singapore tips, hints and tricks - need yours

[bigjobs]

hi there,

thinking of going to Singapore for our wedding anniversary next month. I've only been once and that was an overnight stay while in transit.

chasing tips on where is best to stay for ease of getting around etc. was thinking about the Marina Bay Sands as a place to stay, but I seem to recall that was a little bit 'out of town'. I remember taking a train there though ... so tips on best location to stay would be good, plus anything else.

planning to arrive on a Thursday arvo and stay for about 5 nights.

cheers
BJ

 

[RooFlyer]

Others are probably better suited to advise (I stay at places off transport, as cheaper), but I haven't heard anything good about Marina Bay Sands as a place to stay - all 'icon' and 'buzz' with poor service and crowded facilities. YMMV. Here are trip advisor reviews.

 

[Cynicor]

Anywhere is ok to stay to get around, but near an interchange is "easiest" if talking about public transport. You can't beat City Hall for that- Raffles, Fairmont and Swissotel. Depending on budget and desires, either raffles or a Fairmont Gold room may be your thing.

City hall is over the top of the green and red MRT lines with a short underground walk to the Orange (CC) line.

Lots of shopping nearby, lots sights nearby, can easily walk to the marina and marina bay.

 

[c814875]

Its a nice area around there - restaurants/parks etc. The MRT is fast and easy. Taxis are cheap too - just avoid peak hour if possible. You dont mention age/interests so I will just suggest orchard road for shopping (get off onto side streets and arcades too), funan mall for electronics, Sentosa for play (golf, beaches, theme parks). Haggle hard for everything......

 

[Julesmac]

Marina Bay Sands is huge and pretty impersonal plus there's a casino which isn't great for the crowds and atmosphere. The roof view is stunning and so is the pool but I as another poster said I think there are more central places which would be preferable. If you have time I thoroughly recommend the botanic/orchid garden - I can't remember if one is part of the other. The orchids are absolutely stunning - and it would be a very nice romantic few hours surrounded by beautiful flowers. Sentosa is pretty interesting too (especially the story in the memorial of the fall of Singapore in WW2; their take on the behaviour of the British is not at all flattering. And yes haggle for everything. Congrats and enjoy your trip

 

[sinophile888]

My suggestion for accommodation would be the Conrad Centennial. I have Hilton Honours Gold membership so my opinion is slightly biased towards Hilton. But the Conrad is sensational, maybe the best hotel I have ever stayed in. Even Mr. sinophile888 loved it.

It is very close to the Promenade MRT station on the Circle and Downtown lines. Thus you will have easy access to many interchanges and to all the other lines.

 

[bigjobs]

thanks for replies everyone. please keep em coming. we are both 43yo, no kids, 19th wedding anniversary. interests - shops, sights, relaxing, nice coffee & food. we like to get off the main path and find little local places etc.

cheers
BJ

 

[Cynicor]

My suggestion for accommodation would be the Conrad Centennial. I have Hilton Honours Gold membership so my opinion is slightly biased towards Hilton. But the Conrad is sensational, maybe the best hotel I have ever stayed in. Even Mr. sinophile888 loved it.

It is very close to the Promenade MRT station on the Circle and Downtown lines. Thus you will have easy access to many interchanges and to all the other lines.

i would have to disagree, especially if you have no status and it's for an occasion. I have had a few stays at the Conrad and it is, at best, "nice/ok" for that level of hotel in Singapore. The most glaring difference is the absence of champagne in the exec lounge (Chandon only), but it just isn't up to the level of the Fairmont, Fullerton, Raffles or Pan Pacific. Its location is also not as good, with City hall having access to the main lines, whereas downtown and the circle line can take a long time to get to some places.

Horses for courses, but I only stay there as I am a diamond and so the $ differential is much greater. When I take a partner or friends I stay at the Pan Pac or Fullerton (no more Fairmont status).

 

[bigjobs]

yeah I was hilton gold, but not any more.

 

[Cynicor]

yeah I was hilton gold, but not any more.

PM me bigjobs so I remenber to send you a message. I'd send you one but its annoying on the phone.

 

[sanne]

Don't forget Newton Circus for chilli crab. Been every time in Singapore and it's always a great experience and cheap too. Easy to get there on the Metro.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

.. so tips on best location to stay would be good, plus anything else.

If you want a different and memorable hotel in a good location try: New Majestic Hotel

 

[ashleyn]

hi there,

thinking of going to Singapore for our wedding anniversary next month. I've only been once and that was an overnight stay while in transit.

chasing tips on where is best to stay for ease of getting around etc. was thinking about the Marina Bay Sands as a place to stay, but I seem to recall that was a little bit 'out of town'. I remember taking a train there though ... so tips on best location to stay would be good, plus anything else.

planning to arrive on a Thursday arvo and stay for about 5 nights.

cheers
BJ

I often stay at the Swisshotel Merchant Ct. Choose a club room. It is right in Clarke quay, a very short undercover walk to the MRT station and one stop/walk to Chinatown. Depending on your preferences, I would take in Gardens on the Bay, have a look around Marina Bay Sands while there, Zoo, night zoo and River Safari, Bird park, Orchard Rd of course, Universal Studios and Sentosa. You can get out of town too on public transport and a day at Pulau Ubin is a nice relaxing change of pace.

 

[diningdecadence]

what's the hotel budget?

head over to club st for a drink, first stopping off at maxwell road food centre, or chinatown for a feed.

recently stayed at sofitel which was quite nice, right next to lau pa sat hawker centre, but otherwise perhaps a bit too 'business' location.

 

[Vim Fuego]

Last year we stayed at HI Express for the grand prix. Small but modern rooms and decent location, 5 minute walk to Clarke and Boat Quay, 15 minutes to Chinatown.

If we are with the kids its either the Intercontinental or the HI just behind Orchard Road. First thing we always do is go to a food hall on Orchard Rd where my wife has the mutton curry and I grab the freshly cooked parathas for $1.25 each.

 

[RooFlyer]

Another vote for the Zoo - and a visit to Little India. Plunge in to the buildings / markets, its great fun. Superb restaurants there too, if you like Indian (mainly Southern IIRC).

 

[sinophile888]

Keeping on the MRT theme, there is a really enjoyable route which is well worth trying.

It consists of travelling from City Hall or Raffles station to Jurong East station on the North South (Red) Line, changing trains at Jurong East to the East West (Green) line to go back to City Hall or Raffles. This route is almost all above ground and is most enjoyable as you seen quite a deal of Singapore and its inhabitants. When you try to leave the MRT station through the turnstiles, you will get a message to report to the customer service desk where you will have to pay an extra small fee (maybe S$2).

There are many other interesting activities: Sentosa, the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, the cable car from Mt. Faber to Sentosa, the Orchid Farm, Lau Pa Sat food market, Newton Circus food market, Little India, Chinatown, Gardens by the Bay, Botanic Gardens, Raffles Hotel and Jurong Park to mention a few.

 

[ajca]

was thinking about the Marina Bay Sands as a place to stay, but I seem to recall that was a little bit 'out of town'. I remember taking a train there though ... so tips on best location to stay would be good, plus anything else.

The only good thing about MBS as a hotel is the pool. The lower room categories have the charm of a mid-range airport hotel. I have not seen the suites they give to high rollers although I suspect they would be a lot nicer, however anyone that has that kind of money to throw around would do much better at the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Fullerton Bay etc

There are so many better hotel options in Singapore around the MBS price point. Have a look at a Shophouse Room at the Intercontinental... it is a spectacular heritage building full of Singapore Peranakan design and charm at its best in a fun and lively neighbourhood.

If the IC is out of the price range check out some of the boutique properties in Chinatown/Tanjong Pagar e.g. The Amoy, New Majestic, one of the higher room categories at The Scarlet, plus see if The Club Hotel will have re-opened by the time you're visiting. New Sofitel So is getting mixed reports but is in a good location. The Dorsett, The Fullerton or Park Royal on Pickering would be other good options.

And yes haggle for everything.

Terrible advice likely to lead to huge embarrassment for all involved.

My suggestion for accommodation would be the Conrad Centennial. I have Hilton Honours Gold membership so my opinion is slightly biased towards Hilton. But the Conrad is sensational, maybe the best hotel I have ever stayed in. Even Mr. sinophile888 loved it.

When I last stayed at Conrad Singapore in 2011 it was a tired property desperately in need of a refurb. A quick google search does not give any indication that it has improved since then. Personally I do not think there is much appealing about the concrete jungle around Suntec. IMHO there are better options (as I've suggested above)

thanks for replies everyone. please keep em coming. we are both 43yo, no kids, 19th wedding anniversary. interests - shops, sights, relaxing, nice coffee & food. we like to get off the main path and find little local places etc.

You will love walking around Chinatown, Tanjong Pagar and Tiong Bahru.

Most of the hotels I suggested above are in that area. The beautifully maintained old Chinese-style shophouses are wonderful and there are is a fantastic mix of hipster-style cafes, bars and restaurants combined with great hawker centres and local eateries.

Wander around the streets of that area - e.g. Amoy St, Telok Ayer St, Tras St, Keong Saik Rd, Kreta Ayer St, Duxton Rd and Duxton Hill - and you will find so many great places.

Some specific suggestions for places to go / things to do: definitely Botanical Gardens, walk around Fort Canning Park, chilli crab at Jumbos in Boat Quay, coughtails at 28 Hong Kong St (call them to make a booking), drinks at the rooftop bar at Kinki, Maxwell Hawker Centre, the Buddha Tooth Museum, East Coast Park at sunset, and Haji Lane.

Congrats on your wedding anniversary - have a fantastic time!

 

[Cynicor]

Great advice overall on the post above this one. Conrad still tired and needing a reno, I think they have on scheduled, will check when I'm back in a couple of weeks.
I wouldn't haggle on everything/almost anything in Singapore. Maybe back in the early 90s...
Zoo is amazing, I'd go most years if I have time.

I do lots of walks, Bukit Timah and other reserviors are great. I prefer Old Airport Rd for good Hawker food, but Maxwell is decent too.

 

[dalereardon]

Hi all,

Finding this thread most useful as we are also going to Singapore in September.

What are the best/cheapest bottle shops to buy some Champagne? Just want to see if the champagne is cheaper than Dan Murphys to consume a few high priced ones while there!

Dale.