SIN Transit hotel question
 

I'm doing a SIN run tomorrow. Since I've done the midnight jaunt to Boat Quay several times, I'm thinking of staying at the transit hotel this time.

I made a "reservation request" on the website a few days ago but never received the promised email confirmation.

Should I request the room again? Will it come closer to arrival? Could this mean there are no rooms available?

I suggest you give them a call. The transit hotel is often fully booked many days in advance. I wouldn't take no response to mean that a reservation is waiting for you...

J,

I stayed there last December. I would call if I were you. Sometimes they are booked up months in advance. The hotel was noisy when I was there due to the renovations, but other than that it appeared to be an okay hotel.

You will not have access to your checked luggage while you are in the transit hotel. So you should take a carry-on with change of clothes and personal items, etc. Your checked luggage will be in the hold area and will then be loaded on your connecting flight the next day.

Have fun!

M8

Thanks for the advice guys. I called and (as noted above) they are fully booked.

No biggie - this is a turn run for me and I'll just head to Boat Quay for some curry prawns instead.

Thanks for the quick replies!

I put in a request for December. It took them a week to reply - and then they gave me a single instead of a double. I've asked them 2 days ago to change it - still haven't heard.

All in all probably the least efficient operation in Singapore! I suggest you call.

Since this thread is open I'd like to ask another question - we're arriving on a flight around 11:30 p.m. local time. Are we allowed to stay at the transit hotel that night and clear Customs and Immigration the next morning?

Thanks,
Fredd

In theory yes but why would you want to?

First, transit hotel is usually booked in advance, so make sure you reserve with time to spare.

Second, you can't get luggage till you clear immigration and this then becomes problematic if you have checked luggage.

Last, if security is issue, Singapore is safe 24/7 so I can assure you that from the time you touch down and walk out of plane, you could be at your hotel within 25 minutes...this is no joke. I've landed at 0600 hrs, first one off the plane and in my hotel by 0630, w/ or w/out check luggage.

Thanks for the info. We'll be flying mid-January with carry-on only and were thinking about catching a few hours of sleep at a cheaper rate and then heading in a leisurely way toward our downtown hotel in the morning, maybe by rapid transit to save a few more bucks. ;)

Our previous time in Singapore (as well as other places) I'm not sure we got our money's worth arriving after midnight at a more elaborate hotel, provided we don't mind the nuisance of moving the next morning.

Your points are worth considering though, and thanks again.

Cheers,
Fredd

Fredd,

Going to town by public transport will save you more than a few bucks only! IIRC, the trip to the city centre by taxi should cost S$11 +/- (depending on where you stay), airport surcharge depending on when you take it. Weekends are more expensive a $5, else its $3. Beware of the 'peak hour surcharge' of $1 from 0730-0900 and 1630-2000. Morning ERP on the highway to the city costs anything from $0.50-$2.50. CBD surcharge ranges from $0.50 in the early afternoon to $3 at peak hours (morning and evening).

OTOH, the MRt will get you fairly quickly from T2 to the city in about 30min for <$2, bus service 36 from either T1/T2 gets you there in even less than the train ride but its dependent on traffic. Assuming no jams, about 45min to Suntec (add somemore if going to Orchard Road), plus you get to see the the housing estates (some good food if you're adventurous in the Marine Parade/Katong area, which you will definately pass by).

It really depends on where you're going to put up. If you don't mind, I could suggest how to get there in the quickest time/scenary/food etc.. :D

IIRC, the transit hotel is a 6 hour booking. Perfect for your needs.

Check in, sleep, shower, and then head into town for a full day at a nice place in town. Great Idea.



Even if they say it's Booked solid, go to the Transit hotel upon arrival and ask to be put on a waitlist. I've cleared and gotten a room within 30 minutes everytime.

It has been very busy at transit hotel. If you want really chaep hotels you can try Geylang and look for Hotel 81 or any othet chains. Some of the branches are in RED light zone but very clean accomodations.

Couple of backpacker hotels also are near Serangoon road. Let me know if you need any help.

Be aware that you might not be able to have a quiet night's sleep at the transit hotel with some construction works going on in the middle of the night. I was made aware of the construction noise when I booked and when I checked-in last month, but I had no choice since I needed a bed to sleep.

Having done this myself, I would avoid the cheap hotel experience in Geylang.

I avoid pimps and hookers. And they are clearly present in Geylang.

And I don't care for a hotel bed with a plastic sheet under the bottom sheet. Ick!

OTOH, the transit hotel is perfect for what Fredd inquired about.

Thanks to all for the abundance of views and information. I've just e-mailed a reservation request for the transit hotel for the night we arrive. Yes, kaysquare, I would appreciate any suggestions for a scenic public transit route for the following morning to the Royal Plaza on Scotts. Mrs. Fredd and I will be in no particular hurry and will be traveling with one roll-aboard each.

As well, since we have a 7:15 a.m. flight on our return, I'd be interested in any suggestions at the same time about an airport hotel for our final night. We'll be in Singapore during the Lunar New Year and two years ago around the same time we actually had some problems getting an early-morning cab from our downtown hotel. At the moment I can't recall why (New Year's Day?) but the front desk ended up having to call a cab for us.

Thanks in advance,
Fredd

Having spent $$ going to Singapore... and you're trying to stinch on a few bucks?

MRers sure are a strange bunch!

If you want cheap...

www.hotel1929.com

or

http://www.nsshotel.com/accommodation.php3
(look at the deluxe internet rate!)

The only hotel I've found described as "airport" is the Meridien Changi Village, still apparently about a 15-minute ride from the airport. Their airport shuttle's first run is 6:00 a.m.

https://www.lemeridien.com/singapore...n_sg1669.shtml

so we'd be taking about the same cab ride as from the Royal Plaza on Scotts for a 7:15 a.m. departure, and it appears we might just as well leave from there. I am looking forward to trying out the transit hotel on arrival as a place to get a few hours of sleep after 8000 miles BIS, albeit in C.

PS Guy Betsy, speaking for myself only my strategy is to find a decent hotel as close to the airport as possible (with a free shuttle in North America) when arriving or leaving at outlandish hours. For me an 11:50 p.m. arrival from SEA-NRT-SIN qualifies. :)

Cheers,
Fredd

How bad is it?
 

How bad is the construction noise? Anyone stay there recently, i am looking at staying there Jan 9th - but i could also route myself to overnight on the plane instead.

Which would be better? Sleep on the plane, or in the hotel (w/ the noise?)

How bad? Well, the check-in agent would apologize for the noise etc, etc, ... but when I stayed there recently, I did not hear anything. Well perhaps I am very easy in sleeping...

Hmmmm. I often take 7AM flights and never had a problem getting a taxi at 5:30 am.

If you are worried, why not make arrangements night before either with hotel or get a call taxi (everyone taxi has the number on the car....i think it's something like 6555-1111???). Why would you want to switch back and forth with hotels....seems like a lot of wasted time and effort.

Also, if the hotel is busy in T1 try T2. There are also designated quiet areas in the airport where you can sleep and then use the transit hotel for a shower.

Not exactly sure the value of the transit hotel for a SIN MR. Lots to do at the airport for the relatively few hours one is there, showers easily available in the lounges. I'd take a quick trip into the city instead. My $.02.

hiya,

I go through Changi half a dozen times a year for the past few years, always arriving at midnight and leaving in the morning.

(a) T1 and T2 hotels are very busy. You should call in advance and usually they say it's fully booked. But try calling them again several times, as sometimes cancellations do happen.

(b) I've stayed at the hotels, but eventually I realized that Changi is so safe and clean it's really a waste of money. There are plenty of quiet designated "sleeping" areas, complete with recliners to rest in. Even if you cannot score the recliners (they are quite popular), there are a lot of other chairs which are nice, big and comfy. (Only problem is that many of them are facing TVs so they are a bit noisy).

(c) Many spots to take a shower. There are paid lounges you can shower cheaply at, about 3-4 USD per pop. You can also shower at the Transit hotels for about the same rate.

(d) Good places to sleep (other than the sleep areas)

(i) The transit counters : nice big sofas to lie down on (there are a few of them).
(ii) At midnight, the gates areas are rather quiet. The benches are the best airport types : no handles between seats so you can lie down and sleep. Downside are that cleaners drive noisy carts pass you once in a while, and it's quite bright.

(e) Finally, if you are not tired, there are plenty of stuff to do at Changi. One advice though: If you have a laptop, BRING AN ETHERNET cable! You have to pay for your WIFI, but if you have an ethernet cable, you can plug them right in at one of the many socket spots for basically free and fast internet. If you are USA-ian, be sure to bring a power converter socket though since SIN uses the british standard (I am too lazy to look it up sorry!).

If you happen to be in Changi around midnight of 31 Jan, look me up :).