Alipay Guide for Singapore Travellers: How to Use It, Where It Works, and Why It Matters
By Daisy
August 7, 2026
If you are planning a trip to China or even exploring cashless payments in Asia, Alipay is something you will likely come across.
Many travellers from Singapore are now using it because it makes daily spending simple, fast, and more convenient than carrying cash.
This guide explains how Alipay works, how to set it up as a visitor, and what you should know before using it on your trip.
What is Alipay
Alipay is a mobile payment app created by Ant Group. It is widely used across China for almost everything, from buying food to taking public transport.
Instead of using cash or cards, you pay by scanning a QR code. This is why many shops in China no longer accept cash as often as before.
Setting up Alipay is quite simple and can be done before your trip.
Download Alipay from the App Store or Google Play
Sign up using your Singapore mobile number and create your account
Switch the app to English for easier navigation
Complete identity verification using your passport details
Add your Singapore issued credit or debit card for international payments
Enable the international payment feature or Tour Pass in the app
Set a payment password or enable face or fingerprint unlock for security
Test the app by exploring features or making a small payment if available
Make sure your bank allows overseas transactions to avoid payment issues
🚨Pro Tips: Complete your account setup, passport verification, and card linking before you travel. This avoids last minute issues when you are already overseas and need to make a payment quickly.
For most travellers, Alipay becomes the main payment method during the trip.
💡 Pro Tip: Even though Alipay is widely accepted, keep a credit card or some cash with you. This helps in rare cases where digital payment is not available or if your app has connection issues.
Tips for Using Alipay Smoothly
Using Alipay is simple, but a few smart habits can make your experience much better during your trip.
Make sure you have internet access when making payments, especially when scanning QR codes
Save a screenshot of your payment QR code so you can still pay if your connection is slow
Bring a small amount of cash as backup for rare cases where digital payment is not available
Check your transaction history regularly to keep track of your spending
Inform your bank before your trip to avoid card linking or payment issues
Keep your phone charged as you will rely on it for most payments throughout the day
Use secure WiFi or mobile data when making payments to avoid connection risks
💡 Pro Tip: Check Trip.com’s promo code page before confirming your booking. You might find an extra 10–20% off hotels or flights.
I've stayed here many times. The environment is quiet and comfortable, the room is clean and tidy, the bed is soft and provides a good night's sleep, and the facilities are very complete. The service is friendly and thoughtful, and the overall atmosphere is warm and relaxing, making for a very pleasant stay.
The hotel is well located and is very near to the mrt station. The staff are friendly and warm. Room is very clean and comfortable. The Plate restaurant staff are nice and friendly, especially Richard who serves with a personal touch . Nice stay!
Riverside/ Clarke Quay Singapore|2.11km from downtown
Before checking in, I communicated with the front desk and was able to check in early without any hassle, which saved me the trouble of dragging my luggage around. This was particularly thoughtful.
The room was much larger than I expected, with an open and unconfining space. The twin room layout was very comfortable, and there was a leisure sofa by the window where I could relax and enjoy the river and city views. The bathroom had a wet and dry separation, and the facilities were well-maintained, making the overall impression clean and tidy.
I especially want to commend the staff member Basravi. Their service attitude was excellent, they patiently answered all my questions, and handled things efficiently, leaving a great impression. The Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore's location is also convenient, with river views right outside the window, making it easy to get around and explore. Overall, my stay was very comfortable, and I would consider this hotel again next time I visit Singapore.
I had a wonderful stay at Carlton Hotel Singapore. The room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable, with a beautiful city view. The hotel is in a great location, making it very convenient to get around Singapore. The staff were friendly, professional, and helpful throughout my stay. I was also very impressed with how they handled my requests and made sure I was comfortable. Overall, it was a great experience and I would definitely stay here again.
Hotel Location:
Super convenient to get around, right next to the Chinatown MRT station! Situated next to Chinatown, you don't have to worry about late-night dining or getting around. The night market in the evening is also very lively.
Room Size:
I booked a king room. Overall, it was very comfortable and spacious for one person.
The room has a bit of a business hotel vibe, with great blackout curtains—perfect for the tropical rainforest climate.
Cleanliness:
Housekeeping came on time every day, and everything was very spotless.
They were quite generous with the Bacha drip coffee and TWG tea bags.
The first round of the minibar (included in the room rate) is free of charge.
A great selection of drinks, very thoughtful.
Breakfast:
Very hearty, featuring Chinese, Western, and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Wi-Fi:
The signal gets a bit weak during peak evening hours.
Service:
Overall, quite warm, attentive, and responsive to all requests.
After the summer holidays, taking advantage of a brief dip in prices before the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, I went to Singapore for a two- or three-day business trip. Ctrip was having its 919 big sale at the time, and I snagged a pretty good deal on a pre-sale package for this hotel. I quickly booked two nights, September 15-16, only to find out they only release two reservation slots per day. Luckily, there were exactly four of us, so it worked out perfectly – any more and we couldn't have booked, any less and it wouldn't have been worth it. For pre-sale packages like this, if you have a larger group, you really need to pay attention to availability. As for the hotel itself, everything was decent, nothing spectacular. The main draw is its excellent location, not far from tourist attractions, and with convenient access to shops, supermarkets, and dining options nearby. The promotional price made it incredibly good value for money.
It's a short walk to 7-Eleven, and the subway is only 10 minutes away. There's a bar and restaurant on the first floor, and one of the bartenders is super sweet! On the second floor, you can self-store your luggage or hail a taxi directly. Waiting for your ride in air conditioning is super convenient. The room was quite clean too. Overall, it's excellent value for money. They offer Chinese service, but sometimes if there's only one staff member, you might need to speak English. You need to swipe your card to enter the lobby at night, which feels very secure!
The room is very small and compact. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and slippers are all provided. There are tons of Indian guests, and there's a small Indian-run grocery store right outside where you can buy large bottles of water, though the minimum purchase is two bottles. It's a little over a kilometer from the National Stadium, which is quite convenient—you can easily walk back after an event ends. The breakfast options change daily, and the potato wedges and hash browns are delicious.
It was our first time visiting Singapore, and since we were traveling with two elderly family members and doing daily city walks, choosing a conveniently located hotel was an absolute must. After comparing several hotels around Marina Bay, I personally felt that the Pacific Club Suite at the Pan Pacific Marina Bay offered great value for money.
First of all, the staff member who handled our check-in at the lobby was an Indian gentleman who didn't speak Chinese. At first, I was a bit worried about the language barrier and whether we might get brushed off, but those concerns proved completely unnecessary. He was extremely professional; he used key words in his English that allowed me to grasp the main points easily. Moreover, his attitude was wonderful—patient, warm, and friendly. He handed us a detailed information sheet about the club lounge and patiently explained each item to us, which was truly reassuring.
Housekeeping was also very thorough. In addition to the regular cleaning, there was a turndown service: they replenished the drinks in the minibar, replaced used towels, neatly arranged our slippers, turned on the bedside lamps, and drew the curtains, creating a very cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Finally, a special shout-out goes to the club lounge on the 38th floor. The selection of food for breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails was extensive and changed daily. Having stayed for 4 days, we were extremely satisfied with the dining experience. In particular, all the lounge staff were very proactive in introducing the daily menu, recommending the most popular dishes, as well as the specialty blended juices and mocktails. On our first day, they even walked us through the walking route from the hotel to the Merlion.
The thing that left the deepest impression on us was a tall, thin male server. He served us for all 4 days of our stay, proactively asking if we wanted a fresh cup of hot coffee when ours got cold, promptly clearing finished plates along with any used napkins, and constantly working hard to maintain a clean and tidy dining environment. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to him here, and I wish him smooth sailing in his career and a wonderful, happy life.
I think this hotel strikes the perfect balance between location, service, and price. I always recommend it to friends visiting Singapore for the first time.
The bayside rooms offer fantastic views, but if you close the curtains, it doesn't really matter... The real charm of this hotel, in my opinion, lies in its ambiance, excellent service, prime location, and fantastic breakfast spread.
And don't forget the amazing spa within the hotel! It's a perfect place to unwind after a long day of walking.
Navigating to the subway station via the underground passage can be a bit confusing, so I recommend walking above ground. You can also easily walk to Clarke Quay, which is a departure point for river cruises.
Perhaps because lyf Funan Singapore promotes a co-living and connected concept, staying here gives you a little extra sense of warmth. You'll exchange friendly nods and greetings with people in the elevator and hold the door for each other, and there are lots of young people checking in. Every guest room door features a different graffiti design along with a small chalkboard, which is a really fun touch.
The check-out experience was also great—being half an hour or an hour late was totally fine, and free luggage storage is available. Plus, if you still have some time before your flight, you can comfortably hang out in the 4th-floor co-living space.
The hotel has washing machines and dryers right on-site at very reasonable prices—16 SGD includes both washing and drying for a super-large load. It's exceptionally convenient for business travelers.
Another thing I personally loved is that there’s no heavy artificial fragrance in the hotel. The rooms are clean and bright with a very sensible layout; although the room size isn't huge, the space is used very efficiently.
The location is also extremely convenient, with many of Singapore's major attractions nearby and within walking distance.
The service was great, and the room had a lot of character! It's super close to Chinatown, and the MRT station is right downstairs. The room was also a bit larger than average. With two swimming pools, it was a really comfortable vacation. However, I think the air conditioning might be a bit old – my allergies acted up as soon as I entered the hotel... It felt a bit dusty, but the view was truly excellent!
Riverside/ Clarke Quay Singapore|1.77km from downtown
The Walkable Budget Stay: ”Mind-blowing! The hotel is in a quiet area, but not far from the shops and restaurants. The room was tidy and fresh, and the staff are polite and offer a warm smile.” its very good staying and booking here in 💖💕💓♥️😘🌺🩷🎊🎉😻🥰😘😋🤩🥳🤩🎊🎉
Riverside/ Clarke Quay Singapore|1.12km from downtown
This hotel is really great overall. I had booked a standard room, but it wasn't available, so I got a free upgrade. The room was clean and comfortable, and the environment was very tidy. The location is convenient, very close to Clarke Quay, making it easy to get around and dine nearby. My stay was excellent, and the whole experience was very pleasant.
The hotel's location is quite convenient. You can access the mall directly from the 4th-floor lobby via a spiral staircase.
The room isn't huge, and the facilities are a bit compact, but everything you need is there.
The service was unsatisfactory. Upon check-in at night, we were told our luggage had already been sent to the room, but when we got there, it wasn't. We called room service to help find it, and it took 20 minutes for them to call back and ask for our luggage tag number. After that, there was no further communication. We had to follow up once or twice more before our luggage finally arrived an hour later. We needed to get up early for a flight the next day and were looking forward to resting, but our rest time was delayed, and the hotel didn't even offer an apology.
Riverside/ Clarke Quay Singapore|1.87km from downtown
Positives:
- very child friendly hotel. With free small indoor playground, san pit, children golf, toys to play at the swimming pool just to name a few
- 7/11 on site and various vending machines to settle most necessities without leaving hotel
- laundry room
- 2 chargeable indoor playgrounds within the hotel
- room tv allows logging into YouTube, Netflix, Disney etc
- each floor has a lounge area where there is a microwave oven and you can pick up items like towels, cotton buds, tea bags, instant coffee etc..
Negatives
- sound insulation quite bad. Can hear the next room and sound along the corridor
- water pressure slightly weak and takes a bit of time for water to become hot
- very limited tv channels
The free luggage storage and rooftop pool are definite pluses, and overall the facilities are pretty good. However, the deluxe king room I was initially given had a very strong urine odor, which was quite disappointing regarding hygiene. I had to go back and forth with the front desk two or three times about this issue, which wasted a lot of my time. Eventually, Citadines Connect City Centre Singapore kindly upgraded me to a larger Loft room for free, and the new room was excellent and spacious, which I appreciated. Overall, the hotel's attitude in handling the problem was acceptable, but I hope Citadines Connect City Centre Singapore will strengthen its room cleaning and pre-check inspections in the future, as the first impression was really negatively affected.
Located in the heart of Orchard Road, this hotel is a 3-5 minute walk from Orchard MRT station, with an underground passage directly connecting to ION Orchard. It's incredibly convenient for shopping, dining, and buying things, making its location a huge plus for anyone visiting Singapore for shopping.
The hotel is an established five-star business hotel, and the entire building is non-smoking, which is a great feature. For a Singapore hotel, the rooms are quite spacious, with standard rooms measuring 32 sqm. The bathroom is clean, water pressure is good, and the bed is comfortable. There's plenty of space to unpack luggage without feeling cramped. On the rooftop, there's an outdoor pool and a 24-hour gym – perfect for a relaxing swim after a day of shopping.
The hotel is famous for its Carousel buffet restaurant, where guests have breakfast. The food selection is extensive, covering Chinese, Western, and Nanyang flavors. There are many options like laksa, local toast, seafood, and desserts. Breakfast is served for a long period, so you don't have to rush even if you wake up late. Upgraded rooms come with executive lounge access, offering light meals and drinks all day. Some front desk staff speak Chinese, and they are very prompt with luggage storage and taxi bookings.
To be objective, here are the drawbacks:
Being an older hotel, the decor isn't brand new, but it's well-maintained for an established property. During peak season, check-in can be slow. Although I requested a high floor in my booking, it's not 100% guaranteed. Rooms facing the street or near the elevator shaft can have corridor noise, so if you're a light sleeper, remember to ask the front desk for an inner room. Late check-out is not supported, which is a rigid policy.
✨Useful Tips:
Prioritize requesting an inner, non-smoking room; if you want a high floor, try to check in early; there's a bus stop downstairs, making it convenient for taxis and the MRT; use the underground passage to ION directly from the hotel to avoid the heat.
Overall, it's not suitable for those seeking brand new, trendy decor, but its excellent location and spacious rooms make it great value for money for families or anyone visiting Orchard Road for shopping.
Yes, Alipay is generally safe to use. It includes features like payment verification and transaction tracking. As long as you follow basic precautions, it is reliable for travel use.
Security Feature
How It Protects You
Identity Verification
Requires users to verify their identity during account registration, helping prevent fake accounts and fraud.
Biometric Login
Supports fingerprint and facial recognition on compatible devices for secure and convenient access.
Passcode Protection
Payments and account changes may require your payment password or device passcode for added security.
Data Encryption
Encrypts sensitive personal and payment information during transmission to help keep your data secure.
Real Time Risk Monitoring
Uses automated systems to detect unusual activity and flag potentially suspicious transactions.
Device Management
Lets you view and manage trusted devices, making it easier to remove devices you no longer use.
Transaction Notifications
Sends instant payment alerts so you can quickly spot any unauthorized activity.
Privacy Protection
Merchants do not receive your full banking or card details when you make payments through Alipay.
Account Recovery Options
Provides account verification and recovery processes if you lose access to your account or change devices.
Tips to Keep Your Alipay Account Secure
Use a strong, unique password and payment PIN.
Enable fingerprint or facial recognition if your device supports it.
Never share verification codes or payment passwords with anyone.
Only scan QR codes from trusted merchants.
Check your transaction history regularly for unfamiliar payments.
Update the Alipay app to the latest version to receive the newest security improvements.
Log out and remove your account from devices you no longer use.
For Singapore travellers visiting China, Alipay is not just useful, it is almost essential. It simplifies daily spending and helps you enjoy your trip without worrying about cash or card issues.
If you plan to explore cities, try local food, or take public transport, setting up Alipay before your trip will save you time and effort. It is one small step that can make a big difference in your travel experience.
Use our promo code to enjoy up to 5% OFF (up to S$3)on your attraction tickets, tours and eSIMs! Only for new users!
FAQs About Alipay
Can Singapore travellers use Alipay in China?
Yes, Singapore travellers can use Alipay by linking an international credit or debit card. The app supports tourist access, making it easy to pay without a local bank account.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to use Alipay?
No, you do not need a Chinese bank account. You can use your Singapore issued card and complete passport verification to start using the app.
Can I use Alipay without internet?
You usually need internet to complete payments. It is recommended to have mobile data or WiFi for a smooth experience.
Is Alipay safe for travellers?
Yes, Alipay has built in security features such as verification and transaction tracking. As long as you follow normal safety practices, it is safe to use.
Are there any fees when using Alipay as a tourist?
Some transactions may include small fees depending on your card provider or currency conversion. It is best to check with your bank before travelling.
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I’m a travel lover who can never say no to good food, stunning beaches, and the beauty of nature. Sharing my adventures and travel tips, I hope to inspire you to explore, taste, and unwind wherever you go.