Singapore hotels advice

[Virgin Bart]

A mate and I (25yo males) have decided to go for to Singapore - thanks QF! Trying to decide which hotel to stay at for two nights. We want something central and easy to get around. I know both those factors are easy to satisfy in Singapore.

We're tossing up between:
- Novotel Clarke Quay
- ibis Bencoolen
- ibis Novena
- Grand Mercure Roxy
- Hilton.

I realise there's a substantial price difference, but I'm not taking that into account.

Any advice welcome!

 

[Virgin Bart]

For the record, I'm Accor Platinum and Hilton Diamond. Is the exec lounge at Singapore Hilton any good?

Thanks in advance, everyone!

 

[ABC1]

I just had three nights at the Manadrin Oriental on the harbour.. Close to everything.. Great pool and an amazing buffet breakfast.. Near the Singapore flyer and casino (Marina Bay Sands). And right across the road was a really good hawker food market. You can walk to the bars on the river, and Haji street in the Arab quarter.. And the new QF lounge at the airport is a cracker. Have the butter Chicken.

 

[JBH]

O'asia at Novena or the newly opened Ramada Inn on Balistier Rd are well worth a look.

 

[markis10]

No Conrad in the options??

 

[straitman]

For the record, I'm Accor Platinum and Hilton Diamond. Is the exec lounge at Singapore Hilton any good?

Thanks in advance, everyone!

The exec lounge at the Hilton is good but the Conrad is much better. Not quite so central but the MRT is almost idiot proof. (The Conrad was cheaper when I last booked)

 

[Inver]

Amazing every time I intend to ask a question I find that someone has already put the question forward and have some great responses.
Thanks.

 

[Virgin Bart]

markis10... It wasn't in the options due to my stupid "loyalty"! But moreso because I'm not wanting to spend too much, hence the selection I chose, and am hoping for a loyalty upgrade. Plus of course Hilton lounge is always nice.

EDIT: Scrap that.. Just realised that Conrad is actually cheaper! So, Conrad is on the list.

 

[Virgin Bart]

straitman, so you're saying the Hilton is pretty central?

 

[ric_melb]

Hilton is in the centre of Orchard Road. Conrad is more removed but easily accessible by MRT.
Conrad is a much better hotel, although Hilton has its fans.
Both hotels are of course part of the Hilton group.

 

[Cynicor]

Conrad is ok, with pretty decent MRT connections. Probably more convenient to nightlife in Clarke Quay too with MRT options and it is only a beer bike away (20 min walk when taxis are scarce...)

 

[adam15]

I recently stayed at both Roxy and Novotel Clarke Quay. The rooms were nicer at the Novotel, the location is fantastic and the view was outstanding. We caught the Marina Bay Sands laser light show at night from our room! The Roxy was pleasant but it was out from the centre of town a bit.

 

[Major]

I stayed at the ibis Bencoolen the week after it opened...the rooms are very small, I will not be returning. The Novotel at Clarke Quay is very good and close to restaurants and shops

Staying at the Oasia, Novena this Sunday for the first time and looking forward to reporting positively

 

[Mal]

Have been to all bar one.
Hilton. Didnt the like the staff but rooms nice. Great location.
novotel. My pick out of them if he rate is right.
Ibis bencoolen. Basic hotel. Clean. Ibis quality. But good for a cheap rate. IKEA style furnishing (including wooden floor). Mtr isn't to bad a walk and in a good area.
ibis Novena. Newer than bencoolen. Not a simple walk to mtr. Rooms about the same as bencoolen but styled differently. Again if really cheap, could be good but very poor location.

 

[Steelo]

Choosing a hotel in Singapore is both about your proposed activity and your preferred taste. Personally I find staying at Clarke Quay or Orchard Road is like spending a night in Melbourne. I always look for bargains and good locations. I love Bugis, easy access by the transit system, great food and atmosphere, the Park Royal is fine, I know they were rennovating their pool when we were there in January, but good loaction, fair price and great loaction across from Arab street. Singapore is too good to waste your time in an upmarket Westernised Hotel too far away from great food at great prices.

 

[outbackowner]

Novotel Clarke Quay is a great place, and located near many bars and restaurants was a great stopover on the way to Vietnam.

Upon check in to Executive floor the A/C was not working so we were moved to another room where the safe didn't work, so after the engineer had checked out and verified the faults it was an upgrade to a suite.............very nice and the room faced the Marina Sands Hotel which was a view to die for, SWMBO was impressed.

 

[GalaxyNexus]

I've been to a few that's been mentioned:
- Ibis Bencoolen: Basic, wooden floor, room is really small, and personally I found it's a bit hard to get to. Bugis MRT is like a few blocks, but you're going to walk through the super crowded Bugis St. I will probably not be coming back.
- Hilton @Orchard: Nice, a bit old, room is alright. Location was good, a couple of buildings away from Orchard MRT entrance.
- Conrad: I found the Conrad amazing: bigger room, looks nicer, better view, etc. Fairly close to the Promenade MRT, but not too far from City Hall as well (mostly indoor walk). Makes no sense choosing the Hilton over this one at the same price / points, IMHO.

A few others thoughts:
- The Mercure Roxy is pretty much middle of nowhere, just like Ibis Novena...
- The area around Novotel is very good, esp. for nighttime walks, dining, etc.

Maybe consider also the hotels around City Hall, e.g. Fairmont or Swissotel. Usually the price is not very different from the Hilton...

 

[Chesty]

Conrad all the way. A real treat...

 

[Virgin Bart]

Done. Thanks so much to everyone for their suggestions. Conrad it is. Booked just before. Have read some good things about the lounge on Trip Advisor too.

 

[Mal]

Done. Thanks so much to everyone for their suggestions. Conrad it is. Booked just before. Have read some good things about the lounge on Trip Advisor too.

The lounge is very nice and great view. Been quite a few years since I've stayed there but it does rate highly in my lounge visits within Hilton.