First time at Singapore: hotel location
#1
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First time at Singapore: hotel location
First time visit to Singapore. Because using my Hilton HHonor points for my stay, choice will be Hilton Singapore or Conrad Centennial Singapore.
My question is not about the hotel itself. My question is the location of the hotel.
Looking to do some tourist sightseeing. Going out for dinner in the evening and somewhere to hang out for drinks afterward. For meals and places to have drinks, my preference is local flavor. Is location of one hotel better than other for these purposes? Or location of these two hotels do not make much difference as far as my purpose is concerned?
Appreciate your thoughts.
My question is not about the hotel itself. My question is the location of the hotel.
Looking to do some tourist sightseeing. Going out for dinner in the evening and somewhere to hang out for drinks afterward. For meals and places to have drinks, my preference is local flavor. Is location of one hotel better than other for these purposes? Or location of these two hotels do not make much difference as far as my purpose is concerned?
Appreciate your thoughts.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Orange County, CA (SNA)
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First time visit to Singapore. Because using my Hilton HHonor points for my stay, choice will be Hilton Singapore or Conrad Centennial Singapore.
My question is not about the hotel itself. My question is the location of the hotel.
Looking to do some tourist sightseeing. Going out for dinner in the evening and somewhere to hang out for drinks afterward. For meals and places to have drinks, my preference is local flavor. Is location of one hotel better than other for these purposes? Or location of these two hotels do not make much difference as far as my purpose is concerned?
Appreciate your thoughts.
My question is not about the hotel itself. My question is the location of the hotel.
Looking to do some tourist sightseeing. Going out for dinner in the evening and somewhere to hang out for drinks afterward. For meals and places to have drinks, my preference is local flavor. Is location of one hotel better than other for these purposes? Or location of these two hotels do not make much difference as far as my purpose is concerned?
Appreciate your thoughts.
I am not familiar with the Conrad but it looks like it is closer to Marina Bay, a little out of things (but with Singapores excellent MRT and taxi infrastructure, not a real issue).
#3
Join Date: Feb 2015
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I just returned from the F1 race weekend and burned a bunch of my points at the Marriott Tang Plaza which is right on top of the Orchard MRT station. I also did a bunch of sightseeing and based on my experience you would want to be closer to Orchard MRT as there will be plenty of places to wine, dine and shop just stepping out of the hotel and not needing to jump on the subway to taxi. Both hotels are presumably close enough to the North-South line so easy to transfer at Dhoby Gaut to hit Clarke Quay for a nightspot and other things closer to the Central Business District. Depending on how "local" you want, I hit up Lau Pa Sat and Maxwell Street hawker centres several times.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
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First, everything is "local" in Singapore, merely a cheap taxi or MRT ride away. The Orchard Rd. location will suit well. You didn't mention when your visit will occur, but if is approaching Christmastime, Orchard Rd. goes all out to decorate.
Local meals would tend toward hawker centers or local eating centers, perhaps to some well known non-western restaurants. There are threads here on that topic. Trust your concierge and cabbie to steer you toward good eats.
Regarding local color for drinks, you'll have to be more specific about what kind of atmosphere you are looking for. There's everything from Chijmes bars aiming at the local trendy crowd to Orchard Tower establishments servicing an entirely <ahem> different trade.
Local meals would tend toward hawker centers or local eating centers, perhaps to some well known non-western restaurants. There are threads here on that topic. Trust your concierge and cabbie to steer you toward good eats.
Regarding local color for drinks, you'll have to be more specific about what kind of atmosphere you are looking for. There's everything from Chijmes bars aiming at the local trendy crowd to Orchard Tower establishments servicing an entirely <ahem> different trade.
Last edited by JHattery; Sep 30, 2015 at 11:18 am
#6
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Thank you very much for all the useful information. Sounds like Hilton Singapore will be my choice. I said local flavor but I pretty much guessed both Hilton Singapore and Conrad Centennial Singapore are not located at residential neighborhood where locals live. I guess I was implying which location will require less traveling for tourist sightseeing places, evening dinner, and after dinner drinks.
As for dinner I am type of a person open to any kind of food, when I am traveling I like to try out local cuisines, looking for good food but nothing fancy, the place I do not have to dress up. For after dinner drinks I am not looking for clouded noisy bars where people in early 20s hang out. I am looking for somewhere I can sit down and enjoy some drinks at the bar, but not dead empty place where I am the only person.
I appreciate all your useful information.
As for dinner I am type of a person open to any kind of food, when I am traveling I like to try out local cuisines, looking for good food but nothing fancy, the place I do not have to dress up. For after dinner drinks I am not looking for clouded noisy bars where people in early 20s hang out. I am looking for somewhere I can sit down and enjoy some drinks at the bar, but not dead empty place where I am the only person.
I appreciate all your useful information.
#7
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Thank you very much for all the useful information. Sounds like Hilton Singapore will be my choice. I said local flavor but I pretty much guessed both Hilton Singapore and Conrad Centennial Singapore are not located at residential neighborhood where locals live. I guess I was implying which location will require less traveling for tourist sightseeing places, evening dinner, and after dinner drinks.
You've got the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay within easy reach. There's the Marina Bay Sands complex if that floats your boat, Raffles hotel, Lau Pau Sat and a bunch of other hotels around the Marina. Then you can also get the river taxi from the Promenade up to Clarke Quay.
#8
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I went to Red Light District at Amsterdam and it was not what I expected. So much like tourists attraction, not seedy at all, streets were filled with tourist strolling around. Couples young and old were walking around to take in a scene. Felt totally safe to wonder around the area.
Orchard Tower is nothing like that once Sun goes down?
#10
Join Date: Feb 2005
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I went to Red Light District at Amsterdam and it was not what I expected. So much like tourists attraction, not seedy at all, streets were filled with tourist strolling around. Couples young and old were walking around to take in a scene. Felt totally safe to wonder around the area.
Orchard Towers inside, and on the sidewalk outside, is definitely not a family friendly area come evening. You'll see. Right across the street from the Hilton.
For eating, focus on hawker centers and eating houses. I'd personally avoid Newton, as it is overpriced, and too focused on costly seafood so not enough variety for me. Maxwell, next to Chinatown across from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple/Museum, is quite good. Lavender was excellent late night, but I think it has been closed for redevelopment. Lau Pa Sat is decent. Tiong Bahru is also a good bet. My go-to hawker centers were Zion Riverside and Bukit Merah View. I really enjoyed East Coast Lagoon Food Village (different than East Coast Seafood Village, although it is also quite good). Wonderful waterfront location and wide variety of good food. Taxis for return can be a challenge, so get a local SIM card to be able to text for a taxi.
Try a kopitiam for breakfast or a break/snack. Kopi-C and kaya toast is a nice pick-me-up. There are several chains, as well as local independents. ToastBox is one that very popular.
For lunch, consider a wet market that also has a hawker center. These will be in local neighborhoods. I used to do my shopping on Saturdays at Bukit Merah View and grab lunch as well.
Restaurant dinner options would be - authentic Peranakan fare (ask concierge for recommendations for restaurants), No Signboard Seafood in Geylang or at East Coast Seafood Village, Apolo Banana Leaf for decent Indian in Little India (don't go on Sunday, combine with a visit to Mustafa's).
If you're interested in tailoring, message me. Found best quality tailoring in Singapore compared to other sources in Asia. Priced a bit higher, but excellent quality compared to BKK, HKG, PVG, ICN, etc.
Last edited by JHattery; Sep 27, 2015 at 2:46 pm
#11
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Thank you for great information! I was not thinking about tailoring on this trip. Just out of curiosity, does Singapore have quick tailoring like at Hong Kong where suites can be ready in a day or two? Also, how is the price?
#12
Join Date: Dec 2007
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My wife made a dress for herself, for $400 and it ended up not the one she wanted. Tailor not only refused to refund, but refused to alter it - saying that you should be coming next day, not after two weeks. So, lesson learned for $400.
After that my wife found one Vietnamese tailor girl here. She takes orders, send them to Hoi Ann, where it is made/fixed/etc, send back to Singapore and delivered to customers. 2-3 times cheaper than local prices.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
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You can find it here, but I would not recommend. Prices are according to living standards in Singapore - 10x and more you'd pay in Vietnam.
My wife made a dress for herself, for $400 and it ended up not the one she wanted. Tailor not only refused to refund, but refused to alter it - saying that you should be coming next day, not after two weeks. So, lesson learned for $400.
After that my wife found one Vietnamese tailor girl here. She takes orders, send them to Hoi Ann, where it is made/fixed/etc, send back to Singapore and delivered to customers. 2-3 times cheaper than local prices.
My wife made a dress for herself, for $400 and it ended up not the one she wanted. Tailor not only refused to refund, but refused to alter it - saying that you should be coming next day, not after two weeks. So, lesson learned for $400.
After that my wife found one Vietnamese tailor girl here. She takes orders, send them to Hoi Ann, where it is made/fixed/etc, send back to Singapore and delivered to customers. 2-3 times cheaper than local prices.
And keep in mind, the cost of a well made made-to-measure suit in SIN is typically on par or cheaper than the costs of an off-the-rack suit in the USA plus necessary alterations.
Is a SIN tailor the optimal choice for locals? Probably not. For visitors, probably.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2005
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I would not do same-day tailoring. You won't get the quality you want. Unless you are looking for a gimmicky suit, flashy throwaway shirts, or a comely SIA stewardess sarong kebaya knockoff for your special lady friend.