Raffles is booked for our dates in Feb. Anybody been there and have a different recommendation? I am leaning toward the Ritz Carlton at the moment but have not ever been here before so asking around. Thanks!
edit to add: oops, just saw that this was asked by Gatowoman a while ago but still interested in any other/new info.

Ritz Carlton is very nice as is a hotel in a former post office or government building with a name that starts with an H and is 9 or 10 letters long, as I recall, and is close to river - a good location.

Thanks Ted. I did see that hotel in the old post office or whatever, did you stay in it?
-----------------
Helen

I presume you are talking about the 'new' Raffles. If you like its position, you could consider staying at the Swissotel which is next door to it (reached undercover via the shopping centre). They have 'club' rooms which are higher and obviously more expensive, but which include a light breakfast and drinks and nibbles in the evening. If you haven't been before, consider seeing the 'Night Safari Zoo' - it's worth it. Lee

Helen,

We didn't stay at "H" hotel but read good reviews and liked location as we wandered around humid Singapore.

The Intercontinental was very nice when we stayed there years ago. Walking distance to Raffles and the underground lobby area adjoins an underground mall which was very convenient and had lots of good and quick local food stalls in a food court, plus anything else we needed to buy. I'll second the recommendation to see the Night Zoo while there. I love that Singapore Zoo, the best anywhere! Also, if you can stand 2 trips out to the zoo, don't miss the Jungle breakfast. You can watch the elephants get a bath and then have breakfast with orangutans!
http://www.zoo.com.sg/visitor/food_junglebreakfast.htm
Enjoy, Debbie

I am torn between the night safari at the Zoo and a tour of the night markets in Chinatown with trishaw ride. We arrive late at night (too late to do anything) and have the following day and night and depart on our cruise the next afternoon/evening. So only one night activity. What do you "been there, done that" folks think?

We enjoyed the zoo better during the day - and also liked the bird park a lot. I think our expectations of night zoo visit were too high and it was difficult to get decent pictures - it's at night!

Botanical gardens are also worthwhile. The Metro is very clean and fun for people watching.

We Loved the Night Zoo and highly recommend it. You won't see too many animals if you go during the day, it's too hot and they're sleeping. We did our shopping and trishaw etc. in the daytime. Singapore is beautiful but not so great for shopping, no bargains like China and Vietnam.

Ok so night zoo and wait for Vietnam to shop. What about Orchard Road, worthwhile? Marcie, have you been to San Diego Zoo at night? Just wondering if there is a significant difference in what we should expect to see in Singapore?

I've been to San Diego zoo but only in the day time (love that zoo too!). Yes, been to Orchard Road on two different trips but didn't buy anything special. I really like Singapore a lot, it's so clean and nice but just not the best for shopping IMO. You will find much better bargains in Vietnam. Some people have had custom clothes/suits made in Singapore and been pleased but others say better to have them made in Hong Kong (but even now that's not what it used to be for bargains). I was surprised to see a couple of "Sex Shops" around Orchard Road (seems so un-Singapore like)

A funny memory from Singapore.....When we were there in 2007 we stopped at a local McDonalds on Orchard Road (my idea....dieing for a Big Mac and fries). When I bit into the burger my tooth cracked in 1/2. Luckily, I wasn't in any pain but we were sailing out that afternoon so no time to visit a dentist. The next ports were in Vietnam so definitely not good for a dentist there. After Vietnam, I finally visited a dentist in Brunei who was fantastic! He took xrays and fixed me up with a temporary for only $50 USD. It was the first time I'd ever been to a dentist where his assistant was covered in her Burka. The temp lasted several months until we got home to CA. My dentist here said it was one of the best temps he'd seen.
P.S. It wasn't McDonald's Big Mac fault...just coincidental timing.

We were in Singapore in February and, for the first visit, we stayed in the Valley Wing of the Shangri-La Hotel. It was a lovely quiet oasis just off Orchard Road. We could walk to the shopping and the subway easily. (You could eat off of that subway floor, honestly!). The Valley Wing room was large, included breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails.
When we returned to Singapore two weeks later, we stayed on the Club Floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. This was newly renovated and is right next door to the Ritz Carlton. We loved this hotel! (It might have to do with the fact that they upgraded us to a huge suite with a view of the harbor). The Club Floor also included breakfast, drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the evening. The hotel has wonderful restaurants also.
Both hotels were terrific and I'd stay in either in a minute. Have a great trip.

Thanks Harbormaster. I have booked the Four Seasons as the price could not be beat ($320 USD for a corner room inc breakfast, only other 4 seasons I have stayed at is in Las Vegas and I am sure we paid at least twice that!)It seems like there are a billion fabulous hotels over Asia, it was hard to choose.
-----------------
Helen

Helen, I would continue to try as the date gets closer. I found that many of the Asian hotels don't allow you to book many months ahead like we're use to doing. Good luck!

Thanks Marcie. I think I will do that. Keep my 4S res and keep checking Oriental's website. Like so many others on this Board I am obsessed with advance planning!
-----------------
Helen

We stayed at the Conrat International Centennial for 5 nights when we went before. We had a great waterview. I think we got chocolates and fruits. It was walkable to the Boat Quay and walkable to the MRT, so it was easy to get places like Jurong Bird Park, The Japanese and Chinese Gardens, and even Newton Square Hawker Center. I loved that place where I just picked my lobster and they grilled it up and brought it out to the tables. No frills here, and the experience is not for wveryone. It is a ways over there. Boat quay was fun. I didn't like the famous chilli crabs. Todd did. He ate mine, and I shared what he ordered (a big seafood platter). We also went to Clark Quay, Sentosa, Orchard Road, and Little India.

Having done all that before, I don't have any "have to dos", but I have very good memories of watching those lights at the boat quay. I would like to not be far from there and would not mind trying a new hotel. Depending on our schedule, we may only have one night after our April cruise, and the flights seem to leave painfully early to come home.