The simple answer is yes, go downtown.

The reason is that the only hotel 'near' the airport is Lle Meridien Village and that takes the best past of 20 minutes to get to but downtown only takes about 10 minutes more at most and you have a great range, there is nothing around Le Meridien and I actually don't rate the place at all !! ( only worthwhile if say arriving midnight and needing to check in by say 6 am ).

One easy place is the Phoenix as next to SMRT station and right on Orchard Road ( it doesn't have a pool if that matters ), you are right in the busy area and attached to a small mall but lots of shops/malls in the area, also quite quick from the airport, should be in that range. Easy to get cab for the airport. Most rooms have Internet PC.

Lots of places to stay, you have time plenty for some shopping and a meal. perhaps around Orchard Road as easy.
What is your budget, SGD 130-160 gets you a nice hotel.

There's a transit hotel right inside the airport. It's quite cheap and perfectly adequate. http://www.airport-hotel.com.sg/

Since you are getting in at 5 pm, I'd also suggest that you go into the city. You have time to have a wonderful dinner, walk around, maybe shop a bit.

Last time I had a brief stop in Singapore (Nov. 04), I tried out the Meridien Changi, which had just re-opened after a major remodel. The hotel is fine, but as James says, there is nothing out there. I decided I'd go into town next time.

The transit hotel inside the airport is clean, very basic. I've stayed there a number of times when I got in and midnight and had to be on a next flight at 7 or 8 am. If all you want is a shower and to sleep, it works. But you have enough time to actually see a bit of Singapore.

Thank you for your suggestions.
My budget will allow anything under $150 US. So you would suggest staying on Orchard Road versus closer to the historic district or Marina for such a short stay?

The Marina area is not a good area for a short stay. Maybe try hotel Fullerton. There's an MRT station nearby...Raffles station...and the boat quay is right there and it's next to the Asian Civilization Museum. Plus, there are restaurants all around the boat quay area. Then if you also want to go to Orchard Road, you only have to hop on the MRT(subway) or take a taxi...taxis are inexpensive in Singapore. Also go down to Clarke's Quay where there are even more restaurants. I go to Singapore regularly on vacation and you can manage to see quite a bit of it in the time you'll have if you plan it well. Another hotel would be the Hotel Rendevous at the Dhouby Gaut MRT(subway) station.I stay at the YMCA International House Hotel directly across the street which is very nice and only about US$43. a night, if you really want to save money.The Rendevous, however, should be within your price range and it's very conveniently located... two stops in one direction from the Orchard Road subway stop and one stop in the other direction to the City Hall stop where the mall is and also the Chijmes complex and the Raffles Hotel/Long Bar/ and there are restaurants inside of the Chjimes complex,too. Or you can hop the subway to the Newton stop and go to Newton Circus which is filled with hawker food stands where you can try a variety of different S.E.Asian foods. Happy Travels!It's very easy from the Douby Gaut MRT(subway)stop area. From Douby Gaut, it's only one stop on the subway to Clarkes Quay since they have finished the new subway line. I was just back there in August. And, if I remember correctly, the subway from Dhoby Gaut goes to the airport,too. Happy Travels!

One more note. I will stay in Singapore for two days a week before this short stay. Thus during the overnight stay I will not be in any rush to see sights. It would be nice though to walk around, go to a nice restaurant, and enjoy a little bit more of Singapore, if possible.

Just a point on the transit hotel, the price is for blocks of 4 hours, I once arrived at about 8 pm for an overnight leaving at about 8 a.m so wanted a room for 10 hours, the price worked out the same as going downtown to a hotel, so I didn't bother.

USD 150 is over SGD 300 ! ( nice easy exchange rate at the moment )

It is debatable which/where area and people will have different views, with that sort of budget you could get the Grand Hyatt for about $ 180 ( just around from Orchard on Scotts ), Sheraton Towers $ 140, Meritus Mandarin about 140, so you have a wide choice, the Meritus Mandarin or the Grand Hyatt
would be good but you don't really have to head to the USD 300 for a nice place unless you really want to.

Taxi downtown will cost around SGD 20-15 ( around 10-12 USD )

Kathie, last visit I went to le meridien and paid for an Executive room instead of normal and I had to 'check' the floor signs to be sure I had 'Executive' as no ways could I recall anything different at all from the normal room, I had landed around 10 pm so just went for the hotel desk and they only had Executive which cost me just on SGD 200 ( foolish agin to not have pre-booked ) I certainly won't bother staying there again, on both the 2 times since refurbishment they messed up bill big time as well.

I don't know if it's a permanent set up but recently took the SMRT from the airport and had to change to another train, this was standard routing, I have no idea if it was temporary or if this will be permenant but it did add just a little extra time and so that little extra difficult if you have bagge with you.

Forget to give a boost actually for my favourite and that's the Crown ( used to be called Crowne prince ), at under USD 120 it's a bargain and right on Orchard Road ( has otdoor pool too ).

www.singapore.travelreporter.com links into some service and they have reviews too and you can click on the map for location.

My humble opinion would be Orchard Road

James, I had prebooked at the Meridien, and paid under US$100, but I agree that it wasn't worth it.

I would suggest staying in the Scott Road/Orchard Road area either at the Four Seasons or Marriott. You could get rooms for about $130-$150 including a great breakfast. Downtown would be okay, but you wouldn't get a feel for the real Singapore in one night, say at the Fullerton or Ritz or Mandarin.

If you're landing at 5pm, here's what I would recommend. Check-in at your hotel, then head over to Little India for dinner at the Yellow Leaf restaurant, authentic south indian food or for some drinks at the Raffles' long bar for a Singapore sling.

Try to check out the Night Safari, as though it sounds cheesy its actually pretty neat and gives u a sense of the dense jungle Singapore must have once been.

Good luck!

Thank you for your advise!