Is Marina Mandarin within walking distance to Clarke Quay?

Hi,

Thinking about going to Singapore in March for the first time and have found a really good deal at the Marina Mandarin, I was wondering though if this hotel was walking distance to Clarke Quay and how easy it was to get around Singapore from here? We are keen to do some cheap shopping and the touristy stuff, so want to be able to travel around easy and cheaply.

Also, in the Marina area is there places to eat cheaply? We want to be near cafes and restaurants that are a reasonable price, we dont want to be stuck eating in overpriced hotel restaurants.

Is there any decent markets in Singapore where you can bargain as well?

Thanks!!

Is Marina Mandarin within walking distance to Clarke Quay?

Everything in Singapore is relatively close to each other! And the MRT (train system) is wonderful for getting around and very cheap. Be sure to buy an exilink card for hop-in/hop-off travel everywhere.

The Marina Mandarin is a short walk from City Hall MRT. This is one stop from Clark Quay (about 2 min). It would be a good walk to get there is you didn%26#39;t take the train, but certainly possible. City Hall Station is very central, and has the North/South and East/West lines going through it, so it%26#39;s easy to get around.

If you stay around Clarke Quay, you%26#39;ll of course be nearby lots of food places (it%26#39;s Singapore!!!!) but these are the more touristy and expat places, meaning $$$ food. For cheaper fare, try Chinatown and Little India, or else other food centres further out in the heartlands.

There are plenty of markets - but it depends what you want to buy. For food, try Maxwell Hawker Centre, and nicknacks, try China Town or Bugis. There are no real handmade crafts markets, organic farmers martkets etc, as most markets contain fairly commercial asian-style nicknaks which are available in all Asian coutries. Singapore has plenty of shopping, at cheaper prices than Australia. However, remember, that all these things are still more expensive in Singapore than if you were shopping in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia etc. So, if you%26#39;re going other places on your travels, wait for them.

Enjoy your stay!

Is Marina Mandarin within walking distance to Clarke Quay?

Hello,

Its rather a long way to walk, maybe 20-30mins in hot, steamy weather, with occasional brief rain showers. Singapore is very humid.

I would suggest getting the local bus (services are frequent and excellent). Or, nice 10 minute walk to City Hall MRT under Raffles City Shopping Centre and use the underground system.

Denise,

Qld, Australia

I always stay in one of the Marina hotels, clarke quay, boat quay and chinatown etc are all within walking distance.

Just responding to your query about food in the Marina Square area:

The hotel is part of the Marina Square Shopping Mall development. There is a foodcourt within Marina Square itself, as well as lots of cafe, so no need to pay 5-star hotel food prices.

Across the road on the western side is the Esplanade%26#39;s Glutton Bay; an open-air local food place facing the sea, which is quite pleasant after 8 pm (when the air is slightly cooler).

And across the road on the northern side is Raffles City, where again you will find a foodcourt and cafes. About 2 roads up is the Bugis Square/Parco area - lots of food again.

Have a wonderful visit.

Hi,

Marina Mandarin is not that close to Clarke Quay, although it is not too far either (if you take a taxi, it is a short drive and won%26#39;t cost you much, but walking will take you a bit of time and the weather in Singapore, as you probably know) is really hot and sticky.

Getting around Singapore: very easy from Marina Mandarin

If you look for a good source of information about authentic eateries, food centres and nice restaurant, there%26#39;s a website called www.metropolasia.com where you can find an excellent %26#39;Restaurant and Nightlife Guide%26#39; , with heaps of reviews and articles (the link is: http://www.metropolasia.com/index2.php?id=3%26amp;catId=19%26amp;lang=ENG)

I second the %26#39;its walkable but its better to go a different route%26#39; idea.

If you wanted to take a walk and look at various items on the way (Padang, Raffles Statues, Landing Site, Merlion Park and so on), you could do a walk that ends you up in Clarke Quay.

Otherwise the MRT link has been described or a quick taxi (assuming its not at peak time).

Foodwise within or very close to Marina bay - lets start away from restaurants - there are food courts in MArina Square, Suntec Convention Centre and Suntec Mall within a few minutes walk, about 5-10minutes away depending on route is Raffles City Mall which has a reasonable food court. Gluttons bay is in trivial walking distance if you want to go for that - nice outdoor hawker centre, slightly more expensive than most but of good quality - I find it it gets busy very quickly but when I have been its not full of tourists, and its has a decent range of good food (you will find better in other areas outside of MArina Bay by searching threads on the forums for individual dishes, but as a collection Gluttons Bay is good in my opinion.

Restaurants can always be expensive...I wouldn%26#39;t discount the hotel ones automatically but rather suggest that you be aware of what is available and pick carefully if you want to use them that way - nearby you have Keiyaki and Hai Tien Lo in the Pan PAcific that have good reputations, the Wah Lok in the Carlton also. Add to that there is the collection of restaurants in the Chjimes complex next to the Raffles/Raffles City/THe Carlton crossroads. Also on MArina Bay itself there is one of the No Signboard Seafood Restaurants on the Esplanade.

You can try walking via the linked to City Hall MRT and take a train (one stop)to Bugis and Bugis Shopping Street. Get out of the station onto the street and see for yourself what you are in for. There are many street shops along both side of the street (Victoria %26amp; North Bridge Rd) with eateries and souvenir shops, also an area for local shopping

When I look at the MRT map it looks like you need to take the EW (City Hall) line down to the Outram Park Station and then switch to the NE line going up to the Clarke Quay Station. So, perhaps it is not quite as easy as it sounds, although I have not tried it myself.

I would like to stay in the Clarke Quay area, but the two main hotels located right on the river, besides the Fullerton, are Swissotel Merchant and the Novotel Clarke Quay, don%26#39;t seem quite as good as the Marina Hotels in general. :)