Travel, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews
Raise your hand if being at the airport is your favorite thing about going away. Nope? Anybody? I didn’t think so! Airports can be hectic and are a bit of a necessary evil if you want to get from A to B. Having said that, airports don’t have to be a complete nightmare. Keep these airport hacks in mind before your next flight and being at the airport won’t be such a terrible experience:
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Located right smack in the middle of Singapore’s most well-known shopping belt, the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard perhaps represents some of the most luxurious serviced apartments in Singapore. I am no stranger to the Pan Pacific brand, having stayed previously at Pan Pacific Singapore and the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road. Compared to those two, the property in Orchard requires guests to stay for a minimum of one week. That being said, the property is highly popular not just among those with expat packages. Due to the highly convenient location, it’s also quite sought after by those on longer leisure or business trips to Singapore. For the purpose of this review, I stayed here for two nights to check out just exactly what it had to offer.
As mentioned previously, the location alone is a plus point when it comes to this property. Somerset MRT station is literally next door along with shopping malls such as 313 Somerset and Orchard Central. The property’s entrance faces Somerset Road instead of the much busier Orchard Road so you won’t have to struggle with the foot traffic when you come here to check in.
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Hotel Jen Orchardgateway is the first property with the Hotel Jen branding to be unveiled by the Shangri-la Group when it opened in 2014. While I have managed to stay in a couple of Hotel Jen properties during the past few months, I recall attending this particular property’s launch party more than a year back, to great fanfare. The amazing rooftop pool with sweeping views of the Singapore skyline served as my first exposure to the Hotel Jen brand.
Some weeks back, I finally managed to check out Hotel Jen Orchardgateway through a staycation. It’s located just a short walk from Somerset MRT station. If you recall the former Phoenix Hotel before it was demolished – the current property is located in the same site. This means that shopping malls such as 313 Somerset and Orchard Gateway are just a hop and a skip away downstairs.
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When it comes to hotels in Singapore, there are great ones and there are popular ones. And there are those which are in themselves a major and indelible, character-adding part of a city. Only a handful of properties fit the bill for all three and one classic example is the majestic Fullerton Hotel Singapore which to many is probably the benchmark where luxury hotels in the country are concerned.
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I still recall my first Christmas dining experience at St. Regis Singapore – 2008 in LaBrezza. Throughout these years, the property has consistently come up with imaginative festive delights during the most wonderful time of the year and 2015 is no exception. I was invited to preview some of the Christmas and New Year offerings which are set to color the menus of LaBrezza, Brasserie les Saveurs and Yan Ting in late December and for New Year’s.
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Nestled close to the geographic heart of Singapore, Ibis Singapore Novena is one of just a handful of budget international chain hotels in the city. It is Accor’s second budget property in Singapore, after the Ibis Bencoolen which opened some 6 years back to much success as it was the first international chain hotel in the budget category to have opened. Being no stranger to Ibis hotels and having stayed in the Bencoolen property previously, I wanted to check out the nuances of the Novena property so I checked in during one recent weekend.
Located in Balestier Road, Ibis Singapore Novena is situated close to many of the area’s famous restaurants. The Balestier area is particularly known for bak kut teh and for chicken rice so staying here will definitely put you in close range to these local favorites. There are also a couple of tourist attractions within walking distance, such as the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall and the Burmese Temple. The hotel is equidistant to both Toa Payoh and Novena stations which are about one kilometer away but there is a complimentary shuttle bus service which runs hourly in the day during weekdays and brings guests not just to the nearest MRT station but also to Orchard Road.
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One of Singapore’s most iconic hotels, the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza majestically stands in the intersection of Orchard and Scotts roads with its distinct green pagoda roof and unique octagonal shape. Anyone who has been to Orchard Road would be hard-pressed to miss this hotel. With its location just above Orchard MRT Station, this property is also one of the most convenient in the city. Last week, I checked out the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza via a staycation.
Entering the lobby, I was amazed by the high ceiling. In comparison with other hotels in Singapore, the property does not boast of an opulent grand lobby but the floor-to-ceiling height which is about 3-storeys tall creates a spacious environment for those lounging around or for guests waiting to check-in.
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There is something about Singapore’s Chinatown district that makes it a perennial favorite. Beyond the tourist trap bazaars, I have always admired the well-preserved shophouses and stately clan houses in this area which in recent years have been transformed into hipster cafes, underground bars and offices for start-ups. A hotel in Chinatown automatically gets plus points in my book just for being there. While most options these days are boutique properties, large full-facility hotels have also sprouted up lately, the most notable being Dorsett Singapore. Located just above Outram Park MRT station, it is conveniently located with Bukit Pasoh Road’s numerous restaurants located just next door. During one recent weekend, I had the opportunity to check out the Dorsett Singapore via a staycation.
Coming from Outram Park MRT station, there is a lift with Dorsett Singapore’s label on it that brings guests close to the hotel lobby. As I made the short walk, I could not help but notice the many dining options at the hotel’s doorstep. Dorsett’s entrance is at the end of the block. My check-in was straightforward and quick. I had actually arrived a few hours before the standard check-in time but the front desk was nice enough to inform me that my room was already available.
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