I've travelled widely for business, mostly staying in high-end hotels. This is my fifth visit to Singapore, each lasting a week or more. Mostly I've stayed at the Shangri La just down the street, where the experience has always been outstanding. This time I stayed at the Marriott to match the plans of co-workers; I definately will not stay there again.

The location is central, right in the heart of the Orchard Road shopping district. Enter the lobby past the black suited bouncer (as compared to the flamboyantly dressed doormen at the ShangriLa). The lobby can best be described as akin to Grand Central Station - very noisy, and full of people coming and going. Hard to hear the folks at reception.

The whole tower is serviced by four lifts, so the porter and I wait a while. We reach the room, which is L-shaped. The light in the entrance leaves half the room in darkness - yet the lights are all controlled by a bedside switch in the dark end of the room. The porter immediately switches on the TV (of which I'm not a fan); I try to turn it off with the remote but the batteries are dead.

The room, when relieved of darkness is at best mediocre. Not at all like my room at JW Marriot in Beijing the previous week, nor Sofitel in Xi'an the week before. Cheap motel-style furniture. The bed however was comfy, and the linens good and clean.

While sitting on the toilet that evening I count ten long black hairs on the bathroom floor. I don't have black hair. Most remained for the following three days, a couple made it almost a full week.

I was suprised that the room had a single small bottle of shower gel and hair shampoo - not sufficient in a country that requires three showers a day! No hair conditioner, no mouthwash, no full-length mirror,... Not at all what one expects in a high end hotel - more typical of penny pinching low-end motels.

Breakfast was expensive at $37 (sing), but about in line with top-end Asian hotels. The selection looks impressive to those who haven't travelled much in Asia (where the breakfast buffets are notoriously extravegant), but falls down in the detail: e.g. five very similar cheeses, most hot dishes are at best lukewarm... The waitress seems to think that attentive service is measured by the number of laps she makes of my table. The plate is removed before I've had chance to chew the last mouthful.

The pool area is ok, but the photos on the website are taken from a very flatterng angle. It's not at all like the tropical garden setting at the Shangri-La, much more compact, with (during my visit) a backdrop of a high-rise construction site.

Dinner at the poolside restaurant was good. Service was attentive, and the mojito was good.

Overall I'm left with the impression of a hotel that may have four stars on the wall, but has penny-pinching at its heart. To add insult to injury, after I'd added in $27/day for internet access, this hotel turned out to be just under $50/day more than the Shangri-La (based on my corporate rate). I definately won't go back, and will encourage our corporate booking service to remove this hotels "preferred" status.

I just cannot say enough good things about this hotel. The location is fantastic for shopping and restaurants and the subway is very close. The rooms are large and stylishly decorated with panorama view windows stretching all the way across the room. Beds are very comfy with all the new Marriott bedding. The pool area is great with big cushy sun beds and umbrellas. There was a large shallow pool area separate from the main pool. Perfect for small children or for laying in to cool off and still catch some sun.

I would recommend adding the executive lounge to your package. The staff treats you like family, and we were warmly greeted by name after our first visit. We were served drinks as if we were in a paying establishment. Staff would stop by and chat and ask about our day. The breakfast and evening buffets were plentiful and satisfying enough that we ate there several days and ended up spending nothing for food or drinks. For breakfast there were fresh salmon and bagels, eggs, sausages, pastries, muffins, dim sum, a wide selection of fresh fruits and condiments and crudités. Fresh juices and hot coffee. You also have the option of eating in the indoor/ outdoor buffet for breakfast if you have executive club privileges. Just don't order a mimosa... S25.00 for one!

The dinner spreads were equally nice with dim sums, teriyaki chicken, spinach salad with ALL the fixings, quiches, satay, egg rolls~ just fabulous! A nice variety that changed every evening. We would go in for evening cocktails and end up eating so much that we did not need dinner. Top shelf liquors and very nice wines. You could literally eat at the Executive Lounge and not spend any additional money for food for your entire stay. We did eat out several evenings, however, you could easily survive nicely on what is served there.

Our concierge Shelly was AMAZING! She went WAAAY above and beyond the call of duty. All of the staff at this hotel is very service oriented and I just have to mention an unusual circumstance.

I became worried about a guest traveling with me. He had open heart surgery in August and I got worried as he was complaining of dizziness, heartburn, and his color just did not look right. Shelly made an appointment for me to take him to a specialist, just to be safe. She sent up directions and even had an employee walk us to the best way to exit and point out the hospital to us. She then extended our check out to 5 pm; when we were not back at the expected time she extended it AGAIN until 6 pm AND arranged for us to have executive lounge privileges again that evening after our ordeal. She remembered that we were moving to The Fullerton Hotel for the remainder of our stay. She called us there to inquire if everything went okay as she had gone home before we got back to the hotel!

We also left a computer bag with cell phone and various items in the inside/ outside dining area downstairs. They found the computer and delivered it to us at The Fullerton within the hour. Unbelievable!

I did agree to offer an unbiased review, so I have to mention that there is construction going on currently right next to the hotel, and you do hear it though it isn't very intrusive or overbearing. If the rest of the hotel had not been so comfortable and the staff so friendly, I may have been a bit aggravated about it.

As nice as The Fullerton Hotel is, I must say that I missed The Marriott Orchard after we moved. The lounge is better and they make you feel as if you are a truly valued guest there. Another thumbs up for another wonderful Marriott property!

Our family of four stayed at the hotel for 5 days - a great hotel. Very clean -lovely bathrooms and attentive service except for breakfast. The breakfasts are of a very high standard - you have to try the watermelon juice. Very busy tho and you struggle to order anything outside the menu like hot milk for cereal.

Cannot say enough nice things about the Marriott Singapore. It is located in the middle of the 'upscale' district so if you like shopping for luxury items - it's perfect. Staff are ultra friendly and helpful. Management is caring and responsive. Rooms are a little small but exceptionally well appointed. I am a Marriott Platinum member so I used the executive lounge - and it is simply the best lounge I have ever visited. There is a wide variety of snacks, food, drinks, fruit, etc. and a happy hour from 5:30-7:30pm. Staff pamper you beyond any expectation. If you visit the lounge, get to know the chief concierge Rachel. She'll spoil you rotten.