singapore staycation

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hotel Staycation Review: The St. Regis Singapore – The Most Over-the-Top Hotel in Singapore?

March 9, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

I’ll start off by jumping straight to the point – the St. Regis Singapore has got to be the most opulent hotel in Singapore. Situated in Tanglin Road which is just a few minutes away from buzzing Orchard Road, there is an air of grandeur in this Marriott property that prevails in just about every aspect, from the in-house brunches where they serve all-you-can-eat caviar and lobsters to the personalized butler service in every room. Of course, there’s also the extensive collection of sculptures and artwork from the likes of Fernando Botero, Cheong Soo Pieng and Marc Chagall scattered around the property. If there is one thing that this property wants guests to remember, it is undoubtedly the unmatched luxury.

reception area – st. regis singapore

One thing that always impresses me about Marriott – given the SPG legacy – is how effectively this hotel chain segments its various brands. Each has a distinct personality. When I stayed at the W Bangkok last year, the vibe was unmistakably hip and happening so coming to St. Regis Singapore and witnessing its unabashed luxury during my staycation definitely made for a wonderful contrast.

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Hotel Staycation Review: The Westin Singapore – Of Stunning Bathtubs & Infinity Pools

February 16, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

It is easy to categorize the The Westin Singapore as a “business hotel.” Located squarely within Singapore’s central business district, the Marriott property has the regional headquarters of several banks and multinationals right at its doorstep. But to dismiss it simply as such would be a travesty. The property boasts of a stunning infinity pool and a jacuzzi overlooking the bustling seaport, to name a few bells and whistles. The lobby which is situated at the 32nd floor – is the highest hotel lobby in the country and affords guests with plenty of sumptuous views.

the westin singapore lobby – highest hotel lobby in singapore

If you are staying here on a weekend, you will find The Westin Singapore relatively quieter as the bulk of its guests are business people. The lack of warm bodies is great news for leisure travelers as well as locals on a staycation. During weekends, rates are markedly cheaper compared to its peers – the St. Regis Singapore and W Singapore Sentosa Cove.

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Hotel Staycation Review: Hotel Fort Canning – Relaxing Getaway in the Middle of Singapore’s CBD

January 18, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

Hotel Fort Canning is one of the most atmospheric boutique hotels in Singapore. Sitting prettily on a hill right in the middle of the city’s bustling CBD, the property has all the trappings of a heritage hotel even though its history as a place for lodging is fairly recent. The building housing it dates from 1926. It used to be the administration building of the British Far East Command HQ but was later occupied by the Japanese during World War II. The area surrounding the hotel, Fort Canning Park, is also known as the place where Singapore was surrendered to the Japanese in 1942.

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What to Expect From the Award-Winning Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road

December 19, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

It used to be the case that serviced apartments catered to only three types of people – those on long business trips, those relocating to a new country for the first month or two and finally, business people on generous expat packages who could afford paying almost hotel prices month after month for an apartment that is cleaned every other day.

In recent years however, the rise of more discerning travelers looking for extra space in their Singapore accommodations for day-to-day activities as well as local staycation-ers have meant that the value proposition of serviced apartments has intersected with hotels. Such is the case with Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, one of the newest service apartments to come up in Singapore. Conveniently located just next to the tourist attractions of Arab Street and the indie shopping haven that is Haji Lane, it is one of the few serviced apartments in the country that actually has a hotel license.

pan pacific serviced suites beach road lobby

Entering the property for the first time and seeing the sleek and modern furnishings of the lobby, I would be fooled to think that the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road is actually a hotel. It’s no wonder that the property has won a couple of awards in the two years since it opened, including citations for its architecture and design at the Asia-Pacific International Property Awards and being named Luxury Apartment of the Year by Luxury Travel Guide. What added to the perception of being in a luxury hotel was the staff member manning the check-in counters dressed in a uniform not too dissimilar from what I remember from my unbelievable staycation at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel. As with my experience with that property, I was greeted warmly and in no time, my key cards were handed to me using the same golden key card holder that I remember from that memorable stay.

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