Singapore - to Marina Sands Bay or Not?

[Lynda2475]

Hi AFF gurus,

Visiting Singpaore next year for 3 nights in June for the first time in 17 years (not counting times i never left the airport) and am contemplating where best to stay?

This is a solo leisure trip on route to London then New York, so I have no need to have office facilities, I just want to have a comfortable air conditioned room with wifi (preferably a walk in shower over a shower tub combo) in a safe central area with 24hr check-in and easy access to the subway. Ability to store my luggage after check-out is also a must as flight to LHR is late night on departure day.

I'm a foodie so want to be easily able to try the best of the hawker markets

Good friends who recently visited say I simply must stay at least 1 night at the Marina Bay Sands for early access to the roof top pool. Rates seem to be AUD $440 a night, which isnt out of the question but is it really worth it, or is there equally premium experiences to be had elsewhere for better value?

Many trip advisor reviews says apart from the awesome pool, the hotel is overrate with long lines for taxis etc.

If not Marina Bay Sands - where would you stay?

Thanks.

 

[Lynda2475]

To avoid further over analysing, I bit the bullet and booked directly with the Fullerton (my colleague says she liked their coughtails the best), the 90 Day Advanced purchased rat includes daily breakfast and welcome coughtail, I wont get straits club access but that $75/day saving will fund hawker meals and drinks elsewhere Im sure.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to give their advice.

 

[Daver6]

As they say, more is lost through indecision than the wrong decision.

 

[Quickstatus]

...The owner first worked in a fish and chip shop in Ipswich.

A fiery redhead?

 

[drron]

A fiery redhead?

His boss did indeed have red hair.

 

[Lynda2475]

Reporting back, absolutely loved my stay at The Fullerton. Was given a free upgrade to river view room on my very late arrival (delayed departure from Sydney, then a 4 car pile up just outside the airport) saw me check in after midnight,. Google said taxi should gave taken 20mins it took 60 due to the jewel traffic plus the accident, was glad id used grab and not a metered taxi.

The included buffet breakfast was superb, i love a sneaky eggs benedict with bacon and hashbrowns, followed by kaya toast then some har gow and shui mai with chilli sauce then freshpineapple. Barista made coffee was pretty decent too. I rarely bother with included breakfasts, but made sure to go every day at The Fullerton. Didnt even have room to try by the pastries, waffles, omlettes and other items.

Staff were helpful, and it was great to be able to shower in the spa bathrooms (9 hours after check out) before i departed for the airport to save queuing at the Qantas lounge. Would stay again. I think the location is also much better than MBS which is a decent walk frim anywhere.

The 30 degree heat and 89% humidity was a struggle, so i didnt cover as much ground as i could have. Did get through zoo, river safari and night zoo, MBS for a coughtail and light show, Gardens By The Bay (in day and night), an epic 6 hour food tour through 4 neighbourhoods (chinese, perenakin, little india, malay) some window shopping on orchid road, the asian civilization museum and a couple of hawker centres. Also had a merlion posicle a super touristy thing to do.

Only did a quick walk through of the Jewel vortex waterfall and garden, being late night (10pm), it wasnt too crowded but dark. I imagine the nets, skywalk and mazes would be better done during daylight hours, but that would have required a separate trip,as both myarrival and departureflights were very late night.

Obviously heaps left to see on a future visit.

 

[get me outta here]

Sounds like a great outcome. How long were you there to do all those things in the heat and humidity?

Reporting back, absolutely loved my stay at The Fullerton. Was given a free upgrade to river view room on my very late arrival (delayed departure from Sydney, then a 4 car pile up just outside the airport) saw me check in after midnight,. Google said taxi should gave taken 20mins it took 60 due to the jewel traffic plus the accident, was glad id used grab and not a metered taxi.

The included buffet breakfast was superb, i love a sneaky eggs benedict with bacon and hashbrowns, followed by kaya toast then some har gow and shui mai with chilli sauce then freshpineapple. Barista made coffee was pretty decent too. I rarely bother with included breakfasts, but made sure to go every day at The Fullerton. Didnt even have room to try by the pastries, waffles, omlettes and other items.

Staff were helpful, and it was great to be able to shower in the spa bathrooms (9 hours after check out) before i departed for the airport to save queuing at the Qantas lounge. Would stay again. I think the location is also much better than MBS which is a decent walk frim anywhere.

The 30 degree heat and 89% humidity was a struggle, so i didnt cover as much ground as i could have. Did get through zoo, river safari and night zoo, MBS for a coughtail and light show, Gardens By The Bay (in day and night), an epic 6 hour food tour through 4 neighbourhoods (chinese, perenakin, little india, malay) some window shopping on orchid road, the asian civilization museum and a couple of hawker centres. Also had a merlion posicle a super touristy thing to do.

Only did a quick walk through of the Jewel vortex waterfall and garden, being late night (10pm), it wasnt too crowded but dark. I imagine the nets, skywalk and mazes would be better done during daylight hours, but that would have required a separate trip,as both myarrival and departureflights were very late night.

Obviously heaps left to see on a future visit.

 

[Lynda2475]

I had best part of 3 days, arrived midnight Sunday, departed midnight Wed.

 

[goldenhorn]

Fullerton Hotel is in old Singapore Post Office building - quite historic - and very good. I have only stayed here 1 night and booked that through Virtuoso which gave us upgrade and access to EL with free flow Perrier-Jouet and excellent canapés.

If we were not staying at Raffles or MBS this is only other SIN hotel we would stay - the Ette loves the history of the place.

That sounds fantastic and exactly what I’m looking for my trip to SIN in Jan.

May I ask how you book through Virtuoso? Do you need a specific travel agent to do it for you?