Pan Pacific Singapore

Its design, facilities, amenities, and location make the Pan Pacific Singapore one of the finest hotels in the city. At 38 stories, it is the tallest of the three hotels that are part of the Marina Square development (the other two are the Oriental Singapore and Marina Mandarin Singapore). At almost 800 rooms, the Pan Pacific is also one of the biggest hotels in the area, with reportedly the highest hotel atrium in Southeast Asia. Still fresh from its 2012 major renovation, the lobby is visually stunning, with 35 balconied floors soaring dizzyingly above swaths of polished marble. A non-traditional check-in procedure allows guests to register via iPads while sitting in handmade wooden seating pods set over an expansive shimmering water feature. Guests get to their rooms via one of eight glass-capsule elevators -- four on the inside and four on the outside. The overall effect is a shimmering and polished high-end hotel with innovative design and cutting-edge tech that attracts a mix of business travelers and families.

The hotel overlooks Ruffles Boulevard in the Marina Bay District of downtown Singapore. Surrounded by three shopping malls, there's plenty in the way of retail and dining choices in the immediate area, while the iconic waterfront is within a 10-minute walk. Across the nearby Helix Bridge is the city's latest mega-project -- Gardens by the Bay -- a spectacular landscaped park created from reclaimed land. The Promenade MRT subway is within an eight-minute walk, while the nearby East Coast Parkway means easy access to Changi International Airport, which is about a 15-minute drive away. The street circuit of the Formula One race held each September passes right in front of the hotel.

The hotel has 790 rooms spread over 30 of the 38 floors, with all the superior rooms and suites on the higher levels. Rooms are immaculately finished in neutral, earthy tones with warm wood, backlit paneling, and sharp contemporary styling -- though some guests complain that the beds are hard by Western standards. For business guests, there are large workspaces and ergonomic Herman Miller chairs, while both wired and wireless Internet are free of charge. Other in-room tech and amenities include 32-inch flat-screen smart TVs with satellite channels, and "intelligent" (energy-efficient) air-conditioning, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and well-stocked minibars. Higher-end rooms include Nespresso machines and DVD players with Bose surround sound. Suites with separate living areas and kitchenettes are also available. Sleek Hans Grohe bathrooms all come with walk-in rainfall showers and White Company products, while superior rooms have deep Kaldewei tubs. Higher-floor rooms also feature superb cityscape or harbor views -- most from furnished balconies -- but these are available only to Pacific Club guests.

With a total of eight restaurants and bars, guests have plenty of eating and drinking possibilities without having to leave the hotel. Eating spots include Indian, Japanese, and Cantonese cuisine, while the Edge restaurant serves a particularly good Asian buffet. In the hotel's impressive atrium is reputedly the longest bar in Southeast Asia -- it's 144 feet or 44 meters -- and serves craft beers, fine wines, and artisanal cocktails. The fourth floor houses an adequate outdoor swimming pool -- complete with underwater speakers -- as well as the up-to-date fitness center, the St Gregory Spa, and outdoor tennis courts. There's also a children's play area with a jungle gym. The Pacific Club offers an exclusive lounge, access to rooms on the highest floors, and an extensive array of business facilities and meeting rooms -- not to mention spectacular views. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.