Bras Basah and Bugis

ibis Singapore on Bencoolen

★★★★★

The ibis on Bencoolen Street is the sensible budget pick for travellers who want to spend their money on food and sights rather than a hotel room. It sits in the Bras Basah and Bugis area, one of the most convenient districts in the city: Bencoolen, Bras Basah, Bugis and Rochor MRT stations are all about five to eight minutes' walk, so almost every part of Singapore is a short ride away, and many key sights are reachable on foot. The National Museum, the Singapore Art Museum area, Fort Canning Park, Raffles Hotel and the Esplanade are walkable to the south; Bugis Junction, Bugis Street market and Kampong Gelam's Sultan Mosque and Haji Lane are just to the east; and Little India and the Tekka Centre hawker centre are a pleasant walk north. The rooms are what you expect from ibis: compact at around 18 square metres, simply designed, clean and quiet, with comfortable beds, good showers and air conditioning that works well. Recent renovations have refreshed many of them, and guests mention the updated rooms in reviews. There are queen and twin rooms, plus single rooms useful for solo travellers. The hotel restaurant, TASTE, serves an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet with continental choices plus Japanese, Indonesian and Chinese dishes, and Le Bar is open around the clock for drinks. There is no pool or spa, and the lobby can be busy with tour groups, but for the price, the location and the breakfast, it delivers exactly what a budget traveller needs. In a city where good hotel rooms are expensive, that is valuable.

Who it suits: solo travellers, budget-minded couples and short-stay visitors who will be out from morning to night. Families with young children may find the rooms tight; book two rooms or look at a family-oriented hotel. Business travellers like the efficient service and the central location for meetings in the Civic District and Bugis.

Making the most of it: the breakfast is good value, but the area's food is better, with the hawker stalls of Albert Centre and Tekka Centre, the coffee shops of Bencoolen Street and the cafes of Kampong Gelam all close. Ask for a higher floor for less street noise. The neighbourhood is safe and lively at night, with shopping at Bugis Junction and Bugis+ until late.

Practicals: 170 Bencoolen Street; four MRT stations within about five to eight minutes' walk; breakfast from early morning. Fit: first trips on a tight budget, solo travellers, and anyone who prioritises location over facilities.