Singapore - Singapore Hotels?

I will be flying into Singapore on the 5th of July until the 8th. I'm planning on visiting Universal Singapore and some sightseeing. It's been a while since the last time I was there, so I'm unfamiliar with Singapore. Any recommendations on hotels that is near Universal Singapore that's affordable? As long as transportation is convenient to Universal like the MRT it should be fine. Thanks!

UPDATE:

I found a decent rate for the Fullerton ($191/night). The Swissotel is $225/night for a package with Universal Studios. I was considering to stay at the Swissotel for 2 nights and then stay one more night with Swissotel on a separate reservation or the Fullerton. Should I stay at the Swissotel the entire trip, Swissotel + Fullerton, or the Fullerton entirely? Do I still get Visa Signature benefits such as room upgrades, VIP status (both hotels have this) if I book from travel sites? Thanks! Plus, is $191 a good rate for the Fullerton? I've seen some crazy rates like $300/night.

Public transport is everywhere and very easily available in Singapore.
It's also a small place so it's easy to get around.

Last time I stayed at a hotel in Singapore, I found it on Expedia.
It was Swissotel and cost about $100 USD, it was an ok price.

Universal Studios is on Sentosa island and there are some new hotels there.
However, if it's just a day trip or two, better to just stay elsewhere and get public transport there.

Stay somewhere downtown in the Orchard, City Hall area.

I found a package with Universal. Any experiences with the Swissotel Stamford? Thanks!

Thats at city hall. Nice hotel. Just at city hall train station. Access to all parts of the island is easy. You will enjoy your stay.

Bump. Updated info.

UPDATE:

I found a decent rate for the Fullerton ($191/night). The Swissotel is $225/night for a package with Universal Studios. I was considering to stay at the Swissotel for 2 nights and then stay one more night with Swissotel on a separate reservation or the Fullerton. Should I stay at the Swissotel the entire trip, Swissotel + Fullerton, or the Fullerton entirely? Do I still get Visa Signature benefits such as room upgrades, VIP status (both hotels have this) if I book from travel sites? Thanks! Plus, is $191 a good rate for the Fullerton? I've seen some crazy rates like $300/night.

Hi, note I am replying to a really narrow slice of your inquiry.

The Fullerton is essentially a very big boutique hotel. As I understand, every room in this hotel is different - so it won't be the homogenized hotel experience. Now, I haven't stayed at the place but from what I have heard, it costs a small fortune to stay (up from the promotional rates they first offered when they opened), but all the people who have stayed there that I know of have had only good things to say. I don't know if you have Singapore roots, but if you do, you presumably know that this used to be the General Post Office. The restoration and conversion to a hotel stays true to its past life; I should think that a stay here would be more memorable than one at the Swisshotel (but again, since I live in Singapore, I have no reason to stay at hotels in Sing, suggest you get either first hand views or see if trip reports give you further insight).

It's not too often that I find myself asking for advice about Singapore :D, but I've got a one-night transit coming up in July and the company's paying for a hotel -- but only up to a maximum of S$200 or so, and most of my regular haunts seem to be a bit to a lot above that limit. With no business to attend to, I can stay pretty much anywhere, but a central location with good MRT access would be optimal.

Currently I'm considering...
- Carlton Hotel: very central, kind of long in the tooth though (and have they finished the new wing construction yet?)
- Ibis Bencoolen: fairly minimal facilities, but reasonably priced and pretty central
- Studio M http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/StudioMHotel/index.html], shiny and new but somewhat inconveniently located, some pretty good promo rates on eg. Agoda

Any other suggestions?

It's not too often that I find myself asking for advice about Singapore :D, but I've got a one-night transit coming up in July and the company's paying for a hotel -- but only up to a maximum of S$200 or so, and most of my regular haunts seem to be a bit to a lot above that limit. With no business to attend to, I can stay pretty much anywhere, but a central location with good MRT access would be optimal.

Currently I'm considering...
- Carlton Hotel: very central, kind of long in the tooth though (and have they finished the new wing construction yet?)
- Ibis Bencoolen: fairly minimal facilities, but reasonably priced and pretty central
- Studio M http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/StudioMHotel/index.html], shiny and new but somewhat inconveniently located, some pretty good promo rates on eg. Agoda

Any other suggestions?
Grand Copthorne Kings/Waterfront? The Amara?

Grand Copthorne Kings/Waterfront? The Amara?
The newer rooms in Copthorne Kings are OK, but the location's even worse than Studio M. Grand Copthorne was quite old and musty when I last stayed there a few years back, and I'm not aware of them having gotten any better.

How does the Fullerton, Quincy and Pan Pacific compare?

How does the Fullerton, Quincy and Pan Pacific compare?
The three are quite different.

Fullerton is a plush 5-star hotel with great service and oodles of colonial-style ambience in the public areas -- it was formerly the General Post Office and has a dominant position in the heart of the CBD. The rooms are surprisingly modern and anonymous, but hard to find fault with. The pool, with its views over the Singapore River, is among the best in Singapore. All in all, an excellent choice.

Pan Pacific is an older hotel that, despite a number of renovations, continues to show its age, and at last check (it's been a few years) the rooms are nothing special. Even in the immediate neighborhood I like eg. the Ritz-Carlton or Conrad quite a bit more.

Quincy is the newest and boutiqueist of the three -- haven't stayed there myself, but friends who did were very impressed (partly by the great opening promo rates, mind you).

It's not too often that I find myself asking for advice about Singapore :D, but I've got a one-night transit coming up in July and the company's paying for a hotel -- but only up to a maximum of S$200 or so, and most of my regular haunts seem to be a bit to a lot above that limit. With no business to attend to, I can stay pretty much anywhere, but a central location with good MRT access would be optimal.

Currently I'm considering...
- Carlton Hotel: very central, kind of long in the tooth though (and have they finished the new wing construction yet?)
- Ibis Bencoolen: fairly minimal facilities, but reasonably priced and pretty central
- Studio M http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/StudioMHotel/index.html], shiny and new but somewhat inconveniently located, some pretty good promo rates on eg. Agoda

Any other suggestions?

Can't answer you on the Carlton since I'm at my other haunt, however last time I passed by there I seem to recall the building structure was up.

I'm a little surprised you were considering Studio M (big walk to Clarke Quay MRT), but if you're considering that, what about the Gallery Hotel? I arbitrarily plugged into Trip Advisor for evening of 10 July and got back a quote of $114 on Expedia - assuming this is US$, I guess this would be about S$160 or so. Did you look at the Link Hotel? I got rates of $121 - $169, also on Expedia. It's about a ten minute walk to the Tiong Bahru MRT (nicer than walking to Outram MRT), better bus connectivity than the Gallery/Studio M (buses on Havelock Road).

I'm a little surprised you were considering Studio M (big walk to Clarke Quay MRT), but if you're considering that, what about the Gallery Hotel? I arbitrarily plugged into Trip Advisor for evening of 10 July and got back a quote of $114 on Expedia - assuming this is US$, I guess this would be about S$160 or so. Did you look at the Link Hotel? I got rates of $121 - $169, also on Expedia. It's about a ten minute walk to the Tiong Bahru MRT (nicer than walking to Outram MRT), better bus connectivity than the Gallery/Studio M (buses on Havelock Road).
I was a regular at the Gallery a few years back (and still frequent its restaurants, both Mimigar and Miharu rock), mostly because I used to get rooms for S$100 net, but sleeping in an IKEA showroom got boring pretty fast. And yes, as you say the location is a smidgen inconvenient, but buses are a viable option (<10 min to Orchard) and there's plenty of good eating and drinking nearby. Never stayed at Link Hotel, but both location and outward appearance struck me as kind of blah -- might as well get a Hotel 81/Fragrance instead?

Anyway, in the end I ended up scoring a ridiculously cheap room at the Fairmont through personal connections, so I'm staying there instead. :cool:

Opinions on the Conrad?

Opinions on the Conrad?

Excellent hotel, one of my favorites in Singapore, and it's even become more convenient than it used to be thanks to the new Circle Line. ^ Lots more reviews:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilton-hhonors/334364-hilton-singapore-hotel-versus-conrad-centennial-singapore.html

(note: thread starts in 2001, but is still going strong 9 years later!)

Excellent hotel, one of my favorites in Singapore, and it's even become more convenient than it used to be thanks to the new Circle Line. ^ Lots more reviews:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilton-hhonors/334364-hilton-singapore-hotel-versus-conrad-centennial-singapore.html

(note: thread starts in 2001, but is still going strong 9 years later!)

Thanks. I just booked it for $160/night with taxes/fees and breakfast.

Looks like Arthursiews been taken care of, but other SIN visitors should be aware that the Fairmont's NFAF sale is back on: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/fairmont-presidents-club/1078241-special-rates-nfaf-back-manually-time.html I stayed there last year for $120 ai or so (US). Such a deal ! wj

Looks like Arthursiews been taken care of, but other SIN visitors should be aware that the Fairmont's NFAF sale is back on: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/fairmont-presidents-club/1078241-special-rates-nfaf-back-manually-time.html I stayed there last year for $120 ai or so (US). Such a deal ! wj
I have a F&F booking at Fairmont for S$159++ next month. Not sure if this is generally available, as this was arranged through an employee I actually know... :cool:

Have you guys tried Priceline? I bid on Priceline and got Conrad for $85+tax&fee for Mid-Nov.

have not seen the prices in US Dollars so can't comment but based on what I can find in a Singapore Brochure issued in Australia is up to $200 can get you some pretty good hotels.If you don't need something on Orchard Road or Close to there May I suggest the Peninsula Excelsior on Coleman St or What is now the Grand Pacific Hotel on Victoria St