Stopover Hotel (Cat. A) : Which one???
 

Hi everyone

Will be flying to Asia in the autumn and SIA's stopover rates are quite good (me thinks...).

I was looking into the Category A hotels. Question is, which one should I go for??

It will be my first time there and would appreciate a few pointers on where to stay.

Many thanks.

I would check those rates against something like Asia Travel or Expedia first - on the few occasions i've looked, the SQ rates haven't been that special, especially for the higher end hotels.

Trasport around Singapore is generally very easy - cabs are cheap and plentiful for the most part, whilst the underground system is good too. As such, your precise location isn't a massive issue.

Closer to a MRT station is better as you have more options that way. Of the hotels on the SQ page, I would probably be tempted by the location of the Furama as it's by the river and if I'm thinking of the right hotel has a whole bunch of bars nearby. You could even walk to Orchard Rd, although would be a bit hot...

Note also that if you do go down the SQ package route, it includes a seat in coach to the hotel, but a cab from the airport is only S$20 so you may prefer that option.

It's not the Swissotel Merchant Court you're thinking about?

No, the Furama is also close to Clarke Quay.

Oops - my mistake. I was actually thinking about a place that used to be called the New Otani but is now the Novotel...

Sorry for any confusion.

can.com.sg is a brilliant mapping site BTW with an amazing level of detail.

Furama:
http://www.can.com.sg/neocan/en/mapf...rchText=furama

Novotel:
http://www.can.com.sg/neocan/en/mapf...chText=novotel

Swiss Hotel The Stamford
 

Without hesitation I would recommend The Swiss Hotel - The Stamford http://www.swissotel.com/index.htm
Great location near mass transport, short transit to airport, away from the frenzy of Orchard Road malls. It has a nice roof top pool and a good selection of reasonably priced restaurants. Comfortable rooms.
We always stay there en route to NZ.

Unfortunately that hotel is not on the OP's list (Category A).

I think all of the hotels are somewhat the same (they are 2-3 star hotels. I've personally stayed only at the Furama in the past); since this is a stopover, perhaps the main criteria would be proximity to the MRT or in an interesting neighborhood, and not so much the quality of the hotel

That rules out the Copthorne Orchid - it is away from the city. Perhaps that rules out Hotel Royal at Newton as well - it is on the fringe of the CBD with only the Newton Circus hawker center nearby.

The Furama is in the Chinatown area - you might like it if that's what you are looking for. Near Outram MRT.

Royal@Queens and Allson are near each other in the Bras Basah area - close walk to the City Hall MRT station. I like this area - Chijmes nearby, a 24-hour food court at Bras Basah, the Art Museum at the old SJI school building, walking distance to Little India etc.

Peninsula is an older hotel in the City Hall MRT area. Nice walk at night to Boat Quay - you'll walk past all the historic buildings of Singapore. I think this has the best location.

So you choices would be:
a) Do you want to be in the colonial-era historic "center" of Singapore (Peninsula). Minus: Tired hotel.

b) Do you want to be near Little India, Bugis (and the same time near the City Hall MRT) and some art museums plus have lots of eating options? (Allson or Royal@Queens).

c) Do you want to be in Chinatown? Then the Furama.