Marmot: What is your opinion on St Regis in SIN?
Sep 25th, 2008, 01:38 PM
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Marmot: What is your opinion on St Regis in SIN?
Hi Marmot: As usual I cant decide where to stay. Did you like ST Regis.I need to decide between St Regis, Ritz, Grand Hyatt, Raffle or FS. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.
Sep 25th, 2008, 03:17 PM
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I'm a Four Seasons die-hard fan. As I said about Bali, once I find a hotel that satisfies, I stick with it. I like to visit other properties because I often have to recommend hotels and resorts to my overseas clients.
In Singapore I haven't stayed anywhere but the Four Seasons in 10+ years. When my son was young we always stayed at the Shangri-La, garden wing, which was great for kids. I also stayed at Raffles once "back in the day" (1982) when it was cheap and dilapidated.
Okay, on to the St. Regis. It's big and, in my opinion, way over decorated. Nothing subtle or understated here: Marble, gilt, satin, burled wood, engraved mirrors, lamps that could attack you while you sleep. It gave me a headache. The music in all the public places was also very loud and, I thought, inappropriate.
I had a big room with a splendid view of the Botanical Gardens. Comfortable bed, great shower, wonderful bathtub. The TV in the bathroom over the bathtub that was supposed to align to the main TV didn't work.
You needed a PhD to operate the lighting system -- annoyingly complicated.
The service was eager, even to the point of being excessive. Everyone wanted to walk me to wherever it was I inquired about. Several times I was given incorrect information, and emphatically. E.g. Borders Books closes at 10:00 p.m. because ALL shops in Singapore close at 10:00 p.m. Well, I walked over to see for myself and, guess what, it was open until 11:00. It bothered me that they didn't check.
The first night I had dinner alone at the casual restaurant by the pool. I was the only guest. The food was very good, but the ambience stifling. Breakfast in the main dining room was good, but (and this is common at many Asian restaurants) the host sat me at the worst table, practically IN the buffet. I had to protest three times to get a good table and there were plenty available.
I went back to the same restaurant for dinner and although the food was good, the ambience was lackluster. (Actually, I'd say the same about the restaurant at the Four Seasons.)
Verdict: A little too flashy for me. Needs to get some of the rough edges off the service. Mostly these are quibbles: It's a five star hotel in a very convenient location.
In Singapore I haven't stayed anywhere but the Four Seasons in 10+ years. When my son was young we always stayed at the Shangri-La, garden wing, which was great for kids. I also stayed at Raffles once "back in the day" (1982) when it was cheap and dilapidated.
Okay, on to the St. Regis. It's big and, in my opinion, way over decorated. Nothing subtle or understated here: Marble, gilt, satin, burled wood, engraved mirrors, lamps that could attack you while you sleep. It gave me a headache. The music in all the public places was also very loud and, I thought, inappropriate.
I had a big room with a splendid view of the Botanical Gardens. Comfortable bed, great shower, wonderful bathtub. The TV in the bathroom over the bathtub that was supposed to align to the main TV didn't work.
You needed a PhD to operate the lighting system -- annoyingly complicated.
The service was eager, even to the point of being excessive. Everyone wanted to walk me to wherever it was I inquired about. Several times I was given incorrect information, and emphatically. E.g. Borders Books closes at 10:00 p.m. because ALL shops in Singapore close at 10:00 p.m. Well, I walked over to see for myself and, guess what, it was open until 11:00. It bothered me that they didn't check.
The first night I had dinner alone at the casual restaurant by the pool. I was the only guest. The food was very good, but the ambience stifling. Breakfast in the main dining room was good, but (and this is common at many Asian restaurants) the host sat me at the worst table, practically IN the buffet. I had to protest three times to get a good table and there were plenty available.
I went back to the same restaurant for dinner and although the food was good, the ambience was lackluster. (Actually, I'd say the same about the restaurant at the Four Seasons.)
Verdict: A little too flashy for me. Needs to get some of the rough edges off the service. Mostly these are quibbles: It's a five star hotel in a very convenient location.
Sep 25th, 2008, 04:57 PM
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As for the Ritz Carlton, Singapore, it's beautiful...especially the rooms with a Marina View which I would say would be a must. However, you will need to taxi to get to and from places. There's no skytrain station right there.
As for the Four Seasons, I haven't stayed at the one in Singapore, but I'm a BIG Four Seasons fan in general and nearly lived at the one in Bangkok year after year until I moved into Emporium Suites. I've stayed at both FS and Ritz Carltons in other places and prefer FS.
One reason why I personally haven't tried the FS in Singapore was because of Hobbes'(another regular poster) review of the feel of the place. And we tend to agree on things. She was a big Emporium Suites (Bangkok) fan having lived there for some months, a few times, so I took her advice and couldn't be happier.
She also was a big FS Bangkok fan and having stayed there, even before hearing her opinion, once again we clicked.
Aren't you going to be in Singapore for only a short period of time? I'm sure any of those hotels you've listed would be fine. Sometimes, I'm there, on vacation, for up to a week and a half at a time so I'm in my room more than I would be if I were a first timer to Singapore. Happy Travels!
As for the Four Seasons, I haven't stayed at the one in Singapore, but I'm a BIG Four Seasons fan in general and nearly lived at the one in Bangkok year after year until I moved into Emporium Suites. I've stayed at both FS and Ritz Carltons in other places and prefer FS.
One reason why I personally haven't tried the FS in Singapore was because of Hobbes'(another regular poster) review of the feel of the place. And we tend to agree on things. She was a big Emporium Suites (Bangkok) fan having lived there for some months, a few times, so I took her advice and couldn't be happier.
She also was a big FS Bangkok fan and having stayed there, even before hearing her opinion, once again we clicked.
Aren't you going to be in Singapore for only a short period of time? I'm sure any of those hotels you've listed would be fine. Sometimes, I'm there, on vacation, for up to a week and a half at a time so I'm in my room more than I would be if I were a first timer to Singapore. Happy Travels!
Sep 25th, 2008, 06:44 PM
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I don’t think you would have an unpleasant experience at any of them. I am not a huge fan of the Orchard Road area, and I really am a view person, so I appreciate the good habour and city views from the Ritz-Carlton. The Raffles is an interesting choice, certainly lots of colonial charm and history (virtually no views from rooms, however). Good location for walking to the ethnic neighborhoods of Little India and Arab Street, which to me are what Singapore is all about. The Intercontiential, not on your list, would be a very good location for these neighborhoods. Of them all, the Raffles would be the most unique experience, and would be a memorable choice. However, I feel that the Ritz-Carlton is good too; I don’t think people know or appreciate that you can walk through the underground shopping mall in airconditioned comfort and get to the MTR and also then up above ground to the colonial Padang museum area and in the other direction to Little India, etc. You can also very easily walk to the Esplanade waterfront (i.e., the Singapore flyover and the performing arts centre) and to Glutton’s Bay hawker area.
Sep 25th, 2008, 10:31 PM
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Cicerone...True, one can go underground. The Ritz Carlton is just not as conveniently located as some of the other hotels. And the Intercontinental, at Bugis Junction, is just in the middle of a lot of busyness, being connected to the mall . But, it's only about 400 meters from Arab Street.
I've walked from the Raffles City Mall/Link...the underground portion of the mall...to Esplanade...staying totally underground in the air conditioning. So, it's good to have the underground system as an option.
And, as far as not being a big fan of the Orchard Rd. area, neither am I although I have stayed for many trips, over a decade, at the YMCA International House Hotel, but that's at 1 Orchard Rd. in the really nice area...not in all of that busyness of the heart of Orchard Rd. That's why I like staying at the Fullerton. It's away from it all. Happy Travels!
I've walked from the Raffles City Mall/Link...the underground portion of the mall...to Esplanade...staying totally underground in the air conditioning. So, it's good to have the underground system as an option.
And, as far as not being a big fan of the Orchard Rd. area, neither am I although I have stayed for many trips, over a decade, at the YMCA International House Hotel, but that's at 1 Orchard Rd. in the really nice area...not in all of that busyness of the heart of Orchard Rd. That's why I like staying at the Fullerton. It's away from it all. Happy Travels!
Sep 25th, 2008, 11:58 PM
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IMO the Fullerton would be a very good choice as well for the OP, it has the colonial charm and excellent location (IMO best of all, right near colonial Padang area and wallkable, albeit a hot longish walk, to Arab Street, but it's flat and for a Hong Konger, that's all we ask for...). And if you get the right room, a good view. Between that and the Raffles might be a tough choice (I think Raffles is more luxurious), but the pool at the Fullerton is hard to beat.
