Miss Orchard Road and hit Haji Lane

It's chic, leafy and studded with high-end stores the way a Cartier watch is bedecked with diamonds. It's also completely missable. Singapore is shopping-obsessed and telling a person to skip the country's main commerce artery might seem heretical, but truly, you've seen all of those stores before. From The Gap to Gucci, Borders to Bulgari, they sell the stuff near your hometown. The prices are high, the streets are crowded and if you're in the market for new threads, you'll likely strike out anyway. Asian sizes — even the XXL ones — are simply not made for Australian bodies.

Instead, if you have a real yen to spend, try visiting Haji Lane in the Arab Quarter where you'll come upon interesting boutiques along a narrow, mysterious alleyway. At the end of the road, travel in either direction and you'll find gorgeous Persian rugs, silks, pashminas, other fabrics and treasures fit for a sultan. You can also check out the amazing bargains nearly everywhere you turn in Chinatown and Little India.

Miss Boat Quay and hit Clarke or Robertson Quay

There are three quays in Singapore and only two of them truly unlock the city's charms. All three former wharfs feature bars and restaurants along the banks of the Singapore River. But at the clearly ageing Boat Quay, aggressive touts — who are as difficult to get rid of as a bad case of indigestion — make walking from one end of the strip to the other akin to running the gauntlet.

Clarke Quay can be quite touristy, but it does have a stunning array of creative restaurants and bars, and feels fresh and new. Robertson Quay, which is for more grown-up tastes and is much more low-key than the other two, features Italian restaurants, fab wine bars, and an equally attractive riverside location.

Miss Raffles Long Bar and hit the Bar and Billiard Room

Before you head to Singapore, odds are someone will tell you that you "must" have a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel. Don't listen to them. The concoction is syrupy sweet, insanely overpriced and light on the booze. The best part of the experience is being able to litter in Singapore — you can throw your peanut shells on the ground. Raffles itself is well worth a visit for its grand colonial pedigree, but instead of Long Bar, make your way to the property's Billiard Bar where, legend has it, a tiger once crouched under a game table.

Miss Sentosa and hit Pulau Ubin

Sentosa was developed as a leisure island and that's pretty much the problem with it. It didn't evolve as a fun spot; it was created as one. So it feels a bit plastic, almost like the place is saying, "Have Fun! Here! Now!" It might be an okay spot to take the kids if you're in Singapore for a few days — but be prepared to pay.

If you want to explore one of Singapore's 63 islands, the much better bet is to hop a S$2.50 bumboat ride at Changi Jetty to Pulau Ubin. Then, pick up a cheap bicycle rental and tour this island that is the last remaining Singaporean kampong, or traditional village. It's like taking a boat ride back to the 1960s — before they paved paradise and put up a zillion shopping malls.

Got any more places to avoid? Have your say using the comments form, below.

Next: Near the beaten track