Hi SIN experts! We're going to be in town for a week the first part of December for a little R&R. I have always stayed at the Carlton on Bras Basah Rd. because I like the location, the view, the pool, and the club level rooms have always been an excellent value at around SGD180-190. Now they're quoting me SGD235+++ for the same room, and that doesn't seem like such a smokin' deal anymore.

Can anyone make a good hotel recommendation? Looking in the Luxury Hotels forum seems to be concentrating on the $4-500 range, and that's not something we're interested in spending. I'd like something with a good pool, accessible, and around SGD200 or less. I'd be willing to go up to 230 or so if it were really special.

Thanks for the advice!

If you're staying for a 7 night minimum you might want to look at the serviced apartments.

The big benefit here is that the tax is different so you only pay 5% vs the 17%(?) or so that gets added to normal hotels.

We stayed at Lanson Place which was perfect (5 mins from the Carlton, opposite Le Meridien) but prices now seem to start above S$300. The Ascott group www.the-ascott.com have a bunch of places - The Ascott itself is apparently the best by some distance and studios start at S$230 if you have a SQ FF membership.

Do bear in mind that totals out at $241 whereas a $200 room in a hotel costs you $234 or so after the +++

The Ascott also includes 6x week maid service, continental breakfast and you also have your own kitchen, so no need to pay minibar prices :)

The IC has very good rates and the location is very good, right on top of the Bugis MRT station. Another option would be the merchant court hotel. If you are looking for a hotel in the orchard area, I would recomand a towers room at York Hotel

IC is quite good, but in that price range you just might be able to swing the Conrad Centennial, which is excellent. I usually recommend Scarlet, but they have no pool (only a jacuzzi) so that may be a dealbreaker for you. Merchant Court is a bit grotty and is right next to a huge construction site, so I'd advise steering clear.

Merchant Court is a bit grotty and is right next to a huge construction site, so I'd advise steering clear.

Very true, but it is a decent hotel.

IC is quite good, but in that price range you just might be able to swing the Conrad Centennial, which is excellent. .

Very true, sometimes I forget that the IC is by favorite because of my RA status and the Conrad only offers Breakfast for golds. I guess, that I chose my hotels based on status benefits.


Merchant Court is a bit grotty and is right next to a huge construction site, so I'd advise steering clear.

The merchant court has a great location and is right at an MRT stop, near Clark and Boat Quay and Chinatown that's why I still think it's a good base in SIN. I agree that it's gone down when management changed from Raffles to Swiss

I'll agree with the above in regards to the IC Singapore (though again I'm probably biased due to RA benefits - but it's still decent value for the price - even with prices creeping up as they seem to everywhere).

A bit of a bargain if you're there over the weekend (FRI-SUN nights) is The Regent - they've got a rate of SG$208++ including breakfast and 6pm checkout. Their weekday rates aren't quite as appealing though.

There's plenty of average 4* places around the price range you're looking at too, all of which have been passable in my experience, but none that are inspiring at the SG$200 price range they now seem to be in.

Could also be worth looking at Priceline - there's a few 5* hotels that seem to come up there reguarly at a suitable price range for you. On Orchard it seems to generally be the Marriott, for Marina Bay there's a smattering of the Conrad, Raffles the Plaza and the Pan Pacific that are all coming up, at around the US$100++ mark per night.

Gosh, I suggest you consider the Traders Hotel (a proud member of the Shangri-la chain....great staff and location, IMHO. Also they have a great exercise/spa center that is very well equipped and professionally staffed plus a wonderful buffet breakfast, al frisco dinner dining, a covered walkway to Tanglin Mall, close to Orchard Street shopping, etc. Always friendly and usually moderately priced---I stay there often. For a luxury visit on a budget check out the Shangri-la Rasa Sentosa Resort. Wonderful staff, great views...another of my favorite hotels in SIN if you enjoy the island, tropical setting. Both facilities and the grand dame, the Shangri-la, voted the buest business hotel in Asia for several years, are accessible on the site www.shangri-la.com. I can recommend all three locations highly.

Have fun and good luck. :)