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singapore staycation

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

September 15, 2017 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 SPG 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. As a Category 6 SPG property, rates are also markedly cheaper (you can click HERE to compare for the best rates) during weekends compared to its peers – the St. Regis Singapore and W Singapore Sentosa Cove.

view from the lobby

The hotel has two sets of elevators. The first takes you from the ground level to the meeting rooms and ballroom and to the lobby at the 32nd level. The second takes you from the lobby to the guestrooms – with the pool / fitness area and club lounge somewhere in between. The first thing you’ll notice as you get to the lobby are the sweeping views of the business district as well as the seaport (one of the world’s largest) in the distance.

westin singapore lobby lounge

I arrived in the hotel around 3 hours prior to standard check-in time so it was expected that my room wasn’t available yet. The front desk associate was proactive in getting my number and she promised to inform me once my room was ready. While I have often been disappointed with hotels elsewhere as I never get a callback and often have to keep checking the room status myself – I did receive a call from The Westin Singapore at around 1:30PM that my room was ready.

I stayed in one of the hotel’s Premier rooms. It is not often made known but the layout of the Asia Square building where the hotel is situated in means that the rooms don’t all look alike. Not even those in the same category. Some of the rooms for example have the bathrooms facing inward while other rooms have the bathroom facing outward, with the bathtub facing the window. I can only name one other hotel in Singapore with such a stunning backdrop for a tub and that is the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore. The Westin Singapore offers you the same at about 2/3 of the price!

For a relatively new hotel, the room cuts are surprisingly huge. The Premier rooms range from 40 to 50 square meters and come in a warm shade of brown juxtaposed with cream for a calming feel. I also loved the carpeting – fluffy but not too furry for people susceptible to allergies like me.

The furnishings are on the light side – you won’t find clutter here – but are relatively upscale. A 42″ inch LCD TV is set directly opposite the bed while an iPod dock graces the bedside table along with a small bottle of lavender balm as a non-invasive sleeping aid. The Westin Singapore is one of the very few hotels in Singapore I’ve seen offering a form of sleep aid – the other being the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.

The room is large enough such that you will find a sofa set at the end of the room. For folks who need to get some work done, the work desk comes with a stationery set as well as plenty of power outlets to charge one’s devices. Owing to its location, the desk is obviously styled with the business traveler in mind. It is huge and of the usual rectangular shape. The hotel also provides a Handyphone which allows guests to call selected countries for free and obtain internet access while in Singapore.

One notable difference with the Premier rooms is that these are located in the SPG floor. Instead of the standard Nespresso machine, you get a French press coffee maker.

As mentioned previously, the Premier room comes in different cuts. My personal recommendation is to write in to the hotel to request for one which has a tub facing the outside window for a really luxurious experience.

bathroom

Regardless whether your tub faces in or out, I found the bathrooms at The Westin Singapore to be among the most appealing. The hotel advertises that it feels like a personal spa and I must say they are not exaggerating in that aspect. While I normally relegate the bathroom as a place to do personal business, I certainly did not mind lingering longer in here with its clean and plush marble fittings.

At the centerpiece of the bathroom is the standalone tub which offers marvelous views of the city. While I don’t imagine business people to have plenty of time to have a nice, hot bath; I highly recommend going for one here while watching the world pass by down below. How’s that for a business hotel?

infinity pool

The 35th floor is the de facto wellness center of The Westin Singapore. I dropped by to see the infinity pool – a breathtaking but underrated place to have a dip. While views of Marina Bay have been blocked partially by the surrounding buildings, the pool experience here is still rather surreal especially when considering the open spaces.

gym

jacuzzi

In the same floor, you will find the fitness center (which also has a gorgeous view) and the in-house spa, Heavenly Spa by Westin. While the latter comes with its own set of signature treatments, not many people know that the jacuzzi inside the spa is free for in-house guests to use. In case your room doesn’t come with a tub facing the window, you can choose to have a relaxing soak here complete with massage jets.

My stay also came with breakfast and this is served in the all-day dining outlet, Seasonal Tastes. I’m more familiar with the venue for its cheap lunch buffets to draw in the office crowd but in the morning, it takes on a different vibe with weekend staycation-ers occupying more tables than business folk.

The morning meal offerings are spread across various counters. Of note is the extensive salad / greens counter – a nod to Westin’s focus on wellness – as well as daily fresh juice offerings (look out for the berry smoothies!). There is also a modest Japanese counter which I don’t usually see for breakfast. For something heavier, there is an eggs station where staff members whip up your choice of omelets and sunny side up.

Verdict

All in all, I found The Westin Singapore offers the best value for money among the SPG luxury hotels in Singapore and even when taking into account the wider umbrella of luxury Marriott hotels in the country.  Other than the more affordable rates, the location is also ideal for leisure and sightseeing – with iconic sights such as the Marina Bay Sands or Gardens by the Bay one station away while the buzzing streets of Chinatown are only a mile from the hotel.  The property is likewise an apt venue to feel pampered with its spa amenities permeating various elements of the stay. I will certainly be back.

Reservations: Compare the best prices HERE

Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: marriottw, singapore staycation, SPG, starwood, westin

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

July 20, 2017 by Bino Leave a 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.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: accor, singapore staycation

Hotel Review: Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong – Cool Peranakan-Inspired Property In the East Coast

April 15, 2017 by Bino 1 Comment

Opened in 2016, the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is situated in the atmospheric East Coast of Singapore, away from traditional tourist centers of the city. Personally, I love the intricate Peranakan shophouses and independent eateries lining the streets of the neighbourhood – rendering it one of my favourites in the Lion City.

As of this writing, there are 8 IHG hotels in Singapore with the Intercontinental Singapore Robertson Quay set to be the 9th. The Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong was the only one I had not stayed in so I was really excited when the opportunity to check out the property came by.

the hotel lobby comes well-stocked with books and has 2 macs for guests to use

The Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is situated in East Coast Road and within walking distance from several iconic eateries and heritage sites (I will be writing a more in-depth guide of Katong in a separate post).

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: hotel indigo, IHG, singapore staycation

Hotel Review: The Scarlet Singapore

January 12, 2017 by Bino Leave a Comment

The Scarlet Singapore in Erskine Road caused quite a stir when it opened back in 2004. Until then, the Lion City had only one other boutique hotel and The Scarlet was the only one classified under the luxury category. With its 80 rooms housed in a series of pre-war shophouses in Singapore’s Chinatown, the property offered a breath of fresh air against the prevailing steel and glass high rises that housed the bulk of the city’s hotels.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: singapore staycation

Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Singapore (Marina Bay Suite & Movie Moments Staycation)

December 23, 2016 by Bino 1 Comment

With a hard-to-beat Marina Bay location, the Mandarin Oriental Singapore is one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. The brand is well-known for delivering Asian sensibilities in its product – from the physical appearance of the rooms and facilities down to the detailed-oriented service standards of the staff. I stayed in the flagship Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong earlier this year and was bowled over by the interactions I had with the staff. It truly was one of my most memorable hotel stays and had me yearning to experience more of the Mandarin Oriental proposition.

I recently had the opportunity to check out the Singapore property. The hotel recently launched a Movie Moments Staycation Package which comes with the following inclusions:

  • One night stay at a Marina Bay View Room
  • Daily breakfast for two at Melt Cafe
  • Complimentary in-room amenities of gourmet popcorn, nachos and chips
  • Two Gold Class movie tickets which could be used at GV Suntec City
  • DVD rental from the hotel’s extensive library

The Singapore property has a relatively modest lobby which belies the majestic atrium that you see from Level 4 onwards. The hotel was built in 1987 and was designed by John Portman (who also designed the nearby Marina Mandarin Singapore). Upon check-in, I was informed by reception that the hotel was running full and they would upgrade me instead to a Marina Bay Suite.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: mandarin oriental, singapore staycation

Hotel Review: Marina Mandarin Singapore

December 13, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

Located right in the heart of Marina Bay, the Marina Mandarin Singapore is one of the flagship properties of the Meritus Hotels and Resorts. Just steps away from Marina Square and Suntec City (two major shopping malls in Singapore), the 575-room hotel was built in 1987 and designed by John Portman. It boasts of a magnificent atrium – probably one of the most attractive in Singapore and certainly a feast to architecture buffs. I recall staying here some 9 years back and remember being pleasantly surprised by the his and her sinks found even at the entry-level rooms. Recently, I had another opportunity to check out the property – this time at a different room category.

the magnificent atrium of the marina mandarin singapore

My room for this particular stay was a Premier Room which is located within the 16th to the 19th floor of the hotel. Renovated a couple of years ago, it sported a contemporary and elegant look that differentiated it from the base level rooms of the hotel. The first thing you will notice as you enter the room is how bright it is. The color scheme is highly pleasing to the eyes – light and lacking of any garish décor. At the far end, you will also see a balcony which opens up to views of the City Hall area. The glass panels are actually floor-to-ceiling which also allows plenty of light to come in.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: marina mandarin, meritus, singapore staycation

Hotel Review: The Club Residences at Capella Singapore – Serviced Apartments in Sentosa

December 11, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

Many are familiar with the ultra-luxury resort that is Capella Singapore in Sentosa. One of the top-rated hotels in the country, it’s also one of the more popular staycation options among Singaporeans (the rooms even at entry-level are huge). I have also written about this lush property previously, having stayed twice before in various room types. I highly enjoy the tranquil environment. If you fancy spending a weekend away from the crowds, you’re hard-pressed to find a venue that’s more conducive.

You can check out my review of the resort section of Capella Singapore here.

Not a lot of people are probably aware that Capella Singapore also has a serviced residences arm. With 62 suites, 10 penthouse units and 9 manors; The Club Residences – as the serviced apartments are called – actually comprises a significant proportion of the resort. Recently, I had an opportunity to check out this side of the property for two nights to see how it compares to other serviced residences in Singapore.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: capella, singapore staycation

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre

November 3, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre stands as one of the most centrally-located hotels in Singapore. Its location just behind the Centrepoint mall, within walking distance to the Orchard Road stretch, makes it highly popular among leisure travelers. It is one of the hotels I frequently recommend to friends from overseas whenever they ask for a mid-range option in Singapore. Likewise, it is one of the few hotels in the country that offer two double beds under the twin category which makes it easy for those traveling with kids.

I recently spent a night at this IHG property. Although I have been here a couple of times, this was actually my first time staying here. The hotel was renovated in 2009 – prior to that the property was known as the Holiday Inn Parkview. One defining feature of the hotel is its open atrium which used to look down to the lobby. After not being here for a while, I discovered that the atrium now houses the club lounge – but more on that later.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: holiday inn, IHG, singapore staycation

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Who Wanders Here?

BinoHi, I'm Bino, a part-time wanderer and a Singapore-based travel blogger. In this site, I share with you my top travel itineraries. Along the way, I also provide travel guides and tips, recommendations on awesome food to try and impressive hotels to stay! Read More…

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