i will vote for swissotel (slightly >200) or carlton. They are next to shopping mall, mrt and in CBD. V lavender's location is good, close to MRT and cheaper but the room is small, smelly and lot of big6 group tour. My friend cancelled the booking once she saw the room. Lucky that they did not charge us.
Oh I see. If you stay there, there are several places you can try.(1) National library: there is a kid library (My Tree House) on the basement
(2) Enjoy the colonial style building: Chijmes: used to be chruch complex and converted to restaurant / bar area. / Raffles Hotel where you can try the singapore sling which claimed to be invented in Raffles hotel.
(3) Yet con: very local traditional Hainanese restaurant recommended by Choi Lan. (personally, i think just so so but no harm to try if lazy to go to other chicken rice shop)