Best Luxury Hotel in Singapore? (consolidated thread)
Dec 1, 2012, 6:50 am
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
Agreed- always interested in hearing opinions and testing out new places. I am even tempted to go back to the Grand Hyatt as I have heard many good things about the club level recently for example.
Dec 1, 2012, 1:23 pm
#124
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
Not been there. I'll try that the next time. My stays in Singapore:
FS Singapore
St. Regis
Raffles
Fullerton Bay
The FS was, at best, a dark prison. Early/late checkout was forbidden and the front desk belittled me for bothering to ask. A large rat would having trouble getting a workout in the pool.
Raffles had the meanest staff I have ever seen in a 5* hotel, but a wonderful pool. These people were openly snarling. In addition, Raffles is choked with a clown's posse of tourists. It reminded me of a upscale version of Circus Circus in Vegas with adults rather than children jamming every square inch.
Fullerton Bay had massive unreported construction that included pneumatic equipment not 30 ft. from my original room. The place had poor food and poor service in all the restaurants. My stay was made all the more miserable when the air conditioning broke for the entire building. This lasted 3 of my 5 days. Singapore can be troublesome w/o air conditioning. On the upside my suite had two (!) fireplaces in the room to warm me up on those bitterly cold winter nights in Singapore. Also, the bay suites get the disco noise from the club in front of the Marina Bay Sands. The disco closes at 5 am or so in case you're curious.
I rather enjoyed the stay at the St Regis in comparison to the other three hotels, although I remember having trouble with the wireless.
PS -- the most I have ever waited in line at customs is 2 minutes or so. I dislike Singapore, but it is a well run and clean place. Make sure to hide your chewing gum.
FS Singapore
St. Regis
Raffles
Fullerton Bay
The FS was, at best, a dark prison. Early/late checkout was forbidden and the front desk belittled me for bothering to ask. A large rat would having trouble getting a workout in the pool.
Raffles had the meanest staff I have ever seen in a 5* hotel, but a wonderful pool. These people were openly snarling. In addition, Raffles is choked with a clown's posse of tourists. It reminded me of a upscale version of Circus Circus in Vegas with adults rather than children jamming every square inch.
Fullerton Bay had massive unreported construction that included pneumatic equipment not 30 ft. from my original room. The place had poor food and poor service in all the restaurants. My stay was made all the more miserable when the air conditioning broke for the entire building. This lasted 3 of my 5 days. Singapore can be troublesome w/o air conditioning. On the upside my suite had two (!) fireplaces in the room to warm me up on those bitterly cold winter nights in Singapore. Also, the bay suites get the disco noise from the club in front of the Marina Bay Sands. The disco closes at 5 am or so in case you're curious.
I rather enjoyed the stay at the St Regis in comparison to the other three hotels, although I remember having trouble with the wireless.
PS -- the most I have ever waited in line at customs is 2 minutes or so. I dislike Singapore, but it is a well run and clean place. Make sure to hide your chewing gum.
Last edited by mike_la_jolla; Dec 1, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Dec 1, 2012, 1:30 pm
#125
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,123
Dec 1, 2012, 2:27 pm
#126
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: QFF, Krisflyer
Posts: 472
It does seem everyone agrees that going through Immigration in SIN is a speedy process anyway.
Dec 1, 2012, 5:59 pm
#127
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,515
Raffles had the meanest staff I have ever seen in a 5* hotel, but a wonderful pool. These people were openly snarling. In addition, Raffles is choked with clown's posse of tourists. It reminded me of a upscale version of Circus Circus in Vegas with adults rather than children jamming every square inch.
PS -- the most I have ever waited in line at customs is 2 minutes or so. I dislike Singapore, but it is a well run and clean place. Make sure to hide your chewing gum.
PS -- the most I have ever waited in line at customs is 2 minutes or so. I dislike Singapore, but it is a well run and clean place. Make sure to hide your chewing gum.
Your P.S. indicates that this could be a "Singapore thing" - perhaps the result of the run behind money and the lack of democracy
. Sad.
Dec 2, 2012, 3:38 pm
#128
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Enroute to ? & likely flying in ' A ':)
Programs: TPPS, UA, EK ...; Marriott BONVOY , HH, GP, GC..
Posts: 4,217
Has almost been a ritual to fly in & have a drink by the CHRISTmas tree.. Sort of miss doing it- see about this year. Chat with regular bar tender
Chewing gum is ok
- just as long you do not peddle it ( is unavailable for sale or purchase).
Dec 3, 2012, 12:48 am
#129
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home
Programs: Virgin FC, Qantas, Golden Circle, Sofitel, Hyatt, Starwood, Nectar, and my Tesco Club Card
Posts: 1,770
Dec 3, 2012, 5:43 am
#130
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,245
Raffles had the meanest staff I have ever seen in a 5* hotel, but a wonderful pool. These people were openly snarling. In addition, Raffles is choked with a clown's posse of tourists. It reminded me of a upscale version of Circus Circus in Vegas with adults rather than children jamming every square inch.
Perhaps in your next stay, you can try the RC which I think is the best of the bunch currently or the least annoying depend on your perspective. But as many forum members have said so, there are no truely world-class luxury hotel in Singapore, yet.
Dec 3, 2012, 5:46 am
#131
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,245
Yes, a great pity - service has been downhill since Singapore sold out to ' others ' - a disgrace for an iconic grand dame.
Has almost been a ritual to fly in & have a drink by the CHRISTmas tree.. Sort of miss doing it- see about this year. Chat with regular bar tender
Chewing gum is ok - just as long you do not peddle it ( is unavailable for sale or purchase).
Has almost been a ritual to fly in & have a drink by the CHRISTmas tree.. Sort of miss doing it- see about this year. Chat with regular bar tender
Chewing gum is ok
- just as long you do not peddle it ( is unavailable for sale or purchase).
Dec 3, 2012, 2:28 pm
#133
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Enroute to ? & likely flying in ' A ':)
Programs: TPPS, UA, EK ...; Marriott BONVOY , HH, GP, GC..
Posts: 4,217
Service culture not ' natural ' if compared to surrounding countries - relatively decent for a city state
SQ is a good example of what can be achieved
Dec 4, 2012, 5:59 am
#134
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jakarta
Programs: Krisflyer PPS, SPG, Hyatt GoldPassport, Shangri-la Golden Circle, British Airways ExecClub
Posts: 1,245
Dec 4, 2012, 9:02 am
#135
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Amex Plat, FHR, SPG
Posts: 107
We really enjoyed being picked up at the plane and taken by cart (through a huge airport.) It was also nice to not have to wait to pick up your bags. They take your luggage tags and deposit you in a nicely appointed VIP lounge, where you just wait till everything is ready, get in a car and go to your hotel. Surely, not for everyone... but it was the most seamless airport experience i've had.