singapore staycation

A Peek at Shangri-la Singapore’s Presidential Suite

July 2, 2014 by Bino Leave a Comment

Occupying a spacious 346 square meters, the luxurious Shangri-la Suite (also known as the Presidential Suite) in the Valley Wing of the Shangri-la Singapore Hotel is probably one of the largest hotel rooms one can find in the city state. For over two decades, this has been the preferred 5-star lodging for many heads of state and dignitaries when they visit Singapore and it’s easy to see why. Featuring two bedrooms, its own gym, a personal butler and even its own private entrance, the suite is almost like its own world, away from the conviviality of the three main towers that comprise the Shangri-la Singapore. If you have 10,900 Singapore Dollars (USD 8,720) to spare, this is certainly a luxurious way to spend it!

I had the opportunity to check out the Presidential Suite during my last stay in Shangri-la Singapore. Coming in from the private entrance, I was greeted by a most elegant, marble-floored hallway, the type I would often picture a butler leading me to if I ever get to enter one of those stately palaces of Europe. This made for a nice segue way to the entertainment area, fitted with beautiful walnut timber flooring from the United States and handmade rugs. This huge room contains the living, drawing and formal dining areas, the type I could easily imagine the presidents of the world sitting in while discussing foreign policy with their advisers. The living area is at once very much refined but at the same time fitted to easily suit the needs of business magnates and world leaders. The seating space here could easily fit more than two dozen people.

Also check out the Presidential Suite of St. Regis Singapore where Kim Jong Un is staying during his visit to Singapore

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Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay – New No Frills Option by the Singapore River

April 10, 2014 by Bino 2 Comments

The Intercontinental Hotels Group continues to expand in Singapore – opening its sixth Singapore hotel through the new Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay. This is the second “no frills” property of the group, after the successful Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road which opened around a year ago.

futuristic-looking lobby of holiday inn express singapore clarke quay

The hotel hosted me for a staycation less than two weeks after it opened its doors. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay is located around a block or two from the Singapore River, a stone’s throw away from the clubs and dining options at Clarke Quay. This makes the hotel a great location for those planning a late night out on the town.

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Review of Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road

November 2, 2013 by Bino Leave a Comment

A new entrant in Singapore’s mid-priced hotel category is Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road, an offshoot brand from the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG ). The brand itself has been around for quite some time, with many similar properties in other Asian countries (and even in America, Europe, etc) that aim for the “no frills” concept. The Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is the group’s first Holiday Inn Express branded hotel in Singapore, with another budget hotel in the works in Clarke Quay.

my room at holiday inn express singapore orchard road

The hotel hosted me for two nights during a recent weekend. Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road is located right behind Orchard Road itself, with popular shopping malls such as Paragon and Ngee Ann City only around 3 to 5 minutes walk from the hotel. I must say that staying here made me feel like a tourist all over again, with Orchard Road being oh so close. The location is definitely unbeatable!

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Review of Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street, Singapore

October 17, 2013 by Bino 5 Comments

During a recent weekend, I was hosted by the freshly opened Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street, located just in between Raffles Place and Clarke Quay. This strategic location is very popular among the backpacking crowd, with many hostels in the vicinity. More recently, full-fledged hotels have also moved in but so far Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street is the only boutique option in the area. The Hotel Clover brand is relatively new but rapidly expanding not just in Singapore but also overseas as a chain of boutique of hotels. In fact, during the time of my stay barely 3 weeks after the hotel opened, I was told that they’re constructing a new one next door!

deluxe room at hotel clover at 5 hong kong street

Due to skyrocketing hotel prices in Singapore – where even rooms in 3-star hotels can cost upwards of US$ 200 per night – boutique hotels have become a worthwhile alternative for lodging. Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street is well-placed under this category and they’re going out in a big way with many hotels opening island-wide. And in keeping with the tradition of boutique hotels, each property is set to have its distinctive motif.

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The Ultimate Staycation at Shangri-la Singapore Garden Wing

April 13, 2013 by Bino 4 Comments

Considered to be an institution in the Singapore hotel scene with over 4 decades of experience in pampering leisure and business travelers, the Shangri-la Singapore is also considered to be the ultimate hotel in a way. I have been to this hotel several times in the past but didn’t realize until recently just how ginormous it is until once recent weekend. I was fortunate enough to be hosted by Shangri-la Singapore to experience their trademark hospitality through a staycation. To say it was impressive is an understatement!

The hotel actually consists of 3 wings, with each being highly differentiated from the other, practically like a 3-in-1! The “flagship” tower is of course, the Tower Wing which houses over 400 rooms including Shangri-la’s well-known “horizon club” rooms with lounge privileges. A step up from that is the exclusive Valley Wing which suits discerning guests to a tee with its private entrance and rooms adorned with chandeliers. Over the years, the Valley Wing has been the hotel of choice of many heads of state whenever they are in town. The third wing is the Garden Wing, an urban resort concept that made me forget that I was in the middle of a bustling city! It was a smooth start to another staycation in Singapore.

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Days Hotel at Zhongshan Park Singapore: A Review

February 17, 2013 by Bino Leave a Comment

Singapore has been breaking records as of late in the tourism sector. Month after month, there’s been record numbers of tourists and record number of arrivals in Changi Airport. It’s no wonder that a respectable room in an international chain hotel these days costs at least SGD 200. Even 3-star hotels here are known to almost touch the SGD 200 mark. As such, it really is a breath of fresh hair that new entrant, Days Hotel at Zhongshan Park, of the Days brand which is well-known for great value lodgings in the US and in selected international markets, has given the local hotel scene a bit of pricing disruption with its competitive SGD 128++ rates. Currently, Days Hotel at Zhongshan Park has the CHEAPEST room rates among international chain hotels in town.

the unmistakable logo

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to try out the “product” through a weekend stay in the said property. The hotel itself has not been opened long — it’s been operational for hardly 2 months. It sits along the well-known Balestier Road, on a piece of land that has been redeveloped with a park as well as a neighboring 4-star hotel that’s due to open later this year.

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Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore Staycation – A Review

January 17, 2013 by Bino 7 Comments

There are certain brands that are so powerful that the mere mention of its name requires no further explanation. I suppose that when it comes to the Ritz Carlton brand, most people come in with a certain impression, a certain expectation of what this brand represents. For many, the Ritz Carlton is considered to be at the apex of hotel chain brands, one that is timeless, synonymous to luxury, and providing impeccable service. Recently, I was fortunate enough to be invited by Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore for a weekend staycation dubbed as “Time to Getaway.” I was of course very delighted to be able to stay in this hotel, and like many, I also had my own impressions about the brand which did not deviate from the perception of the general public.

Given that this brand is so easily recognizable, I decided to do something different during my stay. I decided to start from a clean slate, without any preconception of utter plushness or the thought of having hotel staff at my beck and call. I wanted to base my overall experience from scratch.

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Review of Capri by Fraser Changi City, First Hotel-Residence Concept in Singapore

September 23, 2012 by Bino 19 Comments

Not many Singapore brands have made it big in the world stage. But in the hospitality space, there are quite a few successes. Frasers Hospitality is one example, being one of the most successful hospitality chains coming from Singapore. They are recognized as a world leader when it comes to serviced residences with properties across three continents. I still remember my stay in Fraser Place in Seoul over three years ago. Although we were there for a holiday, we opted to stay in a serviced apartment – a temporary residence usually reserved for expats or long-term stayers. It was a delightful experience, the room space was noticeable bigger than a standard hotel room and it came with a kitchen as well as all the amenities that one would expect from a functioning apartment, all for the price of a hotel room.

the hotel’s facade

Now, Frasers Hospitality has taken this concept to another level with a new property in Singapore called Capri by Fraser. Styled as a “hotel residence,” it aims to address certain gaps of conventional hotels by offering elements which are usually found only in serviced residences. Over one weekend, I was fortunate to be invited over to Capri for a sponsored stay in order to personally witness this innovative proposition.

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