Surprising to me, the bar at the top of Marina Sands, which indeed has a good view, is free to visit during the day, at least pre Covid. Been in the area many times and with some friends who live a, err, higher level of travel than me, we all went. Unimpressed with the Art/Science museum.
In the Marina Sands area, avoid Makansutra Gluttons Bay, which is overpriced.
Also, again pre Covid, would not recommend Lloyd's Inn. Stayed once in my tour of mid range places. Couldn't connect to wifi, though staff tried and was helpful. At that time, breakfast was remote at Killiney Kopitiam, 5 minutes walk. Weird navigation inside. Fairly remote from public transportation.
Nearest place I'd stay would probably be the Strand, maybe YMCA. Prices for hotels in Orchard area are pretty nuts.
Did you see the nanny state cleaned up Orchard Towers, lol?
Ahh I liked Lloyd’s—and the location—though, and I think you’d agree with me, too far from some of that great South Asian fare... I think the South East Asia is still going, will investigate later this week, it has a hint of The Atlanta about it.
Agree with you on the view, I've taken some stunning photos up there while pretending to be joining people for dinner at the ghastly Ce La Vie (that spelling KILLS ME). Also came here to say that a friend treated herself to a few nights here once and bitterly regretted it; the room was poky and dark and she felt isolated from the rest of the city.
I always aim to stay in Chinatown or Geylang, both great areas for eating. :)
Yeah, the walk to mass transit from Geylang is the main hassle—I stay at Betelbox when out there—old school. On Joo Chiat, Long Phung is my fave Viet place—gets a tad sketchy late at night, but the bowls are excellent. GMaps link here: https://goo.gl/maps/AYuEt4RgD8cAxnVi6 Quite a few of the hotels on Keong Saik looked to have rolled over, though the namesake (which I have stayed at and it is not great) is still running. I like staying in Chinatown for the food, but a lot of the the slightly more affordable places look to have been taken over by hipsters with dorm prices to match. Daulat in Little India good, tho def at the higher end of my budget. Sigh I miss the Kamleng.
Bookmarked Long Phung. I liked Làng Nướng on Foch when I was staying at Kam Leng and might go again if I'm up that way. Hotel Yan was just ok. Mercure Singapore Tyrwhitt somewhat better.
I liked Daulat, which I stayed at years ago on TF recommendation, but too old for loft rooms, lol. Pool is ok for laps only ;)
Wanderlust in its latest incarnation looked ok, with a Sri Lankan restaurant (!) though prices are eye rolling. Street noise is an issue. Avoid Perak Hotel.
In northern Chinatown I liked the Parkroyal on Pickering, when staying free on points, but lounge was super crowded in evening, so probably would avoid in future.
First post Covid trip I was lazy and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, with 7-11 downstairs. Avoid HGI bar, which is overpriced, duh.
We stayed in a “family room” once at the Perak when the kids were smaller--though clearly not small enough! When was there with Will earlier this year stayed at a big hotel up near the boat landing for Pulau Ubin. Was around S$170 from memory, which seems like a lot, but was a huge room, great horizon pool etcetera (and great for spotting which kept the boy content), was like $50 more than a broom closet room. Hotel prices there are bonkers. But then I’ve just coughed up $70 for a freakin dorm room at Adler (which has rebranded as something else and been boutiqueified) Chinatown which still has by head reeling. One night only then moving somewhere else for about $30--and probably 6,000 bunks in the dorm. At least the food is affordable.
Surprising to me, the bar at the top of Marina Sands, which indeed has a good view, is free to visit during the day, at least pre Covid. Been in the area many times and with some friends who live a, err, higher level of travel than me, we all went. Unimpressed with the Art/Science museum.
In the Marina Sands area, avoid Makansutra Gluttons Bay, which is overpriced.
Also, again pre Covid, would not recommend Lloyd's Inn. Stayed once in my tour of mid range places. Couldn't connect to wifi, though staff tried and was helpful. At that time, breakfast was remote at Killiney Kopitiam, 5 minutes walk. Weird navigation inside. Fairly remote from public transportation.
Nearest place I'd stay would probably be the Strand, maybe YMCA. Prices for hotels in Orchard area are pretty nuts.
Did you see the nanny state cleaned up Orchard Towers, lol?
Ahh I liked Lloyd’s—and the location—though, and I think you’d agree with me, too far from some of that great South Asian fare... I think the South East Asia is still going, will investigate later this week, it has a hint of The Atlanta about it.
Agree with you on the view, I've taken some stunning photos up there while pretending to be joining people for dinner at the ghastly Ce La Vie (that spelling KILLS ME). Also came here to say that a friend treated herself to a few nights here once and bitterly regretted it; the room was poky and dark and she felt isolated from the rest of the city.
I always aim to stay in Chinatown or Geylang, both great areas for eating. :)
Another vote for Geylang—amazing Viet fare.
Stayed in Geylang a few times, mostly at, ahem, Hotel 81, with rooms far from the lift as possible. Geylang just seems, to me, too far from things.
Now I try to stay in core Little India since Kam Leng closed as a normal, tourist hotel, but haven't settled on a good replacement.
KēSa House in Chinatown on Keong Saik, which took the place of a hotel I don't recall, looks ok. 7 minutes walk from MRT, so probably ok.
Would appreciate some Viet food recommendations in SG. Pre Covid I found Vietnamese Delight Pho 99 on Amoy St better than ok, but not amazing.
Yeah, the walk to mass transit from Geylang is the main hassle—I stay at Betelbox when out there—old school. On Joo Chiat, Long Phung is my fave Viet place—gets a tad sketchy late at night, but the bowls are excellent. GMaps link here: https://goo.gl/maps/AYuEt4RgD8cAxnVi6 Quite a few of the hotels on Keong Saik looked to have rolled over, though the namesake (which I have stayed at and it is not great) is still running. I like staying in Chinatown for the food, but a lot of the the slightly more affordable places look to have been taken over by hipsters with dorm prices to match. Daulat in Little India good, tho def at the higher end of my budget. Sigh I miss the Kamleng.
Bookmarked Long Phung. I liked Làng Nướng on Foch when I was staying at Kam Leng and might go again if I'm up that way. Hotel Yan was just ok. Mercure Singapore Tyrwhitt somewhat better.
I liked Daulat, which I stayed at years ago on TF recommendation, but too old for loft rooms, lol. Pool is ok for laps only ;)
Wanderlust in its latest incarnation looked ok, with a Sri Lankan restaurant (!) though prices are eye rolling. Street noise is an issue. Avoid Perak Hotel.
In northern Chinatown I liked the Parkroyal on Pickering, when staying free on points, but lounge was super crowded in evening, so probably would avoid in future.
First post Covid trip I was lazy and stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, with 7-11 downstairs. Avoid HGI bar, which is overpriced, duh.
We stayed in a “family room” once at the Perak when the kids were smaller--though clearly not small enough! When was there with Will earlier this year stayed at a big hotel up near the boat landing for Pulau Ubin. Was around S$170 from memory, which seems like a lot, but was a huge room, great horizon pool etcetera (and great for spotting which kept the boy content), was like $50 more than a broom closet room. Hotel prices there are bonkers. But then I’ve just coughed up $70 for a freakin dorm room at Adler (which has rebranded as something else and been boutiqueified) Chinatown which still has by head reeling. One night only then moving somewhere else for about $30--and probably 6,000 bunks in the dorm. At least the food is affordable.
I love it when u rant like that.
Thank you for trying to keep ‘em honest.
Am here to serve!