I hope you are right. The response from the manager was spot on. However there were also some neg. reviews on TA too so if these are true vs. just some revenge posts then perhaps they have to remind themselves of their own standards and what they did to achieve them.

I just looked at the current reviews on trip advisor and they are overwhelmingly positive so perhaps you are right and that they were having a bad day or a little bit of a bad stretch.

Yes hopefully but really hotels of that standard shouldn't really have "off" days. I recently stayed at Claridges in London and the sevice was sub par, which is a shame as its a fabulous hotel but for the money I expect great service....

Great amount of time in SIN city!
I had only 3 full days (and slept much of one due to India recovery--another story) and could have used another two . Like you, I traveled solo; felt very safe.

Probably someone(s) already recommended this, but... try street food stands. There's at least one group of them along orchard street, with about ten stands, and big covered sit down area with wooden long tables. Very informal. Look for a stand with a line and go there. i had the most incredible oyster omelet!! I walked back this way in the early evening from the Botanic gardens, famished, and this hit the spot!!

Also, about a ten min stroll (no fast walks in that humid heat!) from one entry to the Botanic Gardens, there's little mall called "Tanglin Center." Trust me, if it is hot and humid, you'll enjoy a visit for a cold drink, at their ice cold air-conditioned Starbucks. Or just walk around. It is a small indoor mall, and there are some nice shops!! Quite refreshingly different from the monotonous. repetitious (same stores everywhere) hectic one-mall -after-another shopping on Orchard Street or in skyscrapers like Suntec).

One fun thing I did when an inevitable rain shower started, was just get on a nearby public bus, and go to the end and back. Ended up in a residential area, which made a nice change from the heavily hoteled areas where I was staying (Pan Pacific , sorta nr Marina Bay--same as jacketwatch). The drivers are called "Bus Captains"! love that they get the professional title to which they are due!

LARRY! Happy Nurses Day, my fellow RN !!! Sounds like you had a great time.Did you say hi to TJ at the Pan Pacific? (Maybe I missed a TR if you did one).

Hello dear! Happy nurses day to you to from a now fully retired RN. YAH! I miss my peeps but not the work!

Who is TJ? Sorry I don't recall. There was a very nice and petite gal at the fab breakfast buffet called Janice. She was a super cute and there was another waiter, a Chinese guy who called himself CK, I think.

When did you stay there?

We cruised out of Singapore for 11 days and actually ended our cruise there too. Our flight that night was at 2300 and we needed a hotel for the day so the M gave us a good rate and actually it was very, nice, w/i walking distance to China Town and had a nice buffet breakfast too though not wth all the variety that the Pan P had. However it was about $110.00 SGD less power night and the room was just as good.

Smeagol you are right but then again they are human and it does happen from time to time I suppose. However it seems the manager dealt with us very well and I was pleased with the reply.

Thanks one and all for the great suggestions!

@ Smeagol: Dining options added to list, thank So!

@ CaliNurse: Riding to the end of a bus line is a great idea!

Calinurse- totally agree about Tanglin I always try to stop off there too! ( I've walked it a couple of times from the BG and both times forgot it's not quite as near as it looks on the map!!)

I also go to Tanglin Centre. I've been going since the 1990s. I have a friend who owns a nice shop in there and I drop by Tanglin Centre to visit, have a cold drink in the centre, rest up a bit before continuing my walk, and sometimes have a bite to eat.

Happy Travels!

kja- if you are flying Singapore Airlines (SQ) & are a through passenger there is usually a promotion where you can claim SGD40 to spend in Changi airport. Generally half of the sum must be spent in the duty free stores (perfume,cosmetics, booze etc). On my last visit, after the $20 & discounts for buying 2 bottles, I paid AUD22 for 2x1 litre bottles of Bombay Sapphire. In Australia at the time they were AUD47 each for 700ml. The $40 voucher needs to be claimed from a desk in Changi- the information desks can direct you. Have a wonderful trip.

Thanks again, one and all!

@ Trotsky: unfortunately, I wasn't able to fly Singapore Air this trip. Sounds like a great airways!

Hi, does anyone know when the Patina Hotel will open? I've been trying to book a room for ages, and am visiting this September 2016... The websites are still not accepting any reservations

@ Travels20: you should probably start your own thread for this question. You are more likely to get answers that way. Good luck!

Have you tried to email them from their "contact us" link on their website.

Alternatively I found them on booking.com. The one date I plugged in was not available but you could try calling them.

Just a quick note to say that I have returned from a stunningly memorable trip to Singapore, Java, and Bali that was made even more special than it would otherwise have been by the advice I received from my fellow Fodorites – thanks one and all! I plan to post more, and to offer specific words of appreciation, when I have time. Until then, know that I benefitted greatly from your input and thoroughly enjoyed my time in this special part of the world. :-}

Really looking forward to your update!

Looking forward to your report!

Welcome home!

So looking forward to read about your trip. Welcome home!

jdc

Good to hear you had a memorable time. Also looking fw to your TR.