Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Singapore – Relax and Ride Staycation

Mandarin Oriental Singapore has launched a new staycation package that’s sure to bring a new twist to what it means to be “a tourist in your own city.” Coupled with the hotel’s renowned hospitality and level of luxury, the Relax and Ride staycation package comes with a few fun inclusions that appeal to a wide demographic – whether it be families, couples or friends enjoying a weekend getaway.

I recently went for a staycation at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore in order to experience this package and I have to say this property continues to surprise me with its innovative offers. There are only so many ways one can do a package out of a hotel staycation but Mandarin Oriental Singapore seems to nail it every time. I still remember the movie moments staycation I had at the property a few years back. That was also rather memorable.

Guests only need to book the entry-level Deluxe Room (from S$328) in order to enjoy the package inclusions. These are:

Upgrade to Ocean View room or Marina Bay View room

When I checked in, I was politely told that I was staying in one of the Marina Bay View rooms. This room category is a few notches above the entry-level ones. While the room size, at 34 square meters, is the same; this particular room category comes with unblocked views of Marina Bay. Over at this side of the bay, only one other hotel has the same selling point.

The current look of the property has been around for a while now but I still like the colorful touches surrounding the room – from the bright hues of the throw pillows to the elaborately motifs on the carpets.

While this particular staycation package is meant to cater to the leisure crowd, the brand’s appeal to business travelers remains undeniable. As is my experience in other Mandarin Oriental properties, the desk came with a full stationary set as well as HDMI cables for easy screening over of one’s laptop to the large LCD TV in the room.

It has also been a while since my last stay at Mandarin Oriental Singapore and I noticed that they’ve changed the brand of toiletries. It’s now an inhouse brand. They used to use Aromatherapy Associates.

Late check-out until 6PM (subject to availability)

One of my usual gripes about weekend staycations is that it ends all too soon, with check-in usually around 3PM and check-out by noon the next day. The Relax and Ride staycation package allows guests to stay more than 24 hours with a late check-out of up to 6PM (subject to availability). This is just enough time to explore and enjoy the many facilities of the property, from its comprehensive fitness center to its swimming pool with a view.

As mentioned previously, the property is one of the few with unblocked views of Marina Bay. As such, it’s no surprise the swimming pool at Mandarin Oriental Singapore is also one of the most impressive in the country. At any given time, it’s always brimming with tourists enjoying the sun while appreciating the city skyline. 

As I stayed just before Singapore imposed the circuit breaker, I had the swimming pool to myself most of the time. It was a rather strange sight as I’m used to seeing crowds there. Nevertheless, it was great to be able to cool off in such unabashed luxury just before the restrictions kicked in.

Welcome drinks

The package originally came with welcome drinks at MO Bar but since the Singapore government ordered bars to be closed during this period, I ended up having my drinks at the outdoor bar area in front of Dolce Vita. The good news is that the MO Bar menu has been transported to this venue as well and I was able to select their signature concoction, the Harvest Queen, as my welcome drink. Appealing visually as well as to the taste bud, the cocktail has a most instagrammable peacock art on top.

To be frank, I did not mind having the welcome drink at the alternate venue. The fresh air from the outdoor space and the view were definitely nothing to complain about.

10-minute vintage Vespa sidecar ride

The property partnered with the folks from Singapore Sidecars in order to provide an element of fun to the staycation experience. The 10-minute ride on a sidecar of a Vespa replicated the route of the Singapore Grand Prix, where we passed through some iconic attractions such as the National Gallery, Esplanade, Asian Civilisations Museum, etc. The company behind Singapore Sidecars has actually been around for a while and they offer more comprehensive tours around various neighborhoods in Singapore that last for hours. It was a really fun experience and if you ask me, it would be great if the ride was a little bit longer. 

Daily breakfast for 2 adults

Due to the current situation, the usual hearty buffet at Melt was replaced with a more modest one comprised of pastries and fruits while hot dishes were on order basis. 

Guests can order as many dishes as they’d like from the ala carte breakfast menu. I chose the Nasi Lemak which came with a generous portion of chicken and prawns. 

I also tried the Kurobuta Pork Wanton Mee. Overall, there’s a good balance between local and international fare. For those who prefer classics such as eggs benedict or toast, that’s also available. 

Mandarin Oriental Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square
Singapore 039797
6885 3517

You can book staycations at Mandarin Oriental Singapore at a cheaper price here compared to booking direct