome relief after a long plane ride, but don't expect anything too glamorous.

I stayed at the Crowne Plaza attached to the airport, and my room had a view of the tarmac, allowing me to wake up to the sight of an Airbus A380 in the morning, but it was soundproof enough that I could get a good night's rest.

Some other features you'll find around the terminals include a rock-climbing wall and massive slide in Terminal 3, as well as a robot bartender, found in duty-free stores at all terminals. Though these were not operating when we were there.

Despite this disappointment, I came away being very impressed by the scale, size and efficiency of the airport. You can feel the difference between Changi and airports in Australia and even Europe.

Is the free Singapore city tour worth it?

One frustrating thing about transiting is that you may land in a city where you would love to have the time to visit it properly, but simply are not able to.

Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport are looking to solve this by offering free tours of the city-state for travellers with a layover of between 5.5 and 24 hours.

You can either book online or at the terminal itself, before you clear immigration, and have four different tours to choose from.

I experienced the Heritage and Cultural Tour, where a bus of about 30 tourists is taken from the airport to the heart of Singapore, spending about two hours walking through Chinatown and Kampong Gelam, getting a small taste of the historic city.

The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and I think it is a great idea and initiative, especially if your layover is on the shorter side and you want the guarantee that you can get out of the airport, but still get back in time for your flight.

That said, if your layover is on the longer side and you feel confident, I'd recommend doing a bit of research yourself on where you want to go, and use either Grab, the local version of Uber, or public transport to get yourself into the centre of the city and enjoy what it has to offer.

It will probably be a more memorable and personal experience if you do so.

The writer travelled as a guest of Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport.

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