I am a fan of Singapore because not only does it have the world’s best airport but also because its size makes it very easy to visit all the tourist spots. I’ve been living in the country for almost eight years!
If you are heading to the Little Red Dot, you need not worry about where to stay as it has a variety of hotels that cater to the whole range of travelers.
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My Favorite Hotel in Singapore
The Best Areas to Stay for:
- First timers — Marina Bay
- Couples — Civic District
- Families with kids — Sentosa
- Food— Chinatown
- Nightlife — The Quays
- Shopping — Orchard Road
- Low budget — Bugis and Kampong Glam
- High budget — Sentosa
Marina Bay
Booming and futuristic, the Marina Bay Area is a place where you see a lot of tourists. This area is home to many of Singapore’s landmarks, such as Gardens by the Bay, the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, and the Merlion Statue. Even if you’ve no plans staying in this area, it is still a must-visit.
My Area Ratings
My Hotel Recommendation
Out of all the hotels in the Marina Bay area, the best one is, of course, Marina Bay Sands. And as I have mentioned before, it’s my favorite hotel in Singapore. Home to a luxury 5-star hotel, convention center, the world’s largest infinity pool, multiple upscale restaurants, shopping mall, and two floating pavilions, it is a must for every first-timer. You don’t have to go far because Marina Bay Sands has everything. The place is a city in itself!
The Marina Bay Sands offers a whole range of room options that offer views of the harbor, the garden, or the city’s skyline. Couples looking for a cozy space can choose either the Premier Room or the Deluxe Room. The Family Room is the best choice for those traveling with a bigger group.
Nearby Attractions
- Merlion Statue — the country’s symbol is a mythical half-fish and half-lion statue created by the country’s tourism board in the 1980s.
- Marina Bay Sands — one of the world’s most recognizable structures, with its distinct ship shape.
- Gardens by the Bay — a futuristic botanic garden with super trees that seem like they were plucked right out of the movie Avatar.
- Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay—where people can go to watch free concerts.
- ArtScience Museum — in the shape of a giant white lotus and houses media, arts, technology, design, and science.
Civic District
Located centrally, the Civic Centre area is the best choice for couples traveling to Singapore. The district is full of parks, museums, memorial spaces, as well as government buildings. The place transforms at night and is a haven to a vibrant nightlife, an array of shopping choices, and an unending list of top restaurants.
Couples can walk around and marvel at beautiful architectural masterpieces. If you and your significant other both love history, you will be delighted with all the museums you can go to. There are several MRT stations which makes it easy to get to the rest of Singapore. There’re plenty of romantic spots in the area.
My Area Ratings
My Hotel Recommendation
This art-inspired hotel is housed in a restored colonial building, located just opposite Bencoolen MRT Station. The hotel features art themes and all rooms are equipped with a mini-bar, hairdryers, ironing facilities, and deposit boxes. There are also handicapped accessible rooms.
There is a fitness center for guests and the locally acclaimed Straits Café serves international, as well as local buffet for guests to feast on. The lobby bar, and The Library, is a favorite place for guests to unwind after a day of sightseeing.
The hotel is dated but gives guests an excellent value for money with its clean and spacious rooms.
Nearby Attractions
- National Museum of Singapore — the nation’s oldest museum which dates back to 1849.
- National Gallery Singapore — home to the world’s largest display of modern Southeast Asian art.
Sentosa
Sentosa is a favorite resort island located just outside of downtown Singapore. The small island is packed full of experienced and activities that will keep the whole family busy, including the tiny tots. There are two casinos, two golf courses, various theme parks including the very popular Universal Studios Singapore and SEA Aquarium, and a plethora of restaurants and cafes which can easily fill any culinary cravings. The kids will be entertained for days on end.
Sentosa Island can be easily reached through the cable car of the monorail Sentosa Express or if you and the family have the energy, you can also walk over the nice pedestrian bridge from the HarbourFront Station.
My Area Ratings
My Hotel Recommendations
For Families: Resorts World Sentosa – Festive Hotel
Part of the massive Resorts World Sentosa entertainment complex, the luxurious Festive Hotel is very family-friendly. It is outfitted in whimsical decors and features an outdoor playground with water features that will entertain children to no end. The hotel is thoroughly designed with kids in mind.
Located near the S.E.A. Aquarium and Universal Studios Singapore, Resort World Sentosa’s Festive Hotel is arguably the best kid-friendly spots to stay in when in Sentosa. The rooms come with loft beds and extra sleeping space. There are also adjoining rooms to which can host larger families and most of the rooms have direct walk-out access to the hotel’s gorgeous swimming pool.
Designed by American architect Michael Graves, the interiors have wood-paneled columns and marble floors. The entire building is adorned with carnival-like vibes. The ceiling is filled with bright sculptures that resemble paper lanterns that look like giant lollipops to children’s eyes.
Higher Budget: Resorts World Sentosa – Equarius Hotel
Ocean Suites in Resorts World Sentosa’s Equarius Hotel are designed like a deluxe two-story townhouse, it offers the best views of both land and sea. There is an open living area that leads to an outdoor Jacuzzi and a patio on the upper level. The lower level delights guests with an underwater view of over 40,000 marine fishes in the privacy and comfort of your own suite. If that’s nothing short of amazing, I don’t know what is!
Nearby Attractions
- E.A. Aquarium — the home of fascinating sea creatures with a multitude of marine life grouped according to ten different zones with over 50 habitats.
- Universal Studios Singapore — a theme park located within Resorts World Sentosa. It features 28 rides, shows, and attractions across seven themed zones.
- Adventure Cove Waterpark — a waterpark where guests can take high-speed water slides, snorkel with 20,000 tropical fish, wade among rays or drift away on a lazy river.
- Kidzania Singapore — an indoor theme park combining learning and fun through role-play for kids aged 3 to 17.
- Skyline Luge Sentosa — first-ever luge introduced in Southeast Asia which has hosted over 10 million rides.
- Sentosa Golf Club — boasts of not one but two 18-hole golf courses for both amateurs and professionals.
- Tanjong Beach — one of the best spots for relaxing in the daytime. It has shallow white waters, tropical trees, and fine white sand.
- Mega Adventure Park-boasts of a 450-meter long zipline and bungee-assisted trampoline.
Chinatown
Lying in the shadow of the ever-expanding business district is Singapore’s Chinatown. Chinatown hosts a multitude of heritage houses and temples which have been beautifully preserved. Although it is a haven for people who love culture, history, and food, it lacks the big sights and attractions which a lot of tourists often go for. In this area, you can find everything from cheap hawker food to top-notch fancy restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world. Ann Siang Road and Club Street is a must-visit in the evening for a splendid meal and a drink or two to cap off the night.
Staying in Chinatown means being in the middle of great culinary action. You will be surrounded by bars, pubs, and nightlife. There are several MRT stations within walking distance makes this a great area to stay in.
My Area Ratings
My Hotel Recommendation
Park Royal on Pickering is located just beside Chinatown MRT station. It features an exclusive wellness floor that features a gym, an outdoor pool and a 300-meter garden walk high above street level, perfect for shedding all the pounds added because of all the delicious food you’ll surely be eating.
The hotel also boasts views of the city or the garden and all rooms come with a minibar, personal safe, and a flat-screen TV. They also offer babysitting services for couples who would like to get away to enjoy the culinary scene without a baby in tow.
LIME restaurant is in proximity to the hotel that is worth trying. They serve a delectable mix of international and Southeast Asian cuisine in a warm yet modern atmosphere. There is also the rooftop Orchid Club lounge that features a sweeping 360-degree view of the Singapore skyline, which is exclusive to hotel guests.
The hotel is also within walking distance of Chinatown, Clarke Quay, and Raffles Place. Orchard Road, the popular shopping district is also just a 15-minute drive away. Committed to being an eco-friendly hotel, Park Royal does not provide disposable plastic water bottles in all their rooms but they do provide a reusable glass bottle that is replenished daily.
Nearby Attractions
- Chinatown Heritage Centre — a museum detailing the culture and history of Chinatown with personal stories from families, as well as old photos of families who used to live in Chinatown
- Chinatown market — where you can buy souvenirs and various other trinkets.
- Buddha Tooth Relic —a place of worship and a repository of Buddhist relics and wisdom
- Singapore City Gallery —showcases the city’s transformation over the past 50 years. Through 40 interactive and immersive exhibits, it tells Singapore’s developments and achievements.
- Thian Hock Keng Taoist Temple-an architectural masterpiece and an important stakeholder in Singapore’s history.
The Quays
Known for its bustling nightlife, The Quays is the best area to stay in if you are in Singapore in search of good nightlife. Connected by the Singapore River and occupying the area between the Central Business District and the old Colonial District, the Quays are made up of the Boat, Robertson and Clarke Quay.
This area was once a vital trading station for ships coming into the harbor, the Quays gradually lost its importance in the late 1980s. Fortunately, the area was able to transform itself into an entertainment center with plenty of bars, microbreweries, nightclubs, and restaurants lining both sides of the river, and even on the smaller side streets.
My Area Ratings
My Hotel Recommendation
The Fullerton Hotel is widely regarded as one of the best hotels in the country. Situated in the Central Business District, it is just a 5-minute drive away from Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. It boasts of a spa, a 24-hour fitness center, and an infinity pool.
I love the fact that the Fullerton experience starts in style at the airport with a swanky one-way transfer. This is available as an add-on with your room reservation and various vehicle options range from the Mercedes Benz E200 to the glamorous vintage Rolls Royce.
The Straits Club Premier Quay Room is the best in the building and guests get to enjoy access to the Straits Club Lounge. Each room also comes with a Fullerton plush bear, as well as a Fullerton Merlion to accompany you during your stay.
The marbled bathroom is large and comes with a bathtub where you can relax after a night spent looking around and sampling the most delicious food. After a soak in the tub, you can step out and dress yourself in the luxurious and soft Fullerton bathrobe.
Nearby Attractions
- Asian Civilization Museum — Considered Asia’s most comprehensive collection of Asian treasures. There are various exhibitions throughout the year.
- Clarke Quay — the most popular of all the Quays and offers plenty of slick clubs, bars, and restaurants.
- Boat Quay — declared a conservation area by the government of Singapore and is packed with upscale but mostly touristy bars, shops, and waterside restaurants.
- Robertson Quay — this area was once made up of storage buildings but is now filled with members-only party places.
- Cavenagh Bridge — a beautiful bridge made in Scotland but reassembled in Singapore in 1869.
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is known as a shopping paradise. It is home to arguably the world’s best upscale shopping with enormous shopping malls lining both sides of the street. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it here, from luxury fashion brands to cameras and watches. But, there is more to Orchard Road than just retail therapy, there are several restaurants and cool bars where you can seek refuge if you find all the spending a little overwhelming.
Orchard Road can get particularly busy during weekends and holidays and although the shopping is plenty, the nightlife is a little limited. Hotel prices are on the higher end; fewer options for people traveling on a budget.
My Area Ratings
My Hotel Recommendation
Just 7 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Orchard Road, Shangri-La also offers complimentary scheduled bus services to selected areas. This also is the very first Shangri-La Hotel in the world rich of history. They just unveiled their newest brand new Tower Wing in 2017, an addition to the Garden Wing and Valley Wing.
The property has lush tropical gardens which have over 100,000 types of ornamental fruit trees, Asian herbs, tropical flowers, and aquatic plants. The hotel offers four floodlit tennis courts, a free-form swimming pool, a 24-hour gym, and Biologique Recherche facials and an array of soothing body massage treatments through its CHI Spa. They made me feel so good that I didn’t want to leave, but my wallet told me I had to.
Rooms are available across the three different wings and those with deep pockets often pick those in the ultra-exclusive Valley Wing which comes with its own driveways, unlimited champagne and canapes, elegant rooms, and complimentary breakfast.
Nearby Attractions
- Istana Park — a landmark situated just opposite Singapore’s presidential palace.
- Cathay Gallery — a museum for film nerds that showcase old movie posters, as well as Singapore’s local film history.
- Emerald Hill Road — packed with beautiful heritage buildings, and cozy bars.
- ION Orchard Mall — considered the country’s best mega-mall and home to some world’s most recognizable brands. It also boasts of an observation deck, ION Sky, on its 56th level which has wonderful views of the city.
Bugis and Kampong Glam
Also referred to as Arab Street, Bugis and Kampong Glam offers a mix of hipster chic cafes, restaurants, and a wide selection of low budget hotels to choose from. You can also come across cool boutiques and cool street arts too. The streets also come alive at night with live music gigs.
If you are looking to save money, eat and sleep cheap, this is the best place to go. The Bugis and Kampong Glam areas are easy to get to, thanks to the Bugis MRT Station and one of the country’s biggest bus terminals, the Queen Street Bus Terminal.
My Area Ratings
My Hotel Recommendation
Fresh and definitely trendy, it is located in the middle of Bugis and Bencoolen. From the hotel, you can easily walk to the museum area. Their standard rooms are small though but if you do not mind small quarters in the pursuit of saving money, it is just perfect.
The hotel interior is cool, chic, and modern and it offers excellent value for money. There are two restaurants on the ground floor and if you are coming to the hotel through MRT or bus, you must walk through one of the restaurants which is a little awkward. One of the best things about the hotel is 25 Degrees Burger & Liquor Bar. Their burger is a must-try.
One of the hotel’s main drawbacks is that it doesn’t have a swimming pool but there are plenty of things to do in the vicinity to make up for it.
Nearby Attractions
- Haji Lane — a tiny lane full of street murals and packed with restaurants, small shops, and cafes.
- Malay Heritage Museum — once the seat of the royal family of Malaysia. The palace was built for the last sultan of Singapore and is now a museum.
- Sultan Mosque — Singapore largest and most beautiful mosques.
Singapore is a destination which must not be missed and I hope my hotel recommendations can help you select the best area and accommodation according to your needs.
What is your favorite place to stay in Singapore? Let me know in the comments bellow!
