Accommodation in Singapore

[Accommodation Review] – Raffles Sentosa Singapore (Sunset 1-Bedroom Pool Villa), Sentosa, Singapore (18 – 20 Apr 25)

/ kktong76 / 2 Comments

Location

Raffles Sentosa Singapore is an all-villa resort in the central part of Sentosa Island, a tourist island south of Singapore. The resort was slated to open in 2020, but the pandemic delayed completion. The resort’s opening was pushed back several times and finally soft-launched in March 2025. Despite its central location, the resort is a tad far from most of the attractions on the island, which are mainly located on the eastern part of the island. The isolated location also meant the resort is far from most amenities, such as eateries and convenience stores. Guests who wanted to use this resort as a base to explore Singapore would spend more time transferring between transportation modes to access other attractions on mainland Singapore. The isolated location of the resort also meant guests could enjoy a tranquil stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Villa

We originally booked the Garden 1-Bedroom Pool Villa, owing to my friend’s membership status with the ACCOR group, the resort upgraded us to the 235㎡ Sunset 1-Bedroom Pool Villa. There was not much difference between the two villa types, but slightly more outdoor space in the Sunset 1-Bedroom Pool Villa. There are two smaller buildings (or pavilions, as the resort termed them) within our private villa grounds: one for the living area and the other for the bedroom and bathroom.

The exterior of our Sunset 1-Bedroom Villa
There are two pavilions in the compounds of our villa

Private Outdoor Terrace

Entryway

Beyond the large wooden door at the main entrance to our Sunset 1-Bedroom Pool Villa lies a small corridor leading into the private terrace. The entryway is decorated with a bed of greenery on the right, which pays homage to the resort’s natural theme. From the villa’s entryway, we can see the two pavilions on either side of the entryway and our private pool nestled in the centre of the two pavilions.

The entryway to our Sunset 1-Bedroom Villa
View of our Sunset 1-Bedroom Villa from the entryway

Private Pool

The Sunset 1-Bedroom Pool Villa has a small pool where the two pavilions face. This private pool, partially surrounded by plants inside the private terrace of the villa, is great for families and friends to dip in. Though a little small, the villa’s occupants can use the pool for some laps. A cabana sits on a platform at one end of the pool, which looks like it was floating in the pool. The cabana is perfect for parents to watch over their children playing in the pool or for guests to relax and sunbathe under the intense Sentosa sun.

Besides the cabana, the pool terrace is also furnished with outdoor furniture. The three-seater couch and the accompanying single-seater armchair placed in front of the bathroom of the bedroom pavilion gave us the option of enjoying the outdoors in the day or basking under the moon in the evenings. The dining table with two chairs in the opposite corner of the terrace gave us a place to dine from the room service menu. However, the outdoor placement of this dining table, without any shelters, also meant that dining here was not possible when it rained. We spotted a lot of millipedes and other creepy crawlies during our stay on our private terrace, especially in the mornings.

Living Room Pavilion

The living room pavilion is housed in a standalone building to the right of the entryway to the villa. From the large painting of the rainforest motif on the wall to the wooden ceiling and the mini bar cabinets, the living room gives off a return to nature vibe. The light blue carpet in the living room, which seems to represent the sea, subtly reminds us that we were on Sentosa Island. This living room has one side of the walls fitted with a floor-to-ceiling window panel, which can be opened to create an indoor-outdoor living concept, further blending into the natural surroundings. The living room is mainly furnished with sitting furniture, with a large couch in front of the rainforest painting. Decked in light green fabric, reinforcing the nature theme, the comfortable couch can sit four adults. There are two other armchairs, one with a similar design to the couch and another wooden armchair decked in navy blue cushions, increasing the seating capacity by two in the living room. In the centre of the living room is a large jade green marble coffee table. A side table is placed between the couch and the armchair, furnished with a table lamp and the in-house phone.

A 55″ flatscreen TV is mounted on the wall beside the couch, loaded with multiple local and international cable channels, where we had no trouble finding a channel for entertainment. Sitting in a corner of the living room pavilion are a couple of minibar cabinets. The wooden cabinets’ wooden mash-designed doors give off a colonial era vibe. The larger cabinet houses complementary coffee and tea. Instead of the usual Nespresso coffee machine, Raffles Sentosa Singapore provides its guests with the top-of-the-range Singaporean brand Bacha coffee and TWG tea. The three drawers inside this cabinet are where we found tea cups and glasses. The short cabinet next to the coffee and tea cabinet houses the in-villa fridge, one of the more unique fridges I have seen. Other than the usual chilling of overpriced beverages, the top tier of this fridge has a wine chiller that can chill up to four bottles of wine. While the living room may be comfortable, I found the lack of a guest bathroom here very inconvenient. Not only would our guests have to travel to the bedroom pavilion to use the toilet, but we also found it troublesome when getting water to make coffee and tea. We also had some issues with the air conditioning in the living room. The air-conditioning will cut off when the doors are not closed properly, resulting in us having to “slam” the heavy doors every time we enter or exit the living room pavilion.

Bedroom Pavilion

The bedroom pavilion is the larger of the two pavilions in the Sunset 1-Bedroom Pool Villa at Raffles Sentosa Singapore. This pavilion also houses the only bathroom in the villa.

Sleeping Area

The sleeping area occupies about half the space in the bedroom pavilion. Like the living room pavilion, the sleeping area is fitted with three large panels of sliding doors that can be opened to invite the outdoors in. The nature theme in the living room pavilion is also seen here. Instead of a large greenery painting, the nature theme comes in the form of a wooden feature wall, against which the oversized king bed is placed. The ceiling of the sleeping area is also decked with the same wooden ceiling seen in the living room. The king bed here, positioned to face the private pool, is very comfortable to sleep on, and the mattress is of the right firmness. However, the pillows are too soft for my liking. The resort has a pillow menu (after we checked with the butler team), unfortunately, these pillows are unavailable as the resort was running at full capacity. Despite the softness of the pillows (which usually gave me neck aches), I was still able to get some great sleep on the king bed. I like how Raffles Sentosa Singapore furnished two large bedside tables on both sides of the king bed. These bedside tables come fitted with wireless charging functions, but I found the charging speed slow. The two power outlets are fitted inside the drawers, which gives the bedside tables a clean look.

The sleeping area is also furnished with a two-seater sofa with an accompanying coffee table, placed in front of the king bed facing the pool area. I thought the placement of an additional sofa here improved the bedroom’s livability; we could sit in the bedroom pavilion and relax if the weather was bad outside. Another 55″ flatscreen TV with the same local and cable channels as the one in the living room is mounted on the wall at the side. This TV is mounted on a swivel that we used to swing to face the bed, allowing us to watch TV while lying on the comfortable bed.

Bathroom

A large sliding wooden door separates the bathroom space from the sleeping area in the bedroom pavilion. Behind the sliding door lies a small section dedicated to the wardrobe, which gives us the feel of a walk-in wardrobe. Raffles Sentosa Singapore fitted two large wardrobes in this area, both with a similar design, with the only difference being the drawer. One of the wardrobes has a larger drawer below, where the in-room safe is hiding, while the other wardrobe is fitted with two deeper drawers where we can store smaller clothing items. The hanging light fitted in this pseudo walk-in wardrobe gave this space a luxurious vibe.

The bathroom has a more luxurious vibe, mostly decked in sand coloured marble tiles on its walls and flooring, a departure from the nature theme we saw in the living room and the sleeping area. Placed next to the floor-to-ceiling window that surrounds one side of the bathroom, facing the pool, is a deep-seated marble bathtub. I like how the resort fitted a wooden platform with a tablet holder at the bathtub so guests could watch videos on their tablet while soaking in the tub. A door near the bathtub provides direct access to the pool and the terrace. A vanity table sits at one corner of the bathroom, next to the bathtub.

Built onto a sand coloured marble wall opposite the bathtub is the sink area. At one glance, it looks as if the bathroom is fitted with one huge sink. However, upon closer inspection, there are actually two sinks. Despite having oversized sinks, we still found ample space at the countertop to stow our toiletries. The three drawers below the sink provided us with space to stow away our toiletries bags and whatnots. The bathroom amenities that the resort provided were stowed in these drawers. I like the large mirror Raffles Sentosa Singapore installed by the sink countertops, which made the already airy-looking bathroom look even roomier. Behind the sand coloured marble wall lies the toilet cubicle on the left, and the walk-in shower on the right. The resort installed a Japanese-style bidet in the toilet, while the walk-in shower is fitted with a regular and a rain shower head. I like the Italian-branded Ortigia shower amenities the resort provides, which are refreshing and have a hint of natural smell that leaves our skin feeling soft and refreshed.

Service

The service at Raffles Sentosa Singapore was generally good. The staff at the reception were warm and welcoming, and it felt like they were doing their best with limited resources. We received an email detailing the arrival and asking for the location we wanted the complimentary transfers in a Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan. As we drove to the resort, we did not use this service. However, the resort allowed the transfer to be utilised by my sister during their visit. This is one of the many ways Raffles Sentosa Singapore go all out to ensure guests are happy with their stay at the resort. Everyone we met at the resort, from the staff at the arrival area to the staff working around to ensure the resort was ready for its official opening in mid-May, were welcoming and friendly and always wearing a smile. There were several issues with the villa we were staying in, and when we brought them up to the butler team, the issues were resolved almost immediately. At times when we were walking around the resort, staff members driving buggies would stop by and check if we needed to be ferried.

We were fortunate to have Ardena assigned as our butler. The service we received from Ardena started when she welcomed us when we arrived at the resort. As she drove us in a buggy to our villa, she made an effort to orient us to the resort. Ardena always had an infectious smile whenever we bumped into her. She would always check with us how our stay was, and if there was anything she could do to make our stay more pleasant. Whenever we raised issues or defects in the villa to Ardena, she would always take care of them immediately. She was very responsive to our request and ensured they were taken care of. Ardena also displayed empathy when we raised an issue we had during breakfast. Instead of being defensive, she was able to listen with much empathy.

The service provided by Kate, the housekeeping staff, was exceptional. I bumped into Kate when I got lost while walking to the reception area. Kate spotted me and asked if there was anything she could help me with. I raised my displeasure that I tried calling the operator in vain for 30 minutes for someone to help me with the millipede-infested pool. Kate gave me directions to the reception and volunteered to help me with the issue after she completed her task. True to her words, Kate came by some 15 minutes later to scoop out the drowned millipedes in the pool. She was meticulous with the task and did it twice to ensure all millipedes were scooped out. Before taking her leave, Kate checked if there was anything else she could help me with or any supplies that we needed to top up. We requested additional drinking water; Kate returned moments later with our requests. She popped by in the evening to check if we needed turn-down service and if there was anything she could help us with before taking her leave.

Despite the efforts of Ardena, Kate, and the staff around the resort, our experience at the resort was marred by the service we received at Royal China during breakfast. The staff came around as if they couldn’t care less. During our first breakfast at the establishment, the moment we stepped into the restaurant, there were no staff around to show us to our table or tell us the breakfast procedures. When we finally got the attention of one staff member about 15 minutes after looking lost, we were shown to a table. We were simply being ditched in a corner of the restaurant as if the restaurant was ashamed of having us within the premises. There was no one to set up the table, nor anyone to pop by to tell us what was going on in the restaurant for the next 20 minutes. Most of the time, we observed the central part of the restaurant being overflowing with staff compared to the other parts. When we placed our orders, the food took about 30 mins to come, but with the wrong orders. When my breakfast finally came, about 45 minutes later, a Caucasian staff member asked if I wanted any eggs. I told him I was still waiting for my eggs while pointing to the menu. The staff snatched the menu from me and defensively told me in an impatient tone that it was coming. Our request for chilli sauce also took 10 minutes to arrive.

We were served Sentosa Sling as a welcome drink as we were checked into our villa.
Welcome amenities were placed in the villa before our arrival.

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast @Royal China

Breakfast at Raffles Sentosa Singapore is usually served in the poolside Empire Grill restaurant. However, due to a private event, breakfast was shifted to the Royal China restaurant. Breakfast was served in a semi à la carte buffet manner, where the pastries were served buffet style, and the main courses were served in an à la carte buffet arrangement. I thought the breakfast was a little limited, as we were given four set choices for breakfast on top of the pastry buffet. These set choices came with a three-tier cheese and cold cuts platter. There wasn’t much local selection for breakfast other than a kaya and peanut butter set. We thought the breakfast tasted decent and was nothing memorable. The menu for breakfast stayed the same throughout our two-night stay at the resort.

Swimming Pool

Raffles Sentosa Singapore has a central swimming pool on top of the private pools in all the villas. The main swimming pool is located at the Grill Empire restaurant, in the heart of the resort. The main infinity pool is large enough for guests to do some serious laps, and there is no lack of sun deck chairs around the main pool. It is a great place for guests to get a good tan due to the lack of vegetation to block the sun. There are three cabanas in the main pool for families to enjoy. The pool was empty at our visit, and we are unsure if the emptiness is due to each villa having its own pool or if the resort was still in its soft launch phase.

Fitness Centre

The fitness centre in Raffles Sentosa Singapore is housed in a separate colonial building near the Royal China restaurant. The fitness centre has a small setup located on the second level of the building. The centre is only equipped with one strength workout machine, some free weights, and a handful of cardio workout machines. The placement of this fitness equipment made the centre look empty.

Overall

While the bed was comfortable to sleep on and the pool was great for families to have some fun in the Sunset 1-Bedroom Pool Villa at Raffles Sentosa Singapore, I did not like the design of the villa for several reasons. The disjointed living room and the bedroom made the villa less livable. This was especially a problem when it was raining outside. The lack of a guest bathroom in the living room pavilion was inconvenient when we wanted water for coffee or tea. It also meant we had to go to the bedroom pavilion to use the toilet. The service was generally good, and the staff came across as trying to find their footing while trying their best to provide service befitting the Raffles brand. Our experience at Raffles Sentosa Singapore would have been perfect if not for the disappointing service we received at Royal China during breakfast, which undermined the efforts of the rest of the staff around the resort who tried their darnest best to make guests feel welcome.

[Accommodation Review] – Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa (Villa du Jardin), Singapore (20 – 22 Dec 24)

/ kktong76 / 1 Comment

Location

Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa sits in a somewhat isolated spot on the island of Sentosa, famous for its numerous tourist attractions. Despite being surrounded by tourist attractions like Universal Studios and Madame Tussauds, the resort is still quite far from these attractions or any other shops. Walking is possible, but reaching these attractions would take at least 20 minutes. There are complementary shuttle bus services on the island provided by the island (the nearest bus stop is about a 5-minute downhill walk from the resort), but the infrequent services mean visitors would waste time waiting for buses. When exploring the sights on Singapore Mainland, Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa provides scheduled bus services to the nearest MRT station at Vivocity Shopping Mall. I reckon the location of Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa is not ideal for exploring Singapore, but it is a great place for those who want a quiet place to escape the bustling Singapore.

Reception at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa

The Villa

The spacious 300㎡ 2-bedroom Villa du Jardin, with a private pool, is the resort’s only Villa-type accommodation. Residents of the Villa du Jardin at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa can park up to two vehicles outside the villa.

The layout of Villa 4, where we stayed

Living Room

The main entrance of the villa opens up to the expansive living room. The use of red in the sofas and carpet to contrast the wooden flooring and ceiling and soft yellow wallpaper seems to invite us to sit on the fabric sofas. The chandelier hanging in the middle of the living room gave the villa a luxurious touch. The paintings of the Luxembourg Garden and simple art decor hanging on the living room walls, coupled with the metallic art pieces tastefully placed in parts of the living, gave it a French flair, paying homage to the origins of the Sofitel branding. The spaciousness of the living room space is enhanced by the high ceiling and the panel of floor-to-ceiling glass doors that look out into the pool area. These glass doors can be fully opened to create an inside-outside living concept, inviting the outdoors into the living room. The living room space has a distinct lounge, dining, and small pantry.

The living room of the Villa du Jardin

Lounge Area

The Lounge Area occupies a bulk of the living room space. The two maroon 3-seater sofas, one facing the standalone and the other the main entrance, took up a bulk of the space in the living room. The sofa provided a generous amount of seating space to relax and gather in the living room. The shin-height glass-top coffee table in the centre gave us a generous amount of space to place the snacks we brought for the staycation. We were able to get entertained by the numerous international cable and local channels from the large flatscreen TV mounted on the standalone cabinet. I like the placement of the TV cabinet, which not only does not obstruct the view into the pool area from the lounge area but also demarcates the space between the lounge and the dining area.

A large dark brown marble work desk occupies the space after the powder room. The large size of the table is great for work, and it has ample space to lay out documents. The work desk is so large that I was able to use it at the same time with my nephew. The easy access to a power outlet fitted next to the table allows us to continue using our lifestyle devices for a prolonged period. The placement of the work desk is next to the small garden outside the villa, where we were able to look out into the green to relax our eyes after prolonged usage of our lifestyle devices. However, the design of the chair that comes with the work desk leaves one to be desired. I found the chair was not very comfortable for longer periods.

The work desk in the living room

Powder Room

A powder room sits on the right of the main entrance to the villa, which allows us to use the toilet while we are chilling in the living room. The space allocated to it was rather generous for a room that only houses a toilet and a sink. Installing a large sink on top of a generous countertop that took the breadth of the powder room and the large mirror made the powder room feel less empty.

Powder in the Villa du Jardin

Dining Area and Pantry

Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa furnished its Villa du Jardin with a round dining table that can sit up to four pax, providing us with a space to dine properly. Despite the simple furnishing, the artistic chandelier above the dining table reinforces the French flair in this part of the living room. I find the size of the dining table just for four pax to dine. But if the villa is occupied to its full capacity of six, there will be insufficient space for all six occupants to dine at the same time.

The dining area in Villa du Jardin occupies a small area in the living room.

Unlike Villa 2, where we stayed last year (click here for my post on Villa 2), which has the pantry as a separate room next to the dining area, the pantry in this villa (4) adopts an open concept and is integrated into the living room. A bar counter separates the pantry from the dining area and gives us space to stow some of the snacks we brought. The pantry also housed the mini bar, where we found the top-of-the-range Nespresso Coffee machine, an electric kettle with all the complimentary coffee pods and tea bags, and the mini fridge hidden in the cabinet at the pantry. The pantry has a kitchen sink, giving us the convenience of simple washing. However, the resort does not provide dishwashing detergents.

Master Bedroom

The two bedrooms in the Villa du Jardin occupy the living room space at both ends. The master bedroom occupies the wing to the left of the living room from the villa’s main entrance. The master bedroom has a contemporary French decor, using mainly dark tones with hints of soft colour, giving this room a comfortable and relaxing vibe. The king bed sits in the centre of the master bedroom. Topped with a thick, firm mattress, the king bed produces excellent sleep quality. I find it weird that only the side nearer to the bathroom has a bedside table mounted onto the wall of the bedroom. Despite having a bedside table, only light switches were fitted onto this side of the bedroom. Instead, power outlets and charging ports were found on the side, which was not furnished with a bedside table.

A vanity desk occupies the space between the bedside table and the bathroom. I thought the design of the vanity desk was very clever. The mirror of the desk was hidden under the tabletop, allowing this desk to double up as a work desk when the top was closed. There are power outlets under the table that allow us to use the vanity desk to charge our lifestyle devices. However, I find the placement of these power outlets rather inaccessible. Mounted on the wall opposite the king bed is the second TV in the villa, which allows us to watch from the myriad of TV channels in the comfort of the king bed. I like how the resort placed a glass-top table under the TV that fills the void and gives us additional space to stow our stuff. A red lounge chaise was placed in the corner of the bedroom, next to the floor-to-ceiling window, which is a great place to relax or to look out into the pool area of the villa.

Master Bathroom

A long carpet from the bedroom extends to the very spacious master bathroom. The two his and hers sinks sitting on the walls across each other can be seen from the entrance to the bathroom. Despite being occupied by a large sink, there is still an abundance of space on both sink countertops to place our facial products. A small two-tiered drawer houses the bathroom amenities and occupies a relatively small space on the sink. The sink area also doubles up as a walk-in closet, where two large wardrobes occupy the space behind each of the sinks. With a knee-high dresser that doubles as a luggage rack, we found lots of space to put away our clothing and luggage. The design of these wardrobes is similar, with the only exception being the length of the built-in drawer. One of these wardrobes features a drawer occupying the entire length of the wardrobe, while the other has the drawers occupying about â…” of the space. The in-room safe is found hidden in one of these wardrobes.

Further into the bathroom, it is difficult to ignore the standalone bathtub sitting at the end of the master bathroom. This jacuzzi tub is huge, and the bubbles produced by the jets are powerful. Soaking in this tub melts any fatigue away. There is another outdoor shower accessible via the glass door on the right of the tub. Between the bathtub and the sinks are the shower and toilet cubicles sitting across each other. I find the space in these cubicles to be sufficiently large. The shower cubicle was installed with both a rain and regular shower head.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 1 sits across from the master bedroom, to the right of the living room. This bedroom was originally configured with a twin bed setup, but the resort helped us set up a king-size bed. The colour tone used in Bedroom 1 is brighter, with a bright red headboard and yellow walls. The combined king bed sits in the centre of this bedroom and is topped with a thick mattress. Unlike the master bedroom, Bedroom 1 is furnished with two bedside tables mounted on the wall on each side of the bed. As the bed was configured from twin to king size, there was a small distance between the bed and the bedside tables. Similar to the master bedroom, we found a well-designed vanity cum work desk in Bedroom 1, sitting between the bed and the bathroom.

There is another TV mounted opposite the bed here, which provides the same entertainment options as in the living room and master bedroom. The TV placement was perfect for its occupants to get entertainment while lying on the bed. Bedroom 1 is also furnished with a table beneath the TV, increasing the storage capacity for its occupants. The single-seater lounger sitting in the corner of the bedroom provides its occupants with an alternate space to relax and fills up the void in this area of the room.

Bathroom 1

The bathroom in Bedroom 1 looks smaller compared to the master bathroom and adopts the same design as the master bathroom. Like the master bathroom, this bathroom is also fitted with a dual sink on each side of the wall with a pathway that leads further into the bathroom. The sink and countertop space are identical to that in the master bathroom. The wardrobes sit behind the sinks, on either side of the entrance to the bathroom, creating a walk-in closet within the bathroom. These wardrobes are the same as the ones found in the master bathroom, with a two-tiered dresser designed into the wardrobe, giving its occupants storage space for smaller clothing items.

Bathroom 1 inside bedroom 1

Passing through the sink and at the bathroom’s end is a bathtub sitting in a black marble fixture. Unlike the master bathroom, the bathtub fitted here does not have a jacuzzi function. Despite being fitted with a shower wand, we couldn’t find any switch that allowed us to switch from tap to shower wand mode. Cubicles stood guard on either side of the bathtub, between the tub and the sinks. The cubicle on the left has the toilet fitted behind a frost glass door, while the walk-in shower occupies the space on the right of the tub. The spacious walk-in shower is fitted with rain and regular shower heads. The lack of shelving for our toiletries in the walk-in shower did not bother us too much, as we were able to use the ledge at the window inside the walk-in shower to place our facial wash and dental kits.

Private Pool

Our private pool mainly occupies the Villa du Jardin outdoor space at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa. I thought this pool was sizeable enough for its occupants to do some decent laps, yet it was able to cater to family fun with children in the pool. The pool has a deeper middle section, but families with small kids can utilise the space near the end of the pool, which has steps and is shallower. I like how Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa furnished the outdoor space with furniture ranging from outdoor sofas and chairs to sun deck chairs, which is superb for us to enjoy the outdoor space. We like the pool area in Villa 4 as it does not have thick vegetation surrounding it, which meant we could sunbathe and not be bothered by the fallen leaves from the trees. I find the pool area in Villa 4 to be cleaner at any one time.

Service

The service was impeccable from when I stepped into the resort lobby, as we remembered from our experience last year. I was greeted by the concierge the moment I arrived at the lobby for check-in. The resort recognises Accor’s membership status. The concierge staff saw my reservation and status and quickly arranged for his colleague to attend to me next, expediting my check-in process. The check-in process was quick, and it only took the reception staff to complete my check-in within 5 mins. We requested some items when in the Villa, and these amenities were delivered promptly. The staff we met around the resort always wore smiles and greeted every guest who walked past them.

Service at the restaurant is generally good. We were warmly welcomed by the staff at the entrance and prompted to our seats. The servers were attentive despite the busy morning breakfast rush hour, and our plates were cleared every time we left to grab more food. However, I observe somewhat inconsistent service. We were not asked if we wanted coffee when we were seated at our table, but I observed the same server asking guests at other tables for their choice of beverage when sitting. While plates are cleared promptly, somehow, the staff will always leave one or two empty plates on the table.

The diligent housekeeping staff were great. Despite not meeting them personally, I noticed their meticulousness and attention to detail in their work. Every corner was made up with much care, and it looked like the villa the day we checked in. The housekeeping staff even made an effort to coil my charging cable neatly. We were out for breakfast, and they cleaned the villa in about 1 hour. In the evenings, we would received a bell from the housekeeping staff asking if we need turn down service, when declined, he went the distance by checking with us if there are any supplies we needed top up.

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast @ Kwee Zin

Breakfast is available in the resort’s main restaurant – Kwee Zin, opposite the reception. Breakfast consists of a mix of Western and local flavours. The buffet breakfast is served both indoors and outdoors. A bulk of the food, such as pastries, egg stations and salads, to name a few, are found in the indoor buffet section. A small section of local flavours like the laksa, noodles and congee are served in the outdoor buffet line. The food served during breakfast was tasty, and the staff topped up the food constantly. I highly recommend laksa, which is flavourful with strong hints of coconut. Seatings likewise are segregated indoors and outdoors, with indoors having fewer seatings. I prefer the indoor table as the resort is pet-friendly; guests would bring their pets for breakfast. Guests allergic to dog fur should insist on sitting at the door. Perhaps due to the busyness during breakfast, the restaurant staff might be unable to check if nearby guests are allergic to dog fur.

Breakfast is served at Kwee Zin, opposite the reception

Swimming Pool

The resort has a large main pool just outside Kwee Zin. There is a large number of seating in the form of tanning chairs and cabanas surrounding the pool. The main pool is a great place for guests who want a good tan, as no vegetation is around to block the sun. The pool gets progressively deeper and has a 2.5m deep end. The main swimming pool is segregated into three sections. The resort barricaded the shallower ends for children to use because there is no kid’s pool. On top of the floating lane segregation, Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa also provides lifevests for kids and placed a lifeguard on duty during the main pool’s opening hours. Next to the kid’s play area, the resort cordoned off a lane for guests who wanted to get a swim workout. The rest of the pool towards the deeper end is free for anyone confident enough to use.

Gym

A small gym in Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa is next to the swimming pool and is open 24 hours a day. The resort used to have a relatively large gym off-site, next to the spa area. However, the land has been allocated for the development of Raffles Sentosa. Despite its small size, the gym has a good mix of cardio and strength training machines.

Overall

We had a comfortable stay in Villa du Jardin at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa. Compared to the other villa that we have previously stayed in, Villa 4 is in a more secluded location and is free of vegetation, which not only gave us great tanning opportunities, but there are also significantly fewer fallen leaves compared to the other villas in the resort. The Villa has a large space in the form of a living room and outdoor pool space for friends and families to mingle, and yet it provides us with our own secluded space in the bedrooms when it is time to retire for the day. There is some wear and tear around the villa, but overall, the villa is well-maintained. The villa’s interior has a strong French element, paying homage to the origins of the Sofitel brand. The bed in the villa gave us excellent sleep quality. The service around the resort was great, the staff were welcoming and always wore a smile on their face.

[Accommodation Review] – Pullman Singapore Hill Street (Studio Suite), Singapore (3 – 5 Nov 23)

/ kktong76 / 1 Comment

As of this writing, Pullman Singapore Hill Street is the newest hotel under the Accor group in Singapore, having opened about one month earlier. The unique, rustic, copper-coloured 19th-century train travel theme can be seen throughout the hotel, from the entrance to the lounge and the rooms. At the main entrance, a train carriage first introduces guests to the theme. The two luggage-filled walls reinforce the theme right off the main entrance. Even Pullman Singapore Hill Street’s mascot plushy is a train.

Pullman Singapore Hill Street
Pullman Singapore Hill Street Facade

Location

Pullman Singapore Hill Street is located in the heart of the island Country of Singapore. The hotel’s entrance faces some old commercial buildings that do not seem to have any activities going on inside, even the shopping malls next to the hotel look like it was lifted from the 80s. However, there are some modern shopping malls facing the back of the hotel, accessible via one of the small alleyways, away from the main street where Pullman Singapore Hill Street is located. The nearest shopping malls within five minutes from the hotel are Raffles City Shopping Mall and Funan Centre. There are a few more shopping Malls, such as Suntec City, Marina Square and Marina Bay Sands, within walking distance from Pullman Singapore Hill Street. There are plentiful dining options within all these shopping malls, on top of various shopping options ranging from budget-friendly to high-end luxury goods. Pullman Singapore Hill Street is also a stone’s throw from attractions such as the iconic Singapore River, Merlion Park, Fort Canning Hill and the National Gallery. The hotel is well connected with buses, and the MRT system allows guests to reach anywhere in Singapore. The nearest MRT station, City Hall station, is just three minutes from Pullman Singapore Hill Street.

The Studio Suite

Pullman Singapore Hill Street essentially has only two types of rooms (although the hotel creates more categories based on the view and lounge accessibility), with the Studio Suite as the highest category and the only type of suite the hotel has. The 33m2 Studio Suite is a Junior Suite with a larger sitting area than the Deluxe or Executive rooms. The rustic train travel theme of the hotel is apparent the moment we enter the Studio Suite. The suite’s copper and brown theme is coherent with the main theme employed throughout the hotel. The small entryway in the Studio Suite at Pullman Singapore Hill Street was only fitted with a full-size mirror for guests to check themselves before leaving the room.

Entryway in the Studio Suite

Bathroom

The entrance to the bathroom is next to the main entrance to the suite. Decked in shades of grey, the bathroom decor feels luxurious and spacious. A standalone bathtub sits by the translucent wall behind the door to the bathroom. I thought the bathtub placement in this location was very smart in that it did not obstruct the walking space in the bathroom. The bathtub is of a good size and great for soaking. The bathroom is large enough for the hotel to fit with dual sinks, enabling both guests to use the sink simultaneously without the need to fight over who to use first. The large mirror by the dual sinks enhances the sense of spaciousness in the bathroom. Pullman Singapore Hill Street treats its guests with the luxurious and fragrant-smelling American brand C.O.Bigelow bath amenities and a full set of toiletries, easing the need for guests to bring their own.

The standalone bathtub in the bathroom

The toilet with bidet functions and the walk-in shower is tucked furthest into the bathroom. The toilet is placed behind a small wall, which serves the function of segregating the toilet/shower and the sink area and hiding the toilet away to give the bathroom a more classy look. The walk-in shower, fitted with rain and regular shower heads, is enclosed in glass, effectively creating a wet and dry area. I like the large walk-in shower, which did not result in an elbow battle with the walls and the glass while showering. I thought the small shelving space on either side of the shower panel was a great addition, as it gave us space to place our dental kits and facial wash.

Lounging Area

The lounging area peeks at guests from the moment the Studio Suite guests enter the suite. The lounging area occupies half the space in the suite and is furnished with a three-seater fabric couch with a small side table, which is ideal for placing small items like drinks or snacks while being entertained by the only TV in the suite. The couch is very comfortable to sit or laze on. Instead of a coffee table, Pullman Singapore Hill Street placed a small round dining table between the couch and the large LED TV mounted onto the wall. The round table serves the dual function of a coffee and dining table. Another single-seat armchair is placed by the floor-to-ceiling windows next to the dining table. This armchair creates additional sitting space for guests and doubles up as an alternate work area, where guests can work on the table.

View from our Studio Suite

A work desk is placed between the couch and the king bed. I saw this work desk as the boundary between the lounging and the sleeping area. The black marble top work desk is of a good size, allowing guests to place their work stuff on the desk, yet it does not take up too much space. The thoughtfulness of Pullman Singapore Hill Street was apparent in the design of the work desk, where we found three power outlets with two USB charging ports each (yes, a total of six) fitted onto the desk, making it convenient for guests to keep their laptops and lifestyle devices full of juice. The only flaw with these power outlets is the narrow space afforded, which did not provide sufficient space for my huge Macbook power brick.

The mini bar area is fitted into the wall space next to the work desk. The mini bar area is elegantly designed with a two-tier open shelving. I like how Pullman Singapore Hill Street places sufficient equipment on the open shelving without making it too cluttered to be useful. A top-of-the-range Nespresso machine and a redundant kettle are placed on the open shelving of the minibar area. The hotel does not provide bottled drinking water. Instead, a slim distilled water machine was placed in the mini bar area, capable of providing hot and cold water in an instant. The machine was so useful that I did not even bother using the kettle to boil water for the Dilma tea the hotel provided. Cups and glasses are neatly placed in the drawer in the mini bar area. The mini fridge is nicely hidden in the cabinet in the mini bar area. The hotel provides its guests with non-replenishable complimentary drinks of juices and sparkling water in the mini-fridge.

Sleeping Area

The centrepiece of the sleeping area is the large king bed sitting in the centre of this area. The king bed, facing the large TV in the lounging area, was comfortable to sleep on. However, I did not get good sleep quality owing to the soft pillows that Pullman Singapore Hill Street provides, which are a tad too soft for my liking. These soft pillows gave me a stiff neck after a night’s sleep. It does not help that Pullman Singapore Hill Street does not have a pillow menu to cater for the pillow firmness preferences of its guests. The idea of mounting the bedside lamps onto the headboard was excellent as it afforded more space for guests to use on the bedside table. Speaking of bedside tables, those in the Studio Suite at Pullman Singapore Hill Street were rather sizeable, and I found no problems placing my mobile phone and Apple watch charger. I like how Pullman Singapore Hill Street fitted two additional USB charging outlets on all its power outlets, which are also found on either side of the king bed. A wireless charging dock is found on the alarm clock on one of the bedside tables.

The sleeping area in the Studio Suite

Perhaps the wardrobe space was the biggest flaw in the Studio Suite at Pullman Singapore Hill Street. I get that, given the space allocated to the suite, which does not allow the hotel to fit doors to the wardrobe, making the open wardrobe concept ideal. However, it is the lack of shelving and drawers that bugged me. This meant that we would have to leave our smaller garments on the ledge of the open wardrobe. It does not help that there are only two drawers at the lower part of the wardrobe, where one was taken up by the in-room safe and the other for shoe amenities like shoe shine, shoe horn and in-room slippers. Having said that, the open wardrobe is large enough to hang up to one week’s clothing for two guests, but the number of hangers the hotel placed limits the amount of clothing we can hang.

The wardrobe in the Studio Suite

Service

My first impression of the level of service rendered by the staff at Pullman Singapore Hill Street was cold and unwelcoming. At the time of my check-in, the staff seemed uninterested in engaging guests or even making eye contact to acknowledge the presence of guests. Staff were loitering around the hotel premises, either engaged with their mobile phone or staring into the blank. Smiles hanging on their faces seem like a rare commodity. When we checked out the rooftop pool, we found the staff at the rooftop bar were not welcoming, and they were seen engaging in small chats amongst themselves instead of acknowledging guests and providing assistance.

My impression of the service changed when I met Syed at the Executive Lounge. Syed’s warm and bubbly personality brightens up my stay at the hotel and offers a glimmer of hope for good service at the hotel. Syed was very welcoming and great to engage in small talk with. He was knowledgeable in his job and the hotel industry, and I learned a fair bit about the hospitality industry while chatting with him. Syed was very welcoming, whenever he spotted us walking into the lounge, he’d approach us and check our drink preferences. Syed is also seen to be observant and diligent in helping us clear the empty plates and glasses when we are at the lounge during evening canape hours. He even brought us hot food options during our stay at the lounge during evening cocktail hours.

I had the opportunity to meet Belina at the restaurants on Level 1. Belina welcomed me with the warmest smile and was patient in recommending food options at the hotel when I had issues deciding what to eat. She took the time to explain the options and oriented me in the different parts of the restaurant. I also spotted Belina engaging other guests during breakfast service to seek feedback and ways to improve the service offerings around the hotel.

Then, there were the porters at the main entrance of the hotel. I had the opportunity to meet Kel, who was always smiling and greeted us whenever I headed outside the hotel for a smoke. Despite the humid weather, Kel and his colleagues always stood by at the main door, reaching for the door to ensure guests gained access to the hotel without lifting their fingers.

Indeed, my impression of the service by the Pullman Singapore Hill Street staff changed during my stay at the hotel (we had a lot of time wandering around the hotel for this staycation). The staff warmed up, and we were greeted with smiles everywhere we went. Staff were seen ready to jump in and provide assistance whenever they saw us looking lost. The staff seemed to take some time to warm up to the guests.

Hotel Facilities

Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge at Pullman Singapore Hill Street is located on level 3 of the hotel. Despite the lounge being a tad small, it feels very cosy. The Executive Lounge is decorated with the train travel theme and has a more rustic vibe, with the unique seethrough tungsten bulbs chandelier. There are several seats with a section resembling a train’s booth seats. A small section at the rear end of the lounge is where food is served buffet style. There is an outdoor sitting area for guests who want to chill by the pool and a hot food section where the chefs prepare a small selection of hot food during the evening cocktail. The Executive Lounge serves evening cocktails from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Breakfast at Madison’s

Breakfast is served at Madison’s, located on Level 1 of the hotel. The restaurant mainly serves Western cuisine during breakfast, with only one station serving local food. The food is organised into warm food, a pastry and salad bar, cold food, and three stations that offer ala-minute cooked food. The food options were tasty but not impressionable, as the offerings were your standard run-of-the-mill breakfast that many hotels serve. Guests have to self-serve the coffee during breakfast using the commercial Nespresso machine.

Breakfast is served at Madison’s on Level 1

Swimming Pool

There are two swimming pools at Pullman Singapore Hill Street. The main pool is located on level 3, outside the reception area. Three cabanas and eight sundeck chairs dotted around the main pool, providing spots for guests to relax while using the pool. However, due to the layout of the hotel, guests wanting to get a good tan are only limited to 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The main pool is of good length, allowing guests to do some decent laps. There is also a wading pool to cater for those with young children. A jacuzzi can also be found opposite to the wading pool.

The other pool is located on the rooftop level, with great sun throughout the day due to the obstruction in the pool area. This pool is smaller than the main pool but still allows guests to do some decent laps. However, those who want to get some tan will find it challenging here as there are no proper sundeck chairs, and guests would have to make do with the furnishings at the rooftop pool. On top of that, guests would have to patronise the Mexican bar to use the pool. I like this pool better as it affords guests a better view of the Marina Bay area, aside from the unobstructed suntanning opportunities.

Gym

There is a small gym at Pullman Singapore Hill Street, located on level 3 of the hotel, next to the main pool. There are two parts to this gym: the indoor and outdoor sections. The indoor section of the gym is rather small and is equipped with very basic and limited workout machines. The workout equipment in the indoor gym section is limited to three treadmills, two cycling machines and one strength workout station, along with some free weights. I find the outdoor section a little interesting. This is the first time I have seen a hotel use the empty spaces outside the gym to expand the gym facilities. The outdoor section has more strength and cardio stations like a roping station and a rowing machine. On top of these, there are a couple of punching bags for guests to practise their MMA moves and a rack filled with medicine balls.

Pullman Singapore Hill Street operates a 24-hour gym

Overall

Pullman Singapore Hill Street is the newest hotel in Accor Group’s list of hotels in Singapore at the time of this writing. There are still facilities that are not ready for operation, but 90% of the hotel is ready to welcome guests. I find the train travel theme around the hotel to be unique and refreshing. I thought the Studio Suite was a tad small but comfortable. Thankfully, Pullman Singapore Hill Street did not place unnecessary furniture inside the suite to clutter the space. The sleep quality on the king bed could be better due to my preference for firmer pillows, which were unavailable in the hotel. The service at the hotel was bad at first, but as our stay with the hotel lengthened, we found the staff were friendly and helpful. Kudos to stars like Syed, Belina, and Kel, who made our day whenever we bumped into them.

[Accommodation Review] – Pullman Singapore Orchard (Pullman Suite), Singapore (7 – 9 Apr 23)

/ kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Pullman Singapore is Accor Group’s latest addition of properties in Singapore. The hotel was previously under the Grand Park Hotel banner. Accor took over the property and did an extensive renovation in 2022. Pullman Singapore partially opened its doors to guests in Dec 2022, selling only the Superior and Deluxe rooms. The hotel fully opened to guests with suites available for booking in Feb 2023. Pullman Singapore is located in the heart of Orchard Road, the prime shopping district in Singapore. There are numerous shopping options and restaurants along the Orchard Road stripe, with about 10 shopping malls within 5 min walk from Pullman Singapore. Despite being in the heart of Orchard Road, the nearest MRT station is far from Pullman Singapore. The hotel is situated in equidistance from both Somerset and Orchard MRT stations. There are numerous buses plying through the bus stop about a 2 min walk from the hotel, enabling travellers to explore other parts of Singapore.

Pullman Suite

Pullman Singapore has only six suites in three configurations, and the Pullman Suite that we checked in for this staycation is the entry-level suite in the hotel. The contemporary Pullman Suite has a total floor area of 48 m² spreading across the living room, bedroom and bathroom. What I find impressive is the length that the hotel goes into minimising single-use plastics in the suite. The only plastic we found throughout the suite is limited only to the trash bin. This is evident from the glass-bottled Voss drinking water to the toiletries and the amenities, where we did not find traces of plastic.

Entryway

The Pullman Suite has a small entryway which is sparsely furnished with a full-length mirror bordered by an industrial copper frame. However, I like the small touches that Pullman Singapore has incorporated into the suite that makes the whole suite very liveable. One such example is the small ledge installed at the mirror, capable of placing items like the keycard, making it convenient for guests. The lighting at the entryway is adequate, thanks to the lighting by the mirror and that from the suite’s living room.

There is a full-length mirror at the entryway of the suite
There is a full length mirror at the entryway of the suite
The main entrance to the Pullman Suite

For an entry-level suite, the Pullman Suite is fitted with a powder room tight by the main entrance to the suite. I thought including this powder room was a bonus as it meant guests staying in the suite did not have to fight to use the toilet. I found the powder room quite sizeable and did not make its users feel incredibly claustrophobic. The powder room is minimalistically fitted with a toilet and a sink. The proximity of the powder room to the minibar in the living makes filling up the kettle or the coffee machine very convenient.

Living Room

The living room in the Pullman Suite is fused modern and luxury into its decor. The wooden and earthy colour tone combined with the warm lighting gives one a cosy and relaxing vibe. The amount of furniture in the living room feels just right, where it neither felt empty nor too cramped. The simple chandelier that provides most of the illumination in the living room gives it a luxurious feel, yet not too over the top, making it look out of place. The minibar area is tucked inside an open shelving cabinet in one living room corner. The top part of the cabinet is where we found the usual kettle and Nespresso machine, and two bottles of Voss drinking water. I find the minibar area a tad cramped with so many items placed on it, making coffee and tea a tad difficult. The mini fridge, stocked with chargeable drinks and snacks, is tucked inside the cabinet at the bottom of the shelving.

A two-seater sofa and a single-seater armchair occupied a bulk of the real estate in the living room. The grey fabric sofa is very comfortable to rest on while guests get entertainment from various local and international channels from the 65′” Smart LED TV mounted on a dark brown wooden feature wall in the living area. I like how Pullman Singapore fitted a ledge running across the entire length of the feature wall beneath the TV, providing additional space for us to put small items.

A sizeable work desk is tucked in the furthest corner of the suite, next to the window. The work desk is in a great location, making it conducive for guests to do some work without being distracted by the TV. The placement next to the window is excellent for those of us who need some inspiration or even to look out to rest our tired eyes from working (if only the view were not facing the back alley of the hotel). I applauded the hotel for furnishing a very comfortable ergonomic chair at the work desk, making working on the desk for long hours less tiring. The only flaw I found with the work desk is the lack of power outlets. Two power outlets are on the wall beside the work desk, near the floor. Unfortunately, these sockets are used for the in-suite phone and the wall-mounted desk lamp.

The view from the Pullman Suite was horrible, and it faced the back alley of the hotel.

Bedroom

The bedroom of the Pullman Suite is in a weird configuration; it is not your usual squarish but triangular-shaped. Despite the weird shape and not being too spacious, the bedroom does not feel cramped at all. There is still plenty of space for us to move around in the bedroom, thanks to the clever use of space. The king bed is the first thing we saw at the entrance to the bedroom. Occupying most of the space in the bedroom, the king bed was very comfortable to sleep on and provided a high quality of sleep. Pullman furnished its king bed with two soft and two hard pillows. The hotel also provides a “hidden” limited pillow menu which includes foam pillows, available upon request with the housekeeping department. The two bedside tables were large enough for us to charge our mobile phones. I like that the hotel, in addition to the power socket on each side of the bed, also fitted two USB charging outlets. Mounting the bedside lamps onto the wall freed up more space on the bedside table for guests to place additional items.

The bedroom in the Pullman Suite

Pullman Singapore furnishes their Pullman Suite with two open wardrobes. The corner of the bedroom allocated to the wardrobe area feels a tad cramped. Hence the use of open cabinets makes excellent sense. The cabinets are large enough to hang several days of clothes. The drawers and open shelving below in the cabinet gave us additional space to stow away smaller clothing items. Here is where we found the in-room safe. However, due to the placement of the dressing table, I find accessing the inner cabinet and drawers a tad inconvenient. The dressing table is relatively small but sufficient for one to put on their make-up or even place a laptop here for work.

I thought the only flaw in the bedroom was the 55′ Smart LED TV placement. The TV is mounted on a rack, sitting by the wall beside the bed, making it difficult for us to obtain entertainment from the international channels from the bed. To make matters worse, the TV is mounted on a fixed bracket, which did not allow us to swivel. Having the TV at the side of the bed, instead of facing the bed, means one of the guests would have their view blocked while watching TV on the bed.

Bathroom

The marble-clad bathroom in the Pullman Suite feels very spacious, allowing the hotel to fit two sinks and giving us abundant space on the countertop to place our toiletries. The hotel provides quality, earth-friendly bathroom amenities, from luxurious C.O.Bigelow bath products to wooden toothbrushes. A deep soak bathtub is placed at the side of the bathroom, which I find excellent for soaking away all the fatigue. The walk-in shower is spacious and has a rainshower and regular shower heads. The water pressure from the shower heads was excellent. The toilet is tucked in front of the shower cubicle, and I find the flashing a tad weak.

Service

The service in Pullman Singapore is impeccable. Every single staff made us feel so welcome at the hotel. The excellent service started at the check-in, where we were warmly welcomed and our status recognised. The reception staff were detailed in explaining the timings and the facilities at the hotel. The staff at the reception would always smile whenever we walked past them.

Then we have Presh at the Atelier Lounge. She was always the first staff we spotted when we exited the lift. Always with the biggest welcoming smile on her face, Presh will always acknowledge all guests walking out from the lift and will always greet us whenever we walk past her station. Seeing Presh would always warm up our day.

The hotel’s most prominent stars would be the staff at the Archive Club. We were glad to have met Dini, Diuah, Qai, and Khadiyah, who were always so welcoming and made us feel comfortable whenever we visited the lounge. We were introduced to the facilities and offerings by Dini and Khadiyah the first time we stepped into the lounge. Both Dini and Khadiyah gave us information about the timings of the evening cocktails and ensured that we were comfortable in the lounge. In addition, the lounge staff always helped us to the best seats in the lounge, whether we were there for an evening cocktail or to chill outside the evening cocktail timing. Visiting the lounge with Dini, Diuah, Qai, and Khadiyah made us feel like we were visiting friends in their house.

The diligent staff at the Eden Restaurant were always welcoming. They will always check on us if we need more food or drinks during breakfast. In addition, they are always efficient in clearing the empty plates on our table, ensuring we feel comfortable having breakfast. The staff even offered to bring me my latte when he spotted me fiddling with the machine for coffee.

Hotel Facilities

Swimming Pool

Pullman Singapore has a small swimming pool on level 4 of the hotel. The pool, despite being small, still allows guests to do decent laps. However, the pool size feels like it is catered more for families to spend time at the pool with their children than for guests to work out. There are limited sittings around the pool, mainly made up of cabanas, which meant guests might not get a spot to swim if all the seats are taken up. Guests wanting to sunbathe will find it challenging because there is no direct sunshine in the pool area. The lack of sunlight in the pool is also why I find the swimming pool water temperature a tad cold. Moreover, guests using the treadmills in the gym faced the pool directly, and it would be awkward for anyone to swim in the pool.

Gym

Pullman Singapore has a small gym on level 4 of the hotel, which oddly overlooks the pool. The gym has minimal workout machines, only two workout machines, three treadmills, one bike and one elliptical machine. There is a limited amount of free weights found in the gym. Despite the small set-up, I thought the gym still enabled guests to do light workouts.

Breakfast @ Eden Restaurant

Eden, located on level 4 of the hotel next to the swimming pool, is the only restaurant in Pullman Singapore. This is the only venue where breakfast is served. I like the glass rooftop design of the restaurant, which lets in plentiful natural light, giving it a greenhouse vibe. Despite the size of the restaurant, the selection of food served during breakfast was quite substantial. There are varieties of both local and international cuisines. There are some slight adjustments to the breakfast menu for the three days we stayed at the hotel. I am impressed that the hotel does not skim on topping up the food despite near or past breakfast timing, unlike many hotels which force guests to eat the leftovers near the end of the breakfast run. Staff were constantly seen topping up the food whenever supplies were low. The food was fresh and tasty, even my picky eater nephew had four rounds of scrambled eggs and hashbrowns.

The Archive Club

Staying at the Pullman Suite grants us access to the Archive Club, the executive lounge at Pullman Singapore. Tucked in a quiet and inconspicuous corner of the hotel at level 4, entry to the Archive Club requires guests to tap their keycard twice. Once inside, the lounge feels exclusive and very quiet due to the minimal human traffic inside the club. The Archive Club is very tastefully decorated, which gives it a cosy vibe. The Archive Club serves light snacks and drinks outside the evening cocktail hours, finger food during cocktail hours, and alcoholic drinks. The Archive Club is one of the few lounges that welcome children during evening cocktail hours, which is excellent for families.

Overall 

We had a comfortable stay at Pullman Singapore. Despite being a new hotel, the staff felt well-oiled in the operations of the hotel. They knew what they were talking about when we asked them about the hotel’s rooms and operations. The staff whom we spoke to felt that they loved their job. Everyone was always seen with a smile that made us feel so welcome at the hotel. The Pullman Suite, though an entry-level suite, was very well-designed and comfortable. The sleep quality on the king bed was excellent. The only flaw I found is the TV placement in the bedroom. Overall, we had a great time staying with Pullman Singapore.

[Accommodation Review] Swissotel The Stamford (Crest King Suite), Singapore (5 – 7 Aug 22)

/ kktong76 / 1 Comment

Location

Swissotel the Stamford is located in the heart of Singapore, within minutes walk to Marina Square and Civil Districts. The hotel sits on top of the Raffles City Shopping Mall, giving guests the convenience of dining and shopping options. Swissotel the Stamford is very well connected to other parts of Singapore via the MRT subway system, which is located under the Raffles City Shopping Centre. The MRT station is one of the interchanges in the Singapore MRT system, allowing guests to get to anywhere in Singapore via the MRT system. There are also a few bus stops nearby the hotel, giving its guests the additional option of exploring Singapore by bus. There are several attractions within walking distance from Swissotel the Stamford. The Merlion Park is within 10 mins walk from the hotel, and the famed Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay are reachable within 20 mins. The Civil District, the historic centre of Singapore, is also within minutes walk from the hotel.

Facade of Swissôtel The Stamford
Check-in Desks at the lobby of Swissôtel The Stamford
Lobby at Swissôtel The Stamford

Sitting area in the lobby of Swissôtel The Stamford
These seats are located behind the check-in desks in the lobby

The Crest King Suite

Swissotel the Stamford recently opened to guests after being designated as a COVID-19 quarantine facility for inbound visitors. We checked into the Crest King Suite at Swissotel the Stamford. The spacious Crest King Suite is the second highest tiered suite (just one tier below the Presidential Suite), having a total floor area of 87 m². The Crest King Suite uses a wooden and earthy tone in its décor, which brings a sense of calmness and a cosy feel. The furniture in the suite is placed near the walls, maximising the usable space for its guests. Our suite sits on one of the hotel’s top floors, giving us sweeping views of downtown Singapore. The Crest King Suite generally has three rooms – The Living Room, Bedroom and Bathroom.

The main entrance to the Crest King Suite at Swissôtel The Stamford

Powder Room

I like the inclusion of a Powder Room next to the main entrance to the suite. The elongated Powder Room is stylishly fitted with a toilet and a standalone sink. Decked in light brown marble tiles and dark brown fittings, the theme in the Powder Room is consistent with the theme in the Crest King Suite. The reduction of waste that Swissotel the Stamford embraces is also evident in the Powder Room, the usual small bar of soap (usually discarded before the full bar is used) is replaced with liquid hand soap. I find adding body lotion in the Powder Room a tad out of place. I like the fitting of a ledge in the Powder Room that runs the entire length of this space that not only provides space to the hotel to place amenities but also gives guests a place to place small items while using the Powder Room.

Wash basin inside the Powder Room
Toilet in the Powder Room

Living Room

There is a small corridor fitted with a full-length mirror by the entryway, next to the main entrance to the Crest King Suite. The end of the corridor opens up to the Living Room of the Crest King Suite, occupying about half of the real estate of the suite. The earthy coloured coupled with the predominantly wooden theme, from the flooring to the furniture, in the Living Room makes this space feels very relaxed and cosy. The minibar in the suite is conveniently located near the suite’s entrance, where a fully stocked mini fridge, Nespresso machine, TWG tea bags and a generous supply of bottled water are found. The cups and glasses are neatly stored in the side cabinet at the minibar.

The Living Room of the Crest King Suite from the entryway
Minibar in the Crest King Suite
The mini fridge is fully stocked with beverages

Further into the Living Room of the Crest King Suite, next to the minibar, is big shelving that seems to hang from the ceiling. I quite like the design of this shelving, which looks elegant and refined thanks to the gold trimmings used in the metallic parts of the shelf. This shelving, mounted to the suite’s wall, gave us tons of space to place our small items and the snacks we brought for this staycation. I like how the shelving is being served not just as storage space but also as an ornament to spruce up the otherwise bare-looking Living Room. The shelving is sparsely decked with china and books that serve decorative purposes (due to the unreachable height). Yet, some reading materials are placed on the bottom shelf where guests can read to understand more about Singapore.

Shelving in the Crest King Suite at Swissôtel The Stamford

Sitting in the middle of the shelf is a huge 65″ LED smart TV. I thought the size of the TV was perfect for the Living Room. Sitting on the couch watching the numerous local and international channels on the TV is a great time to laze around. The channels on the TV caters to guests of all ages, from cartoon channels for junior guests to sports channel for adult guests. I found the entertainment options on the TV at Swissotel the Stamford is one of the most extensive in the hotels in Singapore.

The large LED TV in the Living Room where we go most of our entertainment from

A work desk is sitting at the end of the Living Room, next to the Balcony and perfectly placed under the shelving. The dark brown desk, matching the colour theme of the shelving, is a perfect place for me to finish up my assignment. I like looking out into the Singapore skyline from the work desk when I need a break from working on my assignment. Despite being modest in size, the work desk provides sufficient space for me to work on my laptop.

Work desk in the Living Room of the Crest King Suite

The couch sits directly across from the TV in the Living Room, placed at an angle that is perfect for watching TV on. The grey fabric couch can sit four to five guests comfortably. A side table beside the couch, where the hotel placed a lamp, adds elegance to the Living Room. This side table also allows us to place small items. Regarding sitting space, the Crest King Suite at Swissotel the Stamford also comes with an ottoman-like couch capable of sitting two. The use of the ottoman-styled chair further enhances the spaciousness of the Living Room. A small wooden coffee table, sufficient for us to dine on and place our snacks, is placed directly in front of the couch. I like how Swissotel the Stamford uses dead spaces in the wall with another shelving next to the couch, where more literature is placed for guests to read.

The couch in the Living Room

The couch in the Living Room of the Crest King Suite
More shelving next to the couch

The three-seater couch can comfortably sit three to four adults
The Living Room at the Crest King Suite at night
View of the Living Room from the Balcony

Bedroom

The Bedroom in the Crest King Suite has a coherent theme in the Living Room. The first thing we came across entering the Bedroom was the closet area. I find the closet too small for the size of the Crest King Suite. There is only one wardrobe in the Bedroom with a single sliding panel that partially covers the wardrobe. A chest of three tiered drawers is placed inside the closet, out of which we can only use two of the three tiers, as one of the drawers is used to stow the in-room safe. For a two-night staycation, I’d say the wardrobe space is sufficient. However, I would not be too optimistic for guests who stay here for one week or more. There is another closet-looking open shelving opposite the closet. However, this shelving is only useful for the hotel to place an ironing board and hairdryer. It is of no use to guests. Thankfully, there was a luggage rack in the closet where we could place our baggage.

Wardrobe area in the Bedroom of the Crest King Suite
There is only one small wardrobe in the Crest King Suite
Only two of the three drawers are useable

The other open cabinet is only useful for the hotel to store ironing gears and the hairdryer.
There is a luggage rack in the wardrobe area.

Past the closet area is the sleeping area of the Bedroom, which uses a predominantly beige and dark brown colour theme. Similar to the Living Room, the Bedroom feels very spacious thanks to the placement of the furnishing and the absence of non-essential furniture that only serves decorative purposes. Swissotel the Stamford has a very comfortable King bed, providing excellent sleep quality. The hotel does have a very limited pillow menu. However, this menu is only available upon request and not placed anywhere in the suite. The two bedside tables on either side of the bed provided additional space to charge our mobile devices. The side table nearer to the Bathroom is bigger and comes with a drawer. However, the downside is there are no power outlets on this side table. Fortunately, the two USB charging outlets on the alarm clock provided a way around the power outlet issue. A settee in front of the bed provided space for us to sit on while watching TV, and we also used this settee to place our stuff.

Bedroom in the Crest King Suite at Swissotel The Stamford
The King bed in the Bedroom is very comfortable
The king bed with one of the two side tables

I find the industrial-styled lamp very stylish
Contents of the side table

Opposite the bed, built into the wall space, is another shelving, similar to that in the Living Room. This shelving serves for ornamental purposes but also comes with drawers, which are large enough to put away our bags and other smaller items. I like the purple armchair beside the balcony entrance and the floor lamp, which is a great place to read a book. The 65″ LED smart TV in the Bedroom has the same entertainment options as that in the Living Room. Due to the distance from the bed to the TV, I thought the size of the TV was just nice for us to laze on the bed watching TV.

The Bedroom in the Crest King Suite feels very spacious
There is a wall of shelves that provided us with more storage in the Bedroom
The 65″ LED TV in the Bedroom has the same entertainment options as that in the Living Room

The armchair by the Balcony is a great spot for reading

Bathroom

The Bathroom in the Crest King Suite of Swissotel the Stamford is beautifully designed, portraying a sense of luxury and elegance. The placement of the fittings in the Bathroom makes it feel spacious. The entrance to the Bathroom reveals part of the dual sinks that sit atop a marble countertop. Both sinks are separated by a bathroom amenities box where the hotel placed toilet amenities such as toothbrushes, vanity kits, etc., conveniently within reach while we were using the sink area. The hotel also fitted a drawer beneath the amenities box, giving us more space to put away our toiletries. Despite looking cramped, I find the space on the sink countertop sufficient to place our toiletries.

The spacious Bathroom in the Crest King Suite
The elegantly designed sink area in the Bathroom
Amenities found in the box between the two sinks
Each sink comes with a set of hand soap and body lotion.

A standalone bathtub sits to the left of the entrance to the Bathroom, strategically in front of a large glass panel, allowing us to view the Singapore skyline or watch the TV in the Bedroom while soaking in it. There is a blind on the Bathroom side of the glass panel to provide guests with privacy. The bathtub is large and deep, providing a great relaxation that removes our fatigue. I like the inclusion of a towel rack where we can place our clothing or leave the towel to dry.

The deep standalone bathtub in the Crest King Suite

The walk-in shower is quite sizeable, located to the right of the sink area, and is fitted with a rain shower and a regular shower head. I like the generous storage in the walk-in shower that gave us the space to place our toothbrushes and facial wash. The toilet in the Bathroom, next to the walk-in shower opposite the sinks, employs an open concept that does not come with another door. The absence of a door makes the already toilet feels even larger. Unlike the toilet in the Powder Room, the toilet in the Bathroom comes with a bidet function.

The walk-in shower in the Bathroom
The toilet in the Bathroom comes with a Japanese-style bidet function.

Swissotel The Stamford provides its guests with Purövel bath amenities that feel refreshing.

Balconies

There are two balconies in the Crest King Suite at Swissotel the Stamford. One of the balconies is located in the Living Room and the other in the Bedroom. Both balconies are sizeable and allow us to take in the beautiful skyline of the Marina Bay area and CBD of Singapore. In addition, because our suite is located on one of the highest floors in the hotel, we can see as far as Indonesia and Malaysia from the balconies of our suite.

One of the two balconies in the Crest King Suite
The balconies offered us a great view of the Singapore Skyline.

View from the Balcony in the evening
View of Singapore Skyline at night

Service

The hotel gave us a bottle of wine, but the suite was not equipped with a bottle opener to enjoy the wine.
The Swissotel cow welcomed us to the Crest King Suite.

Swissotel The Stamford did a simple decoration to surprise my nephew for his birthday staycation.

There are more misses than hits in the service we received during our stay with Swissotel the Stamford. Service, in general, felt cookie-cutter and not impressionable. The staff came across as soulless and were there just to do their minimal. Service at the hotel felt robotic and patronising. Our first contact with the hotel’s service level came when we checked in. Staff were seen loitering around the hotel’s lobby just to pass the time and avoided eye contact with us. None of the staff approached us to check if we needed help. We approached one of the staff on the ground floor for check-in and were made to wait 10 minutes for the staff to furiously punch in our details before being led to the lift for lounge check-in. The staff should have directed us to the lounge for check-in when I showed her our booking printing instead of spending time punching into her system. The check-in process at the lounge was inefficient. Two staff assisted our checked in, and it took around 15 mins to get our keycards ready. Despite being notified by the hotel, our suites will be ready by 11 am. Having said that, the lounge staff were more personable than those on the ground floor. The moment we were led to the lounge for check-in, we were welcomed with warmth and made to feel comfortable. While waiting for the check-in, another staff at the lounge served us drinks to make the wait feel bearable.

Service at the lounge was generally better, where we were always greeted and helped out by staff who were ready to render assistance. The staff at the lounge were welcoming whenever we stepped into the lounge, be it for an evening cocktail or just for a drink. We realised the lounge staff helped us resolve issues better than those on the ground floor.

Service at The Clove, where we had our breakfast was a mix. On the one hand, the staff clearing the tables were warm and welcoming. They were observed to tirelessly clear plates with a smile from the table despite a busy breakfast run. They were observant and were ready to render any form of assistance. But, on the other hand, the staff at the egg stations always pulled a long face on both days when we had our breakfast.

As this staycation was to celebrate my nephew’s birthday, I requested a simple decoration for my sister’s suite and a birthday cake for my nephew before arriving at the hotel. The hotel did some simple birthday decorations to give them credit, which surprised my nephew. However, the birthday cake took a while to be delivered to our suite. It would be great if the hotel staff could notify us of the time that the cake would arrive so we can spend our time enjoying the facilities in the hotel.

We were told, during check-in, that we would get late check-out at 5 pm, a benefit that was accorded to my friend’s Diamond membership with Accor. However, on the day of check-out, we received a call informing us that our check-out timing will be at noon and that any late check-out would be chargeable. After speaking to the front office manager, we were told the late check-out was not registered in the system. This goes to show there are systemic issues with the hotel.

Hotel Facilities

Swimming Pool

Swissotel the Stamford shares a swimming pool with her sister hotel next door, Fairmont Singapore. The two circular swimming pools consist of a wading pool for children and a deeper pool catering to guests who can get a decent swim. Lanes are marked out in the centre of the adult pool for guests who want to get some decent swimming without other holiday-makers playing in the pool getting in their way. Sundeck chairs are mainly arranged around the wading pool, which receives good sun from noon till around 4 pm. There are several more sundeck chairs around the main pool, but they are limited in number. On a first come, first served basis, three cabanas are scattered around the pool, ideal for families. Due to the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions by the Singapore government, the hotels saw an increase in the number of guests. As a result, we had difficulty finding empty sundeck chairs to enjoy the pool.

The swimming pools viewed from the Balcony of our Suite
The deeper pool allows guests to get a decent swim
The wading pool for children

Gyms

There are two gyms at Swissotel the Stamford. The main and larger gym is located within the premises of Fairmont Singapore. This very well-equipped gym has machines and stations catering for full-body workouts. The mezzanine floor is decked with strength conditioning machines ranging from machines such as those that can be found in a commercial gym to free weights, allowing guests to get a great workout. In addition, the lower floor is furnished with cardio workout machines ranging from stationary bikes to treadmills and elliptical machines, enabling guests to accomplish a great cardio workout.

The strength workout area in the gym located in Fairmont Hotel
The cardio workout area in the gym

The smaller gym is located on level 65 of Swissotel the Stamford, next to the Level 65 Lounge. This smaller gym is minimally equipped with just three cardio machines and a fitness rig. I thought the smaller gym felt more exclusive as we did not see anyone using it during our stay. This small gym is perfect if one wants a space to work on the treadmill.

The smaller gym located beside the club lounge
This small gym is very sparsely equipped but offers guests a quieter workout experience due to the low traffic.

Level 65 Lounge

The Lounge at Swissotel the Stamford is situated on the 65th floor of the hotel, occupying almost the entire floor (less one small corner for the gym). The lounge has plentiful sitting, both couches and dining tables, to cater to guests, especially during cocktail hours. The lighting in the lounge is excellent due to the open design and the numerous floor-to-ceiling glass panels that wrap around the lounge. Guests can enjoy a 360° view of Singapore from any of the balconies at the lounge. An enclosed area at the far end of the lounge is reserved for suite guests. The crowd at this area is very thin, despite not entry to this area is not enforced by the staff at the lounge.

The Lounge at Level 65 occupies the entire level of the hotel
The earthy decor in the lounge feels very relaxing

There are plentiful seating in the Lounge
The lounge at level 65 of Swissotel The Stamford

The beverage section is open for guests to enjoy throughout the day
There is a wine section in the lounge

The section in the lounge that is reserved for suite guests

Guests with lounge access can enjoy breakfast and evening cocktails at the lounge. The selection during breakfast is much smaller and limited compared to The Clove. The lounge serves evening cocktails between 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Food selection during evening cocktail consists of mainly finger food, with daily minor menu changes.

There is a decent selection of food during the evening cocktail
Hot food selection during evening cocktail
Hot food selection during evening cocktail
Draft beer is opened during evening cocktail
Dessert selection during evening cocktail is pretty limited.

Breakfast at The Clove

Guests with breakfast packages can head to The Clove restaurant on level 2 of the hotel for their meal. The variety of serving for breakfast is large, ranging from western options to local options, catering to a wide variety of guests from different regions. The food served at The Clove is tasty, and there are minor adjustments to the menu daily. The diligent staff at The Clove constantly tops up food. Self-served coffee (from the espresso/latte machine) and tea are available on top of fruit juices.

Breakfast is served at The Clove on level 2 of the hotel
Some of the large selection served during breakfast
Some of the large selection served during breakfast

Overall

We had a comfortable stay in the Crest King Suite at Swissotel the Stamford. The hotel’s location is excellent, and the suite is very well-appointed. The sleep quality on the king bed is great, but the limited pillow menu is a let-off. The greatest selling point of the hotel is the view (provided one gets the Marina view) from the hotel’s top floors. Unfortunately, the service at Swissotel the Stamford is far from desirable. Staff came across as robotic, and service seemed to be patronising. We were being “chased” out of the room at noon during check-out, despite being told at check-in that we would be given late check-out (and we had to ask for this benefit) at 5 pm. Despite being an Accor branded hotel, staff at Swissotel the Stamford do not give due recognition to the loyal programme. The only check-in counter for Accor members is in the lounge. The hotel has good hardware, but the service we experienced has more misses than hits. There are better hotels with well-appointed rooms and better service than Swissotel the Stamford. I do not recommend Swissotel the Stamford.

[Accommodation Review] Fairmont Singapore (Royal Suite), Singapore (15 – 17 Apr 22)

/ kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Fairmont Singapore sits conveniently on top of the Raffles City Shopping Mall in the heart of Singapore. There are plentiful shopping options and food options within the shopping mall, perfect for staycationers. The hotel is also located within proximity of other shopping malls such as Marina Square, Millenia Walk and Suntec City, offering guests of Fairmont Singapore a lot more shopping and food options. The City Hall MRT station under Raffles City Shopping centre, being one of the interchanges, can take guests at Fairmont anywhere in Singapore. In terms of attractions, the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Flyer, and the historic Civic District are all within 15 mins walk from the hotel.

Fairmont Singapore is situated above Raffles City Shopping Mall
Driveway entrance to Fairmont Singapore

Check-in reception at Fairmont Singapore
All of the bigger suites are located in the South Tower.

The Royal Suite

The rooms and suites at Fairmont Singapore are housed in two towers. Most of the rooms are located in the South Tower, with their Junior Suite being the highest category in the South Tower, and the larger suites are situated in the North Tower. The Royal Suite, one category below the Presidential Suite at Fairmont Singapore, is located at the North Tower, which has better views of the Marina Bay area of the two towers. The Royal Suite we checked into is perched on the hotel’s top floor and has a generous 152m2 of real estate property. The spaciousness the Royal Suite offers immediately wowed me in when I opened the doors to the Suite.

Entryway

The entryway to the Royal Suite reveals an earthy and cosy tone to the suite. I like how the earthy tone in the Royal Suite makes the suite look contemporary while adding a sense of luxury at the same time. A bronze-coloured metal table topped with a classy marble lamp provides illumination to this part of the suite and doubles up as art decor. A huge portrait of a black and white photo of Gardens by the Bay was found on the entryway walls, adding life to the otherwise cold wall. Such portraits are found throughout the Royal Suite and feature landmarks nearby Fairmont Singapore. Further down the entryway, before it opens up to the spacious living room in the Royal Suite, a door opens to the powder room that we missed the first time we were in the suite. We only noticed the powder room when we spotted the door handle.

The Royal Suite’s entryway is simple but elegantly decorated with a brass table and a marble lamp.
The entryway to the Royal Suite is a relatively long corridor tastefully decorated with portraits of the nearby landmarks.

The addition of this simple marble lamp brings a sense of luxury to the Royal Suite in Fairmont, Singapore.
I like the controls in the Royal Suite, which are both contemporary and easy to operate.

Powder Room

The powder room provided us with additional toilet facilities in the suite. Its convenient location in the entryway, behind the couches in the living room, meant we did not have to use the toilet in the bathroom. The use of light grey-coloured marble, complete with a black marble sink countertop that seems to float in the air, portrays a sense of luxury in this power room. The powder room is simple yet functional. Other than the sink, we found a toilet and a Hollywood-style mirror with LED light here.

The Living Room

At the end of the entryway to the Royal Suite, what caught our eyes was the massive living room, occupying a bulk of the real estate in the suite. The fan-shaped layout of the living room in the Royal Suite is furnished with not one but two couches capable of sitting up to five adults comfortably on each couch. The grey-coloured fabric couches complemented the colour theme in the Royal Suite very well. Furthermore, each of these couches comes with its coffee table (yes, there are two coffee tables in the enormous living room), allowing the occupants to host many guests. And as if these two couches were not sufficient, the huge black velvet ottoman in front of the couches provided more sitting space. In addition, the brown leather single-seat armchair is furnished on the side of the couch, while another single-seat dark grey velvet ottoman sits on the other side of the other couch, providing even more sitting space. Finally, I like the inclusion of the two marble top black round side tables by the couches, which offer functional space for guests to place their drinks and add a sense of luxury to the living room area of the Royal Suite.

The living room in the Royal Suite is both functional and luxurious
The living room in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore
There is ample sitting space in the living room

The living room in the Royal Suite feels cosy and luxurious
The couch is very comfortable to sit on

In front of the couches and facing the entryway, placed by the wall, is a huge black wooden cabinet with gold trimmings. When opened, this huge cabinet reveals a huge LED TV. Although the hotel’s website listed 55″ IP TVs equipped in the Royal Suite, this TV in the living room must have measured at least 72″. The TV is where we get most of our entertainment in the suite and can be swivelled to face the dining area or the work desk in the living room. There are numerous local and international, both free-to-air and paid cable channels to entertain guests of the Royal Suite 24/7. The addition of four cabinets beneath the TV gave us more options to stow our knick-knacks.

A huge TV sits in the centre of the living room of the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore.
The TV is so huge that we could view it from both sofas in the living room.

Dining Area

I like how Fairmont distinguishes the dining area from the living area without breaking the flow in the living room space. A black wooden waist-height shelving, which looks like storage for wines, segregates the living room from the dining area. With six comfortable light grey fabric chairs, the dark brown dining table allowed us to dine in comfort in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore. The added golden tip legs to the dining chairs continued the elegant theme of the entire suite. I find the size of the dining table to be just right and not overly huge. The dining table is large enough to seat six pax comfortably without having us engage in elbow wars to fight for space at the table. The classy industrial styled glass and brass chandelier above the dining table serves more like a luxurious touch than illumination (the dining area is already very well illuminated by the ceiling lights).

Dining area in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore
The waist-height shelf demarcates the lounge area and the dining area space.
The shelf looks like storage for wines
The very comfortable dining chair
I like the use of an industrial-style chandelier instead of the usual ones
There is a balcony beside the dining area in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore

Pantry

Most of the 5-star hotels in Singapore only equip a pantry area in their Presidential Suites. We were elated to find a pantry in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore, rather rare. The pantry area is sizeable and gives a homely touch to the Royal Suite. The purpose of this pantry area function as a space for us to get our drinks and heat food rather than being a kitchen. Fairmont Singapore pampers its Royal Suite guests with top-of-the-range TWG tea bags and a Nespresso coffee machine in the pantry. The kitchen island between the dining area and the pantry provided additional space to stow our snacks and drinks. A counter occupies the bulk of the pantry with a deep kitchen sink, which we use to wash our cups and mugs. There is massive storage space in the pantry area, which we underutilised. I thought the foldable wooden doors that conceal the pantry area very well were a clever idea as they block out the mess in the pantry when occupants of the Royal Suite host guests to dinner in the dining area.

Pantry in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore
View of the living room from the pantry
Wooden panels can be fully closed to conceal the pantry.

Apart from the coffee and tea, we also get our water from the in-suite water dispenser in the pantry, which provides hot and cold water and sparkling water. There is no need for an electric kettle in the Royal Suite (which we did not find) as the water dispenser can dispense hot water. As part of Fairmont Singapore’s green efforts, one-time-use plastic bottles are replaced with glass bottles where we can top up water from this dispenser provided in the suite. There are no cookers installed in the pantry area. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised to find a microwave oven in the pantry area. A full-size fridge sits quietly inside the pantry, providing ample space for us to cool the 1.25l coke we bought from the supermarket. We also found another entrance to the Royal Suite in the pantry. I guess this is where the chef gains access during in-suite catering.

The water dispensed in the pantry provided us with filtered water throughout our stay.
A microwave oven is found in the pantry.
Full-sized fridge in the pantry of the Royal Suite

Work Area

A large leather-clad work desk sits at the other end of the living room in the Royal Suite, past the lounge area. Matched with a comfortable leather chair, the work desk overlooks the living room and is a great spot for guests to catch up on some work. The area where the work desk is placed is very well illuminated thanks to the two ceilings that provide lighting directly above the work desk, rendering having a desk lamp redundant. There is a power outlet accessible from the surface of the work desk that provides power for guests to charge their laptops. However, I found little utility for this power outlet, as it is not deep enough for me to plug in my MacBook power brick.

Work desk in the living room of the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore
I like the large surface of the work desk
A matching chair that is comfortable to sit on while working

The glass ornament on the work desk gives life to the otherwise boring desktop.
There are a power outlet and USB charging points accessible from the surface of the work desk.

Media Room

I was pleasantly surprised to find a small room in the living room of the Royal Suite dedicated to binge-watching TV. The media room, sparsely furnished with a sofa and a TV, resembles a movie theatre. To add icing to the cake, the sofa in the media room can be converted into a daybed, which we have left in bed mode throughout our stay in the Royal Suite, where we spent hours and hours lazing on getting entertained by the numerous channel on the 55″ LED TV. Fairmont Singapore has created a cosy media room by installing lighting controls that have a relaxed mode, ideal for binge-watching. I thought the tastefully furnished wall shelving, decked out with artefacts and books, brings a sense of homeliness to this media room. There is even a small coffee table in the media room for guests to place their drinks or popcorn while watching movies from the movie channels. This media room can be isolated from the rest of the Royal Suite by closing the sliding doors.

The media room in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore
The wall shelving in the media room
The couch in the media room is in sofa mode

The media room has a 55″ LED TV
One of the artefacts in the media room

The wall shelving in the media room creates a sense of homeliness
The couch in the media room is in daybed mode

Bedroom

Perhaps the most awkward part of the Royal Suite would be the bedroom, which does not seem to be an extension of the Royal Suite. The bedroom in the Royal Suite is essentially Fairmont Singapore’s Deluxe Harbour View Room, giving the hotel the flexibility of selling the room as a deluxe room when isolated from the rest of the Royal Suite. The bedroom still carries the design theme in the rest of the Royal Suite. The bedroom has everything that we wanted for a comfortable stay. A bulk of the bedroom is dedicated to the sleeping area, where a standalone king bed sits in the centre of the bedroom. I like the cocoon design of the headboard, which I feel further enhances the sleep quality I had on the already comfortable king bed. The standard pillows felt a tad too soft for my liking, but thankfully, Fairmont Singapore has a pillow menu from which we could choose firmer pillows. The placement of the king bed made full use of the advantage of the stunning view where we were able to lie on the bed and look out into the unobstructed view of the night scene of the Marina reservoir area.

Bedroom in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore
The king bed has excellent sleep quality
Pillow Menu offered by Fairmont Singapore

The side tables are built into the headboard, giving us space to charge our lifestyle devices with the power outlet installed into the headboard. The real estate of the bedside table is not the best, but sufficient for us to use for charging our mobile phones. One of the bedside tables is furnished with a wireless charger where we can charge our iPhones. I like how the reading lights are fitted onto the headboard, freeing up space on the small side table surface. The controls for curtains, lighting, and privacy switch are conveniently fitted onto the headboard, where we can control aspects of the bedroom without getting out of bed.

The bedside table is small but sufficient for me to charge my lifestyle devices.
The other bedside table has a wireless charger for mobile phones.

Room control on the headboard above the bedside table

We found an L-shaped fabric couch furnished in one corner of the bedroom, giving us an additional option to watch the TV. The couch is fairly large and very comfortable to sit on. In addition, I like the inclusion of the brown wooden table, which can be used as a coffee table or a place where we can have meals while watching TV in the bedroom. Together with the table, the couch provided us with the option to watch TV; they also gave us more space to place our bags. A 55″ TV, with the same entertainment options as those in the living room of the Royal Suite, is fitted in the bedroom, mounted onto the side of the wall in order not to obstruct the view of the Marina Bay area from the king bed. At first, we thought this design was a little strange as this limits the “watchability” of the TV from the King bed. Then, however, we discovered the swivel mounting that allowed us to angle the TV facing the bed.

A large L-shaped couch is found in the bedroom.
The couch in the bedroom where we can watch TV or store our bags

The 55″ TV in the bedroom is mounted on the side of the wall.

Another work desk in the bedroom extends out of the wall where the TV is mounted. I like the placement of this work desk, as it faces the fantastic view of the Marina Bay area. Working on this desk looking out into the Marina Bay area allowed me to consolidate my thoughts while staring into the view, especially at night. This work desk has a certain elegance, coupled with the brass table lamp that sits quietly at one corner of the desk, serving more as an ornamental piece than providing illumination. The lighting on the ceiling, shining directly onto the work desk, provided sufficient lighting in this area. The power outlets completed with USB charging outlets at this work desk are built onto the walls, providing me with the power to charge my MacBook while working on it.

The work desk in the bedroom faces out into the lovely view of the Marina Bay area.
The brass lamp at the work desk served more as an ornamental piece
Power outlets are within reach from the work desk

There is another minibar cabinet in the bedroom. The minibar and filtered water facilities are housed in a piano black with gold trimmings cabinet. The materials used for this cabinet, especially the gold trimmings, made the cabinet look posh. The tan-brown leather covering the cabinet’s interior gave it a luxurious feel. Other than the usual cups and mugs, we found another Nespresso machine and a tap with filtered water on the top shelving of the cabinet. Only the left side of the bottom half of the cabinet can be open, where a functioning mini fridge sits quietly, cooling our drinks. Despite having the convenience of getting our coffee fixed and chilling our drinks without the need to leave the bedroom, we found little to no utility in this minibar area as we got most of our drinks from the pantry in the living room the Royal Suite. Moreover, the filtered water tap in the bedroom did not seem to work.

A Nespresso machine in the minibar inside the bedroom
The minibar inside the bedroom is housed in this elegant cabinet
We would have been able to get our water from this tap should it have work

The wardrobe in the Royal Suite is found behind the king bed, placed along the entryway to the third door into the suite. The dark brown coloured wardrobe was beautifully designed to resemble a showcase with both enclosed and open spaces. Two slim cabinets are enclosed in glass-panelled doors on either side of the wardrobe. The storage space in the slim cabinets is limited, and only one side of the cabinets has an additional drawer to put away smaller clothing items. At first glance, the slim wardrobes might not provide sufficient space for guests with more clothing. Fairmont Singapore catered an open wardrobe space for us to hang more clothing between the two slim cabinets. Beneath the open part of the wardrobe, we found an additional drawer to stow smaller clothing items and a larger drawer that houses the in-room safe. We spotted another cabinetry further down the entryway, closer to the door to the suite. This cabinet, which can be missed easily if not for the handle, houses the ironing equipment.

The wardrobe in the bedroom of the Royal Suite is designed to look more like a showcase.
There is another drawer and the in-room safe beneath the open wardrobe
The open part of the wardrobe in the bedroom
One of the two enclosed wardrobes in the bedroom
The ironing equipment is housed in a cabinet that can be easily missed if not for the handle.
The third door in the Royal Suite is found in the bedroom.

Bathroom

The bathroom in the Royal Suite adopts a similar colour scheme as the powder room. The greyish-white marble walls and floor and the black marble sink countertop, coupled with dark brown coloured wooden fixtures, gave the bathroom a refreshing and luxurious look. The bathroom looks bright and clean with these colour combinations. Contrary to the lower tired suites such as the Ambassador Suite and the Governer Suite, the bathroom in the Royal Suite is a tad small for the size of the suite. Unlike the bathrooms in both the Ambassador and Governor Suites, which are equipped with two sinks, there is only one sink in the bathroom of the Royal Suite. Nonetheless, I felt the bathroom was very laid out, given the space allocated to this area of the suite. I thought the presence of mirrors in the bathroom made it feel larger than its actual size. The sink is immediately visible from the entrance to the bathroom, separating the wet and dry areas of the bathroom. I like how Fairmont Singapore did not fit in two sinks for the sake of doing so, which compromises the space available on the countertop. The single sink design created more countertop space, which is practical. A huge round mirror fitted with LED lighting hangs above the sink. Amenities like toothbrushes, comb, vanity kit, shaver and an additional set of bath amenities are neatly placed at the sink countertop. There is also a power outlet to charge electric shavers.

Bathroom in the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore

Fairmont Singapore dedicated the wet area to the left of the sink, housing a standalone deep soak bathtub and both the rain shower and regular showerheads. I find it fascinating that despite the semi-open wet area, we do not find any of the water being splashed all over the place outside the wet area when showering. I also thought co-locating the bathtub and the shower within the same space was a thoughtful design. It provided us with the convenience of stepping out for a shower after soaking in the tub and, at the same time, prevented unnecessary dripping of water in the bathroom. In addition, I like the generous space provided by the metal ledge by the showerheads, which gave us sufficient space to place our toothbrush set next to the bath amenities. The space to the right of the sink, also a semi-open concept, is where the toilet is found. The toilet spaced function without any unnecessary furnishings, generating more sense of space in this area.

The spacious, deep soak bathtub in the bathroom
The shower area in the bathroom
The toilet is to the right of the sink
Fairmont Singapore provide its guests with Le Labo bath amenities
Additional amenities on the sink countertop
Fairmont Singapore also provides bath salt for its guests.

Balconies

Of all the luxurious features in the Royal Suite, I like the great number of balconies. The Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore has not one but a whopping four balconies spanning across the entire length of the suite. All the balconies in the Royal Suite have the same dimensions. There is one balcony in the bedroom and dining area of the suite and two in the living room. The vast number of balconies in the Royal Suite enabled us to view the surroundings. The balconies in the living room and dining area in the Royal Suite that we were assigned mainly face the city. This is where we got a great view of the swimming pool, where we used to determine the crowd levels of the pool to decide if we should hit the pool. One of the balconies in the living room has a partial view of the Marina Bay Area. The balcony in the bedroom has the best view of the four balconies, which face the Marina Bay area, where we can see as far as Indonesia.

Night view of the Marina Bay area from the balcony in the bedroom
The balcony next to the dining area
One of the two balconies in the living room

The balcony in the bedroom
We were able to get a view of the city from one of the balconies in the living room.
View from the balcony in the living room
View of the Marina Bay Area and the sea from the balcony in the bedroom

Service

Personal care kit in the Royal Suite provided by Fairmont Singapore

I can hardly find any fault for the service we received at Fairmont Singapore. Fairmont Singapore honours the Accor loyalty programme very well. As Accor’s highest-tiered member, we were given early check-in and late check-out. The hotel staff came across as sincere and welcoming, especially those we interacted at the reception. We found a personal care kit in the suite, allowing us to disinfect the surfaces. However, I did find it peculiar that there were no welcome amenities such as fruits like in our previous stays with Fairmont Singapore this time around. Before arriving at Fairmont, I spoke with Amanda to clarify my doubts concerning our staycation. Amanda was personable and patient in answering all my queries. When we arrived at the hotel, Amanda immediately introduced herself to us.

Alfie and Jean warmly welcomed us during our check-in. There were some issues with the floor allocation that we had requested. Both Alfie and Jean, instead of shrugging us off, understood the situation and immediately checked their reservation system to see if they were able to accommodate our request. This gesture demonstrated the hotel’s commitment to customer service. It did not take them too long to find a suite on the hotel’s highest floor, which we preferred. Alfie and Jean were patient with us, listened to our perspective on what was communicated to us the day before and resolved the issue of the floor allocation.

During turndown service timing, we were visited by the housekeeping staff, Myra. It is always pleasant to see Myra in the evenings when she checks if we need to top up any supplies or if we require housekeeping for the suite. Myra was warming and displayed a bubbly personality despite the hard work she had to put into pushing the heavy housekeeping cart around. When the supplies we require are not available in her cart, Myra offered to run to her store to ensure we had what we requested.

The Fairmont Gold Lounge staff were always welcoming and the reason our visits to the Gold Lounge are always enjoyable. I met Alfie at the Gold Lounge, who immediately recognised us earlier during the day from the check-in. Alfie always displayed a welcoming vibe whenever we bumped into him at the lounge. He would always get us the best settings, ensure our time at the lounge was enjoyable, and often check with us if we required more food and drinks. Syakirah tirelessly introduced the food that was being served. She checked with us if there were any dietary restrictions on the first day and remembered our restrictions every time we visited the lounge. Gems like Alfie and Syakirah made our stay in the Fairmont Gold Lounge enjoyable. Despite having a limited selection for breakfast, we felt food tasted better at the Fairmont Gold Lounge, thanks to the welcoming and warmth displayed by Alfie and Syakirah.

Unfortunately, the service at Prego left a sour note on our Fairmont experience, and it seemed service at the restaurant had not improved since our first visit one year ago. We were shown to our table during breakfast. The staff assumed we knew the breakfast ordering process and did not even bother giving us instructions for accessing the menu. Fortunately, another staff came around and took our orders minutes later. However, we were given a rude shock when we asked for more chilli sauce. Another staff gave us a saucer filled to the brim with chilli sauce. While we still had our breakfast, yet another male staff sneaked up to our table and replaced the QR code for the lunch menu without acknowledging our presence at the table. Staff at Prego appear to be cold and unwelcoming.

We met James at the reception later in the evening to enquire about our late check-out timing, and at the same time, I related my experience at Prego to James. James always has the warmest smile, efficiently confirmed the late check-out timing and extended my keycard. When it comes to my experience at Prego, James came across as sincere and listened with much empathy. He was not defensive, nor did he attempt to cook up any excuse for the team at Prego. I was pleasantly surprised that James brought up our concerns to the Operations Manager at Prego, who called us the next day. Paolo was apologetic and took responsibility for the experience we had at Prego.

Hotel Facilities

Fairmont Gold Lounge

Guests in the Royal Suite are entitled to lounge access at the exclusive Fairmont Gold Lounge, which is only accessible to guests staying in rooms and a suite with lounge access. The Fairmont Gold Lounge is not accessible even to the Accor loyalty program’s highest-tier members. The Fairmont Gold Lounge is located on the 25th floor of the South Tower, which was previously closed when we stayed at Fairmont last year as the hotel designated the South Tower for quarantine purposes. The hotel tightly controlled access to the Lounge, where we were required to use our keycard. This tight access control by the hotel makes the Fairmont Gold Lounge feel very exclusive. The lounge feels homely and cosy. Most of the lounge is dedicated to dining, and we found a small corner next to the entrance to the lounge with a fireplace furnished with a small number of couches, coupled with warm lighting, making this section extremely cosy. I can stay here reading the book for a whole day while sipping beverages that the lounge serves up to their guests. The Fairmont Gold Lounge is very quiet and a great place to relax and unwind. The lounge’s dining area gave us a choice of sitting at a proper dining table or a table with couches. Due to its well-appointed location within the hotel, we could catch a view of the Marina Bay Area from the lounge. Guests with lounge access can opt to have their breakfast at the lounge, which is less crowded but with limited food choices. We could also enjoy bite-sized food during the evening cocktails at Fairmont Gold Lounge between 5.30 pm and 7.30 pm.

The cosy fireplace in the Fairmont Gold Lounge
Entry into the Fairmont Gold Lounge requires our keycard
Fairmont Gold Lounge
The main dining area in the Fairmont Gold Lounge
The Fairmont Gold Lounge exudes a cosy and intimate vibe
Snacks that guests can help themselves to
Couch at the Fairmont Gold Lounge
I find the fireplace a very cosy corner in the Fairmont Gold Lounge
Guests can dine on the couches during even cocktail
Evening cocktail menu
Evening cocktail menu
We had champagne and coke at the lounge
Appetisers during evening cocktail
Food is served in bite-size portions during evening cocktail
Desserts served during the evening cocktail

Swimming Pools

The swimming pools at Fairmont Singapore are accessible via the Willow Spa entrance at level 6 and another entrance at level 8. With the easing of COVID restrictions, we did not have to pre-book our pool slot timings. Fairmont Singapore has two circular swimming pools, a wading and a lap pool. The wading pool is safe for children to play in, while the lap pool can allow guests to do some decent laps as part of their swimming outwork, provided there aren’t many people around. Despite having 30 pairs of sundeck chairs and three cabanas at the pool area, we found difficulty getting a decent spot for suntanning at the pool area, partly due to the increased crowds during the long weekend and partly due to the pool being shared with Swissotel Singapore. The best spots for suntanning are around the wading pool area, as there aren’t any buildings or trees around to block out the sun. I noticed the best time to hit the pool for suntanning is around 1 pm when guests would have checked out, and the next batch of guests have yet to check in.

The swimming pool at Fairmont Singapore viewed from the balcony of our Royal Suite.
The wading pool at Fairmont Singapore

Gym

The gym in Fairmont Singapore is located on the 6th floor, and the hotel has a fairly large gym by any hotel standards. I find the split-level gym very well organised in terms of the workout areas. The strength/conditioning and mind-and-body space are located on the entrance level of the gym, whereas the cardio workout area is located on the lower floor of the gym. There is even a studio in the gym for guests who want to do some group workouts together. The gym is well-equipped with plentiful weight machines and free weights for guests to do a total body workout, while the numerous treadmills, cycles, and step machines allow guests to perform cardio workouts. Fairmont Singapore also provides fitness attire for hotel guests for their workouts. I find the gym’s scale very impressive and matches any fee-paying gym.

There is space near the gym entrance for guests to do their yoga workouts.
There is a studio in the gym for guests to perform group workouts.

Weight machines in the gym at Fairmont Singapore
Free weights area in the gym

Cardio workout area in the gym at Fairmont Singapore
There are numerous cardio machines

Willow Spa Facilities

Willow Spa is Fairmont Singapore’s in-house spa treatment. Guests at Fairmont Singapore can use the Willow Spa Facilities found inside the changing rooms. There are three hot pools with jacuzzi facilities and one cold pool to regulate body temperature. I also found a steam room and a sauna inside the changing room.

Willow Spa facilities are found in the changing room on level 6
Cold pool

There is a sauna and steam room in the changing room
Jacuzzi pools inside the changing room

Breakfast

As guests in the Royal Suite, we were given two venues for breakfast. Breakfast is served at the Prego between 6.30 am to 11.00 am for all guests at Fairmont Singapore. Fairmont Singapore adopted an ala carte buffet style during breakfast at Prego, where we were given a choice of sets of Western to local dishes for breakfast. We can always get more food from the menu if we need more food. I find the breakfast at Prego to be mediocre at best. The latte I ordered is flat, and the dim sum dishes are soggy. On the other hand, the Western options and the eggs benedict were done perfectly.

Breakfast is served at Prego.
The breakfast menu at Prego
Inside Prego

Our breakfast at Prego

As our suite comes with lounge access, we can also opt for breakfast in the Fairmont Gold lounge. The breakfast selection at the Fairmont Gold Lounge is limited to American breakfast and a platter of bread and fruits elegantly presented in a three-tiered tower. Staff at the lounge always checked in with us if we needed to top up any bread or food. Despite having a smaller selection, I felt breakfast at the lounge tasted more delicious than that in Prego. I like the ambience for breakfast at the Fairmont Gold Lounge, where it is more relaxed, and the staff are a lot more welcoming than at Prego. Breakfast timing at the Fairmont Gold Lounge is between 6.30 am to 10.30 am.

Bread and fruits
American breakfast served at the Fairmont Gold Lounge
Latte with a view
There is a chef at the lounge preparing eggs for breakfast

Overall

My experience at the Royal Suite at Fairmont Singapore was excellent. The earthy-themed Royal Suite feels luxurious and cosy. What I like most about the suite is the amount of functional space available. The media room was cosy and felt like a small movie theatre when we watched TV in it. The bed is comfortable and provides us with excellent sleep quality. The generous amount of four balconies that came with the suite provided us views of downtown Singapore and as far as Indonesia on a clear day. Service at Fairmont is as impeccable as always and is very consistent with our previous experiences. The staff at the front office were warm and welcoming. The Fairmont Gold Lounge staff are sincere and made our stay at the lounge enjoyable. The hardworking housekeeping staff ensured the Royal Suite was cleaned thoroughly and topped up daily supplies. Prego is still as disappointing as ever, with staff giving us a feeling that they are there to do their job and not remotely interested in providing any service.

[Accommodation Review] Conrad Centennial Singapore (Centennial King Suite), Singapore (25 – 27 Mar 22)

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Location

Conrad Centennial Singapore is very well located in the heart of Singapore in the Marina Square area. The Marina Square Shopping Mall and Suntec City Shopping Mall offer visitors tons of shopping and dining options within a stone’s throw from the hotel. Nearby the hotel, visitors can find the famed Marina Bay Sands Shopping Mall and Raffles City Shopping Mall within mere minutes of walking from the hotel, adding to the long list of shopping and dining options for guests at Conrad Centennial Singapore. In addition, there are two MRT stations, Promenade and City Hall MRT stations, within a 3 to 5-minute walk from the hotel, making connectivity to the other parts of Singapore convenient for guests at the hotel. Conrad Centennial Singapore was renovated in 2018, giving the outdated rooms and suites a refreshing and relaxing feel.

Conrad Centennial Singapore Façade
Check-in counters at Conrad Centennial Singapore
The spacious hotel lobby
Hotel lobby

The Conrad Centennial Suite

The refreshed 63m2 Conrad Centennial Suite was renovated in 2018, exuding a minimalistic and clean vibe throughout the entire suite. Gone were the outdated and clustered furnishings that made the suite feels smaller. The last time I stayed in the Conrad Centennial Suite was in 2014 (read about it here), where the décor feels outdated even for 2014. I liked this refreshed feel of the suite, which brings out the true size of the Conrad Centennial Suite.

The Living Room

The living room is the first part of the suite that greets us as we enter through the main entrance to the Conrad Centennial Suite, which is undoubtedly the largest part of the suite where first impressions are formed. Gone were the ugly yellow walls with dated furniture, replace them are the more contemporary beige coloured walls and minimalistic lounging furniture. I like the refreshed living room, exuding a comfortable and modern vibe. The hotel did a fantastic job in using space in the suite.

The living room in the Conrad Centennial Suite

The minibar area is flushed into the walls, which in no way hampers entry into the Conrad Centennial Suite. It also makes the entryway look cleaner and neater. The minibar area has your usual suspects as what one would find in any hotel establishment, a fridge, coffee machine and kettle. I like using the drawer-styled mini fridge (which, unfortunately, struggles to chill our drinks). Convenient for us to access our drinks. Above the fridge is another drawer where we would find cups, tea and coffee. Nespresso coffee machines seem to be the gold standard in most hotels these days, and the more posh hotels would equip their suite with higher-end Nespresso machines. Conrad Centennial Singapore is no exception. An entry-level (good enough) Nespresso machine sits on the minibar area, providing me with the caffeine I need in the mornings. I like the empty shelving opposite the mini bar area, which provided ample storage space for the snacks we brought for this staycation.

Entrance to the Conrad Centennial Suite
The minibar is found next to the main entrance to the suite
Great placement of storage space that we used to stow our snacks
Morning essentials
An empty drawer style mini fridge

Now to the main part of the living room. I thought flushing the furniture against the wall was a clever way for the hotel to create space in this part of the suite. Tucked in one corner is a large work desk for me to do some work. The space-saving study light provided additional illumination without taking up too much space. The only power outlets in the living room are located on the study table, which allows me to charge up my laptop while rushing my assignment.

Work area in the living room
The chair is comfortable for me to spend hours in the suite completing my assignment.
Real estate on the work desk

The bulk of the living room is occupied by the extra-long day bed cum sofa that runs along the entire length of the living room. The use of remote-controlled blinds and sheers, when opened up, lets a lot of daylight into the living room with an unobstructed view of the surroundings. The sofa is very comfortable to sit on and certainly very comfortable to laze on while watching the numerous channels on the 55″ LED TV mounted onto the wall. The inclusion of the L-shaped ottoman provides more sitting space, but it is also perfect for one to laze on. We requested extra pillows and blankets from the hotel to make ourselves comfortable lazing on the sofa and watching TV (the aircon is very strong in the living room). I like using a single movable table in place of a coffee table light enough to be shifted along any part of the sofa, allowing us to “customise” how we want to use the sofa space. There is no need for another coffee table, which will spoil the minimalistic Japanese Zen vibe. It will also be a waste of real estate in the living room. I also liked the running lights underneath the entire length of the sofa. It provides illumination but gives the entire living room a clean and comfortable feel.

The main living room
I like the extra long sofa that runs the entire length of the living room
The 55″ TV houses numerous international and local channels
A small side table at the end of the sofa
View of the Marina Square area from the living room

Conrad Centennial Singapore can fit a small dining table in the living room with the clever use of space and the thoughtful choice of furnishing. I find the dining table is of the right size, large enough for two to enjoy a decent meal on and yet not taking up too much space. I particularly like the dining table as it doubles up as an additional workstation should both need space to do our work.

A small dining table in the living room

Bedroom

While most of the changes to the Conrad Centennial Suite in Conrad Centennial Singapore are done in the living room, the bedroom received some subtle updates. The first noticeable change in the bedroom is the doors. Replacing the 80s styled wooden doors are the modern sliding doors that would become “invisible”, freeing up space for the hotel to get creative with the space in the suite. The use of the colour tone in the bedroom is coherent with that of the living room, giving the bedroom a very comfortable and cosy feel. The use of mirrors on either side of the bed not only made the bedroom looks larger it also allowed guests of the Conrad Centennial Suite to tidy their attire before heading out. I like the clean headboard by the bed, making the bedroom look simple and clean. The king bed looked like two twin beds combined into a king bed, which is still very comfortable and provides great sleep quality. To ensure guests get better sleep, Conrad Centennial Singapore offers a menu of 14 pillow types for the guests to choose from (I opted for the Cuddle “U”, Japanese Tatami and buckwheat pillows). A couple of bedside tables stood guard beside the king bed, equipped with power outlets on top for us to charge our lifestyle devices.

The bedroom in the Conrad Centennial Suite at Conrad Centennial Singapore
A comfortable king bed
Glimpse into the bedroom from the living room
The iconic Conrad bear welcomes us to the Conrad Centennial Suite
Reading corner in the bedroom
Controls and power outlet on the bedside table
Very extensive pillow menu offered by Conrad Centennial Singapore

The biggest update to the bedroom in the Conrad Centennial Suite is the wardrobe space and the TV placement in the bedroom. The TV used to be housed in a cabinet, placed in one corner of the bedroom, making it difficult to watch as it is angled. Although the new placement of the TV sacrifices the view of the city from the bed, I find this sacrifice is a great decision. After all, who will be lying on the bed looking out into metal buildings? In addition, the TV placement directly in front of the bed makes watching TV on the bed more pleasant.

Despite blocking the view of the city, I find the placement of the TV here makes getting entertainment more pleasant.
View of Suntec area from the bedroom

The biggest update to the bedroom in the Conrad Centennial Suite would have to be the wardrobe space. The renovated bedroom sees the inclusion of two huge wardrobes with a dressing table sitting in the middle. Compared to its pre-renovated predecessor, these wardrobes can swallow weeks of clothing. One of the wardrobes comes with drawers and a huge safe tucked in one of the drawers, giving more space to put our stuff. The other wardrobe houses the ironing gears and can use purely for the hanging of clothing. The top of the dressing table can be opened to reveal a mirror with LED lighting and houses the hairdryer. But for those who do not find a dressing table useful, this table can double up as a place to put some items or even for work.

Wardrobes in the bedroom got the biggest upgrade
Huge wardrobe space in the bedroom
In-room safe and additional storage space in the wardrobe
Dressing table mode
It is weird to find bedroom climate control on the dressing table.

Bathroom

I thought the bathroom received the least updates of the three main areas in the Conrad Centennial Suite. The sink, the bathtub and the toilet are where it was before the renovation. Despite not having many changes, the bathroom feels luxurious with the use of marble. The bathtub sitting at the far end of the bathroom is huge, and the water pressure ensures this huge tub gets filled up with water in no time. The walk-in shower enclosed in glass with regular and rain showerheads is at the end of the bathtub. The toilet still sits in the same corner with only the walls painted light grey. Perhaps the biggest change in the bathroom is the sink area. It still comes with dual vanity with the same amount of countertop space, but the sinks feel larger and more contemporary, totally in sync with the design throughout the suite. I find it disappointing that Conrad Centennial Singapore ceased to provide Shanghai Tang bath amenities (which is a fragrance I liked very much). The hotel also ceased giving its guests options on the bath amenities they prefer (I guess all in the name of saving the earth and reducing wastage).

The bathroom in the Conrad Centennial Suite
Dual vanity sink in the bathroom
Bathtub
Conrad Centennial Singapore changed their bath products to Mojave Ghost
Bath soap and bath salt are found in the tub
The iconic Conrad Centennial Singapore rubber ducky
Only reminiscence of Shanghai Tang product
Assortment of bathroom amenities

Service

Instead of the usual welcome fruit, Conrad Centennial Singapore welcomed its guests with snacks.
We also found the Conrad Care kit in a box.

Most of the staff in Conrad Centennial Singapore feels friendly and warm. They are not stingy with their greetings and certainly are not shy in engaging in small talks with their guests. Our first interaction with the great service around Conrad Centennial Singapore is at the check-in. While Fatimah was processing our check-in, she still managed to engage in small talk with us. Upon learning that we were returning to the hotel after eight years, Fatimahcan immediately recalled the suites before its renovation and how she agreed the suite required a make-oven. This talking does not seem to slow her efficiency in processing our check-in. She still manages to process the check-in without having us wait too long. Fatimah was very detailed in providing us with information on the lounge timings and the breakfast timings. She helped us book the time slots for afternoon tea and evening cocktail hours. I was pleasantly surprised that Fatimah could recognise me and greeted me by my last name the next day when I walked past the reception despite interacting with so many guests in between. Her greetings feel like a friendly greeting another when bumping on the streets.

We had a great time knowing Dila, who was at the swimming pool. Dila is a staff at the swimming pool and came across as bubbly and cheerful. We knew we would enjoy our time at the pool when we bumped into Dila. She was not shy in striking a conversation and felt genuine when she asked how our day was. I was surprised that Dila remembered our name and room number the second day at the pool. The moment we were at the pool, Dila warming welcomed us to enjoy the pool. I even overheard her telling her colleagues our room number and that she had verified our booking slot. Other than Dila, the staff at the swimming pool were great. They helped us look for a perfect spot for suntan and even brought us a nice cold drink. In addition, the pool staff were attentive and were seen patrolling the pool to top up water for guests.

We were well taken care of by Charmaine, the staff at the Executive lounge. Charmaine found us a great seat with an excellent view on the first day we were at the lounge for afternoon tea. After settling in, Charmaine checked with us about our food allergies and ensured this message was passed to her colleagues. after getting our orders for drinks, Charmaine brought the food to us and took the time to introduce food to us. She even popped by to check if we needed more food and how we found the food.

Most of the staff we met at the Conrad Centennial Singapore were pleasant and welcoming, less one of the reception staff. Approached the reception to check for late check-out, the said staff only granted us an extension of 30 mins as a form of “late check-out”, stating the suite was already assigned for the next guest. When I asked to speak to the duty manager, the staff, instead of getting her manager approached her colleague standing next to her. after 5 mins, we were told the hotel could extend the late check-out till 3 pm, “but just for this time”, she told us. The staff came across as condescending, and I wondered if I had not asked the duty manager, she would not have taken the initiative to find a solution for my late check-out. What appeared to be easily resolved by her colleague was not done by her. We left the reception feeling being patronised.

I managed to speak to the duty manager about the staff. Manolo came across as empathetic and listened to my feedback without being defensive. While he attempted to explain the action of his staff, he did not come across as finding excuses and was apologetic the whole time we conversed. the way that Manolo handled my complaint showed how he deserved to be a manager. He was professional and keen to find out from the staff what the shortfall was and help her improve her people-to-people skill. Despite the small incident, we found the staff at Conrad Centennial Singapore were generally welcoming.

Hotel Facilities

Executive Lounge

Our stay in the Centennial Suite entitles us access to the Executive Lounge. The hotel adjusted the lounge operation timing due to COVID-19. The lounge provides afternoon tea from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm and evening cocktails from 6 pm to 8 pm, where bite-size snacks are served. After which, the lounge would only serve drinks up to 10 pm daily. The Executive lounge is perched on level 31 of Conrad Centennial Singapore. The ambience at the lounge is relaxing and provides a great view of the hotel’s surroundings. The food served during the afternoon tea and evening cocktails was delicious. The Executive lounge in Conrad Centennial Singapore offers a great variety of drinks. It is a good place to chill.

Afternoon tea set
Reception at the Executive Lounge
Evening cocktail set
Seating area in the Executive Lounge at Conrad Centennial Singapore
Main dining area in the Executive Lounge

Swimming Pool

The swimming pool at Conrad Centennial Singapore is located on level 4 of the hotel. The swimming pool is fairly small but still allows guests to do some decent laps. The pool is furnished with ten pairs of deck chairs and four cabanas. There is access for younger guests at the side of the pool; however, as the pool was built for laps, there are no shallower areas suitable for younger guests to play by themselves. Due to the COVID-19 rules, the number of visitors to the pool is very tightly controlled, making getting a spot in the pool very easy. Guests are entitled to one booking of 2 hours per day at the pool. In addition, the absence of high rise buildings and vegetation around the pool makes the swimming pool a great spot for getting some vitamin D.

Gym

A small gym is housed at level 4 of Conrad Centennial Singapore, next to the swimming pool. Similar to the swimming pool, the usage of the gym is limited to one slot of two hours per day per room. Despite the gym’s size, it is well equipped with machines that one would find in any fee-paying gym. Other than the cardio machines like treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bikes, there is an area in the gym dedicated to weight training with both free weights and machines. Guests would be able to get a good workout at the gym.

Entrance to the gym
Weight training machines in the gym
Cardio machine in the gym
The gym at Conrad Centennial Singapore is very well equipped despite its size.

Breakfast at Oscar’s

Guests staying in executive rooms and suites are entitled to breakfast. However, due to the pandemic, instead of serving up breakfast at the Executive Lounge, suites guests would get their breakfast at Oscar’s. There is quite a huge food selection for breakfast, ranging from cold cuts to hot local and international food. The food is delicious, and the hotel made some minor changes to the breakfast menu daily. Breakfast is served in assisted buffet style due to the pandemic, which is very close to pre-pandemic times. Therefore, guests are at liberty to eat as much as they want. Breakfast is served between 6.30 am to 11.00 am on weekends. We found the ideal time for breakfast was around 10 am when most of the crowd had already left during our stay. Food was seen being topped up, despite operating at the last hour of breakfast.

Mealtimes at Oscar’s
Food is served assisted buffet-style during breakfast.

Overall

I like the refreshed Centennial Suite in Conrad Centennial Singapore. The suite feels clean and cosy and not too cluttered. The sleep quality on the king bed is good, coupled with the hotel’s extensive pillow menu. Service is top-notch, and some staffs even go all out to remember guests’ names and preferences. In addition, the facilities at Conrad Centennial Singapore make it a great place for staycations.

[Accommodation Review] Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa (Villa Du Jardin), Singapore (24 – 26 Dec 21)

/ kktong76 / 1 Comment

Location

The location of Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa feels somewhat secluded from the hustle and bustle of the popular Sentosa Island. The hotel is located in central-eastern Sentosa, which tourists would not visit due to the absence of attractions around the hotel. However, those staying in Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa would find peace and tranquillity on the hotel premises, partly due to the beautiful gardens within the hotel. There are no convenient stores or restaurants nearby the hotel, and the nearest “civilisation” is located around 20 mins walk from the hotel, at Resorts World Sentosa. However, Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa does provide regular transport to the nearby shopping mall in mainland Singapore for guests to top up their supplies or dine.

Entrance of Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa
Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa Lobby
Check-in counters at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa
The lobby of the hotel is decorated with a Christmas diorama.

Beautiful garden in Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa
There is a pond where guests can enjoy fish therapy.
Gardens in Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa

Villa Du Jardin

I have stayed at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa on multiple occasions and stayed in almost every room configuration on the hotel premises. We checked into one of the three massive 300m2 2-bedroom Villa Du Jardin during this staycation. The villa has two parking lots right at the doorstep and a private pool. Although the villa from the entrance did not look luxurious, a simple single-storey building mainly in white, our impression changed when we opened the main door into the villa.

Entrance to our assigned Villa Du Jardin
Parking spot in front of Villa Du Jardin

Living Room

As we entered the villa, we were immediately wowed by the amount of space the Villa Du Jardin offers. The living room’s open concept design looks very spacious, coupled with the high ceiling and the glass doors that gave us access to the private pool area, which created an indoor-outdoor living concept and impressed us with the vast amount of space in the villa. The use of wood and a dark red colour scheme in the living room with subtle hints of French-inspired decors makes this part of the villa feel cosy and classy at the same time. Our eyes were caught by the elaborate crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, giving the villa a luxurious feel. A couple of red fabric couches occupy the bulk of real estate in the living room on top of a huge carpet. One of the couches faces one of the three 47″ LED TVs in the villa, and the other faces the main entrance. The living room is where we gather most of the time, getting entertained by the numerous local and international channels the TV offers. I like the large knee-height marble-top coffee table in the centre of the couches, which is functional and practical. This coffee table did not obstruct the view of the TV and gave us ample space to place our snacks while watching movies on the TV. We can see the hotel’s efforts in creating a Christmas atmosphere in the villa with Christmas decorations, from the real Christmas tree by the main entrance to the balloons to the Christmas Wreath at the front door.

The open living room in Villa Du Jardin at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa
The spacious living room in Villa Du Jardin
My nephew enjoying the living room

One of the two couches in the living room of Villa Du Jardin
The couch that is facing the main entrance to the villa

A real Christmas Tree in the villa
The chandelier in the living room of Villa Du Jardin

The TV sits on an open wooden cabinet at perfect eye level when watching from the couches. On the back of the TV, we found a generous amount of 36 bottled water that the housekeeping staff at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa placed to keep us hydrated during our stay. The hotel did not skimp on topping up these bottles of water during housekeeping. A large work desk is placed in front of the powder room on the right side of the living room, giving us space to do some work. As this is the festive period, we used this work desk to place some of our stuff instead of working. Sitting on one side of the work desk is an egg-shaped beer dispenser. The first capsule of the beer is complimentary to guests in the villa. Perhaps the most peculiar thing about the villa is that none of the villa’s telephones works. We called reception and were told the staff would deliver a hotel iPhone to call them to communicate with the hotel.

The TV in the living room
Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa is very good at keeping us hydrated
Egg-shaped beer dispenser

Work desk in the living room
We used the work desk to put some of our stuff.

Garden in the villa
I like how the villa brings the outdoor into the interior space.

Pantry & Dining Area

We have a small pantry in the villa, which mainly houses a sink and a small fridge to chill our drinks. We find it peculiar that given the size and the number of people the villa can accommodate, it is only equipped with a standard mini-fridge in their standard suite rooms. Even their Imperial Suite, which accommodates two, has a full-sized fridge. In addition, the villa is equipped with a top-of-the-range Nespresso Machine to make lattes and cappuccinos. However, we thought the lack of storage space for the cups and glasses in the pantry made it look messy, and it is a shame that the pantry does not offer us any utility for us to place the snacks we brought.

The pantry looks messy with the glasses and cups.

Behind the TV console is a dining table where we had our meals. I like the non-obstructive placement of this small round dining table in the villa. We also thought dining in this corner gives us a cosy feel, thanks to its placement and the small hanging lighting. However, it is a tad weird that Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa only furnished the dining table with three chairs when there is space for a fourth chair and the villa can accommodate up to six guests.

The dining area in Villa Du Jardin is furnished with only three chairs.

Powder Room

There is a Powder Room next to the main entrance to the villa. The half bathroom houses a toilet and a sink. We like the convenience of this bathroom in the living room, as we do not have to walk to the bathrooms in the bedrooms during a movie on the TV.

The powder room in the living room

Master Bedroom

Both bedrooms are located on opposite ends of the villa, far from each other. The master bedroom is at the end of the left corridor from the living room. I like the not-over-the-top French theme that extends into the master bedroom. The motifs on either side of the headboard bring some French chich into the cosy bedroom. However, I do find the master bedroom to be poorly maintained. From the missing aircon cover to what seems to be missing furnishings to the non-functioning power curtain buttons, the master bedroom seems to require some serious upkeeping. The bulk of the master bedroom is occupied by a large King bed which provides excellent sleep quality, but the standard pillows provided by Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa are too soft for my liking. Fortunately, the hotel provides a pillow menu that offers us firmer pillows. I find it weird that the master bedroom is furnished with only one bedside table near the entrance to the master bathroom. It seems that the purpose of the bedside table is for the hotel to install the phone that does not work. There seems to be sufficient space for another bedside table in the master bedroom next to the floor to ceiling glass panels. The only power outlet at the king bed is at the side without a bedside table, which we were unable to use these outlets to charge our lifestyle devices due to an absence of a bedside table. In place of a bedside table, we found a single armchair tucked awkwardly in this corner of the bedroom.

The master bedroom in Villa Du Jardin
The hallway that leads to the master bedroom
Entrance to the master bedroom
The only bedside table in the master bedroom which seem to serve the purpose of housing the non-function phone
The out of place armchair in the master bedroom
There are power outlets on the wall beside the bed but lack a bedside table to place our lifestyle gadgets.
The missing cover on the aircon controls in the master bedroom
Direct access to the private pool area in the villa from the master bedroom
The corner of the master bedroom that overlooks into the pool area in the villa

A dressing table next to the bathroom entrance is great for guests to wear make-up or stow their belongings. However, the lack of a dressing chair makes me feel the dressing table does not serve the purpose it is meant to serve. In the master bedroom, mounted on the wall opposite the king bed, is another 42″ LED TV with the same entertainment options as the TV in the living room, which we could enjoy while lying on the comfortable king bed. I like adding a table under the TV that provides additional storage space.

The dressing table in the master bedroom seems to be missing a chair
42″ LED TV in the master bedroom

Master Bathroom

Through a couple of wooden doors in the master bedroom, we found ourselves landing in the master bathroom. The contemporary master bathroom feels larger than the master bedroom, which I think is attributed to the open space concept employed in the bathroom. The first thing that caught my eye as I entered the master bathroom was the dual sinks on either side of the bathroom. I like how Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa placed the sinks, which means we can use them without fighting over them. Separating the sinks also means we do not have to fight over real estate space while using the sinks. However, I find the countertop space a tad too tight, leaving us little space to place our toiletries. I particularly like the fountain’s tap design, which very much befits the resort theme of the hotel. At the sink area, we find a couple of wardrobes by each side of the sink area that doubles up as a walk-in closet. The placement of wardrobes makes sense as we can access clothing after showering. Having two wardrobes here also means we can have a wardrobe each. There is also space to place our baggage on the ledge between the wardrobe and the sink.

Master bathroom in Villa Du Jardin
One of the two wardrobes in the master bathroom
The in-room safe is found in only one of the wardrobes.

The walk-in shower and toilet cubicles are located further into the master bathroom after the sink areas. The walk-in shower has both rain and regular showerheads, with sufficient space for us to place the bath amenities and even two glasses with our toothbrushes. However, perhaps due to ageing or poorly maintained shower heads, I found water leaking from the regular shower head despite switching to the rain shower head. There is a bidet in the toilet, but we could not find any controls. It seems like the hotel did not maintain the bidet function in the toilet.

Walk-i shower in the master bathroom
The toilet comes with a non-functioning bidet.

Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa provided luxurious Balmain bath amenities for villa guests.

Sitting at the far end of the bathroom is a large jacuzzi tub. The standalone bathtub provided us with a good soak, and the water jet massage function in the tub is strong. I had a good soak in the jacuzzi tub. Covered by one of the wooden blinds is a door that leads to the outdoor walk-in shower. Unfortunately, the power blind control buttons do not work in the master bathroom, so we discovered this outdoor shower area on the second day.

I like soaking in the jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom
The jacuzzi tub has a massage function
The outdoor shower area

The bathtub’s light makes me feel like I am in some spa.

Second Bedroom

Turning right from the living room, past the work desk, we found ourselves strolling into the second bedroom at the other end of the corridor. The layout of the second bedroom differs very slightly from the master bedroom. The second bedroom was originally furnished with twin beds, and we had requested the hotel to configure it into a king bed with a mattress topper. The bed is still comfortable, thanks to the thick mattress topper the hotel has installed. The second bedroom has a simpler décor coupled with an earthy colour scheme, making it feel cosy. The second bedroom is furnished with two bedside tables, providing us with space to put our lifestyle devices. I like the cosy armchair in the corner of the bedroom, with the ottoman. It makes sitting here feel relaxing. The second bedroom also has a small dressing table. Like the master bedroom, there seems to be a missing one at the dressing table. The 42″ LED TV mounted on the wall opposite the bed provided entertainment while lying on the bed. A glass-top table is placed under the TV, giving us more space to stow our stuff.

The second bedroom in Villa Du Jardin
Cosy armchair by the window with an ottoman in the second bedroom
42″ LED TV in the second bedroom with the same entertainment options as the TV in the living room

Second Bathroom

The second bedroom has an ensuite bathroom but feels smaller than that in the master bedroom. There are a couple of his and her sinks on either sink of the wall to the bathroom, which means we did not have to fight to use the sink in the mornings. Like the master bathroom, the countertop space at the sink is a tad tight here. The wardrobes in the second bedroom are also found in the bathroom, which gave us the convenience of accessing our clothing after a shower. There are also two wardrobes in the second bathroom, providing us ample space to hang our clothing. Like the master bathroom, there are also ledges to stow our baggage next to the wardrobes.

The second bathroom
Ledges next to the sink for us to stow our baggage
One of the two wardrobes in the second bathroom

The walk-in shower and the toilet cubicles are situated beyond the sinks. The walk-in shower is equipped with both rain and regular showerheads. The toilet is a regular toilet and does not come with a bidet. In the centre of the two cubicles sits the bathtub, which is not equipped with a jacuzzi function. However, we had problems turning on the tap in the bathtub initially. The maintenance staff told us that the tap would leak, and the hotel was procuring a tap to fix the issue. We were advised to wrap the tap with a towel to prevent more water from flowing into the bathroom when filling the tub with water.

Walk-in shower in the second bathroom
Toilet in the second bathroom

The second bathroom is furnished with a regular bathtub.

Private Pool

One of the Villa Du Jardin highlights is the private pool in the villa in the outdoor area, with the deepest part in the centre of the pool measuring 1.7m. Looking out into the private pool area from the villa’s living room makes us feel like we are holidaying in a forest oasis, thanks to the thick vegetation that provided us with privacy. My 5-year-old nephew was thrilled when he saw the pool and wanted to jump in immediately when we entered the villa. He loves the pool so much that he would swim a few times in the day and hang out by the poolside even if he is not swimming in it. The pool is sizeable enough for us to do a few decent laps and, at the same time, large enough for all of us to have a great time in the pool. The poolside is furnished with two sun deck chairs to suntan by the pool, a sofa, and day beds to chill in by the pool. We also spent time at night around the small table and five chairs by the poolside, which kind of reminded us of our trip to Bali when we stayed in a private pool villa. We spent most of our time in the pool, and we did not need to visit the main pool or the pool at Sofitel Spa.

Our very own private swimming pool in the Villa Du Jardin
The pool at night
Private swimming pool in Villa Du Jardin

Poolside shower
We chilled by the pool on one of these chairs.

Sofa bed by the pool

Service

The service at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa is nothing short of impeccable. We felt the hotel went all out to ensure we were comfortable during our stay. Our experience started with the warm welcome by the staff at reception during check-in. Check-in took longer than usual due to the numerous questions we posed, which the staff patiently answered. Samantha, the duty manager we interacted with during our previous stays, recognised us and welcomed us back to the hotel. The One-Touch team promptly answered all our calls, seeing our numerous requests from plates to room amenities. We called One-Touch several times as we found some defects in the villa, who promptly sent staff to rectify these issues.

The service we received during breakfast was good, although most staff seemed to be youngsters working during their vacation break. Our orders were delivered promptly, and the attentive restaurant staff immediately cleared empty plates.

The housekeeping staff were amazing. Not only did they tidy the massive villa in a relatively short time, but all amenities were also being topped up without us asking. During turndown service timing, upon knowing we did not need to turn down, a housekeeping staff took the initiative to ask if there was anything that we needed to top up. The cleanliness of the pool and the outdoor area was maintained by another housekeeping staff, who diligently cleared the fallen leaves in the pool and the poolside and ensured we had a clean environment to enjoy our stay.

During check-out, I highlighted some of the defects in the villa that I observed to the staff processing our check-out. Instead of being defensive and cooking up a slew of excuses, the staff listened attentively, and she was seen taking notes to have their maintenance staff look into the defects brought up.

Welcome fruits waiting for us in the villa

Hotel Facilities

Swimming Pool

Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa has a huge free-form swimming pool next to the hotel’s lobby. We did not need to use this pool as we used the private pool in the villa throughout our stay. The main pool is one of the deepest pools I have seen so far in the hotels I stayed in Singapore, with the deepest end of the pool measuring 2.5m deep. We were made to feel safe in our previous stays due to the well-demarcated lanes and the ever-vigilant lifeguard on duty keeping watch of all guests using the pool. The shallower end, where the lifeguard is stationed, is marked off for children to use. Due to the pandemic, the hotel has a strict pool usage policy. Guests wanting to use the main pool would have to make prior bookings, and each room is entitled to a 2-hour use each day.

The main swimming pool is located next to the hotel lobby
We did not use the main swimming pool

Gym

There is a small gym next to the main pool in Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa, which felt a little make-shift. The gym in the hotel used to be bigger but in a more isolated location, next to Sofitel Spa. The old location of the gym has made way for the construction of the Raffles Resort Hotel. I like the current location, accessible to guests wanting to workout in the gym. The gym is fully equipped with machines to do a full-body workout despite the small size. Like the main pool, guests would have to make bookings before heading to the gym.

The gym is obscured amongst the vegetation.

Breakfast

We had breakfast in two different locations on both days during our stay. Due to the high occupancy rate over the Christmas period, breakfast was served at the nearby ballroom where weddings are usually held. I like the buffet breakfast setup at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa, which the hotel tries to restore some sense of normalcy of the pre-pandemic days. Despite being a buffet, we were not allowed to handle the food directly; staff will prepare the food behind plastic screens according to our requests. I wish more hotels followed what Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa is doing, instead of going the cost-cutting measure of limiting to one breakfast set per pax. Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa serves up local and international delights during breakfast. Breakfast on the second day is served at the resident restaurant- Kwee Zeen, offering similar options with just very minor changes to the menu. The breakfast served at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa is delicious and certainly kept us full till the evening.

Breakfast was served at the nearby ballroom on Christmas Day
Despite changing location, Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa shifted the buffet outdoors

Breakfast at Kwee Zeen
Buffet style breakfast at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa

Overall

We had an enjoyable stay at the Villa Du Jardin over this Christmas period. The villa is spacious and feels very self-contained. The bed is comfortable, and I like the jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. We particularly enjoyed our time at the private pool, which meant we could choose to swim whenever we wanted and not have to book and limit ourselves to one 2-hour slot per day. However, we did find the villa to be a little poorly maintained, which did not deter us from enjoying the villa. We also thought the staff at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa was very eager to ensure that we enjoyed our stay at the hotel with the service that we received. We understood from the staff that the Villa Du Jardin is due for renovation soon and look forward to returning to the Villa Du Jardin after the renovation.

[Accomodation Review] W Hotel Sentosa (Marvellous Suite), Singapore (4 – 7 Nov 21)

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The Location

W Hotel Singapore sits on the eastern end of Sentosa island, on the prestigious address of Sentosa Cove. This part of the island used to be out of bounds to non-residences when it was initially built. With the removal of this restriction, Sentosa Cove is a perfect place to give Singaporeans, who have been cooped up in the country due to the pandemic, an out-of-country feel. Despite the isolation, the numerous restaurants, a supermarket and a 24-hour convenience store mean staycationers do not have to leave Sentosa Cove to get their essentials. In addition, W Hotel Singapore provides a regular shuttle service between the Hotel and the nearest shopping mall on mainland Singapore for those of us who want to have more dining and shopping options.

W Hotel Singapore Facade
  • Check-in counters at W Hotel Singapore
  • There are large rest areas in the lobby of the Hotel.

The Marvellous Suite

This is my third time staying at W Hotel Singapore and my second time staying in the Marvellous Suite. I like the Glowing Jungle themed design throughout the Hotel, giving the Hotel a quirky personality. W Hotel Singapore does not appear to be your standard run of the mill luxury hotel. The purple floral theme plus the use of dark coloured LED light funks up the Hotel. The design language is also present in the spacious 80m2 one-bedroom Marvellous Suite that I checked into.

The floral theme is very pronounced in the entire Hotel.

First Impressions – Entryway

The earthy theme from the entryway gave a sense of familiarity to the suite, transporting me back to three years ago when I first stayed in the Marvellous Suite. It is here where the floral motifs start to populate the entire suite subtly. The absence of furniture makes the entryway feel bare, but this clean furnishing allows me to peek further into the suite to fuel what the Marvellous Suite has to offer. The minibar area is placed by the entryway, well hidden amongst the cabinetry, easily missed when not exploring the suite. I thought hiding away the minibar would remove the clutter that this area would otherwise present. Instead, opening the cabinetry at the minibar reveals shelves where a Nespresso machine and a kettle, along with the ever overpriced drinks and snacks, sit to entice impulse buying to the suite occupants.

The main entrance to the Marvellous Suite at W Hotel Singapore
  • Minibar is very well stocked with overpriced drinks and snacks
  • W Hotel Singapore is one of the few hotels that still maintain a full fridge during these pandemic times

Emergency Relive Room – Powder Room

A door right by the main entrance reveals the powder room, which houses a toilet and a sink, great for guests to relive themselves before heading out. This powder room also doubles as an emergency room should the other guest occupy the main bathroom. The inclusion of this powder room also provides convenience for me to top up water for the Nespresso machine and the kettle. In non-pandemic times, where we can host guests, the powder room allows our guests to relieve themselves without needing to bash through the bedroom to gain access to the toilet in the bathroom.

The powder room has a floral design and feels classy.

Hang Out – Living Room

Compared to the Marvellous Suite that I stayed in three years ago, this Marvellous Suite that I was assigned has a “same same but different” feel. The general layout and the furnishings are the same compared to the other suite from my previous stay. Even the purple floral-themed decor that dominated both suites are present. The view is different. Previously I was treated to a Marina view, which feels liberating. This suite gave me the view of a wall, which felt a little claustrophobic. There is also an addition of a black foam armchair in the living room. Although I am not a fan of an empty living room, other than serving the practical purpose of providing additional sitting space, this armchair somehow makes the living room feel lively.

Consistent with the design theme at W Hotel, the living room is dotted with floral motives that do not feel too cheesy.
  • The purple floral theme makes the living room feels comfortable and relaxing.
  • We only get a partial view of the Marina in the living room, thanks to the wall.

I spent most of my time lazing on the white curved shaped leather couch in the living room in the Marvellous Suite, binge-watching programs from local and international channels on the 40″LED TV mounted on the wall. The low height of the coffee table makes lying on the couch watching TV easier. W Hotel Singapore fitted Bose sound system as part of the entertainment suite, giving me a near cinema feel while watching movies in the living room. Unfortunately, the light controls in the living room of the Marvellous Suite cannot be dimmed (there is only on and off) despite having a “dim lighting” control. It would be perfect if the lighting controls allowed me to turn on the purple LED above the TV.

The comfortable white leathered couch in the living room of the Marvellous Suite
  • The curve-shaped couch is very comfortable to lie on while watching TV
  • I spent most of my staycation time binge-watching on the TV in the living room

I also spent a reasonable amount of time at the work desk catching up on my studies. I like the spaciousness of the work desk, which allow me to spread out my stuff while studying. The wifi in the Marvellous Suite is excellent, which will enable me to attend online classes without any problems. I particularly like the study lamp as it can charge my phone and air pods wirelessly at its base. However, the chair at the study table feels a tad uncomfortable.

The Elongated study desk in the Marvellous Suite at W Hotel Singapore makes working on it a breeze

The Snooze Affair – The Bedroom

The design language throughout the Marvellous Suite is very coherent. The floral theme gives a soft and comfortable feel to the bedroom. The sleep quality on the king bed is superb, giving me excellent sleep quality night after night. W Hotel Singapore has an extensive pillow menu. The few hotels in Singapore offer buckwheat pillows in this pillow menu (sleeping on soft pillows gives me neck issues and headaches). I like how W Hotel Singapore placed the TV console, housing yet another 40″ LED TV with the same entertainment options as the TV in the living room, off-centre, giving me unobstructed views of the Marina whilst lying on the conformable bed. The Egg-shaped hanging chair is someone you don’t see in many hotels. I find the storage space on the side tables is limited; after placing my charging station, there is hardly any space to put anything else.

I had an excellent sleep on the king bed in the bedroom.
View of the bedroom
  • The placement of the TV gave me an unobstructed view of the Marina from the bed.
  • King bed in the bedroom
  • This egg-shaped swing in the bedroom is surprisingly comfortable
  • The TV in the bedroom offers the same entertainment options like the one in the living room
  • Whimsical lamp by the bed
  • The bedside table does not offer a lot of space to place m lifestyle devices.
  • W Hotel has an extensive pillow menu
  • Mood lighting control in the bedroom

Instead of your usual closet, W Hotel Singapore installed a walk-in closet in the bedroom. Although not occupying a lot of the real estate in the suite, the space in the walk-in closet feels sufficient, elevating the prestigiousness of the suite. The three-tier drawer (essentially, only two drawers can be used) houses an in-room safe and provides additional storage for nick-nacks. W Hotel is one of the very few hotels in Singapore that is generous with allocating hangars in the closet. W Hoel is the first Hotel in Singapore that I find the hangars situation to be sufficient (I wish more hotels in Singapore be like W Hotel that doesn’t skimp on hangars).

The small walk-in closet in the bedroom
  • Drawers that I used to put away smaller clothing items
  • There is a full-length mirror in the walk-in closet

Soaking Up with a View – Bathroom

One of the selling points in the Marvellous Suite at W hotel Singapore is its white marble bathroom. The bathroom feels very spacious due to the empty spaces and partly due to the two floor to ceiling window panels in front of the jacuzzi bathtub. I thought this would be a perfect place to enjoy bubbly moments if not for the untinted window panels, which lacks privacy. However, I was still able to enjoy the bathtub (with the blinds down) while getting entertained by the 26″ LED mirror TV (aptly named by W Hotel Singapore) that hangs from the ceiling. There is remote control by the bathtub, but weirdly this remote control only turns on the TV. This TV is linked to the TV in the bedroom and mirrors whatever channel on that TV. No wonder W Hotel Singapore calls this a mirror TV.

The bathroom has fantastic views.
  • The TV in the bathroom faces the jacuzzi tub
  • The bathroom in the Marvellous Suite at a glance
Bathroom from the bathtub

Many suites in hotels have dual vanity sinks, and this is no exception in W Hotel Singapore. What is different is there are tons of countertop space in the sandstone coloured vanity area. There are your standard hotel provisions in the toiletries department. But I thought W Hotel Singapore went one step further to cater for their guests truly. Besides the common showering, dental and vanity amenities, W Hotel Singapore is perhaps the only Hotel that provides face wash and lint roller for their guests. The Hotel has recently changed its toiletries to Momo. I thought the bottling of these amenities looked cheap at first glance, but as I was using the toiletries, I realised these bottles could be recycled as travel-sized toiletries when borders reopen—what an ingenious way to care for the earth. I also found that the amenities provided by W Hotel Singapore are of excellent quality. Take the loofa, for example, which is not too rough, unlike those offered by some other hotels in Singapore.

Dual vanity sinks that have loads of countertop space
  • W Hotel Singapore is one of the very few hotels that provide fac
  • W Hotel Singapore now uses Momo bath amenities
  • Another set of bath amenities are placed in the shower.
W Hotel Singapore provides a great range of amenities that are not commonly seen in other hotels.

One unique feature of the walk-in shower in the Marvellous Suite is that it comes fitted with body shower spray on top of the rain and regular showerheads, which is not common in hotels in Singapore. As a result, the showerheads are under tremendous pressure. In addition, the ledges built into the shower area gives me tons of space to place toiletries. I also like the spaciousness of the walk-in shower, which provides me with sufficient space to turn on the rain shower, especially in the cold mornings.

  • Walk-in shower
  • There is plentiful storage in the walk-in shower
  • The toilet in the bathroom

The Chill Factor – The L-Shaped Balcony

The balcony was one of my favourite parts of the Marvellous Suite from my prior experience three years ago. The L-shaped balcony wraps around the suite gave us an excellent view of the pool and the Marina. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the balcony in the suite that I was assigned this time round. Though this suite still has a spacious L-shaped balcony, I only utilise half of the balcony this time around. The side of the balcony from the living room faced a wall, where the day bed is located. This part of the balcony seems to have issues with privacy where I can see into my neighbour’s room (this is also another reason I minimise the usage of this part of the balcony). Fortunately, the other half of the balcony from the bedroom side faces the Marina and have a pretty good view. The sea breeze from this part of the balcony made hanging out here so comfortable that I attended my online lessons from the balcony.

The balcony from the bedroom of the Marvellous Suit
  • The other half of the balcony
  • We can see into our neighbour’s room from the balcony
  • The day bed in the balcony that we did not use due to its location
  • View of the Marina from the day bed
  • Twilight view of the Marina from the balcony

Service

The service at W Hotel Singapore is nothing short of excellence. Dennis warmly welcomed me during check-in, who answered my many questions on the availability of facilities around the Hotel and the booking of these facilities for usage and at the same time processed my check-in. Dennis demonstrated excellent product knowledge of the W Hotel and the Marvellous Suite that I booked for the three-night staycation with W Hotel. My check-out was processed by Syaza, who did her job with much efficiency. During check-out, Syaza enquired about my stay at W Hotel. I did make some comments on the privacy issue with the bathroom windows and my displeasure with the view of the suite that I was assigned. I noticed Syaza jotting down notes on my comments. I was pleasantly surprised to have received an email from the guest services manager at W Hotel Singapore acknowledging my remarks. I am astonished that Syaza followed through with the comments and forwarded them to the management for review.

When I was busy with the check-out process, my friend, sitting in the lobby waiting for me to complete the check-out process, was approached by one staff who checked to ensure that my friend was being served. Again, this gesture is characteristic of a customer-centric establishment, with this culture deeply ingrained into the staff.

The Whatever/Whenever line is one of the services I used to coordinate housekeeping and book facilities. The line is always well manned, and I did not have to wait for too long before a staff member picked up the call, and my requests were always promptly attended to. The Whatever/whenever line staff showed excellent product knowledge, and I always got answers to my numerous questions.

As this staycation coincides with my friend’s birthday, I requested a birthday cake from the Hotel. However, the associate I communicated with offered to decorate the suite to surprise my friend instead of just providing a cake. My friend was surprised to have discovered the birthday decoration by W Hotel. This gesture reinforced the customer-centric culture in W Hotel.

  • Welcome fruit in the suite
  • Care amenities provided by W Hotel Singapore
  • The birthday surprise arranged by W Hotel Singapore

Facilities at W Hotel Singapore

WET Pool

The swimming pool at W Hotel Singapore is one of the largest and most excellent free form swimming pools amongst the hotels that I have stayed in Singapore. There are plenty of sun deck chairs, and even during this pandemic, the WET pool can accommodate up to 50 guests at the swimming pool at any one time. The absence of tree canopies allowed us to bake ourselves under the sun. The WET Pool has a slide at one end, adding to the fun factor at the pool. W Hotel also caters to young swimmers with its sizeable wadding pool. There is a corner within the main pool with jacuzzi facilities where we had much fun relaxing to the powerful jets at the jacuzzi area. There used to be floats around in the WET pool. However, due to the pandemic, much of these items have been removed. The WET pool operates 24 hours, which the heater for the pool was turned on at night. Guests are to register for a 2-hour slot in the day from 9 am to 7 pm. But bookings are not required after 7 pm.

WET Pool opens 24 hours and is a heated pool
  • The slide at the WET Pool
  • WET Pool at night
  • There are lots of sundeck chairs at the WET Pool
  • The WET pool is open 24 hours

FIT Gym

The FIT gym on W Hotel Singapore is one of the largest hotel operating gyms in Singapore. The size of the FIT gym is comparable to the fee-paying gym that I frequent. There are machines and equipment in the gym where I had a great workout. I particularly like the lighting at night, which makes working out fun. I used the RPM machine that comes with workout programs at intervals of 1 min, making working out a 40 mins programme past like a breeze. I also used the weights machines, where the FIT gym is very well equipped with devices that work out every major muscle group. There is even a vibration workout machine, which is not common even for commercial gyms.

Entrance to FIT Gym
  • The FIT gym is very well equipped
  • I thought the FIT gym was comparable to any commercial gym.

AWAY Spa

The AWAY Spa is the in-house Spa at W Hotel Singapore, which offers spa packages to guests who are in need of a good massage to relax their tired bodies. Guests at W Hotel Singapore can use the facilities at the AWAY Spa for free without the need to purchase spa packages. The AWAY Spa has very good facilities like a whirlpool and tranquillity pool with powerful jacuzzi jets that help relax. I also used the infrared sauna and steam room at the AWA Spa. Guests wanting to use these facilities have to book a slot in advancHotelthe Hotel allows ten pax to use these facilities as social distancing measures due to the pandemic.

Entrance to the AWAY Spa
Whirlpool in the AWAY Spa
  • The mood lighting at the AWAY Spa
  • The Tranquility Pool in the AWAY Spa
  • Infrared Sauna inside the AWAY Spa
  • Steam room in the AWAY Spa
  • Rest area in the AWAY Spa

Overall

I had a great stay in the Marvellous Suite at W Hotel Singapore. The suite is very comfortable and spacious, and the sleep quality on the king bed is excellent. Although I was not too fond of the view from the suite’s living room, the view of the Marina from the bedroom and the bathroom is exceptional. During my stay, the service I received from the staff at the carpark entrance managing Trace Together check-in to the team at the reception and even the housekeeping staff were all incredible. My friend and I even wanted to go back to W Hotel after we checked out as though we were under a hex by W Hotel. However, the charm of the suite and the staff made us want to go bacHotelthe Hotel to experience another type of suite. I would certainly be back at W Hotel and highly recommend W Hotel Singapore to my friends.

[Accommodation Review] – YotelAir Singapore Changi Airport (Premium Queen Cabin), Singapore (4 – 5 Sep 21)

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Location

YotelAir is located on level 4 of Jewel at Singapore Changi Airport. This hotel primarily targets transiting passengers who have extended layover time. The location within Jewel gives its guests the convenience of assessing all the amenities within Jewel without leaving the shopping mall. There are tons of shopping options within Jewel, ranging from international food to clothing and even luxury items. In addition, there are some paid attractions at level 5 of Jewel and an indoor garden where transiting passengers can kill some time with. Then there is the famed indoor fountain in the heart of Jewel, where guests can enjoy complimentary light and sound shows at certain hours of the day.

Entrance to YotelAir Changi Airport
YotelAir Changi Airport is located in Jewel.
  • The famed indoor waterfall in Jewel Changi Airport
  • Visitors to Jewel Changi Airport can enjoy light shows at night
Reception (termed as Mission Control) in YotelAir Changi Airport
  • The lifts in the hotel have a space theme
  • Along the corridor at YotelAir Changi Airport

The Cabin

We checked into the Premium Queen Cabin (all the rooms are termed cabins), which is a little tight at 10m² of real estate space. However, the small space is sufficient for transiting passengers to catch a snooze, freshen up before catching their onward flight.

Sleeping Area

The cabin is tiny that I can see the entire cabin the moment I open the door. The cabin is only large enough to house two adults before feeling cramp. The cabin’s set-up is straightforward and only has the essentials sufficient for travellers who need a space to snooze before their onward flight. There are no windows in the cabin, but the clever use of mirrors and glass to partition between the bathroom and the sleeping area does not make me feel claustrophobic. The first item that comes into my sight is the Queen Bed, occupying most of the space inside the cabin. The unique feature of the bed is that it can be adjustable to an angle that suits its occupant’s preference. The bed is topped with a memory foam mattress and is very comfortable to sleep on. However, the pillows are a tad too soft for my liking. Even with the adjustable angle for the bed, I find it hard to find an optimal angle for me to sleep on. There is some storage area under the bed that seems to fit a 28″ luggage.

The queen bed in the cabin occupies a good amount of space in the cabin
  • The bed can be angled using this button
  • There are a couple of reading lights mounted onto the headboard of the bed.

There is a large LED TV mounted onto the wall next to the main entrance to the cabin. I was able to find cable channels akin to those found in 5-star hotels on the TV. There are no closets in the cabin, and I had to hang my clothing on one of the two hangars found on the wall next to the door. There is some shelving space mounted onto the wall next to the bed, where I could place some small items. These shelving spaces are not the most generous that one can find. However, given the tight space, I thought this is sufficient. Beneath the shelving is a small table, which can be folded away if not in use. I used this table to charge my lifestyle devices. I found a luggage rack, which I could use as a stool for the table nicely tucked next to the bed.

The TV in the cabin has lots of cable channels.
Shelving in the cabin that provided me with some storage space
  • Power outlets just above the table in the cabin
  • The luggage rack tucked by the side of the bed in the cabin
  • No closets in the cabin, only two hangers for me to put away my clothing

Bathroom

Behind the Queen Bed is a small area dedicated to the bathroom area. Forget about finding a bathtub here in the bathroom. Due to the amount of space, the bathroom is fitted with the bare essentials. There is hardly any space on the sink for me to put anything on. Lucky, there is some shelving by the sink where I was able to stow some toiletries on. Pass the toilet the walking shower is tucked to the end of the bathroom. Despite the size, YotelAir Changi Airport can still fit both a rain shower and a regular shower head in the shower area. Most of the bathroom is enclosed in glass with a curtain for privacy.

The toilet and the walk-in shower in the bathroom
  • The shelving next to the sink provided much-needed storage space
  • Toilet between the sink and the shower
  • There are rain showers and regular showerheads in the Premium Queen Cabin at YotelAir Changi Airport.
  • Small sink in the bathroom of the Premium Queen Cabin of YotelAir Changi Airport
  • Shower gel and shampoo are mounted to the wall in the walk-in shower at YotelAir Changi Airport.
  • YotelAir Changi Airport provided some basic toiletries in the bathroom.

Service

The service at YotelAir Changi Airport is decent as there are not many touchpoints with the staff at the hotel. The only touchpoint we had with the team is during check-in, where the staff readily sprung into action once we were spotted at the entrance to the hotel. Our check-in was processed with much efficiency. The team briefed us on the open facilities and how to get the complimentary coffee at the lounge. Check-out was also done swiftly by the efficient staff.

  • YotelAir Changi Airport provides disinfecting care packs in their Premium Queen Cabin.
  • This robot will deliver additional requests to the cabins.

Hotel Facilities

Gym

There is a small gym next to the reception of YotelAir. Guests at the hotel can do some decent workouts at this small gym equipped with cardio machines such as treadmills and stationary bikes. The gym is also equipped with some weight machines and free weights. Unfortunately, the gym is closed at the time of my visit due to government restrictions to curd COVID-19.

  • The gym at YotelAir Changi Airport
  • I can only peep into the gym during my stay.
  • The gym at YotelAir Changi Airport is closed during my stay.

Komyuniti

There is a small lounge area at YotelAir Changi Airport where guests can get complimentary coffee and tea at all times (have to request a cup from the reception). Due to the pandemic measures, there are only two tables in the Komyuniti. Guests are also welcome to pack their food from the numerous restaurants within Jewel and dine here or purchase a set of meals from the reception at YotelAir. Komyuniti is also where guests can snack their purchase from the vending machine at the reception area that sells overpriced snacks, drinks and instant noodles. I can imagine guests enjoying the range of snacks available during tea time on the numerous tables at the Komyuniti during regular (non-pandemic) times.

Lounge area in YotelAir Changi Airport that where guests can get complimentary coffee
  • Komyuniti is accessible from the top floor of the hotel in regular times
  • Stairways leading to Komyuniti
  • Komyuniti has limited seats due to social distancing measures.
Limited menu up for purchase at a reasonable price
I find the prices in the vending machine to be a little steep

Overall

I thought YotelAir Changi Airport is not ideal for staycations. There are not many facilities on the hotel premises, and the cabins are tiny. After all, YotelAir Changi Airport is mainly targeted at transiting travellers. The mattress on the bed is comfortable, but the pillows are not to my liking. Even though the cabins are closely located to each other, the soundproofing in each cabin is excellent. The service is also very minimal as there are not many touchpoints with the staff.