Singapore Hotels?

[llamatron]

Hey guys, I'm going to Singapore in March and looking for a decent hotel to stay at. I know a fair few of you have been up there before so was wondering if you had any recommendations. Looking for something reasonably cheap (who isn't?) and ideally pretty close to that whole Orchard Road area (I believe that's probably the best location to be in?). Any help? Thanks.

[roller]

If you got the money stay in the Raffles :)


I once stayed in the Albert Court, its not cheap but its lovely and the American breakfasts were great, The hash browns were the size of giant pizzas!!!:eek::)


The Catholic hostel in Waterloo st. is a great location and cheap cheap, well ive been told its gone up a bit.

I'll send you some toy shop locations llarmie, if you want, dont wanna post in public due to scalpers

[iceburn]

If you budget is under or around $100, you can try these but condition isn't that great and it's abit way off Orchard Road but still accessible via the train (MRT)

http://www.holidaycity.com/singapore90/index.html

Fragrance Hotel Oasis Singapore (http://www.holidaycity.com/fragrance-oasis-singapore/index.htm) or Golden Landmark Hotel Singapore (http://www.holidaycity.com/golden-singapore/index.htm)

My uni classmate asked me to find one for him other time but i reckon price has risen and its under this lot that is > $200 per night

http://www-singapore.com/orchard-road-singapore/

The one he stayed in and a less than 5 minutes walk to Orchard Road is The Elizabeth.

Ohh, i also just found these websites for you...give them a try

http://www.holidaycity.com/singapore-orchard/index.html

I think this one is better and there are special room rates till 31Mar
http://www.asiarooms.com/singapore/singapore/orchard_road-area.html?sort=rates&extraSortRate=40-80%20AUD

[llamatron]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll look into 'em.:D



I'll send you some toy shop locations llarmie, if you want, dont wanna post in public due to scalpers

Yes please do, that would be awesome.

I'm hoping that MP Grimlock is out by the time I'm there so I can get him in person and avoid the dreaded postage fees.:cool:

[iceburn]

roller...private toy shops???? *haha*

[Zippo]

I stayed down by Harbourfront, and used the bus to get to the MRT stations (or just stayed on the bus). The $8 unlimited tourist pass was a must have.

[llamatron]

I'm looking at the Hotel81 Dickson (http://www.hotel81.com.sg/hotels_dickson.shtml). Seems to be fairly close to places (walkable to Orchard road I think) and it'll end up costing about $100 a night. I would go with Roller's Waterloo st hostel suggestion but they want you to fax them your passport and credit card to make a reservation so I don't think that's the best idea.

[Zippo]

I'm looking at the Hotel81 Dickson (http://www.hotel81.com.sg/hotels_dickson.shtml). Seems to be fairly close to places (walkable to Orchard road I think) and it'll end up costing about $100 a night. I would go with Roller's Waterloo st hostel suggestion but they want you to fax them your passport and credit card to make a reservation so I don't think that's the best idea.


Not even close to Orchard Road.
On paper things seem very walkable, but the heat and rain quickly kill any motivation to do so. By the end of my travels I was taking a bus or MRT often to go down the street a few hundred meters..

[llamatron]

Haha, freaking humid Asian countries!

Ended up booking at a decent hostel type place instead because I'm cheap. It's in Little India are and pretty clost to MRT station so should be all good. Thanks for the help dudes.

I'll be looking for lists of good toy shops soon. ;p

[iceburn]

I'll be looking for lists of good toy shops soon. ;p

Search for the Singapore threads here...lots of info and look at heroic_decepticon's blog too

[iceburn]

Info from TF.SG by stephenusprime



Dear everyone,

I have been thinking for quite a while now about cataloging a list of shops in each country. This catalogue could serve as a guide to members who are visiting the particular country, either for work or leisure, and therefore would have no difficulty finding these places.

Although I am totally new to doing up a write up of this kind, I do hope to do so in an unbiased third person perspective, going from the Major Departmental stores to the specialty ones. I will strive to provide all information as accurately as possible, and seek the help of bros and sis here to correct me if I am ever wrong.

So, without wasting much time and energy, here’s the first from the list of countries to be catalogued: Singapore.

DEPARTMENT STORES

OG Department Store.

Number of Branches: 3

Branch locations:

OG Orchard Point
160 Orchard Road,
Orchard Point (Level 3),
Singapore 238842
Tel: 6317 2222, 6317 2200

OG People’s Park
100 Upper Cross Street
OG Building (Level 4)
Singapore 058360
Tel: 6535 8888, 6535 7788

OG Albert
60 Albert Street
OG Albert Complex
Singapore 189969
Tel: 6210 2222, 6333 0111

Sypnosis:

One of Singapore’s favorite shopping destinations; especially so for the cost conscious. It does not mean that the quality of products sold there are not of acceptable standards, rather it caters for the mass general public.

OG generally carries a large line up of recent Transformers toys. They are also one of the earliest to display new toys that have just been released in Singapore. Staffs are accommodating and prices are generally at the standard retail. Occasional promotions do occur, especially on the weekends, so be sure to keep a lookout for them.

Metro Department Store

Number of Branches: 3

Branch locations:

Metro Paragon
290 Orchard Road
Paragon (Level 4)
Singapore 238859
Tel: 6835 3322

Metro Woodlands
1 Woodlands Square
Causeway Paoint
Singapore 738099
Tel: 6893 3322

Metro Sengkang
No.1 Sengkang Square
Compass Point (Level 3)
Singapore 545078
Tell: 6733 3322

Sypnosis:

Similar to OG, which is a Department Store catering to the cost conscious. Product range as similar as well, so nothing to shout about.

The toys lineups here are a little slower than OG. Some of the branches have a ‘Collectors’ Corner, so be sure to look it up if possible. Discounts are fewer than in OG, but when they do have them, it’s usually pretty good.

Robinsons Department Store

Number of Branches: 2

Branch locations:

Robinsons Centrepoint
176 Orchard Road
#05-05, The Centrepoint
Singapore 238843
Tel: 6733 0888

Robinsons Raffles City
252 North Bridge Road
#03-01, Raffles City Shopping Centre
Singapore 179103
Tel: 6216 8388
Sypnosis:

Business is in between OG Types and ISETAN types. Product prices are still affordable though. Toys lineup here are few and limited, as Transformers are probably not the main focus for them.

ISETAN Department Store

Number of Branches: 3

Branch locations:

ISETAN Scotts
350 Orchard Road
Shaw House
Singapore 238868
Tel: 6733 1111

ISETAN Orchard
435 Orchard Road
Wisma Atria
Singapore 238877
Tel: 6733 7777

ISETAN Katong
80 Marine Parade Road
Parkway Parade
Singapore 449629
Tel: 6345 5555
Sypnosis:

Carries most of the latest Transformers series, currently being Animated. Prices are the same as the others, and discounts are also available time to time.

Carrefour

Number of Branches: 2

Branch locations:

Carrefour Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard
Suntec City Mall (Level 2)
Singapore 038983
Tel: 6333 6868

Carrefour Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
Plaza Singapore (Basement)
Singapore 238839
Tel:: 6836 6868
Sypnosis:

Sometimes carrying a number of toys not seen in other departmental stores. Normal retail price applies, but when discounts come, they come big!

Takashimaya
Number of Branches: 1

Branch locations:

391 Orchard Road
Ngee Ann City (Level 3)
Singapore 238873
Tel: 6738 1111

Sypnosis:

Similar to the rest, perhaps this is what you could say about all Departmental stores. Carries all major Transformers series at the moment, and they would also sometimes have toys not available at the others.

TOY ONLY DEPARTMENT STORES

Toys R Us

Number of Branches: 7

Branch locations:

TRU Jurong Point
#02-45,
Jurong Point
Tel: 6791 2252

TRU United Square
#02-10/15
United Square
Tel: 6352 9320

TRU Forum
#03-03/25
The Forum
Tel: 6235 4322

TRU Paragon
#06-17/18
Paragon
Tel: 6836 4865

TRU Tampines Mall
#03-17A
Tampines Mall
Tel: 6787 0662

TRU Suntec City
Tropics #03-05
Suntec City Mall
Tel: 6336 3908

TRU VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk
VivoCity #02-183
Tel: 6273 0986
Sypnosis:

Carries a whole lots of Transformers toys, and are usually one of the first to put on new releases. Has quite a number of toys exclusive only to them. Slow to offer any form of promotions, but with the Star Card Membership, one could earn Star Points exchangeable for vouchers.

INDEPENDENT TOY SHOPS

These are independently operated shops that cater to mostly adult collectors. So there is not worry of your potential toys being touched and played with by kids like they do at department stores.

Prices vary from shop to shop, and if you are already a regular at a particular shop, you’ll be sure to enjoy better prices. Different shops will carry different toy lines, and the older lines can be found here as well. For those looking for vintage toys, you could try looking up some of them from the list here.

To begin, I would probably like to list down the one location with the largest cluster of toy shops: China Square Central (CSC), at 18 Cross Street.

Since they are all inside this building, I will probably just note the store unit number for your reference.

The shops inside here are:

Ace Ventuna Toys - #02-14
Hing Hing Toys Crazy - #02-22A
Hua Quan Song Trading - #02-19/20
Ng’s Collections - #02-09
Play Bar - #01-23
Toystar - # 02-31
Toys n Toys- #01-25/26
U-Toys - #02-11/12
Vincent Collection - #01-22

For first time buyers there, be sure to keep a clear mind when buying there. You should probably take the time and look around a little more and then start heading over to the one with the best deal.

Beware: This place is addictive and poisonous.

Below are other toy shops, where the same principle applies.

Earth X Toys & Collectibles
14 Scotts Road,
#05-126, Far East Plaza
Singapore 228213
Tel: 6884 4390

Dollz Inc Pte. Ltd.
501 Orchard Road
#02-07 Wheelock Place
Singapore 238880
Tel: 6733 7377

Movie Replicas
14 Scotts Road
#04-14 Far East Plaza
Singapore 228213
Tel: 6235 6247

The Falcon’s Hangar
Block 261 Waterloo Street
#01-27 Waterloo Centre
Singapore 180261
Tel: 6235 2390

Mikelz Toys & Collectibles
211 New Bridge Road
#B2-04A/B Lucky Chinatown
Singapore 059432
Tel: 6225 0094

Rapid Culture
8 Grange Road
#02-16 Cathay Cineleisure
Orchard, Singapore 239695
Tel: 6736 0322

Robo Robo
5 Coleman Street
#B1-17, Excelsior Shopping Ctr
Singapore 179805

Simply Toys (Suntec)
3 Temasek Boulevard
#03-053 Suntec City mall
Singapore 038983
Tel: 6235 4458

Simply Toys (Raffles)
#B1-01 The Raffles Exchange
Raffles MRT Station
Singapore 048618
Tel: 6438 2238

ToyQuestz
14 Scotts Road
#05-105 Far East Plaza
Singapore 228213
Tel: 6238 8082

The list above is by no means the complete list of all the shops in Singapore. These are probably the only ones which I have come across and had them catalogued before. As time goes by, I will probably do more updates and add in more locations and shops so fret not.

Hopefully this simple guide will give you a brief idea of where to start searching for toys. For the new fans/collectors, take you time, choose wisely. For the visiting friends, enjoy your stay and bring lots of cash.

[valkyrie_76]

Looks like Ill be needing good walking shoes and water when I go over in March as well but I never realized the amount of toy stores Singapore has even though it has been a few years since I have been.

[iceburn]

Most of them are along Orchard Road so that could be a day's event if you want from the beginning... e.g. TRU The Forum and make your way down (with a slight diversion to Far East Plaza) and down to Takashimya, TRU Paragon, Cathay Leisure, OG Orchard Point and a bus ride/MRT to Suntec area.

The rest is up to you...as it's near Chinatown

[Zippo]

Reading that I want to go back
Damn this thread..

[roller]

Good old OG

i got my reissue Sideswipe for a decent price many a century ago