10/10
“Exceptional in every aspect”
Gorgeous welcoming and superbly presented
Singapore · head to head
Raffles Singapore vs Marina Bay Sands
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-25: Marina Bay Sands is $296 a night less. They are 1.4 km apart.
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The honest take
Raffles is $1,585 a night, Marina Bay Sands is $1,075, and both sit around the same guest rating with Raffles the far more intimate operation at 590 reviews against 20,000. Raffles has spa and breakfast on its list that MBS lacks; MBS counters with casino and golf. Book Raffles for the building and the history, book MBS for the infinity pool spectacle, the shopping mall underfoot and the lower price on the same night.
The look and the feel
Raffles Singapore
Raffles opened in 1887 and still wears its colonial bones openly: white stucco arcades, black-and-white shutters, ceiling fans turning slowly over rattan chairs in the Palm Court. The 2019 restoration by Alexandra Champalimaud kept the teak floors and Oriental carpets in the all-suite rooms and added a hushed, tropical-plantation calm rather than a gleaming update. The Long Bar upstairs is where the Singapore Sling was invented, and it still draws people ordering one out of duty rather than thirst. It is a hotel for lingering in verandahs and courtyards, not for rushing through a lobby.
Raffles suits travellers who want colonial architecture, quiet courtyards and a slower, storied kind of luxury.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands, designed by Moshe Safdie and opened in 2010, is three 55-storey towers carrying a 340-metre boat-shaped SkyPark on top, its rooftop infinity pool the image everyone already has in their head before arriving. The lobby is vast and glassy, built for volume and movement, feeding straight into a casino floor and The Shoppes mall with its indoor canal. Rooms are clean-lined and contemporary rather than characterful, and the point of staying is the view over the bay and the Gardens by the Bay light show, not the room itself.
Marina Bay Sands suits travellers who want the skyline pool, casino, shopping and a big-scale, high-energy stay.
At $1,075 Marina Bay Sands has no spa on the list and no included breakfast, which Raffles offers as part of its suite experience.
Raffles is the more beautiful place to actually be in, room by room and corridor by corridor, though Marina Bay Sands wins the single unbeatable image with its rooftop pool over the bay.
The numbers
| Raffles Singapore | Marina Bay Sands | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $1,282 | $986 |
| Guest rating | 9.6/10 | 9.6/10 |
| Reviews | 590 | 20000 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 8 | 8 |
| Distance apart | 1.4 km |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Raffles Singapore has
- Spa
- Breakfast
Only Marina Bay Sands has
- Casino
- Golf
What guests actually say
Raffles Singapore
- stunning hotel and service
- attentive butlers go above and beyond
- great location and dining options
- check out process issues
“This is a stunning hotel, the staff are all amazing, especially the butlers that go above and beyond. The locations and facilities could not be better and the dining options delicious. ”
Marina Bay Sands
- amazing views from rooms
- friendly and professional staff
- convenient location near Gardens By the Bay
“Beautiful spacious room with amazing views and the service and facilities are outstanding. Pricey but worth every cent!”
Marina Bay Sands guests come away happier overall, as reviews consistently praise flawless service and facilities with no notable complaints, while Raffles guests occasionally report frustrating check-out issues despite otherwise excellent stays.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-25
Raffles Singapore
- Run of HouseRoom Only$1,275
- Run of HouseBreakfast Included$1,275
- Run of HouseRoom Only · free cancellation$1,278
Marina Bay Sands
- Sands Premier KingRoom Only · free cancellation$986
- Premier Sands Double Room (Full Double Bed) (Bed Type Is Subject to Availability)Room Only · free cancellation$1,008
- Run of HouseRoom Only$1,017
In guests' own words
Raffles Singapore
4/10
“Stunning hotel and service but check out disaster!”
This is a stunning hotel, the staff are all amazing, especially the butlers that go above and beyond. The locations and facilities could not be better and the dining options delicious.
Unfortunately, after a wonderful stay, I was left disappointed by the check out process - they allowed a later check out by 1 hour but when I arrived to process then check out the team were not ready - they had not updated all my incidentals that I highlighted on the statement. I had to leave so they said they would em
Marina Bay Sands
10/10
“Beautiful spacious room with amazing views and the service and facilities are outstanding. Pricey but worth every cent!”
Absolutely everything always a wow factor.
Nothing!
10/10
Bellissimo tutto perfetto😍😍😍
10/10
“This is the 2nd time we stayed at The Sands.... all the staff are so friendly; professional and actually could not do en”
About each
Raffles Singapore
Luxurious Suites with Oriental Touches Experience the elegance of spacious suites at Raffles Singapore, featuring fine oriental carpets and teak wood flooring. Enjoy modern amenities like free WiFi, verandah, and a separate dining area for a comfortable stay. Wellness and Butler Service Indulge in a range of wellness activities including a spa, fitness…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Marina Bay Sands
Luxurious Accommodation Marina Bay Sands, a 5-star hotel in Singapore, offers air-conditioned rooms with top-notch amenities like a flat-screen TV, safety deposit box, and a private bathroom. The hotel also provides a fitness centre, private parking, and a concierge service for a lavish stay. Gastronomic Delights Indulge in a buffet breakfast every morning…
Check-in — · Check-out 11:00 AM
Facilities, in full
Raffles Singapore
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Free Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Room service
- Business center
- Terrace
- Garden
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
Marina Bay Sands
- WiFi available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Family rooms
- Lift / Elevator
- Laundry
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in/check-out
- Cycling
Where they are
1 Beach Road10 Bayfront Avenue
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Rates are live for 2026-10-25, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons