Singapore suggestions

Three or four days will give you a nice break. I would love to stay longer at some point and may next visit.

The best part, for us, was the excellent public transportation. Get a metro card, EZLink, at the airport and top it off when you need more travel dollars. You just tap in and tap out as you move around the country/city. You can top it off in the metro stations and in 7-11 stores.

We loved the Botanic Gardens and the Gardens by the Bay. Food was great: all the metro stops have restaurants and grocery stores; and restaurants outside were also nice.

Museums were lovely. The National Museum had a docented tour a couple of times a week with an overview of the history of the country.

We enjoyed Chinatown, although not many folks there spoke English. My husband speaks Cantonese, so we made it work. He was so happy to eat food he remembered from childhood. English is the official language in Singapore, but you may find locations in Hawker Markets and some areas where it is not spoken.

It is hot and humid, so be prepared. We did get lost on the way to somewhere — got off on the wrong metro exit — and walked around outside somewhere without shade or trees. Never will make that mistake again, although one trip to a Hawker market sent us a few kilometers walking again, but we stayed under the trees and seemed to have become accustomed to the heat, a little after a week or so.

There are nice videos on YouTube about getting around Singapore, the various metro cards available, and the highlights of the country. Lots of people head for the famous Marina Bay hotel, and we met people who stayed there and liked it. There is probably a video of it so that you can form your own opinion.

We stayed across town in a smaller hotel, which still was up on top of a 35-story building. Since Singapore has limited horizontal space, it is very much a vertical city to maximize available living space!

The best Singapore guide we found was one of the Eyewitness guidebooks by DK publishing, one of which includes Malaysia as I recall. You can probably find cheap used copies on Amazon to get you started.
Though it can be an expensive place for tourists, you can find reasonable (I won't say cheap) accommodations if you stay away from the high cost areas around Orchard Road and the Marina District. Look instead at one of the ethnic neighborhoods - Chinatown or Little India - which are both quite safe.
The MRT is indeed the best way to get around, though we tended to use the local taxis more when we lived there (3 years). You can't beat the door to door service in the tropical heat and humidity when you'll want to limit your time outside.
Food is pretty cheap too. Take full advantage of the Hawker stalls that you'll see everywhere around the city, and know that in virtually every high rise shopping center you'll find a food court in the basement where you can chow down with the locals in air conditioned comfort.
Singapore is the safest destination on planet earth - you can wander virtually anywhere day or night without concern.
Though English is widely spoken, the locals speak a dialect called "Singlish" which is an amalgam of the English they all learn in school spoken in the cadence of the Chinese language (85% of the country is ethnically Chinese). It can be hard to understand until you develop an ear for it.
There are a number of day trip and tour providers that provide services themed to whatever your particular interests are - from WWII to the history of the Island nation going back to its founding. Our favorite was an outfit called "Singapore Walks" that offered 2 hour snippets of various aspects of the history and culture of the city-state, though you'll want to be acclimated to the heat and humidity before setting out on one of their excursions.
Might add that Singapore is the hub not only for the world's best airline, but also some cheap low-cost carriers that will take you anywhere else in Asia that you'd like to visit.

I strongly recommend that you stop in Singapore. Like Cambodia, it can be very hot there.

There are no unsafe locations in Singapore! English is widely spoken, although of course trade workers and bus drivers are not as likely to speak English. We found that self-touring was entirely practical and easy. Not only are many train signs in English, the video monitors tell you which section of the train is less crowded. This is NOT the third-world. This is a rich, bustling, major city of the world. We found it convenient to get a museum card with transit included, AFAIR.

While I have my reservations about authoritarian cultures, while visiting a major Hindu temple, it was interesting to see multiple lower-school trips there. Singapore wants to make sure that young people understand how diverse their city is. Unlike the guys from Queens I worked with in the 1980's who had never met a Jew or had a black friend on their Parochial school basketball team!

Edit: We had to leave a lot out, and chose not to go to the distant wilder, state-park island, I forget the name. We did the Gardens by the Bay on our own, which went well, but a LOOONG walk from the subway stop and back. Poor planning or a taxi-industry subsidy scheme! Timed tickets before Covid, I think. Special spot in Botanical Gardens, perhaps the world's largest exhibition of permanently outdoor orchids. Good restaurants inside the Gardens probably require reservations.

Think we will stay in Chinatown. Approximately how much are taxis from airport to Chinatown?. Trying to figure out if a more expensive hotel with free shuttle one way is better deal than just paying a taxi both directions. Looks like they don’t have Uber.

I think we had the Hilton call a cab for us. Don't remember the cost. I don't use Uber.

https://singaporeairport.net/singapore-airport-transfers/taxi/?amp=1

Taxis are cheap - probably less than SGD 30 (around USD $20) one way - and are the better choice if you're encumbered with luggage. There will be ATM's all around the airport where you can use your debit card to get a little cash. Can just use a credit card to pay for the taxi if you prefer.
Follow the signs at the airport to the designated taxi queue for quick service. Avoid the hawkers that will approach you as you exit baggage claim guaranteeing to take you "anywhere in the city" for a fixed rate. They're a ripoff.
There's really no need to have your hotel book for you.
As I mentioned before, everyone speaks English (more or less) so there's no worry about a language barrier either.

If you had a choice between staying in chinatown v marina bay, where would you stay? We have found a hotel in marina bay that is only $51 total higher than chinatown for the 3 nights we will be there. Neither includes breakfast. I guess im kind of thinking Marina Bay area might be a uniquely different experience after we have been to vietnam, bangkok and cambodia so therefore might be preferable??? Both hotels have a pretty high rating. The hotel in marina bay is staycation approved and sg clean, which i dont believe the chinatown hotel is - if that makes any difference. Thanks.

Given that choice I'd opt for the Marina. It's a more elegant area with plenty of things to see on foot in the immediate vicinity, including the Gardens by the Bay which are quite nice.
You can always hop on the MRT if you want to explore further afield, though as I mentioned previously we usually preferred the cheap taxi's for the door to door service.

Singapore is a great city it’s well regulated and is designed for tourism with lots of things to do. you will not have any problems

Dining is a national pastime, whether at hawker stalls (many now collected in central halls) or gourmet establishments. The multicultural makeup of the city-state puts a wide variety of food on the table. Eating out is a form of conspicuous consumption, partly because fancy housing and big cars are limited. So yes, eating is a joy, although a costly one, especially compared to your tour's previous stops. Maybe that's not a factor when you are on a cruise.
Singapore also has one of the world's biggest gambling casinos. The craft brewpub enthusiasm is firmly entrenched. It used to be famous for cheap shopping but prosperity has reduced the bargains. Ditto for cheap hotels.

@jtridle

Changi is one of the world’s great airports. Top class Qantas and Oneworld lounges. A magnificent butterfly enclosure will captivate most people. Plenty of other activities to pass the time.

The Island is quite small and compact. MRT is a superb transport system. Shopping complexes (Vertical Malls) built over most of them. Buses are on the main throughfare’s. Taxis are plentiful. Never had a problem hailing one.

Sits on the equator so is lovely hot and humid. No worries for my countrypersons and me, but I suspect is likely to test others who have become accustomed to the pampering of cooling air-conditioning.

Language. No worries, they speak my language.

Eating places everywhere. Clarke Quay is central and stacked with eating establishments of any kind of international cuisine you wish to name. Orchard Road is a great shopping location; my tailor has his shop and factory there. The women in my family claim shopping are second to none and closer than Paris or Milan. That is reassuring to me.

For activities, the Botanical gardens are world renown and Sentosa Island is resort groupies’ paradise. Look south and there is Indonesia. Singapore Turf Club to the north if one fancies the gee-gees.

I am told that the Geylang suburb has economy accommodation. Rumour has it is also home to the ladies of the night.

Raffles is our preferred hotel. A Sikh in uniform always has a jolly smile and a nice greeting. Everyone must go there for at least one Singapore Sling in the Long Bar. Pay the extra to have the Singapore Sling cocktail made as opposed to out of the jug. Raffles restaurants and meals are second to none. Rivals the great London pair of The Dorchester and The Ritz. The wagyu beef, lamb, and western rock lobster usually come from the great south land. In a competition Le Jules Verne in Paris wins because it has a view that cannot be matched, especially in early autumn.

No one should pass up the experience of a lifetime to emulate Sir Stamford Raffles and enjoy a colonial afternoon tea at the Raffles. One cannot put a price on history and colonial ambiance, hang the price. You are contributing to maintaining a unique piece of colonial architecture. Of course, nowadays airconditioned rather than servants with fans.

And then there is the Singapore's modern day answer to the Eiffel Tower. Marina Bay Sands on Marina Bay. In the evening at sunset, which happens very quickly, no twilight here, stupendous views over the city and to the south over the strait toward Indonesia. The world’s most magnificent infinity pool. Always warm air. The cares of life melt away.

Prices. To me excellent value.

Just noticed your post. Distracted by recent sporting events including the F1 GP in Melbourne. Singapore has one later in the year. Raced at night under lights, impressive.

Singapore (Singas) is without doubt the cleanest city/country you will ever visit. With a dedicated police force to keep it that way. When you go, do your bit to keep it that way. My backyard.

Regards Ron