Options for Short-Term Accommodations in Singapore

Short-term accommodations in Singapore come in three general categories: hotels, hostels, and serviced apartments. By nature of their service and upkeep, hotels tend to be the priciest, and more suited to those who are visiting Singapore for few days to few weeks only. If you are a budget-conscious traveler, hostels will offer you comfort and convenience on the more economical side. Serviced apartments are more ideal for those who will be staying in Singapore for few months. Serviced Apartments are also a good option as a short-term accommodation option for people that are relocating to Singapore and want to take some time to find the right rental accommodations for the long-term.

Hotels

Hotels come in varied scale, proximity to the city center, prices, and facilities offered. For the leisure or business traveler on a short-term visit to Singapore, hotels still offer the easiest, quickest, and most convenient arrangements. Almost all international hotel chains have a branch in Singapore. There are at least 20 luxury 5-star hotels in the country. World-class services, excellent facilities, very comfortable accommodation, and simply beautiful spaces make Singapore hotels renowned the world over. Depending on your budget and preference, you can choose from a variety of hotels that ranges from 2-star to 5-star. Price scale of Singapore hotels come in a wide spectrum, with a daily rate of from well over S$1,000 to a little under S$50 for motels on the lower-end. A good business hotel will likely cost you around S$400 per night. Among hotels, Elizabeth-A Far East Hotel, Scarlet Hotel, and Rendezvous Hotel Singapore-A Clarion Collection are in the S$150-S$200 daily rate bracket. In the S$200-S$350 daily rate bracket, you will hotels such as Gallery Hotel, Marina Mandarin Singapore, Goodwood Park Hotel, Orchard Parade-A Far East Hotel, Traders Hotel Singapore by Shangri-la, Pan Pacific Singapore, Novotel Clarke Quay Singapore, and Royal Plaza On Scotts. Marriot Singapore charges around S$450 for a day’s stay.

Serviced Apartments

Serviced apartments are hotel-like furnished accommodations that provide a home like atmosphere and space. If you are planning to stay in Singapore for a longer period of time and have a more comfortable budget, staying in a serviced apartment may the best option for you. Many foreign professionals choose this arrangement over renting a unit altogether, especially if the expenses are taken car by the company. Most service apartments are usually fully furnished and regularly feature the basic home amenities such bedroom, kitchen, cooking appliances, laundry, and maid services. For short-term accommodations for periods ranging from few weeks to few months, a service apartment is typically more economical than a hotel. The rule of thumb is about 1 month. There are normally three determining factors for choosing a serviced apartment over a hotel: 1) cost, 2) amenities, and 3) length of stay. There are daily, weekly, or monthly lease arrangements for serviced apartments. It is best to book these places well before hand if you want wider options to choose from. Many will offer a 15-20% discount for a monthly stay. You would also do well to negotiate special corporate, family, or long- term lease rates if you are staying for more than 6 months. Cost differences for serviced apartments as a short-term accommodation option depend on considerations of location, proximity to the city center or MRT stations, amenities, facilities, furnishings, size, and age of the structure. A 1-bedroom apartment’s weekly rent ranges from S$1,600 to S$3,300 and monthly rent of S$6,600-S$13,200. 2-bedroom apartments charge a weekly rent within the range of S$2,200-S$6,600 and monthly rent from S$11,900 to S$26,300. There are very few weekly rent arrangements for 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom apartments. 3-bedroom apartments normally charge a monthly rent ranging from S$17,500 to S$24,350, while 4-bedroom apartments charge a monthly rental from S$20,500 to S$26,500. Tenancy agreements for serviced apartments usually have a security deposit clause stipulating the conditions under which the security deposit will be refunded back to you. Make sure you have read and understood it.

Hostels

Cheaper short-term accommodation in Singapore hostels is another viable option for you if you are traveling on an extremely tighter budget. Many of these places offer such common facilities as laundry, kitchen, lockers, internet access, coffee/tea, even a library. It is typical for these hostels to promote their differentiating advantages such as nearness to MRT station, free internet access, no-curfew policy, etc. You might encounter the term “common room” in some of these hostels’ advertisements. In Singapore, this is usually defined as a room that has no attached toilet or bathroom. The bathroom is found outside, usually in the common area. Request for an electric fan or opt for a room with a ceiling fan if the space you are renting does not have an aircon. Singapore can be hot and humid most of the year.

Agent Service For Short-Term Accommodations

You are most likely to utilize the services of a property agent when renting long-term accommodations and not for short-term accommodations in Singapore. Skipping on the agent will save you from paying the agency fee which can range from half-a-month's to one-and-half-a-month's rent.

Summary

Short-term accommodations in Singapore are varied as they are receptive to the needs and resources of the hundreds of thousands that come to the country for leisure, business, or employment purposes. Being one of the major global hubs of international travel and commerce, Singapore simply knows the foreign traveler too well. In Singapore, there is something for anyone, and everything for everyone.

Other Related Topics

Singapore Branch | Singapore Subsidiary | Singapore Representative Office