Hotels

12 Best Hotels For a Staycation in Singapore

August 3, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

This year marks a decade since I’ve first stepped foot in Singapore. In these ten years, I have stayed in 56 hotels within the borders of the republic. While that may seem a lot, this number is still only a fraction compared to the 300-odd hotels in the country. Of the 56 hotels I’ve stayed in so far, there were a few good ones. Some were bad. Others were okay but forgettable. I also have my own favorites – memorable stay experiences which I’ve not forgotten to this day.

So what exactly makes for an excellent hotel stay? When I looked back on all the nights I spent in a hotel in Singapore, I did not focus on any particular theme but assessed the hotels holistically based on the following criteria – room quality, design, service, food and facilities. Many of these hotels also qualify for family staycations as they do very well in offering staycations for couples so versatility is another factor.

Without further ado, here are my personal picks for the best hotels to have a staycation in Singapore. Note that they are not are arranged in any particular order

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Hotel Review: La Rose Suites Phnom Penh

July 21, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

La Rose Suites is the latest property in what is starting to become a chain of successful boutique hotels in downtown Phnom Penh. If you recall, I had stayed at La Rose Boutique Hotel and Spa some 3 years back. Their second property, La Rose Suites opened in late 2014 boasting more facilities such as a swimming pool and larger room types on top of their signature spa proposition. As Phnom Penh is one of my favorite cities in Southeast Asia, I decided to pay a return visit during one recent weekend and checked out this property.

The property is situated just a short walk away from Phnom Penh’s Independence Monument which makes it really convenient to visit. I arrived at the hotel with the brand’s trademark carved male and female door handles greeting me as I entered what seemed to be a pathway of vines. This led to the lobby and immediately I was filled with a sense of familiarity – and tranquility – as a staff member offered me drinks and gave me a hot towel to freshen up. The décor, similar to their sister property a few blocks down, evokes that of a spa. Think – white walls, subtle flower arrangements made of lotus and water lilies as well as traditional Khmer artworks.

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Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong Review

July 13, 2016 by Bino 4 Comments

The Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong is the third Holiday Inn Express property to open in Singapore. Set in what is increasingly becoming an alternative (and compelling) location to stay in the Lion City, the hotel is situated in a complex alongside its sister hotel, the Hotel Indigo Katong. The property opened in June 2016 and offered some pretty competitive rates – around $40 – $60 cheaper per night than the Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay or Holiday Inn Express Orchard Road. It was also timely that the new Accelerate offers came in at the same time so I went ahead to book a night at the Katong property to tick off some of my Accelerate challenges. My room bill was reasonable for a 3-star hotel with breakfast – I paid around SGD 106.40++ for a night.

There are no MRT stations near the hotel but a couple of bus stops are within walking distance, including one that is just 250 meters from the door (Roxy Square bus stop). The buses that stop here are quite plentiful and there are even direct journeys available to places such as Bugis and Orchard so it’s not too bad transport-wise. At the time of my stay, there were hardly any taxis stopping by the hotel entrance but one could easily be hailed from the shopping mall next door.

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Hotel Review: Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort

June 23, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

Not many realize this but the Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort was actually the first ever luxury accommodation to open in the breathtaking island of Koh Samui. Having been known by various names over its 20-odd years in existence, it came under the wing of IHG Group in 2012 after an extensive renovation that made this cliff side resort one of the most iconic in the island. The resort’s breathtaking setting, with the Gulf of Thailand as backdrop, is the stuff of legends and has even been included as a must-see under the best-selling book “1000 Places to See Before You Die.”

With all this in mind, I was very excited to get a glimpse of the resort and had this property at the back of my mind for a year or so. A couple of weeks back, I finally managed to visit Koh Samui. Part of Surat Thani province (my 16th province to visit in Thailand), Koh Samui’s a mere 90 minute flight via Bangkok Airways from Singapore.

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Hotel Yan – A Hipster Boutique Hotel in Singapore’s Jalan Besar District

April 10, 2016 by Bino 2 Comments

Singapore may have plenty of boutique hotel options but not a single one I have encountered possesses the industrial chic of Hotel Yan in trendy Tyrwhitt Road. Entering the lobby for the first time, I was greeted by grey, unfinished walls and reception counters contrasted against wood and glass. The brainchild of a husband-and-wife team who wanted to recreate Tyrwhitt Road’s past as a hardware store enclave, this property immediately stands out among the myriad of boutique hotels along the Jalan Besar area.

stunning lobby of hotel yan

The lobby has some similarities with a hipster café which made more sense to me after I found out that a café called Nido is due to open to take up half of the lobby’s space eventually.

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What to Expect From the NEW Ibis Styles Singapore on Macpherson

April 8, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The new Ibis Styles Singapore on Macpherson finally opened its doors on the 3rd of April, 2016. I managed to do a site inspection on this property, the first under the Ibis Styles brand in Singapore during their very first day in business.

The hotel is situated in an up-and-coming portion of the country, near the industrial areas of Paya Lebar and on top of what’s touted to be the new Macpherson Mall. The property’s quite a walk from the nearest MRT stations – Potong Pasir and Macpherson MRT stations are both 1km away – though there is a bus stop nearby. More importantly, the property offers complimentary shuttle services to the MRT station.

For those not used to the Ibis Styles brand of Accor, it is a step-up from the regular Ibis brand which is well-known for its budget proposition. In the case of this particular property, this meant a swimming pool, gym and rooms that are above 20 sqm in size.

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Time Out Weekend Staycation at Shangri-la Singapore

April 4, 2016 by Bino 3 Comments

Shangri-la Singapore has recently unveiled a tempting staycation package that’s bound to make guests think twice about leaving the comforts of the hotel during their stay. Aptly called the “Time Out Weekend Staycation,” this package for two for a stay at the Garden Wing comes full of extras to differentiate it from the typical staycation. During a recent weekend, I managed to check out firsthand exactly what makes this package special.

shangri-la singapore garden wing

As with my previous stay at Shangri-la Singapore’s Garden Wing, I checked in via dedicated counters located near the entrance to the resort-like building. At the time of my check-in there was just one person manning the desk. As soon as I was seen queuing, a second person came by to check me in so I did not have to wait long.

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Hotel Review: Intercontinental Singapore

March 22, 2016 by Bino 3 Comments

Intercontinental Singapore is a luxury hotel located in the lively Bugis area of Singapore. Being very much part of the city’s central core, famous attractions such as Arab Street and the civic district are within walking distance while shopping destinations such as Suntec City, Raffles City, Bugis Junction and Haji Lane are just a hop and a skip away. The hotel was built in 1995 incorporating the architectural styles of the shophouses in the area. While the original shophouses no longer exist, the hotel has a distinct Peranakan theme throughout its halls and even in the rooms. This was further enhanced over the last two years when the property underwent a renovation. The Peranakan theme remains but it’s now compounded by a contemporary vibe. I recently checked out the Intercontinental Singapore through a staycation to find out exactly how the property has changed.

If you’re into patterns, this property has plenty to keep you busy. Tiled columns, snazzy carpeting and even the subtle wallpaper designs all bring the property’s Peranakan – classical design concept into life.

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