Singapore Hotel near shopping destination with special rate

If you're a shopaholic, you may want to time your visit to Singapore to coincide with the mid-year Great Singapore Sale, when it seems that the whole island is going at a discount. All major shopping centres and boutiques mark down their prices during this period, which can last for up to a month.You may do well to fight the crowds and shop right at the beginning of the Great Sale - shoppers in the know say that's when the best buys are to be had.

Shopping in Orchard

	Named after the many nutmeg and pepper plantations that lined the street in the 1840s, Orchard Road was sparsely populated by plantation owners like Scotts, Cairnhill, and Cuppage whose names are familiar street names in the vicinity today. In the 1900s, a mysterious disease swept through the nutmeg plantations, wiping them out within a year. Because of its location in a valley, floods were also common. They were only controlled in 1965 when Stamford Canal - part of which runs below the pedestrian mall fronting Wisma Atria Shopping Centre today - was deepened and widened. In the 1970s, pioneering landmarks like C. K. Tangs, Plaza Singapura and the Mandarin Hotel came up and led the way for entertainment complexes. Brick by brick, and block by block, towers of glass and steel lined what used to be mud-tracks to make Orchard Road the premier shopping belt today.


Shopping in Chinatown

	Just behind the soaring skyscrapers of Singapore's financial district lies Chinatown – the cultural hub of the Chinese migrants. Bound by Upper Pickering Street, Cantonment Road, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road, the crowded and colourful network of streets and alleyways is the signature look of this area. Here, Chinese merchants hawk their wares from the ground floor of quaint pre-war shophouses, from delicate bales of silk and gold jewelry to Singapore t-shirts and traditional crafts. The sights and sounds of Chinatown are like no other: medical halls mix snake skin, herbs and spices and other exotic ingredients into potions for all ailments; traditional delicacies like sea cucumbers lie drying in the street; fruit sellers squat near mounds of rambutans, pungent durians, mangosteens and other seasonal fruits; fortune-tellers peer intently at open palms over make-shift tables; hawkers barbeque thin slices of pork for passers-by. Try the Tanjong Pagar area for traditional teashops, clog and kite makers, painted masks, waxed paper umbrellas, lacquerware from China, handicrafts and artefacts from all over Asia. Then wander over to Smith Street, Trengganu Street, Temple Street and Pagoda Street where the narrow streets are chockfull of bargains. The modern face of Chinatown shopping can be found in the area around the junction of Cross Street with New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Seng Street. The large shopping complexes here, such as Chinatown Point, Yue Hwa, People's Park Complex and Chinatown Complex, are not only good sources of Chinese products but also offer bargain-prices for anything from electrical and electronic goods, luggage and textiles to bargain-priced clothes and cosmetics. A wide selection of local crafts is available at the Singapore Handicraft Centre in Chinatown Point. Nearest MRT station : Outram Park (EW16) or Chinatown (NE4).



Shopping in Little India

	Nearest MRT station : Little India (NE7) As you step into Little India, be prepared for an overpowering of the senses! First, you will be greeted by the strong, heady scent of spices and jasmine garlands, followed by the treasure trove of silverware, brassware, ethnic jewellery and colourful silk saris, dazzling to behold. Traditionally the home of Singapore's Indian community, Serangoon Road and its neighbouring side streets are still today a bustling hive of sights, sounds and intriguing aromas. Check out the spice mill along Serangoon Road for ready-made packets of spices for fish, meat or vegetable curries that can be easily packed into a suitcase. Or indulge in some jewellery - silver amulets, bridal ornaments, cheap, colourful bangles, ankle chains and other adornments. Look out for Indian bedspreads and giant photographs of Indian movie stars. Chellas Gallery specialises in papier-mache boxes and other collectibles from Kashmir. No visit to Little India would be complete without seeing two of the area's institutions -- the Tekka Centre and Mustafa Centre. The Tekka Centre on Buffalo Road, known as KK Market to the locals, is a bustling wet market full of fresh vegetables, fish, meat, spices and flowers. For small souvenir items, check out the brassware shops or one of the other small shops. At the other end of Serangoon Road in Serangoon Plaza is Mustafa Centre, a 24-hour emporium-cum-department-store-cum Aladdin's cave. Under its modest exterior, you'll find every conceivable item here at some of the lowest fixed prices in Singapore. Sim Lim Square 1 Rochor Road Nearest MRT station : Bugis (EW12) Just over the Rochor Canal from Little India stands Sim Lim Square, one of the oldest and popular complexes in Singapore for audio and video gear. Row upon row of shops on four levels deal in stereos, tape decks, CD players, TVs, VCRs, laser disc players, cameras, videocams and anything electronic. Be sure to take time to shop around, and compare and negotiate prices. Check goods carefully and insist on detailed receipts and full international guarantees.



Shopping in Riverside

	Many shopping place in Riverside area Clarke Quay Nearest MRT station : Clarke Quay (NE5) or Raffless Place (EW14/NS26) Featuring five blocks of restored warehouses, Clarke Quay offers a quirky alternative to mainstream attractions, with more than 150 shops selling antiques, clothes, souvenirs, silk-wear, home furnishing and accessories. Pushcarts selling unique pottery, jewellery and woodcraft knick-knacks add to the friendly, festive atmosphere. Flea markets on Sunday are worth checking out. Great World City Nearest MRT station : Free shuttle service from City Hall and Orchard MRT stations. Previously a favourite entertainment centre in the 1960s, this latest shopping "city" in Singapore houses anchor tenants such as Cold Storage supermarket and GV Grand Cineplex. A stone's throw from Orchard Road, the shopping centre also provides a free shuttle service. Liang Court Nearest MRT station : Clarke Quay (NE5). Free shuttle service on weekends from City Hall MRT station. Located next to Clarke Quay, Liang Court is home to a number of Japanese label boutiques and bookstores. There's also the Singapore Visitors Centre where you can obtain information about Singapore, book a tour, rent a car and even send gifts back home. Riverside Point Nearest MRT station : Clarke Quay (NE5) or Raffless Place (EW14/NS26) Step into this waterfront shopping mall by the Singapore River and be awed by the imposing central atrium that opens up into the sky! Watch an interactive water feature with animated jets shooting into the air as you stroll around the mix of jewelry, lighting and fashion shops. Take your pick of waterfront dining either indoors or al fresco, and be entertained by street performances.



Shopping in Marina Bay

	There are several shopping place: CHI JMES is now a popular shopping Nearest MRT station : City Hall (EW13/NS25) Having undergone a spectacular facelift as a national heritage site, CHIJMES (pronounced “chimes”) is now a popular shopping, dining and entertainment site. Formerly one of the last few cloistered convents in the world, the sprawling building with its impressive Gothic architecture and cobblestone courtyards makes an interesting place to wander around, particularly in the evenings. City link Nearest MRT station : City Hall (EW13/NS25) This is Singapore's first underground pedestrian mall which links City Hall MRT station to Marina Square and Suntec City Mall. A range of specialty shops and food outlets are located here, including Adidas, Lee Hwa Jewellery, FCUK, Loccitaine, HMV music store, The Coffee Connoisseur (TCC), Thai Express and Nooch Resturant. Marin Square Nearest MRT station : City Hall (EW13/NS25) Marina Square Shopping Mall is one of the larger shopping malls in Singapore. It comprises four levels of shopping with more than 300 exquisite shops in an exciting shop mix with Golden Village Cineplex and Superbowl Bowling. Millennia Walk Nearest MRT station : City Hall (EW13/NS25) With more than 190 shops, Millenia Walk has an excellent mixed of designer and street smart fashion stores and speciality shops. Here you'll find fashion stores like Raoul, watch boutiques like the Hour Glass and Cortina E'space, electrical and electronic superstore Harvey Norman and numerous eating outlets serving a diverse range of international cuisine. Raffles City Shopping Centre Nearest MRT station : City Hall (EW13/NS25) This is part of the Raffless City Complex designed by world-renowned architect I. M. Pei. The complex also houses two hotels, a variety of restaurants and a convention centre. The shopping centre lists among its tenants, the award-winning department store, Robinsons & Co, and numerous fashion and specialty shops such as Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Lifeshop, Country Road and Metropolitan Museum of NY store. Watches, jewelry, electronics, optical goods and cameras are well represented here. Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade Nearest MRT station : City Hall (EW13/NS25) Five of the some 70 shops in the Arcade are operated by Raffless Hotel, selling exquisite Raffless souvenirs, books, prints, teas and clothes. The other shops sell both international brand names and regional specialties, including fashion wear, jewellery, timepieces, antiques, gifts and mementos. Of interest are Thos S.B. Raffless which specialises in gourmet food, Ludwig Reiter which sells handcrafted and custom-made shoes, and Escentials, a personalised scent store. Suntec City Mall Nearest MRT station : City Hall (EW13/NS25) This giant 83,850 square metre shopping mall, the largest in Singapore, is divided into four thematic zones - Galleria, Tropics, Entertainment Centre and Fountain Terrace. The Galleria showcases a wide selection of famous brand names alongside Singapore speciality stores. Besides G2000 flagship store, Mango's largest Asia store is also located here. Specialty shops offering home furnishings, casual wear, lingerie and leisure products are located in the Tropics zone. World-wide French hypermart Carrefour boasts some of the lowest prices in town. At the 'heart' and civic core of the mall is the Fountain of Wealth, certified as the world's largest fountain by The Guinness Book of Records.