Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
86
(closed for renovation, to end 2009); health club w/Jacuzzi, sauna, st eam, and massage; c oncierge; air-
port transfers; room service; babysitting; smoke-free rooms; executive-level rooms.
In room:
A/C, TV w/
satellite programming and in-house movies, minibar.
The Regent Singapore
The Regent is tucked betw een Cuscaden and Tanglin
roads, at the nor thern end of O rchard Road—you'll have to hike about 10 minutes to
get to the center of things. B ut check out the lobb y in this place! I t's a huge thr ee-level
atrium affair with windo ws on three sides, a skylight, fountains, plenty of small priv ate
meeting nooks, and raised walkways straight out of
The Jetsons.
The guest r ooms have
high ceilings and are decorated with Chinese motifs in refurbished fabrics, but the bath-
rooms are smaller than at most other comparable hotels and the place is sho wing its age
slightly. You have to r equest coffee-/tea-making facilities in y our room; other wise, the
service is free in the tea lounge, which also ser ves a high tea the old-fashioned way, with
silver tray service.
1 Cuscaden Rd., Singapore 249715.
&
800/545-4000
in the U.S. and Canada, 800/022-800 in Australia,
800/440-800 in New Z ealand, 800/917-8795 in the U .K., or 65/6733-8888. F ax 65/6732-8838. w ww.
regenthotels.com. 441 units. S$418 (US$280/£188) double; from S$589 (US$395/£265) suite. AE, DC, MC,
V. 15-min. walk to Orchard MRT.
Amenities:
2 restaurants; very cool bar; lobby tea lounge; outdoor pool;
health club w/st eam and massage; c oncierge; airport transfers; room service; babysitting; smoke-free
rooms; executive-level r ooms.
In room:
A/C, TV w/sat ellite pr ogramming and in-house mo vies, high-
speed Internet, hair dryer.
Singapore Marriott Hotel
The towering green and scarlet-roofed pagoda of
the Marriott is a landmar k at the corner of O rchard and Scott r oads. Geared strongly
toward business trav elers, its ultracentral location, next to O rchard MRT, makes sight-
seeing conv enient, too. The cosmopolitan lobb y is per fect for informal meetings or a
comfortable coffee stop. Crossroads Café, which spills from the hotel onto the sidewalk,
is one of Singapore's most popular spots to see and be seen.The pagoda tower means that
rooms aren't large, though they are cozy and inviting and equipped with all the comforts
and conveniences you'd expect for business trav el. Leisure travelers may find the pool-
terrace rooms and suites more interesting, elegant little cabins that are surprisingly resort-
like, considering the Orchard Road location. Each has a poolside veranda, wooden floors
with rugs, skylights over the open-plan bath, and walls of car ved stone.
320 Orchard Rd., Singapore 238865.
&
800/228-9290
in the U.S. and Canada, 800/251-259 in Australia,
800/22-12-22 in the U .K., or 65/6735-5800. F ax 65/6735-9800. w ww.singaporemarriott.com. 373 units .
S$324 (US$217/£146) double; from S$640 (US$429/£288) suite. AE, DC, MC, V. Orchard MRT.
Amenities:
4 restaurants; lobby lounge, bar w/live jazz, and dance club w/live bands; outdoor pool w/Jacuzzi; health
club w/Jacuzzi, sauna, st eam, and massage; c oncierge; airpor t transf ers; r oom ser vice; bab ysitting;
smoke-free rooms; executive-level rooms' outdoor basketball court.
In room:
A/C, TV w/satellite program-
ming and in-house movies, high-speed Internet, minibar, hair dryer.
5
MODERATE
The Elizabeth Singapore
The Elizabeth is E uropean in style, although the lobb y
has a huge and distinctly Asian water fall that cascades down to a rock garden below and
a gift shop that 's good for Asian souv enirs. Executive-floor rooms were refurbished in
2008, as w ere the four large suites, which ar e large, if r elatively unadventurous, spaces
with dark wood furniture. If you need the space, these can be a good deal. Unfortunately,
the hotel has no plans yet to invest in the standard (Superior) rooms, which are becoming
rather worn and dar k since their last r efit in 2005. The facilities ar e nothing to write
home about; ther e are a fe w workout machines next to the pool ar ea and no business
