Originally Posted by
jpatokal
Bugis is not tourist central, but there's no way it can be described as "desolate": lots of shopping and restaurants, mostly at the lower end of the price spectrum, plus a handful of interesting temples and the nightlife and general quirkiness of Arab St/Kampong Glam within strolling distance.
Bugis is good for a quick trip and that's it, not really the place to base yourself at imo. Way better to take the Swissotel The Stamford and have a decent mall, food court, supermarket + 3 MRT lines to get you everywhere. Closer to the river too for evenings out, whereas the IC is in the opposite direction.
Plus this is for a first time visit to Singapore, so regardless of all other factors I think Orchard is the best place to make one's initiation here.