I'm in the OPs boat as well, so feel free to keep throwing out info. I'm meeting a friend at the airport (SIN, don't know what, if any, others there are) at just after midnight in January, and neither of us have been to singapore before. When we get there, we will be staying for 3 nights, counting our arrival night as it's worth paying for a whole night if it means not checking out somewhere/relugging luggage, and want to get to a hotel in a decent place from which to explore on foot, and near cool bars and whatnot. So rather central I suspect. We're splitting the room so price isnt a massive concern, but under $200/night (or less, we're not here for luxury and don't plan to do much more than sleep in the room) would be ideal.
Sorry for the rather vague question. I typically try to do some research first, but I just saw this thread and figured why not.

I usually arrive in SIN wide awake. If it were me (and I knew I could get a morning check-in at my hotel), I'd take a cab into the city and drop my bags at the hotel and then go down to Boat Quay and catch the last couple of hours until the restaurants/bars close (grab some curry prawns or chili crab, drink a few beers, etc.). Then I'd go for a nice night walk - maybe hit a few of the food stalls at the 24 hour markets.

Then I'd go back to the hotel in time for morning check-in - if you are staying at one of the nicer hotels, if your room isn't ready yet, they'll let you use the gym to shower, eat breakfast in the lounge (if you are entitled), etc.

That's what I would do... but noted with the caveat that I always land with jet lag so I'm not ready to go to sleep!

I found a hostel in boat quay for roughly $15/ night, which I think might work for the first night at least. We're both 27 and post-student poor so this won't be too bad. It's got good reviews, but it would mostly be a baggage drop anyway, while we scout out the area that night and next day.
Boat quay looks pretty cool from what I've gathered so far. What time do bars close in that area?

Singapore nightlife stops rather early at 2 or 3 a.m. (except from the 24 hour foodstalls)

While Techgirl's advice is defently the cheapest, I'm not sure if you will ever get over your jetlegg this way. Why not contact the hotel if you can have an early arrival (something like maybe 6 or 8 a.m.). They might charge a small fee, but it will be cheaper then to book an extra night in another hotel and will be much more conveniant. If that's possible then for the rest of the time follow techgirls advice.

Another option is to book a priceline stay for the first night. You should be able to get a good 3 star hotel for under S$80 per night

chuckd Same advice for you, try to book your hotel through priceline, but make sure you check out the rates of all hotels first (priceline is not always the cheapest) $200 (sing or us $?) a night will get you into a 5 star hotel and leave some money in your pocket still.

Not so, legally there are no limits any more and places like Zouk keeping bopping until 6 AM on weekends. Special events can run 24 hours or all weekend, and The Balcony at Orchard -- which is a cafe by day, restaurant by evening and a bar/lounge by night -- is open 24/7.

Nightlifewise, Boat Quay caters more to an expat/tourist crowd from the banks nearby, while Clarke Quay is more mixed and Mohamed Sultan is more aimed at the locals. All of these are within walking distance of each other (more or less), take a look at Wikitravel: Singapore/Riverside for some recommendations.

Thanks for the info. I've not checked the conversion rate, but i was thinking $200. After a little bit of rerouting last night, I'm now coming in at 7 in the morning. My friend gets there at midnight, 7 hours before I do, and I don't know what shes going to do. I may just go ahead and book something for the previous day and let her check in. I've found a nicely reviewed place located it says on what once was the sultans palace grounds and is now a malay heritage conservation center.
I'm planning on staying here then migrating to a hotel for the last night or two. I'll check biddingfortravel and see what PL turns up. Though if there's a hilton I could use a few points.
thanks for the wikitravel link

Somehow I double posted 7 minutes apart. Deleted dup.

I agree for Geylang is also known as the red-light district...

Don't know when you are traveling but the Conrad has pointstretchers availble in December. You have to call hhonors though because there seems to be a problem with on-line booking

Zouk of all places?? Well, diferent people, different tastes
But assuming that the OP is arriving in the weekend that would indeed be an option, although if you have the money to spent a few hours at Zouk, you might aswell book a hotel and have a good first nights rest before exploring the city.

Yeah, I saw that, but its over at the end of the year. I'm getting there on the 2nd or I'd stay there. Considering it anyway, as their cheapest room is pretty reasonably priced, then hope for an upgrade.

You should check out LeMeredien Orchard aswell, rates are rather low, hotel isn't fantastic but location is not bad and you might get some extra *wood points in your account