[Accommodation Review] – Fairmont Singapore (Signature King Suite), Singapore (7 – 9 Aug 21)

August 30, 2021 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Fairmont Singapore is situated in the heart of Singapore. It is very well connected to other parts of the city-state by public transport. For a starter, the City Hall MRT station, one of the main interchanges of the subway system, allows guests at the hotel to explore other parts of Singapore via the subway system. Being in the heart of the country, Fairmont Singapore is also very well connected via the bus system in Singapore. Fairmont sits right on top of Raffles City Shopping Mall, where we had no trouble finding food options on top of shopping options. For those of us who wanted to explore other shopping malls, there are shopping malls within 15 mins walking distance from the hotel. In terms of attractions, Fairmont Singapore is located within a minute walk from the Civic District of Singapore, one of the places with historical significance in the country.

The Signature King Suite

This is the second time I have stayed at Fairmont Singapore this year. I stayed at their Signature King Salon Suite back on Apr 21 (read about it here). As there is a long weekend in Singapore, I took the chance to check out the other suite configuration in the hotel open for guests. Fairmont Singapore has five types of suites, ranging from Junior Suites to President Suite. Most of these suites are situated in the South Tower designated for COVID-19 quarantine purposes. As of this review, the only two types of suites in North Tower open for stays are the Signature King Suite and the Signature King Salon Suite. Both these suites are of the Junior Suite category and have the same floor area of 56m². The critical difference between the two suites is in the decor where the Signature King Salon Suite has been renovated.

Being the Junior Suite, the Signature King Suite adopts an open concept. The lounge area is integrated into the suite. The Signature King Suite is very well appointed. However, the decor looks a little dated. It can be segregated into three main areas: Lounge Area, Sleeping Area and the Bathroom. This review will be done in the order of places in the suite as I walk through from its entrance.

Entryway

The entryway in Fairmont Singapore’s Signature King Suite extends from the entrance to the central part of the suite. I like the way Fairmont Singapore maximises the utility of this part of the suite. Other than serving as a walkway into the suite, the hotel fitted a couple of cabinets next to the suite’s entrance. One of these cabinets functions as the minibar. A Nespresso coffee machine, kettles, tea bags and mini-fridge is located in the suite. The other cabinet provides additional storage space where I put the snacks we brought for this staycation. Unlike the Signature King Salon Suite’s entryway, which is decorated with artworks, the entryway in Signature King Suite feels plain and empty. I also thought the zigzag entryway in the Signature King Suite has the additional function of providing its guests with some degree of privacy as people outside the suite cannot see directly into the suite. The bathroom and wardrobe of the Signature King Suite are located along the entryway corridor.

Cups and complimentary coffee and tea are found in the drawer in the minibar area.

Bathroom

The entrance to the bathroom in the Signature King Suite at Fairmont Singapore is found along the entryway corridor. There is a stark difference in ambience comparing the entryway to the bathroom in terms of lighting. While the entryway uses warm lighting, the lighting in the bathroom is brighter. I thought the bright lighting is one contributing factor in making the bathroom feels more extensive than it is.

The bathroom in the Signature King Suite is clad in white and black marble, giving it a luxurious feel. Although the bathroom in the suite is on the small side compared to the Junior Suites in some other hotels, it seems like the hotel devotes more space to other parts of the suite. The bright tiles and lighting, coupled with the large mirror that extends to the entire wall space by the sink, makes the bathroom feel spacious. The bathroom in the Signature King Suite is equipped with one sink. However, I appreciate the additional space at the sink countertop where I brought the toiletries.

The sink area in the bathroom of the Signature King Suite

I very much dislike how the shower area is organised in the bathroom of the Signature King Suite. Instead of having a separate walk-in shower area, a shower/tub combination arrangement for the shower area is furnished in the bathroom. The bathtub is quite sizeable and is relatively deep, which makes soaking in it very much relaxing. However, this is problematic when getting in and out of the bathtub when showering. The deep bathtub can potentially cause its user to slip. To top the problem with the shower area, while a semi-open glass panel is installed to keep the bathroom dry while one shower, this glass panel also make turning on the tap to fill the tub difficult. I had to step into the tub to turn the water to fill the tub. Equipping a rain shower and a regular shower head for showering is the only saving grace for the shower/bathtub area. The water pressure from both shower heads is quite good. Despite the flaws in the design of the shower/tub area, I find the placement of the porcelain throne in the bathroom to be perfect.

I find the shower/bathtub combination in the bathroom to be the Achilles heel in the Signature King Suite of Fairmont Singapore.

The toilet is placed between the sink and the bathtub.

Wardrobe

The wardrobe in the Signature King Suite is situated next to the bathroom entrance, making it very convenient for us to grab our clothing before heading for a shower. However, the size of the wardrobe is a bit on the small side. There is only one wardrobe in the Signature King Suite where Fairmont Singapore also cramp the in-room safe, a two-tiered drawer, and the ironing equipment. Although the addition of the drawers created additional space, it also takes up half of the available space in the wardrobe. The area in the closet is sufficient for us to put away the amount of clothing that we brought for this two-night staycation.

Lounge Area

The end of the corridor from the entryway opens up to the spacious L-shape layout suite. At the end of the “tunnel” from the main entrance sits a reasonably large work desk. Besides using it to work, which has sufficient space to put our laptop and some working files onto, we also use the work desk as a dining table. Unlike the Signature King Salon Suite, the work desk in the Signature King Suite is furnished with two chairs. I like the power outlet placement next to the work desk, making it convenient to charge our laptops. However, despite having an HDMI socket next to the power outlet here, we did have problems connecting our laptop to project on the TV in the suite (we had to connect directly to the TV).

Other than using it for work, we also used the work desk as a dining table

My favourite part of the Signature King Suite is the lounge area, wedged between the King bed by the corner and the word desk area. I find the L-shaped sofa very comfortable to laze on while watching the numerous cable channels on the 55″ TV. I spend most of my staycation with Fairmont Singapore, lounging on this very comfortable sofa binge-watching the TV. The sofa is so comfortable that we took the extra pillows from the bed and requested an additional blanket from the hotel to laze on the couch. The TV perched on a classic wooden TV console can be swivelled to face the work desk we did while having dinner in the suite or facing the bed. I like how the lounge area placement feels very spacious, thanks to the balconies in the suite when the curtains are opened up. A small coffee table between the TV console and the sofa is perfect for us to put our snacks while being entertained by the options on the TV.

The main lounge area in the Signature King Suite

The couch in the lounge area is very comfortable

Sleeping Area

I like how Fairmont Singapore managed to find a conducive and private spot in the open Signature King Suite to snag the King bed. The King bed, marking the sleeping area, is tucked in one corner of the suite, providing us with privacy in an otherwise open concept suite. The King bed is very comfortable to sleep in, but I find the pillows a tad too soft for my liking. Despite the hotel’s best efforts in finding the firmest pillow they have, I still have trouble sleeping with the pillow. That said, the firmness of the mattress on the bed is superb. The use of down lighting in the sleeping area, lightly decorated with a Peranakan motive hanging above the headboard that gives a Singaporean touch to the suite, is very comfortable and not glaring to the eyes. The bedside table provided us with generous storage space to put away our lifestyle devices, while the power outlet by the bedside allows us to charge our devices.

Peranakan motive hanging above the headboard of the King bed

Bedside table next to the King bed provided us ample space to stow our lifestyle devices

Balconies

Like the Signature King Salon Suite, the Signature King Suite also comes with two sizeable balconies to look into the City and get some fresh air. The suite we were assigned to has views of both the Bugis area and the Marina Centre area. The addition of the balconies allows some form of indoor-outdoor space and makes the suite look larger.

The balcony that overlooks the Marina Centre area

One of the balconies in the Signature King Suite

Service

I was impressed with the service at Fairmont back on Apr 21 when I stayed with them. This time around, it was no exception. The hotel recognises the Accor programme, and we were granted check-in as early as 9 am and late check-out of 5 pm (due to our platinum status with Accor). The staff are very welcoming the moment we were at the reception during check-in. During check-in, we were thoroughly briefed by the reception staff on the measures that the hotel took due to the recent government measures resulting from the spiking COVID cases in Singapore. In addition, we were brief on the facilities that were open and how to order breakfast. The staff at check-in also helped us book the swimming pools slots and checked with his housekeeping colleagues to ensure the suites are ready before passing us the keycards to the suite. The service we received at the reception during check-out was equally pleasant. The staff efficiently managed the check-out process, and the staff thanked us for staying with Fairmont Singapore.

Despite the best efforts of the hotel to provide outstanding service to their guests, there are some minor hiccups that we faced during our stay. Most of the time, especially in the evening and at night, we would have to wait more than 15 mins when dialling the one-stop service hotline on the hotel’s phone. At times I would give up waiting and resort to dialling the spa hotline to get someone to attend to our requests.

There was also the issue of breakfast delivery. Due to the government restrictions prohibiting dine-in, Fairmont Singapore arranged breakfast to be delivered to the rooms. Unfortunately, our breakfast on the first day was delayed by 45 mins without anyone calling to inform us that the breakfast would be late. To make matters worst, the breakfast had turned cold by the time we received it. I highlighted the issue to the hotel, and to my surprise, the supervisor of F&B called to explain the situation (which I did not expect them to address our feedback) and assured us that the breakfast would be delivered the next day time (which they did). Furthermore, after receiving the breakfast, the supervisor checked with us to ensure that we have received our breakfast. I thought the F&B supervisor very well handled the issue of the breakfast. Instead of being defensive, she took responsibility for the situation and followed up with a call after our initial complaint and personally see to it that our breakfast was delivered on time the next day.

I can feel the efforts of the staff at Fairmont Singapore in providing service at Fairmont Singapore, despite minimal contact with the staff and the hiccups we experienced. Staffs at Fairmont are always very welcoming whenever we walk past them in the lobby.

We received a welcome cake during our stay with Fairmont Singapore

Hotel Facilities

Due to the recent government restrictions, the spa facilities and the gym at Fairmont Singapore were closed. As a result, only the swimming pool remains open during our stay.

The only swimming pool is open during our stay at Fairmont Singapore

Swimming Pools

The swimming pool at Fairmont is accessible from the spa entrance at level 6 of the hotel. Fairmont Singapore has excellent control over the number of guests at the swimming pool as part of the restriction by the government. The staff at the spa reception will diligently verify the booking for our time slot before allowing us to enter the pool area. The swimming pool is shared with their sister hotel, Swissotel, next door. Despite the shared services, the number of guests at the pool is kept very well controlled. The swimming pools at Fairmont caters to both adult guests and young guests. My nephew enjoyed himself at the wading pool, where we took a swim at the adult pool, which has lanes demarcated for guests who wanted to do their laps. I like the plentiful deck chairs for us to choose from at the poolside, where we can choose the spot where we get maximum sunshine for our tanning sessions.

In-Room Breakfast

Due to the government restriction on dine-in, Fairmont Singapore adapted to the situation by serving our breakfast in-room. We were given a QR code during check-in for our orders for breakfast. However, due to the hiccup on the first day, the F&B supervisor recommended calling and place our order. We were given a choice of mains from American, Lifestyle, Singapore, Malaysian and South Indian Breakfast. Fairmont also serves up a bread basket and fruit together with a choice of mains for breakfast. We opted for the American Breakfast for both days, and I find the food served was sufficient to get us going for the day, not exactly that impressionable.

We opted for American Breakfast for both days

Overall

We had a pleasant staycation with Fairmont Singapore. I like the lounge and sleeping area of the Signature King Suite over their recently renovated Signature King Salon Suite. However, I thought the bathroom was disappointing with the shower/bath combination set-up. Despite the reduced interaction with the staff, we received great service at every touchpoint we had with the staff. Our comments on the Breakfast at the hotel was addressed efficiently by the F&B Supervisor. I can’t wait for the hotel to be fully open to experience the other suites in the South Tower.

[Accommodation Review] – Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa (Imperial Suite), Singapore (15 – 16 May 21)

May 24, 2021 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

The Location

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is situated in a relatively isolated part of Sentosa, an island in the southern part of Singapore. The location makes it an ideal destination for staycationers and guests who wanted a quiet time during their stay in Singapore. There aren’t any eateries or shops within the vicinity of the hotel. The nearest food place is located at Resorts World Sentosa, a 20 mins walk from the hotel. Guests without cars would have to rely on the hotel’s shuttle service to get around Sentosa for dinner or confined to the restaurants on the hotel premises. There is a flight of stairs at the hotel’s swimming pool that grants hotel guests access to Tanjong Beach located below the hotel.

Check-in Lobby at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa

The lush garden grounds around Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa

The Suite

This is my fourth time staying in Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. For this staycation, I checked into both the Prestige Suite and the Imperial Suite. I have reviewed the Prestige Suite previously, and this review mainly focuses on the Imperial Suite. The decor of the Imperial Suite in Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa takes inspiration from the Orient-Express train service, embodying the epitome of luxury and travel that once ran from Paris to Vienna. The spirit of Orient-Express is well translated into the Imperial Suite at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. There are elements of train travel, and Orient-Express found in some of the doors and furnishings of the 190m² one-of-a-kind Imperial Suite in the hotel. The expansive L-shaped Imperial Suite spreads across five to six luxury rooms at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. It has elements of a typical Presidential Suite (although the hotel does not name this suite as a Presidential Suite) and is the highest category Suite in Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. With impeccably designed rooms and halls of old-world charm, the Imperial Suite screams of luxury and opulence for its guests.

The Grand Foyer

I was wow-ed by the grandeur of the Imperial Suite the moment I opened its main doors. The Grand Foyer, laid with dark blue marble topped with a carpet that ends just short of the powder room in the suite, screams of luxury and opulence. The warm yellow lighting from the chandelier hanging from the antique-gold ceiling shines onto the dark blue oversized carpet with “Orient-Express” embroidered onto it, coupled with the wooden doors from the study at the side, makes me feel as though I am being transported back in time onto the Orient-Express. A couple of cabinets on either side of the Grand Foyer provide additional storage space for guests of the suite. Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa tastefully decorated the cabinets with art pieces that breathe sophistication into the Grand Foyer.

We were welcomed by an oversized Orient-Express carpet from the entrance to the suite

Art work at the Grand Foyer of the Imperial Suite

The Study

The Study is the first room that guests of the Imperial Suite see when entering. Located on the right side of the Grand Foyer, this enclosed space is a great space for one to do their work. The wooden French doors at the Study provides guests privacy and solitude for their work. The parqueted flooring and the choice of brown-toned furniture at the Study give it an earthy vibe. At the centre of the Study is a work desk that is sufficiently large for guests to place their laptops and documents while working. The Study is also furnished with two comfortable fabric armchairs allowing the residents of the Imperial Suite to host guests at the Study and provide an additional option for residents of the suite to read a book. The decor in the Study is by no means bland, exuding a heavy sense of French elements from the small table lamp to the decorative table placed in one corner of this room. The Orient-Express theme is also found in the Study from pictures of the train hanging on the wall in the Study. With such sophistication in its decor, guests will find working in the Study of the Imperial Suite a pleasure.

Powder Room

I like the inclusion of a Powder Room in the suite as it gives its residents the convenience of using this toilet while they are in the Living Room or Dining Room. On top of that, residents of the Imperial Suite can maintain their privacy if there are guests over in the Suite. These guests would not have to go through the Bedroom to use the toilet. The Powder Room location is very well thought through during the design of the suite, and it is situated straight from the main entrance down the Grand Foyer just before the Bedroom entrance. The Powder Room is very functional and only equipped with a toilet and a sink with huge mirrors. Despite the minimalistic design of the Powder Room, it still looks luxurious with the wood colour walls and the green marble tiles used in the Powder Room. The toilet in the Powder Room does not come with a bidet function (unlike the one in the main Bathroom).

The Bedroom

Further into the Imperial Suite at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa from the Grand Foyer, past the small corridor that houses the Powder Room, guests will arrive at a double panelled wooden door. Behind the French style doors lies the Bedroom of the Suite. As soon as I walked into the Bedroom, my attention is drawn to the King Bed and the two-seater couch, sitting on top of a red carpet with a floral design that occupies a large real estate in the Bedroom. The decor in the Bedroom is more contemporary elegant, but with hints of French chic in some parts of this room. The choice of gold colour theme in the bedroom adds to the luxurious feel in the room. From the king bed base to the headboard, this room’s gold colour is not too overly used. The king bed, placed by the part of the wall in which the entire wall is the headboard, is comfortable and offers residents of the Imperial Suite an excellent sleep quality, recharging them with good night sleep. I find the pillows on the bed too soft for my liking. However, the hotel does provide firmer pillows upon request though there are no pillow menus in the suite for guests to choose from. On the sides of the bed are two reasonably large side tables. These tables, decorated with retro French-themed glass lamps which illuminate the bedside gently at night, provide guests with ample space to place their lifestyle devices with the abundant charging ports and power outlets by the bedside table. The addition of the two-seater couch in front of the king bed provides an additional option for guests of the Imperial Suite to laze on being entertained by the TV in the bedroom or to read a book. Guests will find comfort being warped by the goldish brown fabric on this two-seater.

Bedroom in the Imperial Suite at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa

Entrance to the Bedroom from the Grand Foyer

The couch provides additional sitting space for residents of the Imperial Suite

In front of the king bed, next to the Bedroom entrance, sits a TV console topped with a 46″ LED TV that offers numerous international cable and local channels that keep occupants of the Imperial Suite entertained throughout the night. I find the TV console’s height a tad too short that when lying on the bed, one can only watch the TV at a certain angle. The couch also hinders the signal from the remote control, which can only control the TV at a certain angle. The TV in the bedroom is the same size as that found in the Living Room with the same entertainment options.

Residents of the Imperial Suite at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa will be surprised to find a large walk-in closet in the bedroom. The walk-in closet is located behind a wooden door next to the king bed in the bedroom and provides ample space for residents of the suite to hang their clothes with hanging bars around this space. A reasonably large cabinet inside the walk-in closet offers ample space for guests ample space to stow the largest luggage one can find. As the walk-in closet is a tad far from the bathroom, I used this space mainly to put away the bags that I brought for this staycation.

Guests will be surprised to find such a large walk-in closet in the Bedroom of the Imperial Suite

There is a smaller work desk in the Imperial Suite, tucked by one corner further in the Bedroom just by the entrance to the Bathroom. The glass top with metal frame in gold colour work desk, fully equipped with power outlets by the wall behind it, allows guests to do some work in the Bedroom. The accompanying fabric work chair is very comfortable to sit on with its ample cushioning. A single armchair by the other corner of the Bedroom with an accompanying small side table provides guests with another option to read a book from. Together with the art pieces displayed on the shelves next to them in this part of the Bedroom, these furnishings further complement the luxurious French theme felt throughout the suite.

The Bathroom

Further into the bedroom, past another double panelled wooden doors between the work desk and the armchair, one would arrive at the main Bathroom in the Imperial Suite. Laid with a parquet wooden floor and carrying an earthy tone, the Bathroom in the suite is enormous. It is segregated into a wet and dry area. The dry area is the area nearer to the entrance to the Bathroom, where guests would find two sinks separated by the access to the wet area of the Bathroom. Each sink sits on a sizeable marbled countertop that provides ample space for the hotel to place the luxurious French branded Balmain bath amenities on each of the sinks and guests to place their toiletries on. Each sink area is furnished with a large mirror that covers the entire length of the wall. This is the first suite I have stayed in where I find not one, but two couches in the Bathroom, showing the expansiveness of the Bathroom in the Imperial Suite.

Double vanity sinks in the Bathroom of the Imperial Suite

The sink next to the window with a cushioned bench

Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa provides Balmain bath amenities for its Imperial Suite guests

Behind the sink area is where guests can find two additional closets for them to hang their clothes. I thought having extra closets in the Bathroom is an excellent idea as it provides greater convenience for guests in the Imperial Suite to access their clothing after a shower. Guests also do not have to walk to the walk-in closet in the bedroom to gain access to their clothes. These closets, together with the four-drawer cabinets inside the closets, are large enough to stow a week’s worth of clothing. Both closets are almost identical, except for the in-room safe being installed in one of the closets. The iron and ironing board are also tucked inside one of these closets.

The closet behind the sink next to the window

Beyond the sink areas are the wet area of the Bathroom where guests do their showering. Tucked in the windowed corner of the wet area is an oversized Jacuzzi tub that gently massages the stress away using bubbles. The use of bamboo blinds at the window gives the tub area a spa feel to it. To take the boredom away when soaking in the tub, Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa install a small TV by the Jacuzzi tub to entertain guests. However, the cable and international channels found in the other TVs in the suite is missing, and this TV is only limited to local channels.

Standing Jacuzzi tub in the wet area of the Bathroom

There is a small TV by the jacuzzi tub in the Bathroom of the Imperial Suite

Opposite the Jacuzzi tub is where the toilet and walk-in shower cubicles are located. The white marble in these two cubicles gives it a luxurious feel. The toilet in the Bathroom is equipped with bidet functions, while the walk-in shower has regular and rain shower heads with perfect water pressures. I like the small ledge installed in the shower cubicle, which has sufficient space to place the bath amenities provided by the hotel and still has room to place personal toiletries and even a glass to place your toothbrushes in.

Toilet and walk-in shower in the wet area of the Bathroom

The Living Room

The Living Room in the Imperial Suite is located to the left of the Grand Foyer and is one of the largest areas in the entire suite. The use of mahogany coloured walls with an antique gold ceiling, coupled with yet another chandelier hanging from the centre of the ceiling, screams of poshness. The French style highback couches furnished in the Living Room reminds residents and guests of the Imperial Suite the French root the Sofitel brand entails. The Living Room in the Imperial Suite can further be separated into entertainment and reception areas. Upon entering the Living Room, a two-seater highback purple French couch catches the attention of occupants of the Imperial Suite. Placed in front of the 46″ LED TV, this couch is very comfortable to sit on while enjoying the numerous international and local channels on the TV mounted on the feature wall that separates the Grand Foyer from the Living Room. The addition of a table beneath the TV provides additional space for guests to stow small items and snacks.

A two-seater high back French Couch in the fore area of the Living Room

Behind the purple couch lies the central part of the Living Room. The set of large golden brown French-style couch set furnished in this area compliments the chandelier and the purple floral designed carpet to exude classic French charm. The comfortable fabric highback couch set, comprising a three-seater couch and four armchairs, provides ample seating in this area of the Living Room for residents of the Imperial Suite to host guests. Right in the centre of this couch set is a large dark-brown wooden coffee table that adds to the grandeur of the Imperial Suite. The addition of numerous art pieces elevates the sophistication and luxury vibe in the Living Room. I find the number of art pieces in the Living Room is just right and not too accessive. The only thing I find a tad disappointing is the size of the TV in the Living Room. Due to the spaciousness of the size of the Living Room, having the 46″ TV here seem a tad too small, especially for guests who are sitting on the three-seater couch, which is placed furthest from the TV. Looking out from the window in the Living Room, residents in the Imperial Suite can get a commanding view of the resort grounds and even the sea afar.

The inner Living Area for residents of the Imperial Suite to host their guests

The art pieces placed in the Imperial Suite gives it a luxurious feel

The 46″ LED TV looks a tad too small for the Living Room in the Imperial Suite

Art pieces in the Living Room of the Imperial Suite

The Imperial Suite at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa has a commanding view of the hotel gardens and even the sea

The Dining Room

The Dining Room, located behind the Living Room of the Imperial Suite, continues the French-inspired theme throughout the suite. The two French wooden style doors on either side of the entrances to the dining room provide its diners with the privacy they require. When all the doors in the Dining Room in the Imperial Suite at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa are closed, it resembles a dining car on the Orient-Express thanks to the colour theme on the walls green carpet. The addition of the chandelier hanging on the antique-gold coloured ceiling, together with the art pieces, makes the Dining Room feel elegant. In the centre of the Dining Room sits a long dark brown table and six comfortable fabric chairs. The size of the dining table is large enough to be able to sit eight to 10 people. Despite being one of the smaller parts of the Imperial Suite, the use of mirrors on the Dining Room walls makes this space feel larger than it actually is and adds to the luxurious feel radiating in the Suite.

The dining table is large enough to fit eight to 10 guests comfortably

Kitchenette

Past the Dining Room, guests of the Imperial Suite will come to a kitchenette. This small space houses some common kitchen appliances that one can find in a typical hotel room on top of the mugs and glasses. The kitchenette is furnished with a mid-size fridge, the top range Nespresso machine with frothing functions and even double sinks. There is even a wine rack in the kitchenette. Opposite the entrance to the kitchenette is a second entrance to the suite, where staffs can access from for in-room dining. However, during our stay, this door was not used by the staff.

Service

During this stay at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa, the service received during this stay is impeccable and a stark difference compared to my last visit in Dec 2020 with the hotel. The excellent service started even before we stepped into the hotel. Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa honoured the Platinum status of my friend with an early check-in at noon. As soon as I stepped into the hotel grounds walking towards the reception, I was warmly welcomed by Aaron from the concierge team. He diligently ensured that all guests entering the hotel grounds did their check-in and had their temperature taken. Aaron then showed me the way to the reception for the reception team to process my check-in.

The service at the reception was nothing short of excellent. I witnessed what makes great teamwork during check-in. I was initially served by Synedrella (I hope I got her name right), who greets us with warm welcomes. As our room arrangement is a tad complicated (we had two suites for the first night and another night in the Imperial Suite), seeing that she was overwhelmed, Synedrella’s colleague, Timon, standing at the next counter immediately jumped in and helped her to process the check-in for one of the suites. Timon and Syndrella split the check-ins amongst themselves to not have to wait too long for the check-in process to be completed. As the arrangement for my stay involves switching suites the next day, Wai Wai stepped in to help out with the complicated arrangement. Wai Wai even went the extra mile to check if the Imperial Suite is being occupied at the time of our check-in and offered to upgrade us to the Imperials Suite if available, so we do not have to go through the trouble switching suites during our stay. As there is only one Imperial Suite at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa, Wai Wai apologised for the inconvenience of making us go through the hassle of switching suites (although by no means was her fault). She also offered to send help with our luggage during the suite swap the next day, which we declined as we did not have a lot of baggage. Wai Wai promised a seamless suite swap the next day. Wai Wai honoured the benefits of Platinum Accor member status and gave us a late check-out for the Imperial Suite. The suite swap was seamless the next day, and keycards were brought to our suite when the Imperial Suite was ready for us to move into.

The service at Kwee Zeen was also significantly improved from our last visit. This time around, we were welcomed by Kour at the front of the restaurant, who immediately got us seats and even helped us swap seats when my nephew insisted on indoor seating. The staff at the restaurant were observant and immediately cleared the plates when we are done with the food. The team at each buffet counter were superb and always ready to serve up the choice of guests during breakfast.

The new government measure of dine-in restriction occurs during our stay, the F&B team at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa were ready to comply with the new restrictions. I am impressed with the readiness of the hotel team in complying with new government policies. We received a call from Kour on the second night, informing us of the new measures and to take our orders for breakfast and the timing for our breakfast to be delivered to our suite. Kour was patient during the call and answered all my queries on the food arrangements. As the Imperial Suite has a proper dining table, the initial setup was for my sister’s family’s breakfast to be delivered to our suite to dine together. However, close to 11 pm, my sister told me that they wanted to have their breakfast in their suite. I called the One-Touch service to alter the breakfast arrangement. The team helped us change the arrangement, and the breakfast was delivered correctly and on time the next day.

On top of the great service we experienced with the staff at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa, the hotel’s hospitality is also felt when we entered our suites. We were pleasantly surprised to discover a high tea set (which was not common in hotels) was placed in the Imperial Suite waiting for us, on top of a fruit platter and a bottle of wine. Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa also provided its guests with care kits comprising sanitising wipes and sprays, and hand sanitisers in each room to ensure guests stay safe during the pandemic.

Other than the typical welcome fruit, I was surprised to find a high tea set and a bottle of wine as part of the welcome amenities in the Imperial Suite

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast @ Kwee Zeen

Guests staying at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa will be having their breakfast at Kwee Zeen restaurant, located opposite the reception. Unlike most of the hotels in Singapore that I have stayed so far during this pandemic, I am pleasantly surprised to find that breakfast is served as a buffet-style instead of pre-determined sets. Each station has a plastic shield and is manned by a staff readily serving guests’ choices at their station. There is a good spread of local and international options for breakfast at Kwee Zeen. Due to the new COVID-19 measure of banning dine-in announced by the government, which starts on the second day of my stay at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa, breakfast was served to guests in the room. Each guest is entitled to one set of the pre-determined breakfast sets, which was promptly delivered to the suite during my stay.

I like the buffet-style breakfast option at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa

Our order of in-room dine-in breakfast for the second day of our stay at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa

Swimming Pool

There are two pools in Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa. The main pool is situated in the heart of the hotel grounds, near the hotel’s lobby. The black tiled pool is large by any hotel standards is segregated into three parts catering for families with children and guests who wanted to do a few laps in it. It is also one of the deepest pools in any hotels around Singapore, with the deepest end of the pool measuring 2.3m deep. This is one of the few hotels in Singapore that has a lifeguard on duty. There is no lack of sundeck chairs and cabanas around the pool for guests to laze their day away. As part of the COVID-19 measures, Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa control the crowd at the pool very well. Guests wanting to utilise the main pool are to make a booking for the usage of the pool. Each room is entitled to a 2-hour time slot per day. The other pool at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa is located off-site at the SO Spa premises. Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa offer its suite guests staying complimentary access to the facilities at SO Spa. As the SO Spa is somewhat out of the way, I did not use the pool at SO Spa during my stay.

Gym

There is a small make-shift gym on the hotel premises, occupying the lawn space next to the pool. The gym in Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa is a tad small compared to other hotels or the SO Fit that it once occupies. Despite its petite area, the gym at Sofitel Sentosa Resorts & Spa is well equipped with machines and gym equipment that allows guests to do a decent workout. However, the gym was close due to new government restrictions to curb the rising COVID-19 infections in Singapore. When the gym was operational, guests are entitled to a daily 2-hour booking slot per day.

The gym is closed due to government restrictions to curb the COVID-19 virus

Overall

We had a wonderful stay at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa. The Imperial Suite is tastefully designed with old world charm that blends the essence of Orient-Express and classic French elements. The suite is very comfortable in every part of the suite, from the Living Room to the Bedroom. I am most impressed with the Jacuzzi tub in the suite that relieved the stress and provided a great night sleep in the king bed in the bedroom. The service is nothing short of excellent from the moment we stepped into the hotel to the time we leave the hotel. The hotel is also agile in complying with the new governmental pandemic restrictions. The only room type in Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa that I have not stayed in is their villa, which might be on my list the next time I return for another staycation.

[Accommodation Review] – Fairmont Singapore (Signature King Saloon Suite), Singapore (2 – 4 Apr 21)

April 10, 2021April 25, 2021 / kktong76 / 2 Comments

The Location

Fairmont Singapore is located right in the heart of Singapore, within walking distance to nearby attractions such as Esplanade Theatre, the Merlion Park and Gardens By the Bay. Fairmont Singapore is very well connected by the MRT subway, sitting right above City Hall MRT station, allowing guests to explore the Island state by subway. There are tons of shopping options in the vicinity of the hotel. Right below the hotel is the Raffles City Shopping Mall, where restaurants and boutiques are located. Guests at Fairmont Singapore do not need to leave the hotel premises to fulfil their food and shopping needs. Nearby the hotel is the Bugis Junction Shopping Mall, Suntec Shopping Mall and Marina Centre Shopping Mall, where more shopping and food options are available for guests at Fairmont Singapore.

Reception in at the lobby of Fairmont Singapore

The Suite

I booked this staycation for the Good Friday long weekend during the Black Friday Sale last November, where I bagged a deal on their Signature King Saloon Suite for 40% off and comes with breakfast arrangements. Fairmont Singapore has a total of 778 rooms and suites spread across both North and South towers. Due to the pandemic, the South Tower, where the higher category suites and rooms with superb views and the Gold Lounge are located, is closed for guests serving their quarantine upon arriving in Singapore. Only the North tower is open to receive guests for staycations. The highest category suite Fairmont Singapore has in the North Tower is the Signature King Suite, which essentially is a Junior Suite with a total floor area of 56m². Fairmont Singapore has two configurations of Signature King Suite – The Signature King Suite and the Signature King Saloon Suite. The former is older and has a Peranakan theme, while the latter has been recently renovated with a contemporary theme. Fairmont Singapore has only one Signature King Saloon Suite in the North Tower.

Entryway

The Signature King Saloon Suite is renovated with an earthy theme decked in dark brown colour flooring and furnishing, together with the yellow lighting in the entire suite makes guests feel relaxed during their stay in the suite. The earthy tone of the suite can immediately be felt the moment its occupants enter the suite at its entryway, owing to the dark brown wooden wall panel on the left wall of the corridor that leads into the suite and parquet flooring laid throughout the entire suite. Together with the soothing warm lighting, the colour theme of this corridor exudes a sense of claim and relaxation to its occupants. A large mirror fitted on the right side of the wall not only makes this area of the Signature King Saloon Suite at Fairmont Singapore feels larger, but it also allows its occupants to do last-minute checking of their attire before heading out.

Entryway to the Signature King Saloon Suite

Bathroom

The entrance to the bathroom in the Signature King Saloon Suite is found along the entryway, mere steps away from the primary access to the suite. The white-grey marble-laden bathroom gives it a luxurious feel; hints of the central theme in the Signature King Saloon Suite are still subtly present in the bathroom in the form of wooden panels by the sink area. A bulk of the walls in the bathroom is fitted with large mirrors, making it feels more extensive than it is. As guests enter the bathroom, guests can find the sink area on the right of the entrance to the bathroom. Due to the size of the bathroom, fitting it with a single sink gives guests of the Signature King Saloon Suite more space to stow their toiletries on the black marbled countertop.

A full set of bath amenities are provided at Fairmont Singapore

On the left of the bathroom entrance, opposite the sink area, is a partially enclosed wet area behind a single glass panel. The wet area did not come with a door, which I initially feel the water from the wet area might get into the dry area of the bathroom. However, after three days of usage, I did not find any water getting into the dry area. The wet area of the bathroom in the Signature King Saloon Suite is where guests can find a deep bathtub sitting by the wall in the wet area. The foreground of the wet area is the walk-in shower area, fitted with both a rain shower and a regular shower head.

Wet area in the bathroom of the Signature King Saloon Suite

The deep bathtub sits by the wall of the wet area in the bathroom

Further into the bathroom, past the sink area, one can find an open toilet area tucked in one corner of the bathroom. The placement of the toilet is well hidden behind a wall panel, giving guests greater privacy. The toilet did not come with bidet functions. I do find the bathroom lack hooks to hang one’s clothing.

The porcelain throne is well hidden in the bathroom

Lounge Area

The end of the entryway opens up to a spacious main area of the Signature King Saloon Suite, which can be further segregated into the lounge area and the sleeping area. At the end of the entryway, a couch sitting at a corner of the suite welcomes its guests. The fabric beige coloured couch is capable of sitting three to four guests comfortably. A leather armchair placed next to the sofa, short of the floor to ceiling window panel, adds more space for guests to rest into. A small black colour side table is placed between the couch and the armchair, allowing guests to put small items on it. A larger wooden oval shaped coffee table, lacquered in black colour, is placed in front of the couch.

Placed by the wall in the lounge area of the Signature King Saloon Suite in Fairmont Singapore is a black wooden cabinet in gold trimming, housing the minibar in the suite. A Nespresso machine, complete with six capsules and TWG teabags, is stored in the left top cabinet, while a tap with both hot and cold water and mugs are found in the right cabinet. The Signature King Saloon Suite in Fairmont Singapore does not come with plastic bottled water. Instead, a couple of empty glass bottles are found at the minibar. Guests can use the tap at the minibar to store water in these bottles. As this tap also has hot water functions, there is no electric kettle in the suite. A small fridge is well hidden in the left bottom cabinet at the minibar. Due to the pandemic, no beverages are stored in the fridge.

The minibar cabinet fully enclosed in a paint black glossy furnish with gold trimmings

Nespresso machine and TWG tea bags are available in the minibar area

Mini fridge is found in the bottom part of the minibar cabinet

Sleeping Area

Further in the Signature King Saloon Suite, past the lounge area, is the sleeping area. The centrepiece in the sleeping area is the King bed placed by the wall in the suite. The king bed has a design that resembles an airlines Business Class pod with the headboard curving out slightly. The bedside tables are designed to extend out from the sides of the headboard, complete with a small drawer on each side for guests to stow small items. The bedside is also very well designed with convenience features such as light controls, curtain controls, and international power outlets, as well as USB charging ports for guests to charge their gadgets. However, I find the bedside tables a tad too small, leaving not much space for guests to put their stuff on as they are being furnished with the hotel phone on one table and an alarm clock on the other table. Above the bedside tables are a couple of lamps that were fixed to the ceiling, freeing precious space on the bedside tables. The bedsheet used by Fairmont Singapore on the King bed, together with its firm mattress, makes it very comfortable to sleep. However, sleep quality would be better if the pillows are firmer. Despite being given a firm pillow that I requested from the hotel, I still wake up with a stiff neck on the first-night stay at the hotel.

Curtain control and hotel phone are found only on the left bedside table. The bedside table has limited space for guests to place their lifestyle devices

There is only one TV in the suite that is mounted on the wall opposite the king bed. The 55″ LED TV in the Signature King Saloon Suite is fitted onto a mount that can be swivelled to face the bed or the couch area, depending on where guests wanted to watch the TV from. There are plentiful local and international channels on the TV to keep guests entertained during their stay at Fairmont Singapore. Most of the hotel information can also be found on the TV.

The Signature King Saloon Suite is furnished with a 55″ LED TV that has plentiful international and local channels

The TV when swivelled to face the king bed in the suite

In the Signature King Saloon Suite, the wardrobe is fixed onto the wall next to the king bed in the sleeping area. The closet has ample open space and two narrow enclosed space on either side of the open wardrobe space. The use of glass doors for the enclosed wardrobe space makes the wardrobe looks contemporary. Guests would have hung their clothing in the open space at the closet as the space in the enclosed closet is very limited. A small drawer is fitted into one of the two enclosed wardrobes. A ledge in the open wardrobe area provides space for guests to stow away their baggage. There are two drawers below this ledge. However, the large drawer is occupied by the in-room safe, leaving the smaller drawer the only drawer for guests to use. Overall, I thought there are limited spaces for guests to put away their items in the Signature King Saloon Suite.

The wardrobe in the Signature King Saloon Suite has a large open closet area

In-room safe and a small drawer in the wardrobe

The work desk is tucked in the furthest corner in the Signature King Saloon Suite. The work desk is slim and long, providing great space for guests to do some decent work. A small drawer at the work desk allows guests to stow away small items. There are two power outlets and two USB charging ports conveniently fixed on the wall at the work desk area, ensuring the electronic devices that guests are working on the desk has sufficient juice to complete their work. I like that the work desk is placed facing the balcony into the Singapore downtown skyline, which makes it a very therapeutic space to do work.

A sizeable work desk is tucked in one corner of the Signature King Saloon Suite

Work desk in the Signature King Saloon Suite of Fairmont Singapore

Balcony

There are two balconies in the Signature King Saloon Suite. These balconies are rather modest in size and are not being furnished. The balconies are accessible from the lounge area and the sleeping area and are not connected. The balconies provide a space for guests in the Signature King Saloon Suite to take in the skyline of downtown Singapore.

View of downtown Singapore from the balcony in the day

Service

Despite the limited contact time with the staffs at Fairmont Singapore, the exceptional service from the hotel staff can still be felt during our stay at the hotel. The good service at the hotel started on the day of my check-in when I called the hotel to request for early check-in. My call was answered by James who not only granted me early check-in, he also listened and understood my concern with the confusion on my booking. I originally booked the Signature King Saloon Suite back in November 2020. I subsequently received an email stating that all the Signature King Saloon Suites are located in the South Tower, which Fairmont Singapore used for guests serving quarantine as such my room was changed to Signature King Suite. I received an email in early March 2021 stating that my room type was changed to Signature Gold King Suite, to which I was given Gold Lounge access. I was informed by another staff that the Gold Lounge is closed as it is located in the South Tower. When I raised my concern to James regarding giving me lounge access that is close seem to defeat the purpose. James listened with empathy and even got his colleague to investigate the confusing booking status. I was warmly welcomed by James at the hotel, who processed our check-in. Not only did James took the initiative to arrange for late check-out, but he also acknowledged the confusion in the booking system. James also gave recognition to my friend’s Accor Platinum status during our check-in. We were pleasantly surprised to receive a call in the suite from one of the staff explaining the reason for the confusion in the booking status.

We met another staff, Katherine during the first night at the reception. As we have forgotten to bring our key card out, Katherine quickly issued another card to us. When I brought up the issue of getting a soft foam pillow, Katherine quickly jumped into action and arranged for housekeeping to send up a firmer foam pillow within minutes of us reaching our room. We met Katherine during check-out who processed it with much efficiency and we were checked out within 5 mins.

The staffs at Willow Stream Spa whom I had most contact with during my stay at Fairmont Singapore, always made us feel welcome. The staffs helped us booked the usage of the swimming pool and gym facilities despite short notices. When check-in for facilities usage, they are always warm and welcoming.

The staffs at the Royal Service line were always ready to ensure that our stay is comfortable. Our calls to the Royal Service were always being answered without having to wait for too long and our requests for toiletries are promptly arranged and delivered to our suite by the housekeeping staffs in a relatively short period of time. I am pleasantly surprised to see the fitness kit that I requested waiting for us in the suite. Other than the usage welcome fruit platter in the suite, we were pleasantly surprised to find a cake waiting for us in the suite.

We were surprised to find a small cake on top of the usual fruit platter waiting for us in the suite

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast @ Prego

During this pandemic period, breakfast at Fairmont Singapore is served at the Prego Restaurants. Breakfast at Prego comes with one breakfast set, coffee or tea and a glass of fruit juice. Guests with breakfast plans can only choose from one of the sets from the breakfast menu, guests will have to pay extra for any additional sets they ordered. Prego was very empty on both days we were there for breakfast. Breakfast was served relatively fast on both days. I had the Full American Feast on the first day and thought it was fairly normal, and the Nonya Coconut Rice on the second day, which was a tad too wet. Unless the room rate comes with breakfast, I thought it is not worth the money to dine at Prego for breakfast. Moreover, there is no lack of options in the Raffles City Shopping Mall under Fairmont Singapore.

Fairmont Singapore breakfast menu at Prego

Swimming Pool

The Swimming Pool at Fairmont Singapore is located on the 8th Floor and can only be accessed from the 6th Floor due to the pandemic. There are two circular pools, one for adults and another for children, both of which are fairly small. Despite the size, guests can still get some decent laps out of the pool, thanks to the lane demarcation by the hotel. There are numerous deck chairs and three cabanas catering for families at the pool area. I did not have problems looking for space at the pool as it was not at all crowded at the time I was at the hotel. Fairmont shares the pools with the nearby Swissotel Hotel, but the pool is relatively empty during the period I stayed at the hotel. To prevent overcrowding and manage the capacity at the pool, Fairmont Singapore has in place a booking system for pool usage. Each room is allowed to book one 2-hour slot for the usage of the pool per day.

Gym

The gym at Fairmont Singapore is located on the 6th floor of the hotel. The gym is large by hotel standards, capable for guests to do some serious workouts. The gym is segregated into a strength and conditioning area and a cardio area. The strength and condition area is located on the mezzanine floor of the gym and is very well equipped with machines, dumbbells and barbells that one can find in any fee-paying gyms. The cardio area is found on the lower floor of the gym equipped with cardio workout machines like spinning bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines. The gym is mostly empty at the time of our visit and the staff allows us to use the gym without any booking for the usage of the gym. Guests are allowed to use the gym for a maximum period of 2½ hour each day so to cater capacity for the other guests of the hotel to use.

Machines at the strength and conditioning area in the gym of Fairmont Singapore

Willow Stream Spa

Guests staying at Fairmont Singapore can use the jacuzzi facilities at the Willow Stream Spa, located on the 6th floor of the hotel. There are three warm jacuzzi pools and one cold dip pool at the Willow Stream Spa for guests to soak their stress away. The sauna and the steam room in the Willow Stream Spa are open for guests to use. There is even a relaxation room for guests to use after their soak in the jacuzzi. Prior booking can be made at the entrance of the spa for guests who wish to use the spa facilities and each booking is for a period of 1½ hours at the Willow Stream Spa.

Overall

Despite being allocated for COVID-19 quarantine, our stay at Fairmont Singapore felt safe. The hotel has an excellent process to ensure the safety of its guests. The recently renovated Signature King Saloon Suite is very spacious and contemporary. There are sufficient furnishing in the suite to ensure the comfort of its occupants, yet not too many that makes the suite feel cluttered. The earthy theme that runs throughout the suite makes staying in the Signature King Saloon Suite feel very relaxing. The service at Fairmont Singapore is great with staffs readily to ensure its guests enjoy their stay. The breakfast quality at Prego falls short of expectation and gives me the feeling dining at this restaurant for breakfast a tad unworthy. I would not pay extra for the breakfast if not for my staycation plan comes with breakfast. I would return to Fairmont Singapore again for another staycation once the entire hotel is up and running to experience another suite category.

[Accommodation Review] – Hilton Hotel Singapore (King Hilton Family Suite), Singapore (26 – 28 Feb 21)

March 10, 2021 / kktong76 / 2 Comments

Location

Hilton Singapore sits at the fringe of Singapore’s famous shopping district – Orchard Road. This is where one can find shopping malls and big department stores. The hotel has been at this location since its opening in the 1970s. There are no lack of shopping options in nearby the hotel in Orchard Road to suit everyone’s budget, ranging from luxury boutiques to budget $2 shops. There are also several 24 hour convenient shop next to Hilton Singapore as well as tons of dining options within mere minutes walk from the hotel. Hilton Singapore is a mere 3 mins walk from the largest upscale shopping mall in the country – Orchard Ion, and 5 mins walk from the nearest MRT station which visitors can use to explore the country. The location makes Hilton Singapore a great place to stay when visiting Singapore.

The Family Suite

I originally booked the Executive Suite for this staycation and was assigned to the Family Suite upon check in. The two suites are the same except for some subtle differences. The Family Suite is furnished with a sofa bed in the living room instead of the usual couch and the work desk is located in the bedroom instead of the living room compared to the Executive Suite. Other then these, the two suites are the same. The newly renovated Family Suite in Hilton Singapore has a massive floor area of 69m², occupying the corner of each floor.

An elegant entryway greets the occupants of the Executive Suite as one steps into the suite. The entryway separates the living and the sleeping space in the suite. A marble top small wooden table is placed at the entryway, which is ideal for guests to place their keycard or place small items such as their masks. The addition of a single drawer in the wooden table by the entryway provides extra storage space for guests in the Family Suite at Hilton Singapore. A powder room is located next to the table in the entryway. This huge marble laid powder room serves as a guest toilet and is furnished with one toilet bowl and a single basin. Incidentally, guests in the Family Suite can find the only wall power socket for shavers (which is is not available in the main bathroom). The design of the powder room screams old school despite the suite was being renovated a few years ago.

The elegant entryway in the Family Suite at Hilton Singapore

Marble laid powder room next to the entryway

Living Room

The living room in the Family Suite is located to the left from the entryway. Here is where guests can find the minibar, a dining area and a lounge area. Opposite the powder room, etched into wall is where the minibar is located. This is where guests can find a Nespresso machine, coffee capsules and TWG tea on the bar top of the cabinet. The electric kettle can also be found placed neatly on the marble cabinet top. Other than a couple of mugs and glass, the drawers where the other glasswares such as champagne flute and wine glasses remains empty due to the pandemic. This gives rise to additional storage space for residents of the Family Suite in Hilton Singapore. Guests can find an empty mini fridge nicely hidden in one of the cabinets at the minibar area. I like the idea of the empty fridge which allows guests to bring their own beverages without having to consume the overpriced hotel drinks. I used this fridge to chill one of the six bottles of water found throughout the suite.

Hilton Singapore provides the upmarket TWG tea for their Suite guests

Diagonally cross from the minibar area, placed by the wall of the powder room rests the dining area in the suite. The glass top round dining table, furnished with four comfortable chairs, is perfect for guests to enjoy takeaways from one of the nearby restaurants or from the room service menu. The dining area is well lighted thanks to the individual hanging light over the dining table. The inclusion of a full length mirror at the dining area not only make this part of the suite look bigger, it also serves for guests to tidy themselves before heading out to explore the sunny island of Singapore. There are however, a lack of trash bins in the entire Family Suite for guests to trash their leftovers or the packaging. The only placed in the living where a trash bin is found is in the powder room (the other two small trash bins are found in the bedroom and the bathroom).

Dining Area in the living room of the Family Suite in Hilton Singapore

Further into the living room, past the dining area is where the lounge area is located. I find the decor of the living room a tad boring due to the golden halfway design facing the couch., This part of the living room feels sparsely furnished, partly due to the size of the suite and partly due to the lack of paintings and TV consoles. The centrepiece of the lounge area in the living room is a three seater couch, which I find a tad hard compared to other sofas. This three seater couch is a sofa bed, which can be turned into a queen size bed for families with kids. Initially I am rather disgruntled about the hotel assigning a Family Suite instead of the Executive Suite due to the hardness of the sofa. As I spend my time in the suite, I came to appreciate this sofa bed. We found additional pillows in the bedroom and also requested duvet and blanket. We turned this sofa bed into a day bed, which is very comfortable for us to laze on in the day while watching the numerous programs (about 55 local and overseas channels) from the 55″ LED mounted on the wall in the living room. A small coffee table is placed in front of the couch, which is light enough for residents of the Family Suite to move without much effort. The absence of a TV console, replacing with a trunk looking stool makes the entire living room look sparse. This stool, which was placed beneath the TV doubles up as a stool for the residents of the Family Suite to entertain more guests.

The lounge area in the living room of the Hilton Singapore’s Family Suite

The living room in Family Suite of Hilton Singapore

Beside the three seater couch, tucked in the far corner of the living room and in front of the floor to ceiling glass in the suite sits an armchair which a whimsical lamp behind it. Guests in the Family Suite can choose to watch the TV from this armchair or read a book from here or simply laze on this chair and watch life passing by Orchard Road below.

View of Orchard Road from the living room

Bedroom

The bedroom of the Family Suite in Hilton Singapore is roughly the same size as the deluxe room. The decor of the bedroom has a retro vibe with the choice of the furniture, guests can also find hints of contemporary in some of the furnishings. A leather cushioned fixture sits quietly to the right of the entrance to the bedroom, acting both as a place for guests to stow their luggage and as a seat where guests can rest on while putting on their shoes before heading out. Further into the bedroom, a large King bed occupies the bulk of the real estate in this part of the Family Suite of Hilton Singapore. The King bed is no doubt comfortable with the right firmness, however the pillows that accompanies the bed is a tad too soft for my liking. Those who prefer softer pillows are assured of a good night sleep on the bed, while those who prefer firmer pillows who struggle to find excellent sleep quality. Hilton Singapore uses two different styles of bedside table in the bedroom. The left bedside table is modern and minimalistic, while the larger right bedside table looks retro. There are more storage in the right bedside table, being a larger of the two. Guests would find no problems in getting their lifestyle devices charged at either of the bedside tables. There are USB points and power outlets with international sockets on both side of the bedside tables. I like the way Hilton Singapore designed their reading lamps, being part of the headboard of the King bed, this design frees up space in the bedside table for guests to stow more items.

The leather cushioned fixture doubles up as a ledge to stow luggage and as a seat for guests to put on their shoes in the bedroom

The centrepiece of the bedroom in the Family Suite – The King Bed

The minimalistic left bedside table with power outlet and USB charging ports

There is a large three panel wardrobe to the left of the entrance to the bedroom, tucked onto the wall beside the bed. Clad in dark brown colour, the wardrobe with two door panels allows guests to hang ample clothings during their stay in the hotel. Hilton Singapore provides generous amount of hangers in this part of the wardrobe for guests to hang their clothings. The in-room iron and board is neatly stored in this part of the wardrobe. The right single panelled wardrobe with open four-tier shelving provides more space for guests to stow away small items and additional clothings. However, only three of these shelving can be use as one of the shelve sits the in-room safe.

Large wardrobe in the bedroom of the Family Suite for guests to hang their clothing

A retro wooden cabinet is strategically placed opposite the King bed in the bedroom of the Family Suite. This cabinet provides additional storage space for guests to put away small items. The wooden stand along cabinet also doubles as a TV console where the second 55″ LED TV, same as the one in the living room of the Family Suite, can be found. The placement of this TV allows guests to watch the same 55 local and overseas channels as the one in the living room comfortably on the King bed.

Another 55″ LED TV in the Family Suite found sitting on the retro-looking cabinet in the bedroom

A glass top work desk sits solitarily at the end of the bedroom just short of the floor to ceiling glass windows, which is not obtrusive in the bedroom. The way Hilton Singapore furnishes the work desk area makes sense, which is rare in most hotels. The minimalistic work desk is free of clutter that maximises the amount of desk top space for guests of the Family Suite to do their work on. In fact the other other things that are on the work desk is a telephone and a desk top lamp. The work desk in Hilton Singapore is larger then what one would find in some other hotels, coupled with fast and reliable wireless internet enables guests of the Family Suite to do their work. The very well situated power outlets by the wall next to the desk provides power for guests to charge up their laptops. Hilton Singapore pampers guests who wants to get some work done in the suite by furnishing the work desk with Herman Miller ergonomic chair.

An elegant glass top work desk with the ergonomic Herman Miller chair is placed in a corner of the bedroom the suite

Occupying the other corner of the bedroom by the same floor to ceiling glass windows in the bedroom is a retro looking armchair, accompanied by a large floor lamp that shines directly over the chair. This armchair is perfect for guests to read a book on or watch the TV from as it is angled to face the TV.

A retro-looking armchair is placed at the other corner of bedroom with a floor lamp ideal for guests to read a book

Bathroom

The main bathroom in the Family Suite is very spacious and can only be accessed from the bedroom. It is this bathroom that shows the age of the hotel. Despite being very well lighted, the entire bathroom is laid with different shades of brown marble that was popular for luxury hotels from yesteryear. The first thing that caught my eyes as I entered the bathroom is the double vanity sink top with a huge mirror. In the centre of the mirror is large round vanity mirror with built in light. The space on the sink top is not overly huge, but is still decent enough for guests to place their toiletries on. I always like dual vanity sink tops as both guests do not have to fight over who to use the sink first. The weird thing about the bathroom is that there are no power sockets for guests to plug in their shavers or the hairdryer found in the suite.

Dual vanity sink top with a light-up mirror in the bathroom

The bathroom is well segregated into bathing area and toilet area. To the left of the sink area is the bathing area, where guests can locate a bathtub and a walk-in shower. The bathtub is rather small and shallow, that seems to be a fixture from yesteryears. I did not enjoy my soak in the bathtub due to the shallowness. The walk-in shower on the other hand is very spacious and is equipped with both a rain shower and a regular shower head. The toilet is located to the right of the sink area that is hidden behind a wooden door and is very spacious compared to other hotels in Singapore. It is the toilet that shows the age of the hotel. Other than a toilet bowl, Hilton Singapore still retains the separate bidet instead of installing an integrated bidet. Hilton Singapore provides its guests with bath amenities from Crabtree & Evelyn, from shampoo to shower gel to body lotion and even the dental kit, that leaves guests feeling refresh and smelling good.

The bathtub in the suite is shallow and a tad small

Service

The service rendered in Hilton Singapore is generally good, except for some black sheep in the Hilton team. The staffs at the front office are generally welcoming. I was checked in by Hung, the Assistant Duty Manager, who rendered exceptional service during my entire stay. Hung was very detailed in explaining the amenities and the measures that was in place due to the pandemic. He even gave us a call after we were in the suite to check if everything was okay. Hung would always check with us if we were comfortable in the suite and strike up a conversation whenever we see him in the lobby. I raised my concerns in the cleanliness of the suite when I spotted a lump of hair in the walk-in shower and a strand of long hair that clearly does not belong to us as well as the in-room slippers that seemed to be reused to Hung on the second day before we head for our breakfast. I showed Hung photos of the problematic areas, instead of being defensive, Hung was empathetic and listened to my concerns with patience. He organised the housekeeping team to do a thorough deep clean during housekeeping, and offered to upgrade our reservation for our second night to the suite (we booked the deluxe room for our second night stay). Hung even personally brought a couple of cakes to the suite and apologised for the condition of the suite during our check-in. During one occasion, I requested for a blanket from Hung so we can use the couch in the living room as a day bed, Hung took the initiative to organised the housekeeping team to bring up a duvet as well as the blanket, which made us feel very comfortable when lazing on the couch watching TV.

In terms of amenities during this pandemic period, I was surprised to found out from Hung that Hilton Singapore does not provide care pack (usually comprises disposable masks, a small bottle of hand sanitisers and disinfecting wet wipes) like the other hotels that I have stayed so far during this COVID period.

Lump of hair found in the walk-in shower

The team of housekeeping staffs that serviced the floor I was assigned to were very pleasant. They would voluntarily greet us whenever we bump into them along the corridor. The warmth and personable can be felt even though everyone was wearing a mask. One of the housekeeping staff left a deep impression on me. Eswari who cleaned up our suite during our stay was very friendly. I arranged for housekeeping at 1pm on the second day and Eswari was there ready to clean up our suite. Eswari kept our suite clean and even helped to tidy the sink top. When we returned to our suite, not only we were happy with the cleanliness of the suite, we were also pleasantly surprised at the towel art Eswari took the effort to create. We did not bear to destroy Eswari’s creation until the day of our check-out.

We were pleasantly surprised to find a couple of towel art created by the housekeeping staff, certainly made our day

The staffs at the Executive Lounge rendered great service during our visit, it is a pity that I did not get their names. We were warmly welcomed by the staffs and was promptly shown to our seats the moment we entered the lounge. The staffs sprung into action bringing out the canapés as soon as we settled into our seat. They took the time to explain what each item was and also took the time to recommend drinks for us. The observant staffs quickly offered more drinks the moment they saw our glasses are empty. They took note of our comments on how we enjoyed drinks and offered to pack some for us to enjoy in our suite. The staffs packed lemongrass drinks and two cans of coke for us to enjoy in our suite.

It is a shame that the level of service rendered by Hung, Eswari and the team at the Executive Lounge was not replicated by the staffs at Opus Bar and Grill, where breakfast was served. The service at Opus Bar and Grill is dependant on who we met at the restaurant. We had good service on the first day during breakfast where the staff voluntarily brought us bread and fruits while we wait for our breakfast. Our orders were taken promptly and we did not have to wait for too long for our food to be served. However, the breakfast experience was not the same on our second day. We had to wait for 20 mins after being seated before any staff came and took our orders for breakfast. Food was slow to be served and I observed some other tables were served their food before us despite these guests were seated after us. There were no bread and fruits offered until these were being requested, even the condiments we requested did not come. Requesting items from the staff feels like we are bothering them, who seem impatient. We were not impressed with the service at Opus Bar and Grill on the second day of our visit.

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast@Hilton

The suite that we booked comes with complimentary breakfast. The famed Breakfast@Hilton was served at Opus Bar & Grill situated on the ground floor, next to the check-in lobby. Guests can choose only one of the sets in the menu, unlike other hotels where breakfast is served ala carte buffet style. Despite stated in the menu that unlimited rounds of continental selections can be chosen, the staffs seem to be too busy to retake orders. There isn’t any changes to the breakfast menu, I opted for the Nasi Lemak set in the first day and the Signature Hilton Breakfast set on the second day. Although I am no foodie, I do find the breakfast to be a tad mediocre. The rice in the Nasi Lemak set is a tad too damp and the so-called Signature Hilton Breakfast set to be a tad too normal with nothing specular about it. There was some inconsistencies in the breakfast service, on the first day we were served with fruits and bread, while on the second day, there was no fruits and the bread comes on request.

The Nasi Lemak set I had on the first day

Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge in Hilton Singapore is located on 23rd floor in the hotel building. Due to the pandemic, the Executive Lounge is only open during evening cocktail timing and guests who have access to the lounge are to make their booking for lounge access from one of the two evening cocktail slots at the lobby. The Executive Lounge feels very earthy and cosy with the brown themed decor and is a great place to relax during the day. The ambience at the Executive Lounge in Hilton Singapore is perfect for guests to wind down and relax, especially in the evening with the excellent choice of warm lighting and the colour theme in the lounge. It is ashamed that the lounge is only open to guests during two hours of the day. The choices of food offering during evening cocktail is a tad limited. The friendly staffs at the lounge served up a platter of small bites during our visit with a choice of drinks to choose from. I am not too sure if the food can be replenished, but the drinks are indeed free flow, which the friendly staffs are happy to top up for guests.

Swimming Pool

Hilton Singapore as a rooftop swimming pool. The swimming pool at Hilton Hotel Singapore is situated on the 24th floor of the hotel and can only be accessed from the 23rd floor of the hotel via a dimly lighted flight of staircase. The swimming pool is a tad small is seemed aged. Nonetheless, the pool still allows guests to get some decent laps out of it and is very well maintained. Due to the pandemic, the hotel has limited the number of guests that can use the pool at any one time. There are limited number of sundeck chairs, all well-spaced out at the pool. The swimming pool at Hilton Singapore is a perfect spot for guests who wanted to get a good tan, thanks to the rooftop placement at the absence of trees and shades. Guests using the pool are to make booking via scanning a QR code upon check in. Guests are allowed one booking of 60 mins of pool usage per day.

Rooftop Swimming Pool at Hilton Singapore

Gym

The gym at Hilton Singapore is located on 23rd floor of the hotel. The gym is one of the largest I have seen, occupying a bulk of the entire floor. The gym is well equipped with machines and equipment that one can find in a standard fee paying gym. From cardio machines like Elliptical machines, treadmills and spinning bikes to strength training machines and equipment as well as a corner for guests to practice yoga, the gym at Hilton Singapore ensures guests get a great workout. As with the swimming pool, guests at Hilton Singapore are to make booking from the QR code that will be presented during check-in and each room can only book a 60-minute slot per day.

Overall

Despite its age, we were very comfortable with the Family Suite. I was a little perturb initially when I found out that we were assigned to a Family Suite instead of the Executive Suite that we booked. However, the couch when made into a sofa bed in the living room proofs to be very comfortable, especially with the duvet and blanket Hung organised to be delivered into our suite. The Family Suite is very spacious and comfortable with functional areas despite its age and some minor flaws (such as no power socket in the main bathroom). The facilities in Hilton Singapore is fantastic, especially the large gym. Service is generally good with the staffs we met during our stay, however the service that I received at Opus Bar and Grill is inconsistent and is dependant on who we met. Overall I enjoyed my stay in the Family Suite at Hilton Singapore despite some minor hiccups.

[Accommodation Review] – Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa (Junior Suite), Singapore (24 – 27 Dec 20)

December 30, 2020December 31, 2020 / kktong76 / 2 Comments

Location

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is located on Sentosa Island, a tourist attraction on the south of mainland Singapore. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is situated slightly to the southwestern part of Sentosa Island and is a tad far from the main attractions on Sentosa, which are mainly located in the central and eastern part of the island. Other than a golf course, there are no shopping or food options near the resort. Guests staying at the resort can only dine in the resort or take the island’s complimentary public transport and head to Resorts World Sentosa for more dining options. This isolation is great for guests who want to stay in a resort away from the bustlings of Singapore. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa provides regular shuttle service to mainland Singapore.

Check-in reception at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

Christmas lighting in the gardens of Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

The Suite

I stayed in the Junior Suite at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa over the Christmas long weekend for this staycation. Occupying a total floor area of 55m², the Junior Suite has a strong French decor. Entering the main door of the Junior Suite, guests are greeted by a small entryway that also doubles up as a place to change to their shoes before heading out. There is a double-panelled wooden door that gives guests extra privacy from the main entrance. A whimsical 3D art piece, featuring a man climbing the wall, decorates the otherwise plain entryway.

The entrylway that greets guests as we enter the Junior Suite

A whimsical 3D art piece in the entryway

The Living Room

Passing the double-panelled wooden doors, guests will find themselves in the living room of the Junior Suite. The living room occupies a bulk of the real estate in the suite. Emitting a strong French theme, the living room is decorated with furniture that is both functional and chic. I especially like the soft fluffy carpet that lies in the middle of the room. Despite the minimal furniture, I find the living room a tad cluttered.

Living room in the Junior Suite at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

A black slim-legged work desk coupled with a hard leather chair sits immediately to the left of the entrance to the living room from the hallway facing the TV. The desk does not have a lot of space on it and only allows residents of the Junior suite to do some light work on. There are no power outlets at the work desk which can be inconvenient for guests working on their laptops. The work desk was cluttered with drinking water and fruit basket at the time we checked into the suite.

A small work desk in the living room of the Junior Suite

Running along the wall from the entrance to the suite, a couple of wardrobes and some spaces to stow luggage on sits tucked onto the wall. The placement of the wardrobe is somewhat unconventional as it is placed in the living room instead of the bedroom. I quite like the design of the wardrobe door, instead of the boring plain wood, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa decorated the wardrobe doors with brass art pieces. The wardrobe provides sufficient space for guests to put away their clothing either hanging or in one of the four drawers inside the wardrobe. This is also where the iron and ironing board is tucked away, out of sight, when not being used. The in-room safe can also be found in the wardrobe. There is more storage space in the drawers and open shelving below the ledge where luggage can be stowed.

The wardrobe is found in the living room in the Junior Suite

There are sufficient space for guests to hang their clothings

Placed right in front of the work desk is a two-seater couch. I find the couch to be a tad soiled and there is even a cigarette burnt hole left behind by previous guests. Despite that, the couch is comfortable to sit on while guests enjoy a variety of local and international channels from the 47″ LED TV mounted on the floating wall that separates the living room from the bedroom. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa uses an unconventional hard leather top coffee table to add to the chic in the living room. The living room is also furnished with two purple stools, placed by the side of the coffee table, providing additional sitting space for guests of the residents in the Junior Suite. There is a small shelving space underneath the TV for residents of the suite to stow some small items. Sitting by the large windows in the living room of the Junior Suite is a rocking chair, which is very comfortable to sit on while watching TV or to read a book. There is an empty metal shelf placed in one corner of the living room, which would otherwise be decorated with books or ornaments if not for the pandemic. The empty metal shelf provides more space for guests in the suite to store their items.

The Living room is furnished with a two-seater couch and a couple of purple stools

I like the design of the minibar in Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa. The mini bar in the Junior Suite is very well designed into a cylindrical stand that does not occupy a lot of space, yet have heaps of storage space for your usual minibar needs. The white and gold mini bar cabinet is nicely tucked in the corner of the living room. Guests can find an electric kettle and even a Nespresso machine in the minibar. Wine glasses and champagne flutes are stored on the right of the cabinet. There is even sufficient space for Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa to fit a fridge in the minibar cabinet. Due to the pandemic, the fridge is empty at the time of our checking-in.

Minibar in the Junior Suite at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

There is a Nespresso machine and electric kettle in the minibar cabinet

The Bedroom

The bedroom in the Junior Suite at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is separated by a floating wall from the living room and is accessible via the openings on either side of the wall. The floating wall segregates the living room from the bedroom space and gives the bedroom a cosy vibe coupled with the use of purple carpet in this part of the Junior Suite. Unlike the living room, the bedroom is minimally furnished that makes it feel less cluttered, adding to the relaxed feel in this part of the Junior Suite. The lighting used by the hotel throughout the suite gives it a very warm and comfortable feel, which is especially pronounced in the bedroom. The centrepiece of the bedroom is the King bed, which occupies the main bulk of real estate in this area. The sleep quality on the King Bed is excellent, leaving me recharged every morning. Despite not having foam pillows or a pillow menu (perhaps due to the pandemic), I do find the pillows to be comfortable and not too soft. Instead of a traditional bedside table, a couple of ledges with a single draw is mounted on either side of the bed. Here is where guests can find bedside lamps as well as power outlets to charge their lifestyle devices. The mounting of reading lights onto the headboard of the King bed adds to the clean look in the bedroom. There is another metal shelf sitting by the entrance of the bedroom, providing additional storage space for guests of the Junior Suite in Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa.

Bedroom in the Junior Suite of Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

I am not a fan of the view from the bedroom as it overlooks the corridor

Mounted on the bedroom side of the floating wall is another 47″ LED TV facing the King bed. The entertainment options on this TV is exactly the same as that in the living room. Like that in the living room, there is a ledge beneath the TV that allows guests to put away some small items.

The Bathroom

The bathroom in the Junior Suite at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa can be accessed from the living room. The French decor in the entire Junior Suite flows into the bathroom with the use of colourful mosaic tiles in both shower and toilet cubicles. The lighting in the bathroom is great thanks to the numerous lighting in the bathroom as well as the mirrors installed here. As one enters the bathroom, a large vanity mirror and sink countertop greet the occupants of the Junior Suite. Having only one sink in the bathroom provides generous countertop space for guests to stow their personal toiletries. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa provides its Junior Suite guests with Lanvin bath amenities which is very fragrant and luxurious. All toilet amenities are packed in plastic bags due to the pandemic. On the right of the sink area is a large bathtub which guests can enjoy a relaxing and comfortable soak. The hotel also provides bath salts for guests to soak in the tub.

Shower amenities are packed in plastic bags due to the pandemic

Across the bathtub is where the walk-in shower and the toilet cubicles are located. The walk-in shower cubicle is large and comes equipped with both a regular shower head and a rain shower. Water pressure is excellent in the shower cubicle, with hot water readily available when the tap is turned on. The toilet cubicle is pretty standard.

Large walk-in shower laid with colourful mosaic tiles

Service

The overall service at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is a mixed bag. Having said that, I find there are more positive than negative services rendered at the hotel. Our first service point of contact is during check-in. Despite the small space at the check-in reception, the hotel managed the flow of guests checking in very well. The hotel opened up an additional two counters to cope with the flow of guests during their check-in time. Only one guest is allowed into the check-in reception room and there is a staff at the door ensuring that all guests maintain safe distancing during this pandemic period. We notified the staff of our status with Accor and was promptly ushered to the sit-down counter for our check-in to be processed. Check-in took a little longer than expected, and there was no mention of Accor benefits that should be accorded to our membership tier. There was also no briefing on the details on how we can go about claiming the benefits that come with our package or the Kid’s Club package that we booked. At the end of our stay, we did not utilise the Kid’s Club package (the package was taken off the final bill when I raised this issue to one of the duty managers).

Our package comes with vouchers for lunch or dinner and we had our first dinner at Kwee Zeen Restaurant. The service at Kwee Zeen was horrendous during the times we were there (we were there for breakfast and one of the dinners). During our first meal (dinner) at Kwee Zeen, we had a hard time getting the attention of the staffs to place the order for our meal. We stepped into the restaurant at 7 pm and finally got our orders placed at 7.51 pm. It took them 51 mins just to get our orders. Staffs were seen crowding in one corner chatting away throughout our stay at the restaurant, leaving plates on the table after guests had left the restaurant. The staff handling our order did not seem to understand the product offering. After taking our orders for an appetiser, main course and dessert, the staff then came back to us and told us that our meal only includes two courses instead of three when their menu stated three courses for dinner. The staff also failed to inform us that some of the choices we made for our meal require additional charges. Frustrated, I asked for the manager and the manager told me there is some printing error on the menu and we should be getting two courses instead. I subsequently raised my unhappiness to the hotel’s duty manager and she verified that for dinners we should be getting three courses and not two. The horrendous service at Kwee Zeen did not stop there. When I requested for chilli sauce, the staff pretend not to hear by request. I had to approach the bunch of staff crowding and chatting amongst themselves for someone to bring us some chilli sauce. We had our breakfast at Kwee Zeen on the third day, at the restaurant reception, one of the staff informed us that our table will be ready after they clean up. She then told us to sit on the sofa by the entrance in a derogatory manner. The staff raise her voice and commanded: “go there and sit”. I do find this inappropriate. During breakfast, we faced the same problem as the first day during dinner. Staffs were nowhere to be seen to take our orders and plates were left around not cleared when guests vacate the table.

Fortunately, the horrendous service is only limited to Kwee Zeen restaurant, which is also unfortunate as this is the place designated for breakfast for guests. I spoke to two duty managers – Juliana and Samantha to raise my unhappiness with Kwee Zeen. I spoke to Juliana on our first night with the hotel after our encounter with Kwee Zeen. Juliana listened with empathy and expressed her disbelieve that such service standards exist at Kwee Zeen. She also clarified that the package that we booked comes with three-course dinner and not two courses as the restaurant claims. Juliana helped us arranged for our dinner location to change to another restaurant following our feedback to her at Kwee Zeen. She promptly got back to us and managed to arrange a table for us at the other restaurant despite being late at night. I also spoke to the other duty manager – Samantha after our horrendous experience at Kwee Zeen on our third day at the hotel. Similar to Juliana, Samantha listened with empathy and provided solutions so that our staycation will not be spoilt again by Kwee Zeen. Samantha helped us arrange for breakfast to be delivered to our rooms instead of having it at Kwee Zeen. Samantha also helped us arrange for late check-out despite the hotel was fully booked.

The only time we experienced any form of good service at the restaurants at the hotel was at The Cliff restaurant. We made a booking for dinner on our third-night stay and we were warmly welcomed by the staffs at the restaurant. Faith ensured that we were well-taken care off and was very observant in clearing the empty plates on our table, despite us being seated in one corner of the restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised when Nataliya approached us to recommend the food that we should try. Nataliya was very detailed in her introduction of the food on the menu and demonstrated excellent knowledge of the items on the menu. We heeded her advice and we did not regret Nataliya’s recommendations. We were also very well taken care of by Jason, who brought us our food. Jason came back shortly and checked with us if we were satisfied with the food.

The other staffs at the hotel were also very pleasant. We were always greeted with “Bonjour” whenever we bumped into any staffs in the hotel property, including the housekeeping staffs. When requested for additional items, the housekeeping staff brought them to our suite promptly. The staffs at the pool were excellent and promptly reply to our call button. We were always updated on the progress of our food preparation by the diligent staff at the pool bar.

Hotel Facilities

Swimming Pool

The main swimming pool in Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa is one of the larger pools in the hotels in Singapore I have seen. It is also one of the deepest pools at 2.5m at its deepest and is capable of allowing its guests to do some decent laps while on vacation. There are ample deck chairs and cabanas at the pool for guests to enjoy their time at the pool. The use of tropical plants and trees around the main swimming pool makes it a great place to chill and relax and gives a resort vibe to the property. There is no wadding pool for young guests, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa used some floats to demarcate the shallower parts of the pool for their younger guests. To improve on the safety, lifeguards are deployed at the shallower part of the pool watching their young guests under their eagle eyes to ensure their safety at the pool. The crowd at the pool is very well managed due to the pandemic. Guests are required to make prior bookings via a QR code provided before using the pool.

A floating line demarcates the shallow part of the pool for younger guests to enjoy

Gym

There is a small gym in the hotel, located opposite the entrance to the main swimming pool. The gym was shifted from its original location offsite to the current site due to construction of a new property under Accor. Despite its size, the gym at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa comes well equipped with machines and weights for guests to do some decent workout. The hotel seems to take safety measures for the pandemic very seriously. Guests using the gym are required to book a slot via the QR code and some of the machines are also closed to ensure safe distancing between guests. The gym was empty most of the time during my stay.

The gym at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

The small but functional makeshift gym at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

SO Spa

SO Spa is the spa centre at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa where guests can opt for massage sessions during their stay at the hotel. SO Spa is located a tad far from the main hotel premise. Guests wanting to visit the SO Spa can arrange for a buggy transfer from the concierge. Guests staying in suites at the Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa are entitled to complimentary usage of the SO Spa facilities. There are a lap pool and another waterfall feature pool that are open for suite guests to use. The other facilities like the steam room and jacuzzi as well as the mud pool are closed due to the pandemic. As the facilities at SO Spa is exclusive to suite guests and patrons of SO Spa, coupled with the isolation from the main hotel grounds, I find the pool at SO Spa to be very peaceful. I did not use the pool at SO Spa as I thought the water is a little dirty from the pollens and leaves from the trees around the pool.

Overall

The facilities in the suite and the hotel seem to show signs of ageing. There are some stains and a cigarette burn hole on the couch in the living room of the suite. Some tiles in the bathroom also fell off during our stay. Having said that, the Junior Suite in the hotel was comfortable and the sleep quality on the King bed is good. The state of the main swimming pool at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa was worse off as compared to our stay less than a year ago. In terms of service, our experience was marred by the attitudes and the lack of knowledge of the staffs and the manager at Kwee Zeen. Calls to the main operator on the in-house phone took some patience before someone answers the calls at nights. The only saving grace in terms of service in the hotel was the great staffs at The Cliff Restaurant.

[Accommodation Review] – Sofitel Singapore City Centre (Prestige Suite), Singapore (6 – 8 Nov 20)

November 9, 2020November 15, 2020 / kktong76 / 2 Comments

Location

Sofitel has three properties in Singapore, two in the city centre and one on Sentosa Island. Sofitel Singapore City Centre is very well appointed and is located at the edge of the Central Business District in Singapore, making it a very convenient location for business travellers. The hotel is within 10 mins walk from Chinatown, one of the tourist attractions in Singapore, where the Chinese community used to congregate during the country’s initial years. The hotel is located right above Tanjong Pagar MRT station, with an entrance right next to the hotel, making this hotel a perfect place to stay for travellers who would want to explore the city-state via the subway system. There are a wide variety of dining options within 5 mins walk from the hotel, from local delicacies found in Maxwell Market, to Japanese and Korean food as well as western dining options within walking distance from the hotel. Residents at Sofitel Singapore City Centre will have no trouble finding food that suits their taste bud. Despite Sofitel Singapore City Centre being situated above a shopping mall and the 100AM shopping mall about 3 mins walk away, there are not much shopping options around the hotel. These shopping malls have limited options when it comes to shopping. Having said that, the convenience of having an MRT station entrance next to the hotel means guests can always shop in other parts of Singapore.

Entrance to Sofitel Singapore City Centre

The Suite

I stayed at the spacious Prestige Suite in Sofitel Singapore City Centre, treating its residents to an expansive 76m² of real estate space. The contemporary decorated Prestige Suite comes with hints of French elements, paying homage to its French roots.

Living Room

A parqueted flooring serves as the entryway into the Prestige Suite at Sofitel Singapore City Centre, where residents of the suite can slip into their shoes before heading out to explore Singapore. The placement of a full-length mirror next to the entrance to the suite is a good addition, allowing residents to check themselves before heading out. There is a toilet next to the entrance of the Prestige Suite in Sofitel Singapore City Centre, serving both residents of the suite and their guests.

Guest toilet at the entryway — The entryway to the Prestige Suite

Past the parqueted entryway, the carpeted area marks the space of the living room. The entire elongated living room can be seen from the entryway, which takes up about half of the space in the Prestige Suite. I find the Living Room space is very well utilised. The amount of furniture in the living room is just nice and does not feel cluttered. There is sufficient space for residents to move around without bumping into the furniture. There is a dining table with four chairs placed to the left of the entryway. The addition of the dining table in the suite allows residents to host their guests for a meal. The clever placement of a large mirror by the wall next to the dining table makes the already expansive living room feel even more spacious. Residents in the Prestige Suite at Sofitel Singapore City centre can find the minibar tucked in one corner of the living room, next to the dining area. The placement of the minibar here optimises the space usage in the suite. The lilac coloured cabinetry hides the mini-fridge (which was empty at the time of our checking-in), electric kettle and some cups. On top of the cabinetry is a Nespresso Machine and space for residents to utilise the electric kettle.

The living room viewed from the entryway

Four seater dining table in the living room

Minibar in the living room — Four seater dining table in the living room

Snacks part of the complimentary minibar

High end Nespresso machine in Prestige Suite — Snacks part of the complimentary minibar

Further, into the living room, residents can laze on either the three-seater fabric couch, which is large enough to seat five persons comfortable or stretch their legs out on the single-seater armchair and be entertained by the numerous local and international TV programmes on the 55″ LED TV mounted to the wall of the living room. The additional Bose soundbar enhances movie experience in the lounge area of the living room. The only flaw I find in the living room is that the TV is fixed and cannot be swivelled to face the dining table or the work desk. There is so much space in the living room of the Prestige Suite of Sofitel Singapore City Centre that even with the black marble coffee table placed in front of the couch, residents still have sufficient space to dance around. The entire lounge area in the living room looks chic and cosy, coupled with the warm lighting used, feels very inviting.

The lounge area in the living room exudes a sense of cosiness

The single seater armchair in the living room

55" smart TV in the living room with Bose soundbar — The single seater armchair in the living room

55" smart LED TV in the living room — 55″ smart LED TV in the living room

Bose sound system in the living room — 55″ smart LED TV in the living room

Another view of the living room in the Prestige Suite at Sofitel Singapore City Centre

Placed at the very end of the living room, just in front of the floor to ceiling three-panel window is the work desk. The sizable work desk comes with a fairly comfortable allows residents to do some decent work on and look out into the city from the window for some inspirations. There are several power outlets at the work desk for residents to power up their laptop.

Sizable work desk placed in front of the window

View of Singapore City from the living room

All residents at Sofitel Singapore City Centre get a care kit in the room

Bedroom

The comfortable ambience from the living room flows into the bedroom, with consistent colour scheme and decor in both rooms. The bedroom is a tad smaller but still feels cosy with the lighting and the colour scheme chosen for its decor. The furnishing in the bedroom is much simpler with no unnecessary furniture making the entire bedroom looks clean and uncluttered. The bedside lamps are mounted on the walls on both sides of the bed and even the controls for the curtains, air-conditioning and power outlets are conveniently found on the walls on both sides of the bed. I thought this clever way of placing these important features that not only makes the bedroom looks uncluttered but also frees up space on the bedside table for residents to fully utilise the space on the bedside tables.

The bedside lamps are mounted on the wall to free up space on the bedside tables

One of the two bedside tables in the bedroom of the Prestige Suite

Control panel in the bedroom is mounted on the wall next to the bed

Control panels and power outlet is found on the wall by the bed — Control panel in the bedroom is mounted on the wall next to the bed

The centrepiece in the bedroom is the King bed topped with a firm mattress. The sleep quality on the King bed would be comfortable if not for the highly uncomfortable pillows. The four pillows on the King bed is very soft and very flat, it feels as though I am not sleeping on any pillows. The sleep quality is so bad that I have trouble sleeping at night and woke up with a headache the next morning. The hotel does not provide any pillow menus for residents to choose from. I called up to request for firmer pillows and the supposedly firmer pillows that were brought up did not improve the sleep quality.

Opposite the King Bed is another 55″ LED TV mounted on the wall, allowing residents to watch programmes from the comfort of the bed. The entertainment options on the TV in the bedroom is the same as that found in the living room. I like the addition of the ledge below the TV, providing additional space for residents to place small items on. The bedroom is not furnished with any dressing table, which I think is no big deal since the bathroom is steps away.

An armchair furnished with a small round marble table is tucked in the far corner of the bedroom, next to the floor to ceiling window. This is a great space for residents to relax, read a book, watch the TV in the bedroom or simply to laze looking out into the surroundings in the comfort of the bedroom.

Armchair beside the King bed providing residents a great place to relax by

Instead of using a traditional closet, Sofitel Singapore City Centre employs an open closet concept in the bedroom. The open closet space gives the decor a chic feel and does not make the bedroom feel cluttered. The open closet is well placed in front of the entrance to the bathroom, providing convenience for residents in the Prestige Suite. The in-room safe is found hidden in one of the two big drawers in the closet space. The marble-topped drawer cabinet provides additional space for residents of the suite to place small items or to stow their luggage.

There are two large drawers in the open closet area, one of which houses the in-suite safe

Bathroom

Past the open closet space is the spacious main bathroom in the Prestige Suite. The white marble tiles used in the bathroom gives it a luxurious vibe. The bathroom is fitted with dual sinks and large mirrors allowing both residents to use at the same time. There is a lot of space on the sink countertop for residents to place their personal toiletries. There is even a small TV fitted into one of the mirrors for residents to watch when brushing their teeth. However, residents soaking in the bathtub is unable to watch the TV due to the angel of it being placed. There is a small case in the centre of both sinks that stores bathroom amenities. However, due to the pandemic, only toothbrushes and cotton pads are provided. The rest of the amenities is available on a request basis.

Double vanity in the bathroom provides great convienence for occupants of the suite

The amenities case on the sink comes with very basic amenities

Hermès body lotion by the sink — The amenities case on the sink comes with very basic amenities

Next to the sink is a large bathtub, perfect for residents to soak in. The water pressure at the bathtub is strong enough to fill up the bathtub in a relatively short period of time. Sofitel Singapore City Centre does not provide bath salt (not too sure if it is due to the pandemic), residents in the suite have to prepare their own bath salts.

Opposite the bathtub are two cubicles where the toilet and walk-in shower are located, both furnished with the same white marble tiles in the bathroom. The toilet is fairly large and is very well lighted. The walk-in shower cubicle is even larger, fitted with both rain shower and regular showerheads. There is even a bench in the walk-in shower. Sofitel Singapore City Centre provides the luxurious Hermès bath amenities to residents in the Prestige Suite which has a hint of woody based scent (unlike their sister hotel in Sentosa which provides Lavin products).

The toilet and walk-in shower cubicles in the bathroom

Walk-in shower with regular and rain showerheads — Toilet in the main bathroom

Residents in the Prestige Suite at Sofitel Singapore City Centre are provided with Hermès shower amenities

Service

The service rendered at Sofitel Singapore City Centre is inconsistent. The staffs, including the duty manager at the reception, consistently gave bad service. The bad service at the reception starts at check-in. As I arrived at the hotel during their check-in timing of 3 pm, it is expected that there is a long queue. The check-in situation is chaotic! Guests were left scrambling over the place trying to hunt for the counter with the shortest queue. There is no one at the reception attempting to ease the situation.

In all Accor hotels around the world, there would be a counter dedicated to Accor members. This counter ensures all Accor members are accorded Priority Welcome. The signage for dedicated Accor member counter is not prominent and with the chaotic situation, it is not visible. During check-in, the staff at the reception did not even acknowledge our Accor Gold status and certainly did not honour the benefits that come with our status. It seems that the Sofitel Singapore City Centre is merely paying lip service to the Accor membership. We had to ask for the benefits before the duty manager reluctantly gave us the benefits. Check-in at the reception is slow. The staff managing our check-in seems to fumble during the check-in. The situation was made worst when we were given the welcome letter that was not addressed to us! I would feel better if the hotel gave us a generic welcome letter with no names on it.

The service level at the reception is horrendous that every time I walk past the reception, staffs here always pull a long face and did not even bother to acknowledge the presence of guests. A few times I observed the staffs at the reception, who had eye contact with me, simply looked the other way. There was one time I left my key card in the suite and requested for another one from one of the staffs at the reception, the staff pulled a long face as though I was giving her problems.

The welcome letter than was not addressed to me

The hotel does not provide complimentary parking to in-house guests. I had to speak to the duty manager before she reluctantly gave me one. I was informed by the duty manager even told me that the hotel only provides complimentary parking for restaurant guests and I might not get one at the time of check-out. This makes me wonder if the primary clientele in Sofitel Singapore City Centre is in-house guests or restaurant guests. For a manager to communicate in such unfriendly and unthoughtful manner to guests, little wonder the rest of the staffs at reception display such poor attitude.

The bad service did not stop at the reception. When checking into my suite, I release that in-room slippers are not provided and requested for them. It took the hotel 2 hours and after 3 calls to have basic amenities like the in-room slippers to be delivered. The Prestige Suite comes with complimentary mini-bar items and is replenished daily. One would expect these items to be replaced during housekeeping. However, we had to call the operator to arrange for these items to be delivered and it again took the hotel 1 hour to have these items delivered to the suite.

Having experienced the bad service at Sofitel Singapore City Centre for the first day of our stay, we were fortunate to have met several gems in the hotel who understood the meaning of good service. I requested to speak to managerial level staff the next day regarding the bad service I received at the hotel barely 4 hours at the hotel. Adi was there at Racines Restaurant waiting for us, keen on understanding what happened that caused our unhappiness. Instead of forcing the conversation during our breakfast, Adi patiently waited for us at the lounge so we relate to him what had happened. During the conversation, Adi listened with empathy and attentively with no trace of being defensive. We met Adi at the Club Millésime Lounge during the Apéro Chic cocktail hour, as my nephew insisted on sitting on sofa seats despite all the sofa seats are being occupied, Adi displayed excellent adaptation skills and took the effort to arrange for a make-shift sofa seat by the pool that my nephew was happy with. Adi even arranged for the lounge staff to bring the food all the way to the poolside, ensuring that we do not go hungry. Adi occasionally popped over to check if everything is alright and if we needed more food. Adi went all way out to ensure that we were well taken care of.

The staffs at Club Millésime Lounge were a group of staffs who understood what customer service is all about. As my nephew was a tad noisy, instead of denying entry to the lounge, we were given a room so that we were able to enjoy the evening cocktail. I am pleasantly surprised that the staff brought all the food that was on the menu for the evening cocktail for us to sample. They occasionally came into the room to check if we require more food and drinks. The staffs at Club Millésime Lounge were very accommodating and made guests visiting the lounge feel welcome. There was an instance my sister requested the staff to help her heat up some food for my nephew, the staff instead of rejecting went all way out to ensure that the food was being heated up. We were made to feel welcome whenever we visited the Club Millésime Lounge. One of the staffs, Daniel, was always seen with a huge smile on his face whenever we met him at the lounge. He always ensured that we had drinks and we were comfortable.

There is another group of staffs at Racines Restaurant who made us feel welcome every time we visited. I am surprised to know that Charmane, who showed us to our table on the first day, took the effort to remember our seating preference and even our room numbers on the second day we were there for breakfast. Service at the restaurant is always impeccable. Food always comes within minutes of placing the order on our mobile phone and the staffs at Racines is always very attentive to ensure empty plates do not stay on our table for too long. The staffs at Racines are also very patient in waiting for us to decide what food to order when we did takeaways from them.

Hotel Facilities

Club Millésime Lounge

Residents in the Prestige Suite at Sofitel Singapore City Centre are given access to the Club Millésime Lounge. Located on the 6th floor of the hotel, the earthy themed lounge is a great place for residents to chill out while waiting for their suites to be made up by the housekeeping staff. There are not many people visiting the lounge at the time of my stay, making the lounge an alternate excellent place for residents to do some work. Unlike the lounges in other hotels, Club Millésime Lounge at Sofitel Singapore City Centre does not serve finger food or snacks outside their fixed Apéro Chic cocktail hour. Guests visiting the lounge outside their evening cocktail timing can only find soft drinks, coffee and tea served at the lounge (not even beer).

The only time any food (and beer) is served at Club Millésime Lounge is during the Apéro Chic cocktail hour, with two seatings for guests to choose from (due to the pandemic). I am pleasantly surprised that the hotel serves up sample sizes of all the food available in the menu for guests to sample and place further orders, which the staff at the lounge is happy to top up. I find the variety of food offered during Apéro Chic cocktail hour is a tad limited. Despite that, the food served during the evening cocktail is delicious, leaving us asking for more servings.

Swimming Pool

Due to the COVID pandemic, Sofitel Singapore City Centre has put in place measures to control the number of residents who can use the swimming pool. Residents are to book the usage of the pool on their mobile phone from the QR code that was given in the letter during check-in. The swimming pool is closed for 30 mins after every slot for the hotel to clean the facilities. I thought these arrangement goes to show the emphasis the hotel place in their guests’ well-being.

The swimming pool is located on the 6th floor in Sofitel Singapore City Centre. Guests are to exchange their key card from the staff at the pool area for another key card to gain access to the pool. Perhaps due to the pandemic, the swimming pool was not crowded (at most only 6 pax including us) during our visits to the pool. There is no lack of deck chairs at the swimming pool, we were able to choose the place we wanted during our visit to the pool. The infinity lap pool feels as if it is planted in the middle of a garden. We were surrounded by tall buildings, making the pool a great place to chill out. The 30m infinity pool is large enough for guests to do some decent swim. The jacuzzi facility at the pool was closed during our visit due to the pandemic.

The 30m infinity pool in Sofitel Singapore City Centre

The vegetation at the pool feels like swimming in a garden

Wading area for children in the pool area

SOFIT Gym

The SOFIT Gym is located on the 6th floor of the hotel. Similar to the pool, guests wanting to use the gym would be required to book through the QR code found in the letter during check-in. There is a limit of four users at the gym at any given slot. The gym is closed for 30 mins after each booking slot for the hotel to clean. The gym is some the small side and is equipped with four treadmills and two elliptical machines. There are a weight machine and some dumbbells for guests to do a decent workout. There is even space for guests to practice yoga at the gym.

Overall

Despite the convenient location and the spacious suite as well as the wonderful staffs like Adi and Charmane we met at Sofitel Singapore City Centre, I would hesitate to recommend the hotel. The first impression that we received at the reception coupled with the consistently bad attitude displayed by the staffs at the reception counters is enough to deter me from returning. The Prestige Suite in Sofitel Singapore City Centre is spacious and luxurious, but the sleep quality on the pillows and the lack of pillow menu for firmer or foam pillows (unlike their sister hotel at Sentosa) is also another factor that would deter me from returning. Parking charges that would have to be incurred by guests is also another factor that would discourage me from returning. It seems the hotel values their dine-in guests more than their in-house guests by providing complimentary parking to the former group. During this period when the entire world faces border restrictions, most of the in-house guests at Sofitel Singapore City Centre would be locals, without complimentary parking, I rather opt to stay somewhere else.

[Accommodation Review] – Raffles Hotel (1-Bedroom Presidential Suite), Singapore (28 – 30 Aug 20)

September 4, 2020January 30, 2024 / kktong76 / 4 Comments

Location

The renowned Raffles Hotel Singapore is an iconic hotel in Singapore. Opened in 1887, Raffles Singapore is one of the few remaining 19th-century hotels in the world. The low rise hotel is located in the heart of Singapore, within walking distance to the business and civic district. Raffles Hotel Singapore is within walking distance to several attractions such the Merlion Park, Esplanade Theatres, Gardens By the Bay and Marina Bay Sands. There are several shopping malls within 5 mins walk from Raffles Hotel Singapore. Raffles City Shopping Centre, Bugis Junction and Suntec City are a stone’s throw away from the hotel. Other than the shopping malls, there is no lack of eateries to suit all budgets within and nearby the hotel. There are also several 24-hour convenient shops across the street from Raffles Hotel Singapore. Raffles Hotel Singapore is very well connected by buses and the MRT subway system in Singapore, making it an excellent base to explore the country.

Raffles Hotel Singapore was renovated and reopened in 2019, bringing a refreshing new life to the hotel. The hotel reopened in Aug 2020 with some very good staycation deals after two months of government efforts to curb the COVID-19 in Singapore. The hotel is offering 1-for-1 night stay, coupled with daily breakfast and a $100 dining credit, making a staycation in Raffles Hotel Singapore affordable.

The Presidential Suite – Sarkies Suite

I originally booked a 1-bedroom Residence Suite and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was upgraded to the epitome of luxury, the 1-bedroom Presidential Suite. The Presidential Suite is named as The Sarkies Suite after the original owners of Raffles Hotel Singapore and is the one of the two 1-bedroom Presidential Suite in Raffles Hotel Singapore. The 1-bedroom Presidential Suite located in the Main Building, overlooking the tranquil Palm Court and Raffles Hotel’s legendary porte-cochère. The 1-bedroom Presidential Suite in Raffles Hotel as a massive floor area of 260m² spreading across a foyer, parlour, dining room, bedroom, dressing area, balcony and pantry.

Sarkies Presidential Suite — Entrance to Sarkies Suite

The public area outside the Presidential Suite is mostly empty during my stay at the Sarkies Suite, feels like having additional private space outside the suite

The Foyer

I was ushered by one of the staffs at the main entrance of Raffles Hotel Singapore directly to the Presidential Suite for an in-suite check-in. The main door to the suite opens the foyer decked in a black and dark grey colour theme. The foyer, furnished with a green table and a white couch, is where guests changed into their in-suite slippers. The dark-themed foyer coupled with the chandelier gave me a preview of how posh the Presidential Suite will be. Three large window planes let in natural lighting and allow residents of the suite to lookout into Raffles Hotel’s porte-cochère.

The dark colour themed Foyer gives the entrance a sense of classiness

View of the Raffles Hotel Singapore’s porte-cochère from the Foyer

Old school switches furnished in gold plating in the Foyer

Powder Room

From the foyer, the black and dark grey colour theme extends to a small corridor that leads to the Parlour of the suite. There are two doors along this corridor with the door closest to the foyer leading to the Power Room. The dark colour theme from the Foyer extends into the Powder Room, matched with a couple of wall-mounted lightings plated in gold, making this small space an elegant feel. The fore part of the Powder Room is furnished with a large mirror and a marble sink as well as a wooden round side table where the hotel places a box of tissue on. Further into the Powder Room is another door that leads to a toilet equipped with bidet function. Despite the dark theme, the Powder Room is very well lited and does not feel claustrophobic.

Pantry

The door next to Powder Room along the corridor that ushers residents into the Parlour lead to the in-suite Pantry. The Pantry is equipped with some kitchen facilities such as a full-size fridge, dual kitchen sink, electric kettle and a microwave oven. The Pantry even has its own wine fridge. Raffles Hotel Singapore provides a full set of crockery, with cups and various wine glasses in this pantry. The pantry is also fitted with a Nespresso machine for guests to enjoy with the complimentary Nespresso capsules and tea. There is another door in the Pantry for butlers to gain access into the Presidential Suite to serve its residents’ in-room dining.

Dry Area in the Kitchenette — Wet Area in the Kitchenette

Drinks in the Kitchenette are Chargeable

Dressing Room

The third door along this corridor opens into the Dressing room, which essentially is a walk-in wardrobe. Furnished with open cabinets and open shelving space, the Dressing Room is meant for residents of the Presidential Suite to hang their coats and jackets. This space also provides an additional storage area for guests to hang their clothes and stow away their luggage. There is another entrance into the dressing room from the other corridor that leads to the Bedroom.

The Parlour

At the end of the short dark-themed corridor, residents of the Presidential Suite is ushered into a bright, elegant and spacious Parlour, decked out in yellow lighting. The Parlour in the Presidential Suite occupies a bulk of real estate in the entire suite. The high ceiling in the Parlour makes the already expansive living room feels even bigger. In the centre of the Parlour is a pair of black with gold patterned five-seater couch, placed to face each complimented with a large black marble coffee table. This placement makes the Parlour an ideal place for residents of the Presidential Suite to entertain their guests. The addition of a cushioned stool comfortable enough to sit three beside the pair of five-seater couch allows residents of the Presidential Suite to entertain more guests. Placed near a couple of pillars in the Parlour is a pair of white and brown cosy armchairs with a coffee table in between. I find the placement of these armchairs an excellent spot for residents to read one of the books on the shelf or one of the literature Raffles Hotel Singapore places on the coffee table.

The Parlour in the Presidential Suite from the entrance corridor

The two armchairs in the Parlour before the Dining Area

Even the chandeliers in the Parlour and the Dining Area of the Presidential Suite in Raffles Hotel Singapore looks like a piece of artwork

A pair of large wall cabinets quietly sits on either side of the 55″ TV in the Parlour, facing the couch area. Rather than leaving them empty, Raffles Hotel Singapore furnishes these cabinets with books, antiques and art pieces, making the vast Parlour appear less empty. These cabinets serve more as a decoration than functional. The 55″ TV appears a tad small due to the large space in the Parlour, especially when viewed from the couch facing it. Walking into the Parlour feels like walking into an art exhibition hall. Raffles Hotel Singapore adorned the Parlour of the Presidential Suite with numerous art pieces and antiques, exuding a heavy sense of luxury.

There is a 55″ TV and a pair of wall cabinets in the parlour of the Presidential Suite

Shelving with some antiques in the Parlour

Antiques on Display in the Presidential Suite

A work desk can be found behind the black five-seater couches furthest from the TV. The wooden work desk is of a good size, allowing guests in the Presidential Suite to do some decent work. USB and HDMI inputs are tucked underneath a removable wooden panel on the desk. There are, however, insufficient power outlets on the desk. Guests wanting to keep their laptops charged can use the power outlet on the wall behind the desk. Guests can connect their laptops wirelessly to the TV in the Parlour via a touch of a button on the tablet.

Work desk in the Parlour of the Presidential Suite

TV Channels can be Selected on the iPad in the Suite

Marble Pen in the Presidential Suite — TV Channels can be Selected on the iPad in the Suite

Writing Materials can be Found in Case below the Work Desk

Personal Electronic Gadgets can be Wirelessly Connected to the TV — Writing Materials can be Found in Case below the Work Desk

Dining Area

There is a sizeable space dedicated to the Dining Area in the Presidential Suite tucked in the corner of the Parlour furthest from the main entrance. The Dining Area is delineated by a pair of pillars and a couple of screens. The size in the Dining Area is large enough for Raffles Hotel Singapore to furnish with an elongated wooden dining table that comfortably sits 12 diners. There is space for guests to move around and mingle before dining in this area, and even space for the hotel to place two additional dining chairs. The elegance of the Presidential Suite extends into the Dining Area. Raffles Hotel Singapore decorated this area with the same chandelier like the one in the Parlour. A large painting hanging on the wall brought colour to the Dining Area. A frosted large mirror hangs on the other wall also contributes to the elegance of the Dining Area and at the same time, makes the area appear bigger.

The large dining table in the Presidential Suite that sits 12 pax

Bedroom

The Bedroom in the Presidential Suite is tucked in one corner of the suite, accessed via another corridor parallel to the one where residents enter the suite from. In the centre of the Bedroom is a two posture King Bed placed in front of a brass wall feature, which enhances the elegance of the Bedroom. The two posture bedding in the bedroom is a great choice as it does not block my view of the TV when lying on the bed. The mattress on the King Bed is firm and comfortable, provided me with a great night’s sleep. There are four pillows on the King bed, which are too soft for my liking. Raffles Hotel Singapore does provide its residents with a pillow menu, as stated on its website. However, this pillow menu is nowhere to be found in the Suite. I had to call the butler to ask for a firmer pillow. A pair of side tables with identical large bedside lamps are placed on both sides of the King bed, providing additional storage space for residents of the Presidential Suite. I like the design of hiding the charging ports in the top drawer, as it does not make the Bedroom look too messy. Residents, however, need to leave the drawer open when charging their lifestyle devices on the bedside tables. A pair of reading lights, providing residents with extra illumination, are also found on the headboard of the King bed.

Power Outlets in the Bedside Table Drawer

Reading Light on the King Bed — Power Outlets in the Bedside Table Drawer

The space in the Bedroom is large enough for Raffles Hotel Singapore to place a comfortable three-seater couch and a coffee table in front of the King Bed, facing the 55″ TV with a Bang & Olufsen soundbar tucked in one corner of the Bedroom. Despite the addition of the couch and coffee table, there is ample space for residents of the Presidential Suite to move around in the Bedroom. The placement of the TV in one corner of the Bedroom allows residents to be able to watch TV on the King bed and having an unobstructed view of the courtyard through one of the four large window planes in this part of the Bedroom at the same time. A table is found next to the entrance to the Bedroom, which the top part can be flipped open to expose a mirror. The design of this table so flexible that residents can choose to use it as a dressing table or another table to place their stuff on.

The large window planes in the Bedroom allows residents to lookout into the courtyard

The feature wall that the King Bed is placed by doubles up as an open concept wardrobe at the back. The wardrobe has plenty of space for guests to hang their clothing on both ends of the wardrobe as well as to store smaller clothing items. One side of the hanging wardrobe is installed with six drawers for guests to store away smaller clothing items. In the centre of the wardrobe is another six open cabinet shelving. This is where the in-suite safe can be found. There are spaces at the wardrobe for guests to put away their luggage if they choose not to store it in the dressing area.

Bathroom

The main Bathroom in the Presidential Suite can only be accessed from the Bedroom. The entire Bathroom is clad in marble, together with the gold plated taps, gold plated trim on the doors in the Bathroom, and the gold plated chandelier, this Bathroom looks luxurious. Next to the entrance to the Bathroom is a double vanity sink, with two huge mirrors. The luxurious feel in the bathroom is further enhanced by a glass box with gold trimming where residents can find grooming amenities. I find the countertop space at the sink area a tad tight, mainly due to the size of the sinks, leaving not much space for residents to place the toiletries they might bring to the hotel.

Bathroom Amenities are Presented in a Glass Case

Quality Bath Amenities — Bathroom Amenities are Presented in a Glass Case

Sitting in one corner of the Bathroom, under the chandelier, is a free-standing bathtub. The bathtub, both large and deep, is great for guests to soak away the fatigue after spending a whole day exploring Singapore. Raffles Hotel Singapore provides a bathtub pillow which enhances the soaking experience in the tub. The hotel even places a gold plated rack on the bathtub that has a tablet stand, allowing guests to watch movies while soaking in the tub.

The white marbled bathroom with golden trimmings

The deep free standing bathtub with gold plated taps

Two cubicles housing the toilet and a walk-in shower are found opposite the bathtub. The walk-in shower fitted with both gold plated regular showerhead and rainshower. The addition of a marble bench in the walk-in shower allows residents to sit on while showering. Similar to the toilet in the Powder Room, the toilet in the Bathroom is fitted with a bidet and comes with heating function on the toilet seat.

Walk-in Shower with Gold Plated Showerheads — Toilet Cubicle

Balcony

The space of the Presidential Suite in the Raffles Hotel Singapore is so big that even the balcony is huge. The balcony spans across the entire length of the Presidential Suite. Residents can gain access to the balcony from one of the six doors spreading across the parlour and the dining area. Raffles Hotel Singapore is very generous in furnishing the balcony. There is sufficient furniture in the balcony, yet does not make this space look too cluttered. The balcony is furnished with three single-seater armchairs complemented with individual side tables, a set of outdoor cushioned sofa and a coffee table. There is even a smaller dining table that sits four where residents of the suite can enjoy alfresco dining, with the view of the Palm Courts. The balcony boasts a view of the courtyard in Raffles Hotel, the tranquillity of the courtyard makes me forget the hotel is situated in the middle of a busy part of Singapore.

View of the courtyard from the balcony in the Presidential Suite in the day

Night view of the courtyard from the balcony in the Presidential Suite

Service

My first impression of the service at the Raffles Hotel Singapore is positive. As soon as I arrived at the main entrance of the hotel, I was warmly welcomed by a brigade of the front door staff despite the humid climate. These front door staffs never fail to welcome residents back to the hotel or wishing us a good day whenever I walk past them at the main door.

Due to the pandemic, check-in at the hotel is no longer at the traditional reception area. Guests are encouraged to complete the check-in online for a seamless check-in experience. As I have completed my online check-in, after scanning a QR code, the front door staffs sprung into action like a well-oiled machine and I was immediately escorted by one of the staffs directly to the suite that I was assigned for the in-suite check-in. Information such as the location of the pool and gym and the breakfast location and timing was given. I was also briefed on the facilities in the Presidential Suite.

A personal care kit is placed in the suite for residents during this pandemic period

Fruit platter welcomes residents to the Presidential Suite

I find the service rendered by the butler team to be a mix. The service by the butler team is generally negative when I called them over the in-suite phone. The butler team seem to be impatient over the phone when asked some questions on the hotel and the suite. Most of the times, it seems that the butler who took the call wanted to end the call quickly and did not bother to offer alternate solutions or additional information. I called to ask about the pillow menu and pillow options, the butler just gave a bunch of names of the pillows they have in an impatient manner and did not even bother to describe the pillows options. The butler ended the call by saying one of the pillows in the suite is already the firmest they have, which was not true. He did not even try to solve my problem and his attitude felt patronising. Subsequently, I was given a firmer pillow by another butler when I brought up the pillow issue to the staff at the front desk. There is another instance where I called regarding food delivery, the butler at the other end of the call provided information in an impatient manner, as though I was disturbing him so late at night.

Despite the negative experience with the butler team over the phone, the service rendered by the butler team who came to the suite is pleasant. I met Yujun on the second day of my stay, she is very friendly and amicable. Due to the rain, I was not able to utilise the swimming pool slot that I booked 11 am. I explained the situation to Yujun and mentioned that I only managed to get a book for one pax despite there are two of us staying in the suite. Yujun patiently listened to my situation with empathy and managed to secure a slot for two pax at the pool. Yujun even left a note in the suite stating that she managed to secure the additional slot when I was not in the suite. On top of that, Yujun clarified the several questions that I asked which were information not given at the point of my check-in. I bumped into Yujun, after checking out on the hotel premises. I was surprised that she was able to recognise me and even stopped for a short chat on my stay at the suite.

Amelia was the other butler who I encountered during my stay at the Raffles Hotel Singapore. She brought the food that I ordered for room service. Amelia carefully placed the food on the dining table in the suite in a professional manner, cognizant of where we were seated on the table, ensuring the food were within reach of everyone on the table. Amelia also demonstrates excellent listening skills and patiently answered the queries I had. Amelia even welcomed my guests as though they were staying at the hotel and checked if we require anything else to make our stay comfortable. As my guests stayed near the turndown service time, instead of assuming that I do not require turndown service, Amelia took the initiative to check if I require turndown service. When I declined the turndown service, Amelia checked if there are any items that I need replenishment. She subsequently brought the item that I requested for replenishment.

It was unfortunate that my interaction with the butler Akira was brief and late, whom I met when I was leaving the Raffles Hotel Singapore. During my check-out timing, Akira called the suite to confirm the charges that I incurred during my stay in the Suite. Upon learning that we did not have the time to claim our welcome drink, instead of letting things slip, Akira took the initiative to bring the welcoming drink, Raffles Hotel’s signature Singapore Sling, to the suite. When Akira checked how was my stay at the hotel, I brought up to him the negative experience I had with the butlers on the phone. Instead of being defensive, Akira took responsibility for his colleagues and apologised on their behalf. When learnt that I require complimentary parking coupon, Akira immediately headed to the concierge to help me get one. He even got me extra face masks in case the one that I use gave way. Akira also informed me that I had extra unused credit with the hotel and suggested for me to head to Raffles Boutique to utilise the credits. When I was at the Raffles Boutique, I was surprised that Akira had made the call to the boutique about my arrival.

During my stay, I met Ales the housekeeping staff who cleaned the suite. I arranged for housekeeping at 12.30 pm on the second day but only vacate the suite at 12.45 pm. Ales patiently waited outside the suite. When I apologised to Ales for making her waiting, Ales gave the warmest smile and told me not to worry about it. Ales cleaned up the massive suite efficiently and diligently leaving the suite in the same state as when I first checked in. I returned to the suite shortly after vacating it, as it was raining that there are limited places I can go. I waited outside the suite for Ales to finish her job. The moment Ales saw me, she apologised for making me wait. Ales even updated me that she was almost done cleaning up the suite and she was on her way to get a vacuum and apologised again for letting me wait longer. When I returned to the suite after Ales worked her magic, the suite smells fresh and was in tip-top condition.

Lay Hoon is the staff who works at the Gym & swimming pool area. Lay Hoon, upon learning that I was checking out the facilities in the gym, showed me around the various equipment in the gym. She also took the time to show me to the pool on my request. On the second day, while waiting for Ales to clean up the suite, I popped by the pool again. Lay Hoon was there welcoming guests. I told her due to the rain, I was not able to enjoy the pool or go anywhere. Lay Hoon brought me to the pool area and told me I could wait at the sheltered area while waiting for my room to get ready.

Hotel Facilities

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Raffles Hotel Singapore has in place measures to ensure the safety of their guests. Residents in Raffles Hotel wanting to use the swimming pool and gym facilities are to pre-book in advanced. As there are limited slots, each room is allowed to book for one 90 min slot per day.

Swimming Pool

I made my booking with the hotel via email before my arrival and was able to secure relatively good time slots to use the pool. The swimming pool in Raffles Hotel is located on the third floor of the main building (where the hotel lobby is) and shares the same entrance as the gym. Despite the rooftop saltwater swimming pool being a tad small, guests are still able to get a few decent laps in it. With the restrictions Raffles Hotel has in place due to the pandemic, the number of residents that can use the pool was tightly controlled. The number of guests allowed at anyone is strictly controlled by the number of sunbeds at the pool. I had no problems getting an ideal spot for sunbathing.

Gym

Similar to the policy for the swimming pool, residents are to make a booking for the gym before we are allowed to use it. The gym in Raffles Hotel Singapore comprises of several “rooms”, instead of a big area like most hotels. By the entrance to the gym is an area for gym users to practise yoga, do some weight training or simply to stretch. Further into the gym, there is a room where most weight machines together with some dumbells and barbells are placed. There is yet another room for cardio training where treadmills and gym bikes, as well as rowing machines, are located. The gym is well equipped with facilities allowing its residents to do some decent workout.

Treadmills in the Gym — Complimentary Drinks in the Gym

Breakfast

Breakfast was served in the Tiffin Room, located at the main lobby of Raffles Hotel Singapore. There are seatings outside the restaurant, in the lobby area, as well as an outdoor courtyard area on top of the tables inside the Tiffin Room. Due to the measure to curb the pandemic, the sittings are well spaced out and instead of the usual buffet-style, breakfast is served in ala-carte buffet style. The choice of food for breakfast is rather limited and there are no variations during my two days of dining. Notwithstanding, there are still options for Western, Chinese and local cuisines. The food was flavourful and delicious. The Belgium waffles that I ordered tasted crispy. However, when it comes to local delights, I find the sambal chilli to be a big let down. It is not spicy nor fragrant, but the Nasi Lemak tasted great. Upon seated, orders were taken for beverages. The serving for breakfast took quite a while, on the first day of my visiting, food were served around 45 mins to 1 hour after orders were being placed. I also find there seem to be inconsistency in the service at the Tiffin Room. On the first day, we were not offered breadbasket, while on the second day, we were asked if we would like breadbasket. The staff also mixed up my order of omelette with my friend’s on the first day of our visit. I am not too sure if service standards took a dive due to us visiting the Tiffin Room nearing the end of breakfast timing.

Breakfast at the Tiffin Room — Entrance to Tiffin Room

Eggs Platter — Jams Available during Breakfast

Western Option for Breakfast — Bread Basket

Overall

I am privileged to have the experience of staying in the Presidential Suite. The Presidential Suite in the Raffles Hotel was luxurious and comfortable, with ample space, both indoors and at the balcony for residents of the suite. The Presidential Suite faces the tranquil courtyard, making spending time in the balcony a pleasant experience. The sleep quality on the King Bed is superb, providing me with great night sleep. Despite facing the main road, the soundproofing is excellent. Most of the staff that I met during my stay were welcoming and friendly. My stay would be perfect if not for the less than ideal experience I had with the butler team over the phone.

[Accommodation Review] – Marina Mandarin (Marina Bay Suite), Singapore (24 – 26 Mar 17)

April 5, 2017August 8, 2020 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

The facade of Marina Mandarin

Location

Marina Mandarin Singapore is located in Marina Centre, right in the centre of Singapore. The hotel is connected to the Marina Square Shopping Mall and is also well connected to other nearby shopping malls such as Suntec City and Raffles City. Marina Mandarin is situated right in front of the Marina Bay area, next to the Esplanade Theatre. The hotel is accessible to 2 MRT stations, making it convenient to access anywhere else in Singapore.

Interior of Marina Mandarin Hotel

Marina Mandarin Singapore is located above Marina Square Shopping Mall

The Suite

I checked into the Marina Bay Suite, which is facing the Marina Bay area. The expansive 66㎡ suite is the 2nd most luxurious suite in Marina Mandarin, just one category below the President Suite. The suite makes up of a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom.

Living Room

Guests would find themselves in a large living room upon entering the Marina Bay Suite in Marina Mandarin Singapore. Immediate to the left side of the spacious living room is the dining area. Designed by the wall is the mini bar, where guests would be able to enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks, topped up daily. There is no lack of storage space for guests who prefer to bring their own snacks. However, there is only one power socket at the minibar area which is to be shared between the Nespresso Coffee Machine and the electric kettle. The glasses and mugs are found in the rightmost cabinet in the minibar area. The fridge is found inside the left most frosted glass cabinet in the minibar area. There is a small glass round table with 3 chairs, serving as the dining table by the mini bar area.

The dining area of the Marina Bay Suite

Minibar area in the Marina Bay Suite

All the contents in the fridge are complementary and are topped up daily

Complimentary snacks

The hotel even gives complimentary signature pineapple tarts, but these are not topped up daily

Further into the classy decorated living room is the couch area. There is a generous 3 seater couch placed close to the balcony in the living room. A single-seater armchair is placed next to the 3 seater couch. Diagonally opposite the couch is a large flat-screen TV, placed on top of a TV console. As the TV console is placed on the TV console, there is no swivel function on the TV and guests would have to shift the TV to angle it to face the couch. There is a glass top coffee table placed between the couch and the TV console.

Spacious living room in Marina Bay Suite

TV console and the entrance to the bedroom from the 3 seater couch in the living room of Marina Bay Suite

Armchair in the living room, next to the 3 seater couch

The interior of the Marina Bay Suite seem a little dated with the analogue switches for air conditioning

Living room in Marina Bay Suite

Further into the Marina Bay Suite, placed in front of the floor to ceiling glass panels separating the living room and the balcony is a work desk. The work desk is of a fair size, sufficient for one to do some decent work on. There is a small cabinet tucked by the wall side where one can find the telephone and a complimentary mobile phone on top of this cabinet. There are 2 power sockets hidden in a ledge on the work desk. However, these sockets are used to power the table lamp on the study table and the charger of the mobile phone. There are no additional power sockets in the entire suite.

Work desk in the living room, just before the balcony in Marina Bay Suite

The work desk is rather big. A copy of the newspaper was placed on the table when I checked in. The newspaper was not replaced daily

There are limited power sockets in the entire suite. There are only 2 power sockets at the work desk but both are used for the desk lamp and the complimentary mobile phone in the suite

Telephone and a side cabinet at the work desk

Marina Bay Suite guests are provided with a mobile phone that one can make complementary calls locally and selected countries. Guests can also enjoy 4G network on this phone

Balcony

The Marina Bay Suite in Marina Mandarin Hotel has 2 balconies, one of which is located in the living room and the other is located in the bedroom. Despite being next to each other, these balconies are separated by a solid wall, which means there is no access from the balcony in the living room to that in the bedroom. The balcony in the living room faces Marina Square Shopping Mall and one will be treated to views of Marina Bay from the balcony. The balcony in the living room is decked with 2 chairs and a table, whilst the balcony in the bedroom has no furniture placed in it.

The balcony at the living room with chairs and table

View of Marina Bay area from the balcony

Balcony in the bedroom, which is bare and has no furniture

Bedroom

The double panel large wooden door opposite the 3 seater couch separates the living room from the bedroom. Entering the bedroom, guests will be greeted by a large King-size bed with a bedside table on both sides of the bed. The king bed is very comfortable to sleep on and I fell asleep shortly after lying on the bed and felt very refreshed the next day. The sleep quality is excellent and the pillow is of the right firmness. There is an armchair placed next to the king bed, in front of the floor to the ceiling glass panel that separates the bedroom from the balcony. Diagonally opposite the bed is another TV console with a large flat-screen TV on top. Left from the entrance to the bedroom is where one will find the bathroom and a dressing area. A 2-panel wardrobe is placed opposite the entrance to the bathroom. The wardrobe is a tad small for travellers who prefer to hang their clothes and will be staying there for more than 1 week, as the capacity is rather small. There is a cabinet with 3 glass drawers on the left panel of the wardrobe, capable of storing more clothing folded up. An in-room safe is placed on top of the 3 drawer cabinets. Further into the suite, next to the wardrobe is a small power area. Here is where one can find a huge ledge for one to place large luggage on. There are 4 large drawers beneath the ledge. In the corner is where one can find the dressing cum power table.

King bed in the bedroom

TV console in the bedroom

Armchair in the bedroom by the balcony

Phone and clock by the bedside in the bedroom of Marina Bay Suite

Wardrobe and powder area in the bedroom

The right closet is for the hanging of clothes. The space is rather limited

The right closet has more storage and an in-room safe

Powder area in the bedroom

Bathroom

The spacious white marble laden bathroom is enclosed with frosted glass, giving it a very clean and bright feel. Entering the bathroom, the walk-in shower separated by the glass is the first thing that greets guests in the Marina Bay Suite. There is only a regular shower head in the walk-in shower. Next to the entrance of the bathroom is a single sink with loads of storage area for additional toiletries that guests might bring with them. A bathtub sits next to the sink, in the furthest end of the bathroom. The bathtub seems rather low, however, when soaked in it, one would find it rather spacious. The toilet bowl is located next to the bathtub and opposite the sink. Even the toilet bowl seems a tad low.

Entrance to the bathroom

Walk-in Shower

Sink area

Bathtub and toilet bowl

Marina Mandarin provides quality bathing amenities for their suite guests

Meritus Club

Guests staying in Marina Bay Suites in Marina Mandarin Hotel are entitled to visit the Meritus Club lounge located on 21 floors of the hotel. The dark wooden themed lounge is a rather comfortable place to hang out. The lounge maximises the use of window to allow guests to sit by and relax. There is a substantial amount of dining and sitting area in the lounge. Guests get to enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails in the Meritus Club. As the lounge has a no children policy, the lounge is exceptionally quiet and a great place to chill. The food served during breakfast is a scaled-down version of what is being served in the breakfast restaurant, however, guests get to enjoy the breakfast without crazy queue and at a peaceful environment. The hotel serves sandwiches and pastries during their afternoon tea time and a selection of local food as well as some finger food together with wine and beer are available for guests during the evening cocktail at the lounge.

Meritus Club is located on the 21st floor of the Marina Mandarin Hotel

Plenty of seating in Meritus Club

A more dinning area in Meritus Club

Snacks are available all-day

More snacks for guests in Meritus Club

Afternoon tea

Evening cocktail

Buffet area in Meritus Club

Swimming Pool

The swimming pool in Marina Mandarin is located on the 5th floor of the hotel. The hotel has a mineral pool, which means the chlorine content in the pool is rather low. This is a great place to swim, with the amount of sunlight one can get at the pool and the poolside area. There are a large number of suntan deck chairs around for guests to enjoy themselves at the pool. There are several gazebos by the side of the pool for guests to enjoy at no extra charges. The pool itself is rather big and has a depth of 2.5m at the deepest end of the pool.

Entrance to the swimming pool on the 5th floor

Mineral swimming pool

A small pool for children

Great place for suntan at the pool area

Hotel facade at the swimming pool

Gym

Gym in Marina Mandarin is located on the 5th floor of the hotel. The smallish gym has a few treadmills, stationary bicycles and an area for weights. One can still get a decent workout at the gym despite its size. Throughout my stay at the hotel, the gym usage is rather low as it is empty most of the time (including no staff manning the gym).

Entrance to the gym on the 5th floor

Gym in Marina Mandarin hotel

Some gym equipment

Weight area in the gym on level 5

Breakfast

Guests in Marina Bay Suite has the option of having breakfast at Aquamarine Restaurant. The restaurant is large with heaps of sitting to cater for the guests in the hotel. There is a huge selection of food from local dishes to the more international dishes available for breakfast in the restaurant. As the restaurant is halal certified, no pork is served in this restaurant. The quality of the food served is good and flavourful, however, dining here for breakfast can be a nightmare due to the number of guests coming here for breakfast.

Breakfast in Aquamarine Restaurant

There is a huge variety of food for breakfast

Guests staying in Marina Bay Suite also have the option of having their breakfast in the Meritus Club. The variety of food for breakfast is limited in the lounge, however, the quality of the food is good. Having breakfast here means one does not have to crowd with the rest of the guests at Aquamarine Restaurant. However, the chef at the egg station seems to be producing a lacklustre quality of eggs. I ordered pouch eggs with no mushroom, which usually comes with a muffin, but was given just the pouch egg with hollandaise sauce. My friend’s sunny side up came with egg yolk that is damaged.

Breakfast in Meritus Club

Badly made eggs by the chef who does not seem to listen to guests and shabby effort in making eggs

Service

The service in Marina Mandarin is impeccable. The staffs make me feel welcome and are eager to do their best to satisfy my requests. I requested for baby cot and baby bath amenities before my checking into the hotel, these items were already placed in the suite when I enter. When I requested for extra towels from the housekeeping department, the items were brought to my suite without me having to wait for too long. The staff who delivered the items to my suite were always smiling.

The great experience in Marina Mandarin started with the moment I stepped into the hotel for checking in. The staff at the concierge processed my check-in without me having to wait unnecessarily, after which I was escorted by another staff – Vivy to my suite. Vivy was very friendly and introduced me to the various facilities in the hotel. She even recommended me to try out the Meritus Club lounge during evening cocktail time for the food that will be served. At the suite, Vivy introduced the facilities inside the suite.

Whilst at the lounge, I met with one of the staff Maria, who was as welcoming as anyone else I have met. She kept on checking if I need more food or drinks during afternoon tea. Maria cleared the empty plate on my table as soon as I left my table. Maria was attentive and friendly. She shared with me her experiences working with the hotel and recommended me to return for an evening cocktail. Chatting with Maria is like chatting with a friend.

I am surprised by another staff at the lounge, Richie, who seems to have a photographic memory. My interactions with Richie was minimal and he only asked for my room number. I was surprised the next day, Richie recognised me and even welcomed me back to the lounge despite the short interaction time. This showed that Richie is very observant to all the guests who come into the Meritus Club Lounge.

Nurjarnah the housekeeping staff who made up my suite during my stay is a gem in the hotel. She kept the suite clean and tidy, ensuring that I have a clean and comfortable suite to return back every morning. Nurjarnah also smiled and greeted me whenever I saw her at the corridor. There were a few occasions I went up to her to request for additional bath amenities, despite her being busy cleaning up another room, she always smiled and fulfil my requests. When I apologised for disturbing her work, Nurjarnah assured me that I wasn’t disturbing her at all.

The star of the hotel during my stay got to be Vignes, the Duty Manager. Vignes was very welcoming and went all out to ensure that my stay was comfortable and without incident. Vignes will always come up to me and chat whenever he saw me around in the hotel. Chatting with Vignes is like chatting with an old friend. Vignes shared with me his experiences working in the hospitable industry and running a hotel from his perspective. I learnt a lot chatting with Vignes. Vignes never fail to check if everything is okay during my stay in the hotel and would get things sorted out whenever I made requests to him. Vignes even took the trouble to find me in the lounge to check if he can do anything to make my stay at Marina Mandarin more comfortable before he knocks off during my stay in the hotel. On the day of my checking out, Vignes came to my suite and bide me farewell. He personally processed my check out swiftly.

Overall

My stay at Marina Bay Suite in Marina Mandarin Hotel is a great experience. Despite showing signs of ageing in the suite, the suite is very comfortable and well maintained by the staffs in the hotel. The view from the balcony in the suite is superb, great even when sitting in the balcony relaxing. The suite is very spacious and the sleep quality is excellent on the king bed in the bedroom. The staffs are very friendly and welcoming and they are not stingy with their smiles. My guests and I had a great time in Marina Mandarin and I highly recommend one to check out Marina Mandarin.

Atrium in Marina Mandarin Hotel at night from the floor I was staying

[Accommodation Review] – The Fullerton Hotel (Postmaster Room), Singapore (10 – 12 Sep 16)

September 19, 2016August 17, 2020 / kktong76 / 1 Comment

Location

Occupying the former General Post Office, The Fullerton Hotel is located in the centre of the CBD in Singapore next to Singapore River surrounded by office buildings. The nearest shopping mall is about 20 mins on foot, however, Fullerton Hotel provides regular shuttle service to the nearby shopping malls. There is an MRT station about 3 mins walk from the hotel. The Fullerton Hotel was accorded National Monument in 2015, staying here is like staying in a part of the history of Singapore.

The facade of The Fullerton Hotel from across the street

The Fullerton Hotel was accorded a National Monument in 2015 printed on its keycard

Hotel Atrium

The reception area in The Fullerton Hotel

The Room

Bedroom

I checked into the Postmaster Room during my stay at The Fullerton Hotel. The earthy tones of light brown and beige colour running throughout the room elude a cosy feel for guests entering the room. The three-panel wardrobe resembles a traditional Japanese door, with white panels and thin wooden trimmings. Although occupying but a small part of the room, the wardrobe is large enough for guests to put away one week worth of clothing. The panel immediately next to the main entrance has shelving and drawers, which gives ample space for guests to put away smaller pieces of clothing. Guests can also hang up their clothes in the two-panel wardrobe next to it. A small foldable stool can be found inside this part of the wardrobe for guests to put their cabin-size luggage onto. I was able to put away my duffle bag on the stool and have the wardrobe doors closed.

The corridor outside the Postmaster Room

Main Entrance to the room with the three-panel wardrobe

Space in the wardrobe to hang clothes

Single-panel side of the wardrobe with three drawers to put more stuff in

The wardrobe is located next to the main entrance to the room

With the wall that makes up the bathroom opposite the wardrobe creates a small corridor that leads guests into the room. Stretching from the wardrobe through the entire depth of the room is hip height cabinet, using the same coloured wood as the wardrobe the hotel was able to achieve consistency in the colour scheme of the room. This makes the room look comfortable and not too confused with the minimum use of colour schemes in the room. This cabinet houses the mini bar fridge as well as a safe nicely hidden away from sight. Right smack on the centre of the cabinet is the 42″ LED TV, which is placed directly opposite the King Bed. Facing the main entrance to the room, tucked away in a corner is where the work desk is located. The work desk is rather sizable and doubled up as a dining table for me during my stay there. On the work desk, the hotel provided a mobile phone which guests can use as a mobile wifi device. Local calls on this mobile phone are complimentary from the hotel. There are also various media inputs located next to the work desk for one to plug in their lifestyle devices to be projected from the TV. There are several options in the menu of this TV, including movies which are chargeable. Otherwise, guests can choose from the many local and international channels for entertainment.

Other than the TWG tea and instant coffee, the rest of the items in this rack are chargeable

The safe is well hidden below the electric kettle

Mini fridge

Large 42″ LED TV

Some reading materials are provided in the room

A large workweeks cum dining table tucked in one corner of the room

Media input that connects to the TV located next to the work desk

Stationery can be found in a drawer next to the work desk

The hotel provides this mobile device that allows guests to make unlimited local calls for free. This can also be used as a mobile wifi device

The King bed is placed opposite the LED TV. The large bed can sleep thee comfortably and the sleep quality of the bed is superb. I had a great rest on the bed throughout my stay at the Fullerton Hotel. The pillows placed on the bed are soft, however, Fullerton Hotel does provide a pillow menu with varying degrees of firmness to suit their guests. I opted for the buckwheat and firm feather pillow. As I prefer firmer pillows, I find the firm feather pillow to be more comfortable. As with many international hotels, a couple of bedside tables are placed on either side of the bed. There is a master control on the right side of the bed which controls the lighting as well as curtains to the balcony. There is no lack of power outlets in the room, with two on either side of the bed. Placed slightly in front of the bed, tucked to the wall of the bathroom is a single-seat armchair with footrest. There is a small coffee table placed beside it. I find myself sitting on this armchair watching TV and reading a book whilst in the hotel. The armchair is rather comfortable to sit one. The placement of this armchair does not seem to come across as an obstruction for movement in the room.

A very comfortable King bed that gave me a good night sleep

One of the bedside tables. The plush toy is not complementary

Armchair right in front of the bed with the TV and work desk

This panel is located on the right side of the bed that controls the lighting as well as the curtains to the balcony

Dirty spot on the telephone that was missed out by housekeeping staff

Balcony

The main difference between the Courtyard room and the Postmaster Room is that the latter has an attached outdoor balcony. There are a few types of rooms in the hotel that comes with a balcony. Furthest into the room is where one can find the door to the balcony. The balcony spans across the entire width of the room. There are a couple of chairs and a table placed on one side of the balcony. Though the view (the room that I stayed in faced an office building) isn’t that great, I enjoyed relaxing by the balcony as it is rather windy. There is no direct sunlight onto the balcony, making it my favourite spot to hang out. There are two double panelled doors to the balcony. One would have to be careful with the outer door as it tends to slam back, thanks to the hydraulic door closer. Not too sure if the glass panel of this door will shutter with prolonged slamming of the door.

Door to the balcony

Chairs in the balcony for guests to chill

I can see part of Singapore River from the balcony. The room I was assigned faces directly to the office building

Bathroom

The bathroom is located opposite the wardrobe and next to the entrance. The marble laid bathroom is rather spacious. There are two entrances to the bathroom, one by the main entrance and another next to the King bed. There is a large bathtub opposite the sink top, tucked in a corner of the bathroom. The sink top has ample space for guests to place their toiletries. There is a three-tiered shelf carved out of the wall that provided additional storage space. Next to the bathtub is a walk-in rain shower stall, enclosed by glass providing a wet and dry area. I like hotels that designed their bathrooms with a separate walk-in shower, which not just make showering easier (without the need to climb in and out of the bathtub for shower), it also separates the wet from the dry area. This means the wet flooring in the bathroom is kept to the minimum. Next to the shower is a toilet cubicle, which comes with an additional door.

Bathroom at a glance

The bathtub is very large, however unlikely some hotels, The Fullerton Hotel does not provide bath salts

Single sink in the bathroom. There is a lot of space to store additional toiletries

Walk-in Shower stall with rain shower

Toilet cubicle

The bath amenities provided by The Fullerton Hotel feels luxurious

Additional Amenities

Swimming Pool

The swimming pool in The Fullerton Hotel is located on the 2nd floor. The 25m infinity pool, overlooking Singapore River, is rather small. There is a Jacuzzi area built in the pool. The number of sundeck chairs available is rather limited. On a busy day, one can forget about visiting the pool. The Fullerton Hotel allows guests to use the pool at the adjacent sister hotel, Fullerton Bay Hotel. However, one is expected to walk about 5 mins to Fullerton Bay Hotel. There is a bathroom next to the swimming pool, where lockers are available. There are a sauna and a steam room inside the gent’s bathroom.

Small pool with limited sundeck chairs

Swimming pool area

The facade of the hotel from the pool

Steam room and sauna inside the toilet next to the swimming pool

Gym

Gym in Fullerton Hotel is located at level 1M, opposite Fullerton Spa. The gym is rather small, however, is well equipped with treadmills, static cycles as well as limited weights machine. Though not elaborate, one can still get a decent workout in the gym.

The Fullerton Hotel has a very small gym, but sufficient for guests to get a decent workout

Drinks and apples are available for guests using the gym

Breakfast Service

Breakfast is served at Town Restaurant located one the first floor of the hotel. There is no lack of variety served up at during breakfast. Other than the standard American and Continental Breakfast, there are also local fares being served up during breakfast. I find the providing of local fares to be a very good way of the hotel introducing local food to their guests.

Breakfast is served in Town Restaurant

Most of the food can be found in the centre of the restaurant

The restaurant serves up local fares on top of the standard American and Continental Breakfast

Service

The service levels in the hotel are befitting of five-star standards. As I arrived at the hotel during the check-in time of 3 pm, there is several guests waiting to check-in. Staffs were seen coordinating with guests, assuring them that their turn to check-in will not take too long. I saw a pregnant lady in the queue and thought that the staffs can do better by providing her with a seat or place her in a priority queue. I did not have to wait too long to get myself checked in. However, the check-in process is rather slow and took about 15 mins, excluding the wait time.

Other than the slow check-in process, the staffs around the hotel seem to be eager to do their best to ensure guests have a comfortable stay. I called up reception several times to request for amenities and pillows. Whenever I called the reception for amenities or pillow, there will always be a call back to confirm that the items that I requested for has been delivered. I find this check back is a good way to ensuring guests get what they requested for. I ordered room service, before entering the room, the staff would introduce himself to me. I thought this is a good way of establishing rapport with the guests.

The biggest star would have to be Izan, a staff working at the pool. He was welcoming when I hit the pools. Izan offered to bring us to the chair that we wanted and even took the initiative to lay out the towels on the chair for us. I saw Izan working hard to provide the same service to all other guests coming to the pool tirelessly, in the hot afternoon sun. He religiously removed towels that were left behind by guests, rearrange chairs to the way they were on top of helping guests to the sundeck chair.

The staffs at Town Restaurant are very welcoming as well. I received a greeting from a staff member before being led to my table and handed over their colleagues on the restaurant floor. The staffs in the restaurants are very efficient and obliging to requests from guests. Coffees and teas came very fast, and no empty plates are left on the table. As soon as I returned to my table, the plates are already cleared. Staffs would pop by and check if I needed more coffee.

Overall

I had a comfortable stay at The Fullerton Hotel. The sleep quality on the king bed was superb, the size of the room is just nice. I particularly like the balcony and find it a great place to hang out. In terms of service, they are good but not memorable, except for a few individuals, like Izan.

[Accommodation Review] – Hard Rock Hotel (Deluxe Suite), Sentosa, Singapore (13 – 16 May 16)

May 17, 2016August 17, 2020 / kktong76 / Leave a comment

Location

Hard Rock Hotel is located right at the doorstep of Sentosa Island, within the grounds of Resorts World Sentosa, and is one of the several hotels managed by Resorts World Sentosa. The hotel is located in the heart of the action with theme parks such as Universal Studios Singapore, Adventure Cove right next to the hotel. There is no lack of eateries around the hotel, making it a very convenient place to stay for guests to explore Sentosa Island and Mainland Singapore. The hotel is very accessible, thanks to the monorail system that ply between Mainland Singapore and Sentosa.

Iconic guitars at the entrance of the hotel

Hotel signage

Artefacts such as items used by rock stars were seen throughout the hotel

The corridor leading to my suite

Hard Rock Hotel signage on the ceiling at the lobby

Lobby

Spacious lobby

Charges of the rooms in Hard Rock Hotel Singapore

The Suite

The Living Room

Upon entering the suite, a dark purple themed suite greets guests. The main entrance opens up to the living room of the suite. To the right of the entrance to the suite, one can find a dark themed toilet. The functional toilet houses a toilet bowl and a sink. I find this toilet a tad dark. Further into the suite, one can find a black dining table with two chairs tucked by the wall to the suite. Next to the dining table is the mini bar area, with a small bar fridge well hidden in one of the three cabinets. On top of the cabinet is a huge countertop with a sink located in the middle of the countertop. A Nespresso machine and kettle is placed on the left of the sink, while the cups and Nespresso capsules, as well as the coffee and tea, are placed on the right of the sink. One can find two purple single-seat armchairs located further into the living room of the suite. There is a huge coffee table placed in front of the armchairs. A LED TV is mounted onto the wall in front of the armchairs. The wall separating the living room and the bedroom is mounted with dark mirrors, which makes the suite looked bigger. I liked the high ceilings in the living room of the suite, making it feels bigger. However, I do find the suite a little bare without a 2-seater couch, making the living room look under furnished. The absence of a couch also discouraged guests from spending more time in the living room, as the armchairs are a tad uncomfortable to laze in. I spent most of my time in the bedroom of the suite. There are artefacts of rock stars apparent throughout the entire suite.

The layout of the floor I was put up

Entrance to my suite

The dark toilet next to the main entrance of the suite

The living room of the suite. The absence of a couch makes the living room look empty

Minibar area and sink in the living room

Minibar. The price of the drinks are rather expensive, a can of coke will set guests back by S$6.

Complimentary coffee and tea

Nespresso machine and electric kettle

Dining table in the suite

Close up view of the armchairs in the living room

Only 2 armchairs in the living room. No couch for guests to entertain guests or to laze onto

Reading material on the coffee table in the living room

Night view from the living room in the suite

The Bedroom

Entering the door to the bedroom, guests will find a King bed sitting by the wall greeting guests. The purple coloured room feels spacious with an interesting chandler hanging from the ceiling of this part of the suite. An LED TV can be found mounted on the wall to the left of the door (from the bed). There is a day bed fixed by the window for guests to laze on and enjoy the superb view of HarbourFront and the dolphin lagoons of Adventure Cove. From the window, one can see the dolphins swimming freely in the lagoon. To the right of the door is where one can find the work desk equipped with the standard fixtures like a reading light and the phone. There are limited power outlets in this area of the bedroom. Guests can also find a single sized pull out bed between the King bed and the day bed. The sleep quality on the King bed is great. Guests can be assured of great night sleep on this bed. The pillows are just right, not too soft to my liking. I was able to sleep peacefully and wake up afresh sleeping on the King bed. There are no side tables on either side of the King Bed, however, there is a long bench-like table that stretches from the King bed to the entrance of the toilet. There are no wardrobes in this part of the suite.

Very comfortable King bed greets guests in the bedroom

Day bed by the large window in the bedroom. This is a nice spot to laze in.

Work desk

Very limited power sockets in the suite

There is a dock for iPhone users on the work desk

Single-sized pull out bed

A very unique chandler in the bedroom

A long bench served as bedside table found on only one side of the bed

View from the day bed in the bedroom

The Bathroom

Separated by a panel of translucent glass from the bedroom is the bathroom. The bathroom feels a tad cramp compared to the bedroom and the living room. As one enters the bathroom, one can find the bathtub sitting on the right of the entrance to the bathroom. The bathtub is rather large, sufficient for two to have a romantic soak in. Opposite the bathtub, by the entrance to the bathroom, tucked into part of the wardrobe is where guests can find a small TV. Despite having a remote control here (there are three remote controls in the entire suite, one for each TV), I was unable to switch channel using the remote control. It seems that the channel on this TV is a duplicate display from the TV in the bedroom. There is no lack of wardrobe space in the bathroom, guests are treated to two large wardrobes in the bathroom. The safe and extra pillows and blankets, as well as iron and ironing board, can be found in the wardrobe further from the entrance to the bathroom. I find it a tad weird and somewhat inconvenient for the wardrobes and a ledge for guests to stow their luggage to be located in the bathroom. Having the wardrobe with the rest of the bathroom fixtures makes the entire bathroom feels cramp. Next to the bathtub is a single sink, decked with a large Hollywood styled mirror. There is ample space for two to stow their toiletries on the sink area. There is an outlet for guests to charge their electric shaver, however, it does not seem to work in the suite that I was assigned to. Next to the sink, between the sink and the bathtub is where the walk-in shower is located. The walk-in shower has both the regular shower head as well as the rain shower. I find the water pressure to the rain shower head is a tad weak. When I first entered the suite, towels are placed inside the walk-in shower area on one of the three glass shelvings, which I find it weird as the splashes from the shower would have the towels wet. Behind the sink area, in front of the wardrobe furthest from the entrance to the bathroom is where one can find another toilet cubicle. There are no lack of handles in the bathroom area for one to hand their towels to dry.

Huge bathtub

Sink area with a large Hollywood style mirror

Sink

A unique stand to store some of the bathroom amenities. The guitar brings out the “rock and roll” vibe

Walk-in shower. The placement of the towels here seems weird as the splashes from the showerhead might wet the towels

Regular and rain showerheads. The water pressure from the rain shower head is rather weak

Standard shampoo and shower gel in the walk-in shower. The quality of these feels cheap and does not give guests paying S$1200++ per night a premium feel

Toilet cubicle in the bathroom

Art pieces in the bathroom outside the toilet cubicle

Wardrobe with TV opposite the bathtub. This is one of the many lightbulbs that were fused and not rectified

Wardrobe outside the toilet cubicle. Guests can find bathrobes and extra blanket and pillow here together with the in-room safe. Together these wardrobes provide ample space for guests to store their clothing

The Pool

The key feature of Hard Rock Hotel Singapore gotta be the pool, which the hotel brings the beach into the pool area for guests to play with the white clean sand. There are several other pools for guests to enjoy their day in the pool area. Other than the Beach area, there is also a lap pool, a free form pool with a pool sidebar, where guests can order snacks and drinks, as well as a sheltered jacuzzi pool. There is also a pool for children with water slides and fountains for children. Beside the pool is a beach volleyball court, tucked at one corner of the pool area. Guests can spend the whole day in the pool area. Unfortunately, there is some sort of upgrading works at the time of my stay, the shower rooms beside the pool and the gym were closed.

Beach pool at night

Swimming pool in the day

Breakfast

The breakfast service in the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore runs from 7.30 am to 10.30 am. Breakfast is served at the Starz restaurant located next to the reception area of the hotel. There is ample space seemingly catering for maximum capacity for the hotel. There is a huge spread of food available for breakfast ranging from local cuisine to Asian cuisine to western cuisine, catering to a wide range of palates. Despite the huge variety of food available, I find the taste average.

Pastry section

Asian section

Dessert and fruit section

Pancakes and sausages

Service

The service throughout my stay in the hotel was nothing short of excellent. I was warmly welcomed by Yugen at check-in. Due to the time of my arrival, there is no queue and Yugen checked me in swiftly. Yugen also informed me about the location for breakfast and the timing of breakfast. He pointed me to the correct side of the lobby to take the lift to the level where the suite is located. Yugen even took the initiative to checked with me if everything in the suite was okay. When I highlighted that the TV in the bathroom was not working, Yugen took into account the time of my checking in and asked if I would prefer to have the TV fixed now or tomorrow. The staff came at the time I told Yugen the next day to fix the TV. The great service is even showed by the housekeeping staff, Lavinia, who is not just excellent and meticulous in her job, she presents herself as warm and friendly staff. Lavinia ensured that the suite is always in a pristine condition every time she made up my suite, she is also meticulous in ensuring all corners are cleaned. I took some ice from the ice machine the night before, Lavinia even took note to ensure the ice bucket (which was covered) is cleared of melted ice. She is always smiling and greeted me whenever I bumped into her along the corridor. Siew Lam the staff from the poolside issuing towels to guests was also great in her service. She remembered my suite number when I signed out the towel every day. She even advised of the best timing to enjoy the pool. When returning the towels, she recognised me and signed the towels in without me informing her of my room number. The hotel provided welcome fresh welcome fruit and a personalised card signed off by the duty manager of the hotel. The hotel also provides shuttle service to ply through the all the hotels managed by Resorts World Sentosa with 15 mins interval providing guests with the convenience of moving around without much walking. However the hotel does not provide complimentary wifi in the room and guests are expected to pay for each device hooked onto the wifi at a rather expensive rate, even for guests paying a premium staying at a suite. The hotel also does not provide newspaper for their suite guests.

Welcome fruit on the dining table in the living room

Welcome card

Shuttle service

Overall

In terms of hardware, the suite is very spacious and comfortable. The air conditioning the suite was excellent. However, I find the living room to be rather empty with the existing furnishing. The absence of a couch also does not make me feel like spending time in the living room of the suite, making the living room a wasted space. The sleep quality on the bed was excellent, ensuring guests of good night sleep and waking up feeling afresh. The service rendered by the staffs in the hotel is excellent, staffs were seen smiling and greeting guests. Overall I had a pleasant stay in Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, with the proximity to amenities and attractions in Sentosa, Hard Rock Hotel is a great place to stay.