By Melissa Voelker
Singapore is a thriving Asian city with many cultural, historical and religious points of interest. There are many areas of Singapore that you might choose to stay in, and each has its own hotels to choose from. These include luxury hotels with four-star ratings as well as hotels priced for those traveling on a budget.
Within the Orchard Road Area
The Orchard Hotel Singapore (442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879; +65 6734 7766; enquiry@orchardhotel.com.sq) is close to Chinatown, Little India and the Boat Quay. It is home of the fine (and expensive) Hua Ting Restaurant, which serves Cantonese cuisine. This is a high-class and high-priced hotel with amenities such as an in-room safe and butler service as well as an LCD TV and broadband Internet access.
Royal Plaza on the Scotts (25 Scotts Road, Singapore 228220; +65 6737 7966; royal@royalplaza.com.sg) is within walking distance of a Mass Rapid Transit portal as well as Kallang Theatre, the National Museum, Botanical Gardens and other businesses in the Orchard Road area. It is home to Carousel, a restaurant that serves several types of buffet food as well as sushi, desserts and juices. It is also home to Heat ultralounge, which is a cross between a bar and a club, with a live band playing most days of the week. Room amenities can include LCD TVs as well as high-speed Internet access and minibars. There are seven room styles to choose from as well as four suite styles.
Within the Heritage District
The Bayview Hotel Singapore (30 Bencoolen St., Singapore 189621; +65 6337 2882; bayviewsingapore@bayviewhotels.com) is within walking distance of the Singapore Art Museum, the Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, Little India and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The hotel is home to both the Bayview Café, where you can eat Asian or Western food, and the Bayview Terrace, which is a place to have a drink and relax. Two room styles and two suite styles are available, and amenities include air-conditioning, minibars and a choice of bed sizes. This is not as expensive or as lavish as hotels such as the Orchard Hotel or Royal Plaza on the Scotts, but it is a nice place to stay on a budget.
The ParkRoyal on beach Road (7500 Beach Road, Singapore 199591; +65 6505 5666; enquiry@br.parkroyalhotels.com) is close to the Prince and Jade Theatres as well as War Memorial Park and Parklane Shopping Mall. This hotel is home of the Tian Fu Teahouse, where you can enjoy Imperial High Tea in the afternoon, as well as the Si Chuan Doou Hua Restaurant, which serves a buffet of Sichuan-Cantonese and Dian Xin foods. There are two room styles and three suite styles available, and amenities include an in-room safe, cable TV, twin or triple or king-size beds, and broadband Internet access.
Within the Financial District:
The Amara Hotel Singapore (165 Tanjon Pagar Road, Singapore 088539; +65 6879 2555; singapore@amarahotels.com) is in the Central Business District near the Tanjon Pagar MRT Stations. It is within walking distance of Chinatown, retail shops and restaurants. It is home to seven on-site restaurants, which serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, even tea. Depending on what floor you choose to stay on, amenities can include broadband Internet access, butler service or a complimentary American breakfast. One- and two-bedroom residential suites, with kitchenettes, are available, as well as deluxe rooms and spa suites.
The Grand Park City Hall (10 Coleman St., Singapore 179809; +65 6235 2498) is within walking distance to historical buildings and monuments and is also near the Marina Bay shopping center. Its on-site restaurant, Park Palace, serves Cantonese and Shunde cuisine, and the on-site bar, the Bar at Coleman Street, has a live band. The hotel's amenities include wireless Internet access, kitchenettes and desks in most rooms.
Within the Chinatown Area
The Scarlet Hotel Singapore (33 Erskine Road, Singapore 069333; +65 6511 3333; reservations@thescarlethotel.com) is an award-winning boutique hotel that is expensive but worth it if you like lots of personal touches. It is near the Maxwell Food Centre and the Siang Cho Keong Taoist Hotel. It has five room styles as well five suite styles. On-site restaurants offer a la carte options as well as cocktails and seafood. Amenities include wake-up calls, air-conditioning, in-room safes, cable TV, DVD players and broadband Internet access. There is also a fitness center and an open-air hot tub.
The Hotel 81 Chinatown (181 New Bridge Road, Singapore 059418; +65 6534 4145; ct-res@hotel81.com.sg) is part of a large chain of hotels with locations all over Singapore. It has three basic room styles and caters more to families than some of the other hotels in the area. It is near the Chinatown MRT station as well as Chinese restaurants and karaoke bars. Amenities include TVs, a minibar, air-conditioning, and either an attached bathroom or at least a heated shower.
Within the Little India Area
The Broadway Hotel Singapore (195 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218067) is a "budget establishment" built specifically for those traveling on a tight budget. It is within walking distance of two MRT stations and many Indian restaurants and retail shops. The rooms are basic but do include amenities such as attached bathrooms with showers, TVs, in-room safes and a balcony. There are two on-site restaurants, the Delhi and the Ole Ole.
Within the River District
The Gallery Hotel Singapore (1 Nanson Road, Singapore 238909; +65 6849 8686) is a "designer hotel" that has won awards for its modern architecture. It has many of the personalized touches found in finer hotels and is priced in a similar manner. Several studio and suite rooms are available, each being considered "unique." There are several on-site restaurants and bars, including the stylish Sapporo Ramen Miharu noodle house and Shibaken French Cuisine, which serves Japanese-style French food. Amenities include free Internet access, satellite TV, a minibar and an in-room safe. The hotel also has a fitness center, art galleries and spa facilities.
About the Author:
Melissa Voelker has been a professional writer since 2002. She works full time at a TV station in the commercial traffic department and also writes for Paperbackreader.com and Pinkraygun.com. Her articles have appeared in "Listen," "The Spokesman Review" and "Freepress Houston."
