ANY good hotel redemption in Singapore?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,638
ANY good hotel redemption in Singapore?
... that is actually in Singapore? There are great values in JB, but convenience is sacrificed.
My standard for "good redemption value" is pretty high. These are the minimum values I usually get for my redemptions:
0.75 cpp for Hilton
1.0 for Marriott, IHG
1.3 for Wyndham
1.8 for Hyatt
2.3 for SPG
I'm not seeing any option close to those values.
Did I miss anything? If not, I plan to go with either JB or Airbnb/independent (target budget: $80/night all in).
My standard for "good redemption value" is pretty high. These are the minimum values I usually get for my redemptions:
0.75 cpp for Hilton
1.0 for Marriott, IHG
1.3 for Wyndham
1.8 for Hyatt
2.3 for SPG
I'm not seeing any option close to those values.
Did I miss anything? If not, I plan to go with either JB or Airbnb/independent (target budget: $80/night all in).
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,887
JB is in different country, if you fail to look at the map.
If you going to JB on Saturday and coming back on Sunday, you should put a budget of 3h to cross causeway in each direction. Most of the time will be spent waiting at passport control, remember that you need to do it twice. Then, you need to wait another 1-1.5h in bus line. If you have APEC card and willing to cross causeway by foot, it can be done in 1h.
Regarding AirBnB - careful there. Local are not allowed to rent out their flats/rooms. While chance is low, if there is noisy neighbour who has some beef against the host, that neighbour might call police and ended up on street might be least problem you end up with.
So check reviews/location and avoid HDB estates. BTW, if property has bars on windows, most likely it is HDB flat.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,638
Thanks for the explanation about Airbnb and JB. The JB situation is worse than I imagined. I was told in another thread that going from DoubleTree JB to downtown SG takes 2 hours total during "non-peak times" (which I assume apply to weekdays), with a few transfers along the way. I might try it once.
is there any area in SG that would cut the journey from JB significantly and which is worth checking out (for food or sight)? I've been to Singapore several times but always stayed with friends in the south-central part (Chinatown and Harbourfront). Would like to explore the rest of the island more, especially hiking and parks.
is there any area in SG that would cut the journey from JB significantly and which is worth checking out (for food or sight)? I've been to Singapore several times but always stayed with friends in the south-central part (Chinatown and Harbourfront). Would like to explore the rest of the island more, especially hiking and parks.
Last edited by italdesign; May 16, 2016 at 8:56 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,887
- Sungai Buloh - this will be the closest park from JB/Woodlands.
- McRitchie itself (which you can't cover one day) and vicinities: Bukit Timah and Bukit Batok
- Bukit Brown Cemetery (*)
- East Coast Park
- Pasir Ris Park
- Pulau Ubin and Changi Village
- Punggol area
Notice that these parks are in different part of the island. Now, if you are coming from JB and want to use public transport, click on Directions and then put Marseling as start and park you plan to go as destination, it will give you options and approximate time how much it would take to get there. BTW, you need to do it (route planning) during Singapore daytime, otherwise it won't give you anything. For better results, use this site - http://www.gothere.sg/maps it is not as fancy as previous one, but travel times and options are far more accurate.
So, using these two sites you will get some idea how much time you will spend in transiting and if you stay in Singapore - where you want to if you want to get to these places. For example, if you stay at East Coast/Marine Parade Rd, you can walk down to East Coast park and get to Changi Village park via taxi fairly quickly (there is no good ways to get there via public transport). On other hands, if you stay at Bukit Timah area, you will have good access to Bukit Timah, Bukit Batok and and a little bit further away - McRitchie.
(*) Bukit Brown cemetery is whole another story, if you want to go to complete non-touristy place, until it is completely demolished, this is the place to go.
#7
#9
No opinions are wrong. I feel that Singapore is not a place of value for tourists. You cannot say my feeling is wrong because 1. you don't know how I feel and 2. feelings aren't facts, they cannot be said to be matter-of-fact right or wrong.
Okay, I'll give you one... best value for gardens. There, now 'anything' no longer applies.
Okay, I'll give you one... best value for gardens. There, now 'anything' no longer applies.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
I just booked the new HIX Katong on points for 15K/night. Maybe not the best in terms of value some nights as I've seen the place as low as 80US. My nights however were about 135US so not a bad deal at all.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,638
#12
Moderator: Mileage Run, InterContinental Hotels
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,884
That's the problem. Along with revenue rates, redemption requirements have been increasing. Up until a few months ago, some good values remained -- say, the HIX on Orchard for 20k or Westin for 12k. Now, you're pretty much stuck with corporate rates or the occasional BRG opportunity; points only make sense during a few high-demand dates when prices are through the roof.
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,298
In the past, I've done well with points at the Westin and IIRC once at the StR. A lot depends on whether hotel rates are high during the period of your stay, but these are properties that never would be in the $80 range.
Depending on your length of stay, how about a small serviced apartment?
Depending on your length of stay, how about a small serviced apartment?
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,949
Friends are back from an AirBnB stay in Singapore on their way home from Sydney. Two bedrooms for around 100 a night in a not-too-bad area near Lavender can't be bad.
They say look out for words like "cozy" in the descriptions
They say look out for words like "cozy" in the descriptions
#15
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,887