This is a good thread. I am on an MR ex SYD SIN with a one night layover.

I arrive around 1.45pm and depart the following night at 8.30pm. I have also booked Le Meridien because its a Starwood property, although I have read that its not that nice. I was able to get a rate of around $200SD.

So should I forgo the SPG points and try for Marriot??

Is the Marriot area better for sightseeing/reasonable places to eat etc?

Do any of the hotels have airport shuttles, or is taxi the best way to/from airport?

Any other info I should be aware of, post away please :)

I don't know if any of the hotels have their own shuttles. All the times I have stayed, I have always taken a taxi. The taxi are fairly inexpensive and everything is pretty close, so its not too big a deal to pay for a taxi.

Given that your only staying one night and you have elite status with *wood, if the Le Meridian's rate is as good as you can get, then I would probably stick with it for your stay. The Marriott is an OK hotel (nice, clean, Marriott consistent) with a great location. But I do believe the Le Meridian is also on Orchard rd as well, so its location should be pretty good as well.

The Le Meridien is at the end of Orchard Rd while the Marriott is at the start. Shopping at Le Meridien is not as exclusive as around the area of Marriott.

If you want to go to the main shopping area where most of the shopping is (Ngee Ann City, Wisma etc), then Marriott is a better choice.

In terms of eating, there are plenty of food courts with cheap dining options everywhere so that's shouldn't be a problem.

Singapore Stopover Holiday
 

Hiya,

Me and the significant other are on the way back home from Japan via Singapore, for two nights (Dec 28 and 29) using SQ. I'm thinking of using the Singapore Stopover Holiday programme

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...tels/index.jsp

Do you guys recommend it? If you do, which one on the list is recommended by you? I'm leaning towards Shangri-La's Traders Hotel...


Thanks in advance.


Sryn

The Singapore Stopover Holiday programme is usually pretty good value. The thing to keep in mind is that the two days you'll stay are weekend nights though - so many of the top level hotels will have cheaper rates available directly at these times (especially in the holiday season). That being said, given the rates work out about SG$170 per night nett for the C group hotels and you get the transfers and other extras thrown in as well, it's a good package overall and difficult to beat. The Carlton and the Grand Plaza Park Hotel City Hall are both good options as well in the same price range.

While I am sure these are decent hotels, for the same price I would definitely go for The Traders which has a very much nicer location and usually retails at a much higher rate. SGD170 is a very good rate for The Traders.

Thank you
 

Thank you for the replies. My agent's looking into it now. I guess that none of the hotels in Group B are reasonably close to Orchard Road, right?


Sryn

That would be correct - and none of them are particuarly well located in general (the Furama City Centre is OKish location wise, but The Gallery, Holiday Inn Atrium and Miramar are well down the river and a hassle to get around from, and the Parkroyal on Beach Road is past Bugis, and again a bit distant from most worthwhile sights). It's *definitely* worth the extra between Category B and Category C for both the improvement of quality of the hotels and the better locations.

Yeah, the difference between B & C ...
 

.. is kind of slight compared to the advantages of C. Thanks again. I hope SQ don't have a quota on num of bookings made under the stopover programme at the respective hotels, cos my agent said that it could be packed. I'm guessing as much, since it is the hols. I'ld also better check out with the hotels directly. Thankx again mate.


Sryn

Marriott is just a hop and skip away from the subway & it is in a great location ^, while Le Meridien is a few blocks away. But since both hotels are on or near Orchard Rd area, then you're fine in either of them.