Where to Stay in Singapore - Singapore and Malaysia - page 87

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predominantly regional guests throng the small lobby while the staff does its best to keep
up. As well as a seafood restaurant, the lobby has a useful tour desk and travel agent, and
there's a r ooftop pool. S tandard guest r ooms ar e backpacker basic, with decent beds,
central air-conditioning, and TVs. Not somewhere you'd be tempted to linger, but why
would you, with the center of S ingapore on the doorstep? P remium rooms have been
refurbished with LCD TVs and other standard amenities.
22 C avenagh Rd ./Orchard Rd ., Singapor e 229617. & 65/6737-9944. Fax [phone]. w ww.grand
central.com.sg. 390 units. S$237 (US$159/£107) double; S$424 (US$284/£191) family suite. AE, DC, MC, V.
5-min. walk to Somerset or Dhoby Ghaut MRT. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; outdoor pool; health club
w/Jacuzzi and steam. In room: A/C, TV w/in-house movies, minibar.

Lloyd's Inn This two-story bungalow is in a quiet residential area just a few blocks from
Orchard Road. Lloyd's is a budget motel in ev ery sense, with fe w facilities. Open-air cor-
ridors form a pleasant little courtyard, and standard rooms are small, with a definite budget
feeling, though all hav e en-suite bathr ooms, TV, air-conditioning, and phones. D eluxe
rooms are a better siz e and have a small fridge. P ublished rates include the “++” tax es (see
“Taxes & Service Charges,” earlier in this chapter), although there's an extra 2% charge for
credit cards and r ooms are charged in adv ance. The welcome is friendly and lo w key. No
pool, no fitness center, no nothing—you got your room, that's what you got.
2 Llo yd Rd ., Singapor e 239091. & 65/6737-7309. Fax [phone]. w ww.lloydinn.com. 34 units .
S$100-S$120 (US$67-US$80/£45-£54) double. MC, V. 10-min. walk to Somerset MRT. In room: A/C, TV.

The Metropolitan YMCA Singapore This place is a little out-of-the-way in terms
of walking distance to the center, but public buses stop right outside the door and ther e
is a shuttle service that operates weekday mornings. Inside there's a wide range of rooms
to suit most budget conscious trav elers, from dorms to deluxe. Family rooms, including
triples and quads, are particularly good, with lots of storage space. None of these is luxu-
rious, but they 're clean and stocked with all the basics. One caution her e: The least
expensive rooms have no windows; for sunlight, you'll have to pay a little extra. Facilities
are good, with a fitness center, a decent in-house restaurant, and a big rooftop pool and
children's pool with a lifeguard on duty (unusual in Singapore). However, the pool is also
used by the local community , so y ou can't guarantee access at all times. There's a self-
service launderette, a coffee shop, and a tour desk.
60 Stevens Rd., Singapore 257854. & 65/6839-8333. Fax [phone]. www.mymca.org.sg. 91 units.
S$45 (US$30/£20) dorm, S$120 (US$80/£54) inside double; S$225 (US$151/£101) family; S$230 (US$154/
£104) suite. AE, DC, MC, V. Far from MRT. Amenities: Restaurant; outdoor pool; health club; c oncierge;
smoke-free rooms; babysitting. In room: A/C, TV, minibar.
RELC In ternational Hotel Value Part of an E nglish language center , this
traveler-class hotel offers great value for money and very personable staff. Rooms start at
the Standard Budget twin. These resemble a two-bed dorm: v ery basic, with a shar ed
lobby and bathr oom between two r ooms. But at just S$150 (US$101/£68), including
taxes, these ar e on a lev el with standar d dorm prices else where, so they 're a hit with
backpackers. Alco ve and E xecutive r ooms offer balconies, minibars, ne wspapers, and
cable TV, and the large Hollywood Queen sleeps four comfortably. There's a small fitness
area but no pool, and it's a brisk 10- to 15-minute walk to O rchard Road.
30 Orange Gr ove Rd., Singapore 258352. & 65/6885-7888. Fax [phone]. w ww.relc.org.sg. 128
units. S$150 (US$101/£68) double; from S$190 (US$127/£86) Alcove suite. AE, DC, MC, V. 15-min. walk to
Orchard MRT. Amenities: Restaurant; smoke-free rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/in-house movies, high-speed
Internet, minibar, fridge, hair dryer.

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