Why Stay in Expensive Singapore Hotels When You're Just Going to Sleep There?

Reserving a costly hotel accommodation at Singapore's finest areas is not exactly the smartest thing to do, especially for those who plan to explore the corners of this small yet expensive city-state.

Choosing the right accommodation
Let's say you're having your big family holiday, and you want to immerse yourselves in the city's culture and outdoor vibe. Surely, shelling out a lot of cash on a room should be the least of your priorities. After all, what you will probably do in there — with the myriad activities you will do outside — is sleep. But what is the best choice, you ask? First, we'll tell you which ones to pass.

Have you googled “top family-friendly hotels in Singapore”? Then you must have already seen CNN Travel's list of accommodations that ask for up to SGD 475 per night, such as Marina Bay Sands, Festive Hotel, Wanderlust Hotel, and Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort. If you have a tighter budget, then you should reserve these for holidays without the kids.

One great alternative is Marrison @ Desker. Included among the best value hotels in Singapore, it's located at the heart of Little India. It presents a no-frills accommodation that features the architecture of a Singapore shophouse, a contemporary interior design, and amenities that answer basic travel needs. Inside each room, you will find all you need: comfortable bedding, air-conditioning, a flat-screen cable TV, electric kettle, phone, towels, complimentary bottled water, and free Wi-Fi Internet connection. And because Marrison @ Desker's guestrooms are priced at a better value of around SGD 110, you can still save your money for trips around Singapore's top attractions.

Want to see the best of the city? No frills is the way to go.
They say one of the best ways to discover a city is by trying the local dishes. Save your money for yummy and filling breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals at the Hawker Center. Don't waste your budget on more plush rooms designed like mini-flats complete with ceiling-hugging loft beds. These are appealing for the kids but inconvenient for the pocket.

Spending cash on hotels with facilities like a fancy kids club with a ball pool and 3-level slide is not the only way to make sure that your little kids will have fun during your vacation. What you will spend there, you can use instead to pay for tickets to Universal Studios Singapore, where the children can interact with popular cartoon characters and enjoy tons of rides and attractions.

Do you want a whimsically themed and dolled-up room for your tweens, one that copies the style of the pads showcased on MTV Cribs? Or would you rather have your kids engage in a full range of enjoyable, enriching activities? If you pick the latter over staying at an uber-fancy Singapore hotel, then visit the Flight Experience, the Asian Civilisations Museum, and the Singapore Flyer, the city's giant Ferris wheel.