Hotel Review: Capri by Fraser, China Square (Deluxe Room) - New Property with Amazing Location and Affordable Room Rates
I am a huge fan of The Platinum Card from American Express despite its S$1,712 annual fee (which cannot be waived). The card comes with plenty of perks but some of them (e.g. Love Dining benefit) overlap with the credit card versions of the card - I highly recommend the American Express Platinum Credit Card if you are starting out as it is a lot cheaper (and spending plenty on this card can eventually get you an invite for a metal card, even if you do not meet the income requirement on paper). There are three Platinum Cards in Singapore - The Platinum Card (metal), the American Express Platinum Credit Card and the American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card. The American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card comes with a complimentary 3D2N stay at any participating Frasers Hospitality property worldwide but since I did not have the bandwidth to travel overseas when my voucher was expiring, I decided to redeem my stay at the relatively-new Capri by Fraser, China Square in Singapore instead.
Click HERE to check out The Platinum Card (metal) from American Express!
It is relatively easy for you to utilise the free voucher from your American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card but do note that blackout dates may apply for the properties that you are interested in - check out the full list of participating properties that you can use your free night voucher at. My reservation at the Capri by Fraser, China Square was for a Superior Room but I was upgraded into a Deluxe Room when I checked-in (without having any status or whatsoever) so that was a nice touch. It is worth noting that the Capri by Fraser, China Square typically caters to business travellers as it is just minutes away from Raffles Place. Therefore, the occupancy at the Capri by Fraser, China Square might have been fairly low during my stay but the check-in staff was nice enough to process an upgrade without me asking for it.
The Deluxe Rooms at the Capri by Fraser, China Square are similar to the Superior Rooms (lead-in room category) measuring 26 sqm in size, but they are located on higher floors and therefore, have nicer views of the surrounding area. All the rooms here at the Capri by Fraser, China Square comes with a small kitchenette that features a microwave and a mini-fridge. In an effort to reduce single-use plastics, there is a premium filtered drinking water tap in each room (so you won't actually find small plastic bottles here in the room).
The rooms here at Capri by Fraser, China Square are probably more suitable for short-term staying guests (as opposed to serviced apartments like the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road as an example). While you will find the conveniences of a service apartment here on property, the wardrobe space is limited and it feels a lot more like a hotel rather than a serviced apartment. Located next to the kitchenette is where you will also find other essentials like a safety deposit box (large enough to fit a 17" laptop) as well as an ironing board. For the sake of clarity, there is no laundry machine in your room but laundry service is offered to guests at a fee.
The Deluxe Room at the Capri by Fraser, China Square that I was assigned to had a work desk located near the end of the room, by the window so you get to enjoy plenty of day light if you are working from the hotel. WiFi is complimentary in the hotel and you can get connected easily using your room number and last name. The work desk was also large enough to fit your laptop, documents with plenty of room to spare. Despite being on a high floor, most of my view was actually obstructed by a skyscraper opposite. Since I was there over a weekend, most of the offices were empty but on Monday morning, I could see everything that was going on in that office (and I would imagine that they could do the same about my bedroom). This is not a huge deal-breaker for me personally but if privacy is a huge issue for you, you may have to leave the sheer curtains drawn for most of your stay (especially if you are staying over weekdays).
My reservation was for a king-size bed but some rooms also have twin bed configurations (even though you should take note of the bathroom layout, which I will cover next). The bed was adequate with no additional bells and whistles - the mattress was on the firmer side but it was comfortable enough for a good night's sleep. For whatever reason though, the music in the corridor was loud enough for me to notice it when I went to bed so I am not sure if soundproofing was done property. As I have mentioned earlier, the hotel seemed to be running at a fairly low occupancy when I visited so hopefully there are no troubles with noise isolation - I also hope that they have turned down the music in the corridor now.
Apart from the bed and the work desk, each room at Capri by Fraser, China Square also comes with an armchair where you can enjoy some me-time in the day. I did find the design of the bedside table to be rather interesting as well but just make sure you take all your belongings with you when you check-out.
While the floor size of the Deluxe Room at Capri by Fraser, China Square is on the smaller end on paper, it feels larger than it actually is, due to the design of the room. On the other hand, the bathroom does not come with a door (the toilet and shower area have a separate glass door that cannot be locked) so that should be part of your consideration if you are sharing this room.
Just for the sake of clarification, you will not be able to look into the shower area or the toilet from outside (this is not a W Hotel after all).
Consistent to my experiences across various Capri by Fraser properties, bath amenities are provided by MALIN+GOETZ in a dispenser (so there are no small little plastic bottles). I personally love the dark rum scented body wash and I find them enjoyable to use.
There are executive rooms here at Capri by Fraser, China Square and those rooms come with exclusive access to The Den which the property markets as an 'entertainment and social living hub' (I believe this is essentially a fancy name for an executive lounge). These rooms also have a Nespresso coffee machine in them but apart from that, they look pretty similar to how my room looked like from the photos available online. You may also choose to opt for a breakfast-inclusive rate but there are just way too many good food options in the area if you are here for business or leisure. My advice? Skip the hotel breakfast and go straight to Maxwell Food Centre or Amoy Street Food Centre for a slice of Singapore.
The Capri by Fraser, China Square is located in a great location (especially if you are here for business) and it is within walking distance to three different MRT Stations with great connectivity options - Raffles Place (Red/Green Line), Telok Ayer (Blue Line) and Chinatown (Purple Line). While I do not recommend this property for a first-time visitor to Singapore (since it is located away from main tourist attractions), it is fantastic if you are looking for an affordable, clean and centralised property that is close to MRT stations. While I did not think much about my first experience with the Capri by Fraser brand in Changi, I really enjoyed my stay in Johor Bahru, and now in China Square. Utilising your free nights here may not offer the more value (since you can also choose to redeem them in a more expensive city like Osaka) but I can't say I am not tempted to do another weekend staycation here on my own.
Capri by Fraser, China Square
181 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058743
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TRIBE Living Bangkok Sukhumvit 39 is a great value choice for budget-conscious travelers but its slightly longer walk from Phrom Phong BTS Station may make it less convenient compared to more accessible (but pricier) options in the area.