The Novotel near Boat Quay has pleasant rooms, is a convenient location, and has a nice swimming pool. I love the Intercontinental, but can't remember the pool!

Marriott

This is the pool at the Intercontinental Hotel, which is fabulous (especially the Club Floor):
http://craigandjeane.smugmug.com/Travel/Malaysia-and-Singapore/18250202_WSZqp2#!i=2320059939

The ParkRoyal at Beach Road has a decent lap pool and is good value for money (a business-like 4 star). The main pool at GoodWood Park Hotel next to its Min Jiang is also quite nice.

The Grand Hyatt has a lovely pool and pool area, beautifully landscaped.

You hardly need another suggestion, but the Shangri-La has a spectacular pool. Big and surrounded by a gracious tropical garden, much more space deck than other centrally located hotels.

Greetings LoungeLizardess (fine handle) and congratulations in advance on your initial visit to our fine home of Singapore; special part of the world. And, congrats on flying Singapore Air; SQ is my current and primary work carrier and am looking forward to savouring another SIA business travel flight out of SFO later this evening.

Concerning Singapore hotels with acceptable lap pools, will give the highest regards to my former SIN business travel property, the Four Seasons. Before purchasing a property in SIN, the FS was my Singapore work home. Great staff and some cherished friends. The FS' lap pool on the third floor was always relatively quiet, due to the hotel's "family" pool on the 20th floor. Much appreciated for this pre-work, dawn lap swimmer. (And should add, my current business travel hotel in Bangkok is the Four Seasons, and she also possesses a more than adequate - and even longer - lap pool. I love that FS hospitality -- and her competitive corporate rates.)

Should you end up staying at the SIN FS and desirous of a room instead of a suite, will suggest a premier room on the 19th floor. Most of my corporate bookings and stays at the FS were the lower room categories, but on occasion, a premier would be available. Great corner locations.

Given it's your first visit to SIN, would be remiss in not mentioning one of my more frequent and beloved Singapore haunts, my favourite airport in the world, Changi. As of my last Changi departure (6 Jan. '13) that commenced this current trans-pac business trip, SQ's Vietnam flights were operating out of Terminal 2. Depending upon your class/status, SIA does maintain a fine SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2. I've always been a bit partial to SQ's SK Lounge in T3, but I'm confident the T2 SKL will be most adequate for your pre-flight comfort.

Wherever you stay, have fun in our sweet city-state of SIN. And, in the time-honoured Fodors tradition of giving those on-the-ground updates, most pleased to send this missive off (one hopes) from the United Airlines (business) lounge at SFO (international side). (And, a certain lovely Asian front desk maven still remembered this former UA 1K and UA million miler; delightful woman.) Now, this forever SIA Loyalist will eventually venture not too far to SQ's SFO SilverKris Lounge and await SQ1 J to Hong Kong via an A380. Love flying SQ with those wondrous crews and friends. Will eventually return home to SIN next Friday -- via SQ, yes.)

Savour your planning and early and warm weekend wishes to you and all,

macintosh (robert)


... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...

Thank you for all the advice and suggestions. At this points, it looks like the hotel will be the Mandarin Oriental, although nothing is final yet. It looks like I will have four free days in Singapore, I'm very excited about visiting and will start a new thread for more recs after plans are firmed up.

Once again, thanks everybody. I'm booked into the Mandarin Oriental at the rate of 350 SGD including breakfast and wifi (although taxes and service charge will add another 17% or so to the bill). Not cheap, but someone else is footing the bill for two nights, I'm paying for three. I am so looking forward to this trip and will be posting more questions later this week-end!

Oh and Marmot, yes, I did look closely at the Shangri-La and it was a runner up. I was able to get a similar rate, but it didn't include breakfast. You're right, though, it does have an excellent pool.