My husband is traveling to Singapore in February and taking me for my 40th birthday! We would love suggestions for hotels, dining, touring,and shopping. I am reading everything I can and would like your suggestions,too. We will be in Singapore for 4 days and 5nights.

There are many lovely hotels in SIngapore. My next trip, I'm planning to stay either at Raffles the Plaza (not to be confused with THE Raffles) which has an ideal location above the Raffles Shopping Center and the MRT station or the Fullerton, located near Empress Place with the museum of Asian Civilizations. I've often stayed at the Grand Hyatt in the past, as it's got a great location at the junction of Orchard Road and Scotts road in the midst of the shopping distict and near the MRT. But I really dislike their latest re-decoration and remodel of the Regency Club. so won't stay there next time.

The Orchid garden at the botanical gardens is the largest orchid display garden in the world and is really spectauclar. Les Amis au Jardin is located in the botanical gardens and is now only open for dinner. French food, fabulous service, wonderful setting...$$$

My favorite place for a wonderful, long lunch (though also good for dinner) is Doc Cheng'a at Raffles. Ask for one of the romantic curtained booths.

Shopping is about the price of Hong Kong - no longer the wonderful bargain it once was. Still, there are interesting things to buy.

There is the museum of Asian Civilizations at Empress Place, which is worth a visit. There is also a small museum at Raffles hotel. Also worth a brief visit before or after lunch at Doc Cheng's.

We stayed at the Pan Pacific Marina Bay on New years Eve and it was a great choice. It's close to the City Hall MRT and the attached shopping arcade & the hotel is similar to the Grand Hyatt, Shanghai, though not as elegant, with its rooms built around a central atrium. It's around SGD250 a night. We enjoyed a romantic room service dinner at this hotel. The food & the views are sensational. Take a bottle of champagne & eat in!

We are staying at Raffles the Plaza, on Feb 28 bid for on priceline.com for US115 inc tax etc. You could check www.biddingfortravel.com for current hotel winning bids.

The Marina Bay area is lovely and we'll continue to choose it over Orchard Road.

I think it's worthwhile investing in a city guidebook, similar to Timeout or Luxe. Even the Lonely Planet has some good hotel & restaurant choices. Have fun!

I am so thrilled about our trip! Thank you for your fantastic responses. I appreciate all the info I can get.

I love the Shangri La near the top of Orchard Rd (not to be confused with the Shangri La on Sentosa) - Superb hotel with A1 facilities. The Garden Wing has wonderful balcony's overlooking the garden. This hotel is often rated in the top 5 worldwide.
Good rates to be had at the weekend.

Yes, the Raffles Plaza is an EXCELLENT location. I haven't stayed there as I usually stay at the "Y", but I regularly go to the mall and grocery store which the hotel is next to. Also the Fullerton is excellent and an excellent location and right at the raffles MRT(subway) station. As for restaurants, I did a trip report that was under the thread of Boston GTG. If you pull that up, and then jump down to the BOTTOM of the thread and scroll up to around August 18th...which is when I think I was in Singapore last summer, then you'll get my restaurant report and other reports on Singapore. I vacation there regularly. I'll try to pull up the thread for you. Happy Travels!

OK...I've topped it for you and it starts at Aug 20th...not 18th. Happy Travels!