Hello everyone! DH has a conf to attend at the Marina Bay for 4 days. Assume it best to stay there,we will have 3 more days before back to NY. Can you recommend someplace to get away from hustle and bustle of the city. We will need to fly out of Singapore. We travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia, last year. Loved It!

My favorite place to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city without leaving Singapore is the Botanical Gardens.

Unfortunately, you don't really have the time to go somewhere else, like Bali or Java or even Penang. So stay and enjoy Singapore.

We were thinking the same. Would it be worth it to change hotels? The marina bay sands seems very busy. Would love to experience something more relaxed. Thank you for your reply

I've not stayed at the Marina Bay Sands, but I have heard that it is very busy. The Fairmont at Raffles city is an old favorite of mine, but you might want to take a look at the Four Seasons.

Mallaca in Malaysia is about 4 hrs. away by car.

Malacca, city in Malaysia | Wonderful Malaysia

Malacca also is my suggestion for a day trip.

Go for a boat ride?

Hawker Stalls?
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...alls-singapore



** When I win the El Gordo lottery would like to spend a few nights at the Raffles Hotel just so I can say I did it!

Good luck.

I would not want to stay at the Marina Bay Sands for time devoted to exploring Singapore -- it's a bit removed and I found the area unsettlingly deserted at night. But then, I like to be in places where there are numerous restaurants and cafes, etc.

I was impressed by how much I found to do in Singapore that I really enjoyed, including many activities that didn't feel urban (gardens, the zoo, the bird park, etc.). You might find some useful information in my trip report; the section on Singapore begins with post # 12:
A Memorable Solo Month in Singapore, Java, and Bali

And one of the best TR's here too!

@ jacketwatch: How nice of you to say so -- thanks!

I think it depends on how those three days are configured. With three full days and four nights you could consider Java, Bali or Lombok. With three days, two nights, you'd be better off staying in Singapore. I would also recommend the Four Seasons, especially for its proximity to the Botanic Gardens.

During which month will you be traveling?

ekt401: I spend a substantial part of my annual 6-week, S.E. Asian vacation in and out of Singapore and have stayed in a lot of hotels over the past 19 years. I have spent as long as 2 weeks straight in Singapore which was some years ago.

As far as hotels are concerned, for me it's the Four Seasons. I find it very relaxing, service tops, food really good, and it's tucked away on Orchard Blvd (not Orchard Road). One can easily walk to Orchard Rd. as there's a passage way between the Four Seasons and the Hilton Hotel and when one comes to the end of that passage area, one ends up in the lobby of the Hilton and right out the front door to Orchard Rd. So, it's not even necessary to walk outside to get to Orchard Road if one doesn't want to do such.

Also the huge MRT underground shopping center is very nearby and one can catch the MRT-subway to get to other parts of Singapore. Also there's a Hop-On/Hop Off bus stop directly across the street from the FS. One day, either in Jan 2016 or Jan 2017, I decided to finally take it for fun and at the end got off at the stop across the street from the hotel. If one is flying on Singapore Air, then one can just show one's boarding pass when entering the Hop On/ Hop Off bus and one gets a really nice discounted fare. There are 7 different routes, but off the top of my head, I don't remember which one I was on. I'd need to look through my journal to look it up.

The Four Seasons has finished it's major renovation by now as they gave me a newly renovated room in Jan2018/Feb2018 as they wanted my opinion as to how I liked the new renovation. The whole hotel renovation wasn't totally complete when I was there, but I'm sure it's complete by now. The owner of the hotel is Singaporean and sometimes drops by to work out I have been told.

One thing that I like about staying at the FS-Singapore is that it's not in a busy area, so there's not a lot of foot traffic on the street where it's located. It's quite secluded. Plus, I also like that the hotel has some character and is not just another big, flashy hotel. When I am there, it feels like home. I stay there a substantial number of nights.

As for the Marina Bay Sands, well either last year or the year before, I decided to drop by there to check it out and honestly had never seen so many people in a lobby and trying to check in. I felt like it was Vegas and I have never been fond of Vegas. I stayed there a few hours as I walked around the mall there and also had something to eat and then jumped on the MRT and headed back across town to the peacefulness of the FS and I can honestly say that I have never had more than 2 people ahead of me in line upon check-in there. Usually there's either no one ahead of me or just one person and check in has been speedy.

If I were you, I would not try to go to another country within the time that you have. Why? Singapore is full of interesting things to do and see. And the food is great. Try the Peranakan restaurant Candlenut up on Dempsey Hill. I've been a big fan of Peranakan food for nearly 2 decades. Plus, Dempsey Hill has recently gotten a major makeover. I remember it back in 2001 when there were basically Indonesian furniture stores up there. But, now restaurants and shops have opened up.

I'd go to Candlenut for lunch and you'll need to taxi or Uber to and from Dempsey Hill. It's a short ride from the FS and it didn't cost me that much to get there by taxi. The FS concierge called me a taxi to get there and on the way back to the hotel, I also took a taxi that the restaurant called for me. Then two days later I ate there again and the hostess was nice enough to call Uber for me, on her cell phone, and I even got a discount. I don't travel with a cell phone and taxi service was so busy that day until the hostess couldn't even get through to the taxi line. We tried for at least 20 minutes, yet two days prior, it was no problem getting a taxi and fast.


http://comodempsey.sg/restaurant/candlenut

http://comodempsey.sg

Plus, there's Jane's Tours as I get her regular e-mails. I haven't been able to take one of her tours yet, due to timing and what's available when I'm there. But, maybe on the next trip it will work out as I'd love to take one as again I will be in and out of Singapore 3 times within 6 weeks with 2, one-night stays at the FS and then a 7-night stay before flying home.

https://janestours.sg

Have a great time in Singapore

Happy Travels!

The Raffles is still under renovation as when I was there in Dec 2017/Jan 2018/Feb 2018 it had boards around it. They really needed to update the wiring, do some sound proofing, update some other out-of-date systems, and bring it into a new era. The talk is that it will be closed though the end of October 2018. I was thinking of taking a night there and might be able to if it has reopened by the time I get there in December 2018. But, one never knows with major renovations. But, I'll also be there in Jan and Feb 2019, so I might still have a chance at it for 1 night.

Happy Travels!

I see that the FS-Singapore has updated its photos of the rooms as they have obviously completed the renovation. When I was there, they were showing both the renovated rooms and the non-renovated rooms on their website.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...Singapore.html

Happy Travels!

It’s true kja. .

Thank you all so very much for replies! We are traveling Oct 19 for 10 days. I too do not like the Vegas environment. I believe we will leave the Sands, ASAP and check in somewhere else. The FS sounds wonderful.
We are so looking forward to experiencing the food and different cultures.
TIA

You're welcome and hope you have a lovely time in wonderful Singapore. You have a while before leaving. I always look forward to returning to Singapore although I spend most of my time in Bangkok (3 weeks of my annual 6-week vacation in the region). But, I have really seen Singapore evolve over the last 19 years and the food just seems to get better if that's even possible.

Happy Travels!

"The Raffles is still under renovation as when I was there in Dec 2017/Jan 2018/Feb 2018 it had boards around it."

-

Thanks for the update. It has been a few years since I was in Singapore.

Last hotel I used was the old Southeast Asia Hotel on Waterloo Street. The location wasn't too bad for getting around.

SH