enthrop

Hi All - My wife and I are going on a delayed honeymoon/slight splurge vacation. We stayed at the St. Regis in Bangkok last year, and she fell in love w/ the hotel (and thus brand).. even though we weren't upgraded past Grand Deluxe (so no suite experience). So this time around, we want at least 1 city to be in a St. Regis. Can't do them all because we're not that rich

We were thinking StR Kuala Lumpur originally because we had read decent reviews, it's a newer property, and it had the lowest cash rate. But when I factor on points, other options become equally as viable (i.e. Singapore & Bangkok may cost a lot more, but cost same/less points than KL due to category & peak/offpeak point chart). Which has opened the question up a little less to price/points, and more which St. Regis is the better one/experience/(makes-no-difference)?

My quick notes on pricing, alternatives, etc.
St. Regis Kuala Lumpur - ~182/night, or 160k points for 3 nights; I was thinking if we don't do StR here, the Westin or JW looked good as well (~100/night)
St. Regis Singapore - ~275/night, or 160k points for 3 nights; Haven't researched alternative hotels yet.
St. Regis Bangkok - ~300/night, or 115k points for 3 nights (may have to pay cash for 4th night, because our 4th night is "black out" or something); If not StR, JW (~140/night) or SGS (~180/night).. or save a little and Courtyard (~110/night) in the same area as StR.

And I'm Marriott Bonvoy Titanium w/ 10 SNA banked.. which I plan on using (I think 5 of them expire end of this year)!!!

steveholt

KL is one of the cheapest hotel markets on the planet. I'm not sure whether you have any other point options, but the Grand Hyatt KL is pretty wonderful at a reasonable price.

I've never stayed at the StR Singapore, but was very fond of the StR Bangkok, as it sounds like your wife was. I also stayed at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, which was one of the most popular hotels in the SPG program and gets universally excellent reviews. I know Sheraton doesn't sound like it's up to StR standards, and the SGS is realistically a step down, but it's almost universally beloved and maybe a nice substitute if you decided to go to one of the other StRs. Congrats!

EuropeanPete

They're all very different hotels with their pro's and cons. If you liked the St Regis in Bangkok, then that might be a good sign you should go back. Bangkok is also an amazing city for a honeymoon as there's so much to do.

Overall, I'd say the following:
St Regis Bangkok: Has its fans here, also people like me who don't like it. I don't like the rooms or the service or the location, but then you already know you like it there
St Regis Singapore: Less fully integrated into Marriott than others, it's a bit of an odd-ball where you might be less likely to get a special experience
St Regis Kuala Lumpur: Huge, beautiful place but with slightly erratic service and it's just huge and empty. It lacks a bit of a soul, but if you stay in something like the St Regis Suite it is a real wow experience. While KL is an up and coming vibrant city, I'd say it is probably less suited to a honeymoon though

kaizen7

Cant really suggest StR Singapore for honeymoon as their service is pretty inconsistent.
On a good day, you could have great service, however on a bad day the service really all over the place.

Also they not very generous on upgrades. They might do a bit better for your honeymoon though.

enthrop

Thanks for the feedback so far. To be clear, we will be visiting all 3 cities for a ~2 week vacation, so the question is more focused on which city's StR to stay in, not so much if I visit the city at all We're also spending 4-5 nights in Chiang Mai... but there's no StR there to consider (Le Meridian instead!)

Seems like there's general consensus (2 out of 3 replies! haha) that StR Singapore might be cross'd from the list.

EuropeanPete In describing the StR KL as "huge and empty," does that also potentially imply better chance at upgrade? Have you by any chance stayed at the JW or Westin in KL? They were my alternatives if I don't stay at the StR (and my rate is $93 + fees/night, making it very affordable!)
steveholt I was debating between the StR & SGS during my first visit to Bangkok. And actually, if we don't stay at the StR in Bangkok this time around (because we pick another city), the SGS was my next consideration. Mostly to try out the other hotel everyone here seems to love! (Gotta see what all the chatter is about!). I had a few questions on the SGS that I was going to later post in that thread...

jpdx

I'd say if you liked the SR Bangkok, stay there again. It's one of those places one either likes or doesn't, and if you do, the other Marriott choices in Bangkok (including the IMO overhyped SGS) will not satisfy you in comparison. SR Singapore is IMO the weakest SR out there in terms of upgrades and benefits (and I'm also not a fan of the location), but Singapore also lacks "must stay" Marriott hotels (i.e., no really spectacular options). KL has a number of great and very reasonably priced hotels (Westin and JW are middling, IMO, but the LM is very good, and the Hyatt is great). Looking at your valuations, SR Bangkok is also by far the best place to use your points. Familiarize yourself with the BRG scheme and file a claim for LM or Westin KL (rates there can fluctuate a lot, but these hotels can often be had in the $70 range after BRG discount). And for Singapore, the Westin/JW/SR are all interchangeable and non-spectacular IMO, so pick the cheapest, or consider something more downmarket.

Dave510

The SGS is great if you're already a regular, and not so great if you're not. The regulars will be getting all the generous upgrades (understandably), while new customers might not be so lucky. Stick with the StR BKK if you like it (it's a good hotel, but I do feel like they are cost cutting noticeably since my first stay).

EuropeanPete

Not sure I agree on your comments about the SGS. Most rooms are essentially identical, suites are hard to come by and frankly not that amazing (apart from the super special ones). The SGS is not loved for its room upgrades but for its service, pool and F&B.

HHQX888

I was in all of them and if I want go again I will take StR Bangkok.
StR Kuala Lumpur hardware is very nice but hospitality is very bad ,maybe if you have diamonds or have much golds on you or popular Instagram account they will make your stay better.

kkl

STR BKK cost cutting?

Only thing I’ve seen is less impressive breakfast spread

MSPeconomist

In Bangkok, SGS is LC, not officially a Sheraton despite the name. Don't forget Athenee LC (former LGM), especially if you're Plat/Tit and will get lounge access. It's located roughly between the StR and the SGS.

Singapore also has a newer Westin, which is good but the StR is much more romantic (and close to expensive shopping). Unfortunately the StR is less good than it onece was, especially for elite treatment. [For example, the daily wine tasting is gone and one can no longer choose champagne and a small snack in the lobby lounge for elite happy hour.] There are a bunch of hotels on Sentosa, such as a W, but I find the location undesirable as it's a casino and beach resort island that seems far from the airport and far from the city of Singapore in terms of time (and expense).

EGW1

You might be better selecting the city then the hotel? Or are you already going to all 3 anyway.

In order of St Regis, I’d say:

Bangkok (nicer location)
KL (newer, but location is so so)
Singapore (wouldn’t recommend ... great customer service is not a strength of Singapore generally, and this hotel is a good reflection of that)

fdem

sorry but as it your honeymoon you should visit the city you want to see rather than just look at staying at a luxury hotel. Surely it is about the destination! You hopefully will only have one honeymoon. As cities go KL would be lower in priority. Bangkok is more appealing but that depends on what you enjoy, great food, shopping memorable day trips. Singapore is a nice clean city and if you haven’t been can be interesting. St Regis is Singapore would not be my go to hotel in Singapore.

Dave510

Not just the spread, the ingredients and quality has a noticeable drop. Upkeep not what it used to be. Small things. Still a nice hotel, but I’m looking forward to the FS.

enthrop

EGW1 fdem To be clear, we have selected the cities already. We're also doing 2 pseudo-honeymoons instead of 1 big one. We've been to Thailand before as well, and also have been vacationing in Asia 1-2 times a year for a few years... so part of the reason for our selection of cities is a "bucket list" of places we want to visit prior to having kids. So this time it's Bangkok (will be our 2nd visit, but we liked the city so much our first time that we're going again!), Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. We had debated back and forth of doing that set of cities vs Vietnam, but decided we'll do Vietnam next year. And in April of next year, we're having "honeymoon #2 " which will be re-visiting Kyoto, re-enjoying Fukuoka/Beppu (hot springs!), Busan, and Seoul.

jpdx I had always known about the BRG, but never actually thought to apply it! How does this work.. do I book a rate on Marriott, and then everyday check other travel websites on the hopes that they will be cheaper one day? Which rates fluctuate more in this market.. Marriott's or the other website? Is there any specific 3rd party website that has a better chance.. or rate type? (i.e. refundable vs non refundable, breakfast vs no breakfast, etc.) LM in KL right now is ~115/night corp rate... although points stay is 55k points, which gives it a 0.0072 $/point valuation.. which is comparable to the StR valuation! That's assuming I can't get a BRG down to ~80-90. Separately, how would you compare a Titanium stay at LM vs non-status stay at Grand Hyatt? Without BRG, they look price comparable right now, but I have 0 status w/ Hyatt.