hotels: I would like a nice hotel w/o having to pay 300.00 a night. we will be there for 3nights in august: Orchard or Scotts rd would be nice: but w/o can we find a hotel for 150.oo?? that is nice?

www.asiabesthotel.com lists many for under US$150.00. You won't get luxury, but you'll get decent. You also got many replies before.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35041114

priceline too

I would stay away from Orchard Road actually, that is where you are going to pay higher tourist prices, and actually IMO that is the most uninteresting part of town. You can go there to shop if you want easily by subway, but there isn’t really anything to see, and there are better restaurants elsewhere. I would stay in the Middle Road area to the east of downtown. I just love walking the neighborhoods of Little India (Serangoon Road and that area) and Arab street with the narrow streets and traditional 2-storey shophouse buildings with the little family stores and restaurants; that is the Singapore I like the best. You can reach those areas on foot and also the colonial bits around the Padang from the Middle Road area. Try the Intercontinental Hotel on Middle Road, that is a very nice hotel. Weekend rates are within your range, not sure if your trip is then. Not sure it would be within the range for weekdays but I would give it a try. US$150 actually is not going to buy you a lot in a “nice” hotel in Singapore, and probably not during weekdays more so. It’s just too popular for business and tourists.

cicc...any other suggestions for hotels in that area?? thanks

bob

The Westin Plaza/Stamford and the Raffles are only about 2-3 blocks west of the IC, and that triumvarite of the Ritz-Carlton, Pan-Pacific and Oriental is also just a few blocks further west/south and not a bad walk to the Arab Street areas and really not a bad walk to Little India (you will sweat a little but you can stop for drinks and air con breaks at various places). The Pan-Pacific and the Oriental have been redone and are supposed to be nice now, esp the Oriental, I have not seen them, the Meritus Mandarin was supposedly redone but I don’t know how that turned out (it’s not part of the Mandarin Oriental group so I am a little wary.) There is a Conrad on Temasak Blvd which is basically part of the same group of inter-connected malls with the Ritz and Pan-Pacific that would be OK for distance, I have not seen the rooms but the lobby, etc are nice. It’s going to be about as expensive as the Ritz though.

Also, I think the location of the Swisshotel Merchant Court is very good too. You can walk to Chinatown, you can walk to the Singapore River area of the Asian Civilizations Museum and the Padang and you could walk to Arab Street, etc. (I will admit a longish walk, but done slowly would be interesting and not bad at all, at least Singapore is flat…). The Fort Canning Park is almost behind you. It also is at an MTR stop. I don’t know it at all, have not even been inside, but Swisshotels are generally OK, like a good 3 star.

To charly1, the Swisshotel Merchant Court and also the Swisshotel Stamford may be worth trying. Go to http://www.swissotel.com/index.htm


In a completely different area, I was just on the phone with a friend of mine in Singapore getting her ideas, and she mentioned the Gallery Hotel in the River Valley Road area which she thinks is really nice. This location would not really be great for first timers, but if you know Singapore and how to get around I think it would be a nice alternative for a different area. It seems to be kind of fashion-forward, I have not seen it myself, although I have to say the pool looks VERY cool. They seem to be offering internet special rates at like US$150. Take a look at http://www.galleryhotel.com.sg/html/index.html. It’s location is south of Orchard Road and on the north side of the river, so you may end up taking more taxis than you want (but hey, they are cheap); or would have to walk out to River Valley Road to get a bus or walk to the Orchard Road area for the Somerset MRT stop (not a far walk actually just a few blocks and Killeny Road has some little restaurants and Devonshire Road has a little temple on it), so if you don’t know Singapore or are only there for a day or two it’s probably not worth it. The plus sides are that it’s near to the very interesting Hindu temple on Tank Road, (esp good if you go to Singapore for the Thiapusam festival). It is also just a short block or two to the pub, restaurant and nightclub district of Mohamed Sultan Road; there are also art galleries in this area. (I can’t imagine any noise issues, it’s Singapore, and of course it’s Singapore so perfectly safe even at 3 am in the morning…)

Cicierone, I love the location of the old Westin Plaza/Stamford (now Raffles the Plaza and Swisshotel Stamford). I really think it's the most convenient location, as you can walk many places, and you are right above an MRT station.

thanks very much

yes i did get replies and thanks to all of you !! Cicerone you know your area !! Thanks

The Swisshotel (formerly the Westin Stamford) I was there in March got a nice room 64th floor with view inc afternoon cocktails and full cont breakfast. Less than 155.00 USD Great location the Raffles Hotel is across the street. Lots of options for food in the area and the subway is right there. You could book a better price with a lower floor room and no breakfst and cocktails. Check the website. We booked a lower price then at check in paid a little more for the upgraded room.