Singapore: 5 Places to Stay

Set in a silvery I. M. Pei–built tower in the heart of the Marina, the Fairmont is one of the best-located hotels in Singapore. All major tourist attractions — including the Orchard Road shopping district, the Esplanade theaters, Raffles City Shopping Centre, and the Chijmes complex of restaurants and bars — are either within walking distance or a quick cab ride away. Of the 769 rooms, those on the higher floors (15 and up) have the best views over the city, but all are comfortably furnished with velvety earth-toned fabrics, Bose sound systems, plush chaises, flat-screen TVs, and baths with rainforest showers and Miller Harris toiletries. The Willow Stream Spa is, at a vast 50,000 square feet, one of Asia's largest, with tennis courts, two swimming pools, and 35 treatment rooms where staffers dole out mud wraps and ayurvedic warm-oil massages.

Insider Tip: The hotel's basement is a vast labyrinth of lifestyle boutiques and excellent regional restaurants that connects all the way to the Esplanade theaters.

Room to Book: If privacy and views are priorities, book one of two Signature Rooms on each floor between 7 and 19. These are corner units, with spacious walk-in closets and two private balconies apiece — a rarity in Singapore.

• 1. Fairmont Singapore
  80 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189560; 65-6339-7777 1.294554103.853892 fairmont.com/singapore