Singapore - Spending x'mas in SG this year

We've just got our tickets to SG, arriving on the 22/12 and back to HK 26/12.

I hope someone can help me here: we are a family with 2 adults and 3 small kids and the kids can't really sleep in their own room in a hotel. Mr. Nacho really dislike the idea of a connecting room since he thinks the kids are still too young that they might close the door and lock themselves in!

Do the hotels in SG allows us squeeze into a room (in the US they don't really care as long as we can manage with the existing bedding)? Or the only option is to go for a serviced apartment?

It seems that serviced apartment like somerset and fraser are really expensive - you are talking about S$ 350 per night.

Thanks.

I hope someone can help me here: we are a family with 2 adults and 3 small kids and the kids can't really sleep in their own room in a hotel. Mr. Nacho really dislike the idea of a connecting room since he thinks the kids are still too young that they might close the door and lock themselves in!
Even in the unlikely event of that happening, can't you just enter via the the main door of the kids' room, since you'll presumably have the card keys for it?

Do the hotels in SG allows us squeeze into a room (in the US they don't really care as long as we can manage with the existing bedding)? Or the only option is to go for a serviced apartment?
No, hotels will not officially allow 5 people in a room intended for 2 or 3. Whether you'll get away with it is another question.

It seems that serviced apartment like somerset and fraser are really expensive - you are talking about S$ 350 per night.
Isn't that still cheaper than two rooms in a good hotel during the Xmas/NY peak?

No, hotels will not officially allow 5 people in a room intended for 2 or 3. Whether you'll get away with it is another question.


Just check in separately. Years ago, I have no problem putting 4 adults in one room :eek: :rolleyes:

Even in the unlikely event of that happening, can't you just enter via the the main door of the kids' room, since you'll presumably have the card keys for it?

Nacho jr. locked himself in when we were in HK the first time in a serviced apartment. We needed to ask the front desk to unlock it for us (We asked about the key to the bedroom during check-in since it wasn't provided).

What if there is a door chain in their room and they lock themselves in? Mr. Nacho also worried that we requested for a connecting room and turn out that they don't have any when we are there.

We did check in separately when we are in the US but to be honest they really don't care there. Not sure the same would work in SG.

Nacho jr. locked himself in when we were in HK the first time in a serviced apartment.
So doesn't that mean you should be avoiding serviced apartments, not hotels? :confused:

Mr. Nacho also worried that we requested for a connecting room and turn out that they don't have any when we are there.
Then call a day in advance and make sure they do have it noted. And if they still don't, stomp your feet hard enough, and you'll probably get upgraded to a multi-room suite.

So doesn't that mean you should be avoiding serviced apartments, not hotels? :confused:

Fortunately he locked himself in the bedroom inside the apartment, as we are with them all the time.

Then call a day in advance and make sure they do have it noted. And if they still don't, stomp your feet hard enough, and you'll probably get upgraded to a multi-room suite.

I think I'll wait unitl the date gets closer, then contact a few hotels and ask them for their policies. Hopefully we could get something.

I believe most of the serviced apartments in SIN have a minimum 7 night stay condition attached, as this mean they can charge a lower tax rate than hotels.

I've always found Hyatt to be very helpful with connecting rooms, and the second room will be 50% off - we just use rolled up newspapers or shoes to stop connecting doors getting closed.

Also, if your youngest still sleeps in a crib/cot, I have found hotels happy to take this as the 5th bed (in a room that sleeps 4).

If you're trying to squeeze the price down, maybe check out the Grand Central Hotel. They have some family suites and it's 1) relatively cheap and 2) well located just off Orchard Road.

(you have my sympathy - this isn't an easy task!)

Thanks a lot for the info! I did check that there are a handful of hotels that doesn't charge for extra person/kid if you can manage with existing bedding. I'm interested in the Grand Mercure Roxy since I'm a A-club plat, but they only allow max. 2 kids in their rooms. I wrote to them and ask if it ok to fit the no.3 in.

I'm thinking about staying at the transit hotel at SIN since we will be arriving late - we will be literally dead by the time we arrive SIN (we will be flying from CPH-IST-HKG-SIN). I saw a post about the hotel here at FT but all the posts seem to be for people who are going on a connecting flight. I saw some people talking about finding their luggage at lost and found the next day which I think it's not nice to do at all! I have written an e-mail to ask them as well but I would also like to hear from first hand experience with it, if there is any.

I think transit hotel inside the airport only accepts pax with transit flights.
They are also ver very popular and might have to book in advance.

I know the Shangri-la allows children in the room for free if using existing bedding. Also the Ritz Carlton Millenia allows 4 - we had a club room with 2 double beds. Our children were teenagers at the time. I'd rather stay in a nicer place and sacrifice a bit of privacy rather than stay in 2 rooms in a cheaper place.

You are quite right to want your children in the same room or a comnnecting one. How old is the youngest?

2 yrs.

I'm waiting for the reply from the transit hotel because it would be nice to land and 'crash' instead of finding our way to a shuttle and into the city. They said they also take pax with SG as their final destination, but it's depending on which airlines that will forward their bags somewhere.

If it works out I'll ask them for a final price, if they charge for all 5 then it would turn out to be more expensive than staying inside the city.

I got an reply from Grand Mercure Roxy and they said it's ok for us to stay in a room.

It's a very quick journey into SIN. When we do it with the kids, we book a chauffeur driven MPV with Avis. Not that expensive and you wouldn't all fit in one cab anyway. They also supply car seats for the kids.

If you only have 4 nights, spending the first one somewhere else will just add to the hassle.

That's why we were interested in the Mercure Roxy because they have complimentary airport shuttle. Our plan is that that when we landed SIN we will run into a room and crash, then the next morning get the hotel shuttle to pick us up and get check-in the hotel for the next 3 nights.

The first night 22nd Dec is much more expensive for most hotels too, so by being able to stay at the airport it would reduce the cost too.

Believe me or not, our kids hate cars because they are travelling by car all the time. They love to experience various kind of public transportation - get in and out of underground, train, tram ...... you name it.

Once again thanks for the info.

That's why we were interested in the Mercure Roxy because they have complimentary airport shuttle.
The cab fare from the airport to Mercure Rixy is SGD 20 between 12 - 6 AM and SGD 14 to 15 otherwise. Not saving much with the shuttle. Cabs in Singapore are very cheap. And if you are going to travel with 3 kids, in many cases, cab fare == bus fare.

But if the kids really like to take the bus, sit in front on the top of the dble decker buses.

The cab fare from the airport to Mercure Rixy is SGD 20 between 12 - 6 AM and SGD 14 to 15 otherwise. Not saving much with the shuttle. Cabs in Singapore are very cheap. And if you are going to travel with 3 kids, in many cases, cab fare == bus fare.

But if the kids really like to take the bus, sit in front on the top of the dble decker buses.

It has got to be less than that. I live on River Valley (near Delta Road) and I only pay SGD18 from Changi.... I know taxis are cheap (I live here) but don't stress over the cost of a taxi and get to where you want to be, if you can do it.