Best Central Location to Stay?
 

Where's the best most central location to stay in Singapore? + What's the Night Safari like?

In terms of location, the most important factor in SIngapore in my opinion is proximty to an MRT ststaion. WHile taxis are inexpensive, and some places are only accessible by taxi, I mostly use the MRT to get around. That said, my two favorite areas are the area near the junction of Orchard Road and Scotts Road (Hyatt, for instance) or the area right around Raffles City MRT (especially Raffles the Plaza or Swisshotel Stamford).

The night safari typically gets rave reviews. I've never been there, though.

Orchard Road close to the MRT station is definitely the best location especially if you enjoy shopping.

The night safari was fun. We saw many animals. The bats were the sacriest.

I agree with Kathie, the junction of orchard Road and Scotts is ideal, easy for the SMRT with entrances down all corners, lots of shopping ( my favorite bookshop at the Wheelock centre ), the Roytal Plaza on Scotts is also a bargain and a great hotel.
Note that you have the orchard SMRT station and the next one is Somerset up by the Phoenix / Grand central area so around Scotts / Orchard is good.
Taxis are ok from hotels but in rush hours there are taxi queues. Opposite Royal Plaza is a more budget mall and eateries.
Quite some years since we did night safari but it was fun, worth doing.

I vacation in Singapore annually and personally out of the two areas discussed above...I vote... hands down for the area around Raffles City MRT station...that Kathie mentioned. Now usually I stay at the Dhoby Gaut MRT station area...not that far from the Raffles MRT station and Clarkes Quay...but in a few weeks, I will try the Raffles Plaza Hotel in the Raffles MRT station area since I shop at the Raffles City Shopping Mall anyway and below that mall is a whole other mall built underground...called City Link...if I remember correctly. Personally, the Orchard Road area mentioned above is too busy for me and not very visually pleasing...big downtown look to it. So,if I were you, I would stay near Raffles MRT station and then take the MRT to Orchard which is only about 4 stops away anyway. Central Singapore is VERY small. The whole country is only double the size of Los Angeles County to put it in perspective.
If you buy an MRT card...at any MRT station...then before you leave Singapore, you can just go back to the station, tell them you're leaving Singapore, and then they'll refund you the unused portion...a win-win situation...or you can keep it...as I do...since it's good for 5 years...if I remember correctly...for if you plan to return. As for the Night Safari, have never been...at night I'm at one of the great restaurants eating. Singapore has amazing food! HAppy Travels!

Correction...I meant to say that the whole country of Singapore is only HALF...not double...the size of L.A. County. Happy Travels!

Thanks everyone for all the valuable info! Dont know much about MRT but we will have free access to the SIA Hop-On-Bus - is this any good to get around? Now thinking about staying at Meritus Mandarin outward and Marina Mandarin on return to get a feel for two different areas.....Are these good hotels?

I've never used the busses - the MRT is so much faster.

The SIA Hop On buses are really good for getting around Singapore. They take you to all the main areas in the city. They also go from Clarke Quay to Sentosa Island if you don't want to go on the cable car. I usually stay at the Swissotel merchant Court which is close to Clarke quay MRT and chinatown.

Sorry I forgot the night safari. It is ok to see the animals up reasonably close but they don't want you to take flash pictures.