singapore staycation

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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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: Fullerton Bay Hotel

March 13, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The Fullerton Bay Hotel which overlooks Marina Bay in Singapore’s Raffles Place district is a relatively new entrant in the country’s luxury hotel scene yet it has been quick in making a name for itself within its 6 years of existence. For the past couple of years, this 100-room property has consistently earned the coveted 5-star rating from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide. For 2016, it’s one of only three hotels in Singapore to earn that distinction. I have known it all these years due to its rooftop bar, Lantern which is one of the most iconic rooftop drinking spots around the bay area. Most recently, I had the opportunity to check out this property through a weekend staycation.

lobby of fullerton bay hotel

With a location at Collyer Quay, within walking distance from Raffles Place MRT and the Merlion, the property is highly accessible with a bus stop right at its doorstep. It is also part of the 5 kilometer or so route that circles the bay – a route that takes you to Singapore tourist attractions such as Marina Bay Sands, the Esplanade as well as the futuristic Helix Bridge.

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Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium

February 13, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The building where the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium now stands in Outram Road is no newcomer to the Singapore hospitality scene. It was previously known as Glass Hotel and subsequently the Concorde Hotel. Its latest incarnation as a property under the IHG Group has greatly increased its visibility in recent years and its latest refurbishment in 2014/15 has made it a 4-star hotel offering value that is hard to beat in a city where hotel rooms are notoriously expensive. A couple of weeks back, I checked out the hotel via a weekend stay.

As an IHG Rewards Club elite member, I was given a coupon for welcome drinks upon check-in. What was particularly surprising that day was that the hotel had a special lucky draw which I’ve not encountered before. They asked me to pick a card which contain varying rewards. The one I picked awarded me with 500 points. Not a lot, but the surprise was certainly pleasant. I was also reminded that as a hotel guest, I could enjoy 25% for any meals I have at the in-house restaurants.

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Hotel Review: Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park

January 2, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

Nestled in the atmospheric Balestier Road, Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park is a refreshing respite from the concrete and steel of downtown Singapore. Although a mere 4 kilometers away from the city center, the Balestier area harkens back to Singapore’s quieter and more laidback past with old-style bakeries, historical sites as well as eateries that have been around for decades. The low-rise environment is also a plus for those seeking something less dense.

I had the pleasure of checking out Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park over Christmas weekend via a staycation. The property’s part of a complex of Wyndham properties, with the Days Hotel next door separated by, you guessed it, Zhongshan Park – a zen-like recreation area for the public. There are a couple of attractions within walking distance including a Burmese temple and the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall which guests of the hotel can enter free of charge.

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Hotel Review: Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard

December 10, 2015 by Bino 1 Comment

Located right smack in the middle of Singapore’s most well-known shopping belt, the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard perhaps represents some of the most luxurious serviced apartments in Singapore. I am no stranger to the Pan Pacific brand, having stayed previously at Pan Pacific Singapore and the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road. Compared to those two, the property in Orchard requires guests to stay for a minimum of one week. That being said, the property is highly popular not just among those with expat packages. Due to the highly convenient location, it’s also quite sought after by those on longer leisure or business trips to Singapore. For the purpose of this review, I stayed here for two nights to check out just exactly what it had to offer.

As mentioned previously, the location alone is a plus point when it comes to this property. Somerset MRT station is literally next door along with shopping malls such as 313 Somerset and Orchard Central. The property’s entrance faces Somerset Road instead of the much busier Orchard Road so you won’t have to struggle with the foot traffic when you come here to check in.

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Staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway

December 7, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

Hotel Jen Orchardgateway is the first property with the Hotel Jen branding to be unveiled by the Shangri-la Group when it opened in 2014. While I have managed to stay in a couple of Hotel Jen properties during the past few months, I recall attending this particular property’s launch party more than a year back, to great fanfare. The amazing rooftop pool with sweeping views of the Singapore skyline served as my first exposure to the Hotel Jen brand.

Some weeks back, I finally managed to check out Hotel Jen Orchardgateway through a staycation. It’s located just a short walk from Somerset MRT station. If you recall the former Phoenix Hotel before it was demolished – the current property is located in the same site. This means that shopping malls such as 313 Somerset and Orchard Gateway are just a hop and a skip away downstairs.

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Hotel Review: The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

November 27, 2015 by Bino 4 Comments

When it comes to hotels in Singapore, there are great ones and there are popular ones. And there are those which are in themselves a major and indelible, character-adding part of a city. Only a handful of properties fit the bill for all three and one classic example is the majestic Fullerton Hotel Singapore which to many is probably the benchmark where luxury hotels in the country are concerned.

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