What to do after midnight arrival
 

UA 895 arrives in SIN at 11:45 (if on time). By the time baggage and customs are dealt with it will be 12:30? What does one do at that point? Take a cab in to a hotel for a few hours of sleep, but pay for the full night? Take a spot in the transit hotel until morning? Try to sleep in the terminal for a few hours and take the MRT in to the city in the morning? Any advice from SIN regulars would be appreciated.

Arguably you can be in a hotel downtown 45 minutes after a plane lands at Changi - even with bags to collect.

Also, if you shop around, hotels in Singapore aren't expensive so in your position i'd just make for the hotel and crash out.

I would definetly go to a downtown hotel. It's only 45 mins max that time of night and as Swiss Tony say's the prices are reasonable.

I agree with the two Tony's. But if we knew your departure time, perhaps more comprehensive advice could be offered.
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13F

Reading carefully, I think the OP is starting a stay in Singapore but (perhaps understandably) just feels a little reluctant to fork out for a whole night in a hotel downtown where the transit hotel would sell him a 6hr block...

If that is the case, this site may work http://www.1bnbsingapore.com/
To me the price is right and you get a breakfast included. I have booked six nights with them for my next S'pore stay. They can be waiting for you upon arrival at the B&B from the airport(if u cab it). I will arr 0120 and have arranged to have them pick me up and deliver me to the B&B. I personally find the transit hotel a little confining.

I often have the same dilemma. I don't have unlimited money so usually spend the first (short) night in a cheap hotel (used to go to Robertson Quay but that has gone downhill too much for me so need an altnernative) before checking in early at my 'real' hotel (usually RC).

Thanks for the replies. Swiss Tony has it right. I am a bit of a cheapskate at heart and since this trip is on my dime, I was wondering whether I would end not getting to a hotel until 3 am. Any suggestions on reasonable places to stay would be appreciated. This is my first time in SIN. I can get a good company rate at the Grand Plaza or Marriot, but they are still 100 - 130 US. How does that stack up?

Hotel 81
 

After getting over my hang-up, I started to stay at Hotel 81 chain for my first and last night. While the chain have a reputation as the love hotel for quickies, it's clean and comfortable. It can be a little cheaper than the transit hotel, depends on duration. Actually, it's better. And those hotels are build with very strong soundproofing. It can actually be quieter than say a lower level room at Grand Hyatt facing busy Scott Road.

I only stayed in one, 80 SGD/night.

http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/...nce/index.html

Not bad for what it is.

Here's another vote for Hotel 81, specifically the Palace. It helps to be clear that you're there to get some sleep. Ask for a room away from the lift.

Lots of late night food opportunities in this area of S'pore--Geylang. After staying at the Conrad > 30 times, I generally stay out in Geylang now.

I am not sure I would recommend Geylang location for someone in Singapore for the first time. And Hotel 81 in Geylang is generally older.

Elegance, Bencoolen and Bugis are newer and roomier(while cost 10-20 SGD more/night) according to a review I read on the Sammyboy forum.(And those people would know)

I'd suggest looking at something like the Grand Central hotel - book direct and rates start at S$129+++, and it's just off Orchard Road.

To be honest, just shrug off the fact you only get half a night's sleep. If you try to skimp, you'll likely end up tired/hassled and wasting time over the first couple of days.

I don't think it would take you quite that long to get to your hotel. Our
flight from NWA came in at almost 1 am. There were no other flight except ours, so customs was a breeze. Luggage also came very quickly. There were lots
of taxis waiting outside. Think about the Mercedes limos though, because it's
a fixed rate. Much cheaper sometimes after the midnight surcharge. We only
had to get to Bukit Panjang, and it was almost S$33.

I'm sure you are right. After all I'm no longer 23 (or even twice 23) and those airport seats are not the best way to recover from a flight halfway around the globe.

The other issue w/ getting a Transit Hotel Room for 6 hours is that you're stuck w/ luggage the following day until your "real hotel" room is ready (usually around 2pm?). Kind of a pain.