Four Seasons Hotel Singapore

The five-pearl Four Seasons Hotel Singapore stands alone on this tree-lined boulevard and offers a quiet, exclusive atmosphere. The marbled lobby is traditionally elegant, with Asian artwork prominently on display between wood-paneled walls and illuminated columns. Lounges off the main lobby are conservative in style, with rich wood furniture and soft couches in floral upholstery. This property attracts business travelers with its range of on-site meeting spaces, and leisure travelers are drawn by the location near shopping. Two outdoor pools are a perk for families looking for some on-site entertainment. Overall, this is a quiet and elegant property.

This hotel is located along the quieter tree-lined Orchard Boulevard, not to be confused with the nearby Orchard Road, Singapore's bustling shopping destination. Guests can take a short cut through a walkway connecting the hotel to the Hilton Singapore, which faces Orchard Road and the infamous Orchard Towers, a red-light area of Singapore that comes alive at night, until the early hours of the day. Most guests aren't bothered by this infamous neighbor, and like all of Singapore, the area is quite safe. It's convenient for both tourists and business travelers, with the huge ION Orchard shopping mall and the Orchard Road MRT station both about a five-minute walk away. The Central Business District is about 15 minutes away by car, and Clarke Quay -- a major dining and entertainment hub -- takes about 10 minutes to reach in a taxi. Chinatown, Little India, and the Botanic Gardens are all within 10 minutes (or less) by car. Expect a 30-minute drive to Changi International Airport, or about an hour by public transportation. 

The hotel's 255 rooms have understated, traditionally elegant decor with patterned carpets, dark wood furnishings, and Asian artwork. Most have pool view or city views, with some looking out over Orchard Boulevard. Rooms are all particularly spacious, with sitting areas that include armchairs and ottomans. Rooms all have free Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and minibars. Beds have a cream-colored tufted headboard and are flanked by softly glowing lamps. Glass-topped work desks have leather roller chairs. The bathrooms are large marble affairs, with double vanities, walk-in showers, separate soaking tubs, and bidets. Upgraded rooms have expansive corner views, and some suites add kitchenettes with dining tables.

The hotel has two outdoor pools, catering to different crowds. The rooftop pool, with its view over the city, is geared toward families with games and pool toys for kids, while the other is a lap pool with tropical plants lining a quiet sundeck and hot tub. The spa and large fitness center -- with a sauna and steam room -- are also on the third floor. There are four tennis courts on-site, two outdoor and two indoor air-conditioned courts. Over 16,000 square feet of meeting and function space -- including two ballrooms which can accommodate up to 500 people -- are available on-site. For dining, One-Ninety serves wood-fired steaks and seafood, while Jiang-Nan Chun specializes in fine-dining classic Cantonese cuisine. The casual One-Ninety Bar and Terrazza offers cocktails, sangria, and afternoon tea with optional seating on an outdoor terrace.