singapore staycation

Hotel Review: InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay – Luxurious Residential-Style Living

January 24, 2022 by Bino 1 Comment

InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay opened in October 2017 after taking over from the old Gallery Hotel in the same site by the Singapore River. Unlike its Peranakan-influenced sister hotel in Bugis, the newer InterContinental hotel – and the second of the brand in Singapore – carries a pronounced residential-inspired concept in keeping with the expat-oriented neighborhood surrounding it. This particular InterContinental hotel is only 10 floors high and was designed by the award-winning firm, SCDA.

Along with the gradual reopening of some IHG hotels in Singapore, the property also reopened in December 2021 after nearly 2 years of being a quarantine hotel.

…

Hotel Staycation Review: Mandarin Oriental Singapore – One of the Best Hotel Swimming Pools in Singapore

December 14, 2021 by Bino 1 Comment

Mandarin Oriental Singapore ranks among my most frequently stayed hotels in Singapore. Time and time again, the property launches creatively packaged staycation deals that defines what it means to be “a tourist in your own city.” Coupled with the hotel’s renowned hospitality and level of luxury, their staycation packages tend to come with inclusions that appeal to a wide demographic – whether it be families, couples or friends enjoying a weekend getaway.

This review is an amalgamation of my various staycations at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore. 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 and I always look forward to my stays here.

mandarin oriental singapore lobby

The hotel was built in the 1980s with the design coming from John Portman. Entering the lobby, one gets mesmerized by the cavernous atrium. As the brand name suggests, the decor is very much in keeping with the chain – think lots of Chinese figurines, dark and warm tones as well as long chandeliers.

…

Hotel Review: Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy (Business Suite) – Rooms With Singapore Strait View

August 26, 2021 by Bino 1 Comment

The Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy is an Accor hotel located in the culturally rich Katong area of Singapore. Popular among transit passengers for its proximity and free shuttle to Changi Airport, it has also made a name for itself in the local staycation scene due to the “being away from it all” vibe that the property gives off. A few blocks to the south is East Coast Park while a block north are the Peranakan shophouses and eateries of Katong.

…

Hotel Staycation Review: Sofitel Singapore City Centre – Simply Magnifique!

August 22, 2021 by Bino 2 Comments

Sofitel Singapore City Centre is the newest jewel in Accor Hotels’ crown in Singapore – being its 13th hotel in the Lion City and the 800th Accor hotel in Asia Pacific. Looming over the historic shophouses of Tanjong Pagar, the property marks the further southern development of Singapore’s CBD. Tanjong Pagar has always been known as a commercial area but in recent years, high rises (including Singapore’s tallest), luxury hotels and some Grade A offices have been thrown into the mix.

I was fortunate to go for a staycation at the Sofitel Singapore City Centre a couple of times, the first time being two days before the hotel officially opened.

…

Hotel Staycation Review: Goodwood Park Hotel – Colonial Charm & Rare Low-Rise Lodging Close to Orchard Road

May 5, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

One of Singapore’s heritage hotels, Goodwood Park Hotel is well-known for its fairytale-like facade owing to the building’s past as the Teutonia Club. The Tower Block of the hotel is considered one of Singapore’s national monuments and the property is very much a well-regarded institution in the city not just as a place of lodging but also for its famed food and beverage offerings. Food-related keywords – such as the Chinese restaurant Min Jiang or the hotel’s durian fiesta – are very much synonymous to Goodwood Park, sometimes even overshadowing the property’s room stay proposition.

goodwood park hotel facade

fiat brevetti 1906 – goodwood park hotel

Wandering around the hotel’s walkways, one can’t help but encounter plenty of history, from displays of old advertisements and cutleries to the vintage 1906 Fiat Brevetti displayed in the Tower Block’s driveway. As such, staying here is akin to a 3-in-1 deal. Along with a room stay, one gets to soak in all the charms of a national monument and also feast on some of the property’s culinary delights.

Goodwood Park Hotel recently underwent a refurbishment which saw 5 of the room categories refreshed with a natural color palette. The look is in keeping with other recently refurbished areas, such as Min Jiang which unveiled its new look in late 2020. I stayed at the Poolside Suite, one of the renovated rooms in the hotel.

…

Hotel Staycation Review: Four Seasons Singapore – Understated Luxury Near Orchard Road

March 30, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

This review of the Four Seasons Singapore is the result of a few years of anticipation. With a highly convenient Orchard location mere minutes from the MRT station, this is a luxury hotel that I have visited several times prior to staying here. The property boasts of a Michelin restaurant in its premises – Jiang Nan Chun – known for its excellent roast duck. The spa is also notable and is among the best I have tried in Singapore. That being said, the Four Seasons has remained relatively understated despite the few decades it has stood in this address. Many of the reviews I have read from those who have stayed are exceedingly positive which begs the question why it has remained understated all these years.

Entering the Four Seasons Singapore, one would not immediately imagine being so close to Singapore’s main shopping belt. It’s quiet. I have never seen any crowds congregating by the lobby in the many times I have been there. This is despite the hotel being connected to a shopping mall. The lights are dim – highlighting the hotel’s understated qualities.

…

Hotel Staycation Review: Grand Hyatt Singapore – An Oasis in the Heart of Orchard Road

March 12, 2021 by Bino 2 Comments

The Grand Hyatt Singapore is one of the most iconic hotels in the country. Located very close to the intersection of Orchard Road and Scotts Road and right at the heart of one of the world’s most popular commercial strips, the hotel has been around since 1971 when it was known as the Hyatt Regency. In the ensuing decades, new dining concepts as well as a couple of refurbishments have ensured not just continuing relevance but of sustained popularity. I don’t know exactly how many times I have already seen Straits Kitchen, one of its restaurants, appearing in best Singapore buffets lists. Along with other concepts such as Mezza9, 10 Scotts, Pete’s Place and Oasis, Grand Hyatt Singapore has a pretty strong F&B proposition despite the lack of a dedicated Chinese restaurant.

grand hyatt singapore lobby

I had the opportunity to check out the property for a staycation during one weekend. Coming here was a breeze. Orchard MRT station is only around a 5 minute walk away while many of the well-known shopping malls such as Tang’s and Ion Orchard are just close by. The property has a minimalist theme combined with a distinct zen feel. Rock gardens abound and despite the property’s location in a highly dense zone, one of its decorative highlights is a multi-tiered waterfall located near the restaurants.

…

Hotel Review: Andaz Singapore – Stylish Hyatt Hotel in Bugis & Perfect for Staycations

March 11, 2021 by Bino 5 Comments

The Andaz Singapore opened in October 2017 as the first Andaz-branded property in Southeast Asia and just the 17th worldwide. This upscale and unabashedly stylish brand under the Hyatt Hotels group has long attracted a set of travel-savvy and discerning clientele and I had been curious as to how the brand would be interpreted in Singapore. The Lion City has just two Hyatt hotels – the other being the Grand Hyatt Singapore which is a Category 5 Hyatt property.

I recently went for a staycation at Andaz Singapore to see how things materialized – and I must say I was impressed. 2017 was a pretty monumental year for hotel openings in Singapore, with the likes of Sofitel Singapore City Centre, InterContinental Robertson Quay and Yotel Singapore opening their doors in the span of a few months. Of the properties that opened lately, I have to say that Andaz Singapore is the clear winner in terms of design.

…

Page 1 of 8

1 2 3 … 8 Next »