Mandarin Oriental Singapore
Singapore

Shaped like the Mandarin Oriental's iconic fan, their Singapore family member is located directly on the wonderful Marina Bay. Like many large cosmopolitan cities there are a number of great locations to choose from, but our favourite would be overlooking the MarinaBay. That is why if you chose to stay here we would highly recommend a harbour view opposed to a city or ocean view. All of the 468 newly renovated rooms have ideal floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the views, but the harbour view is what you want – ideally as high up the building as possible. Many of Singapore’s hotels have executive lounges, but our favourite is the Mandarin’s. It is the most sophisticated and refined, not allowing too many rooms this benefit. But if you opt for it, it is worth every penny! The dining options are numerous with Italian, Japanese and international cuisine to name a few, but for us it is the Cantonese restaurant, Cherry Garden, that stands out. The spa received a major renovation in early 2013 and is truly one of the best in the city. The pool is also an impressive size – 25 metre outdoor lap pool – for a centrally located city hotel. This is certainly one of the best options overlooking Marina Bay.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson