Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium (Reward Night Stay)

I have previously covered the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium in January. Albeit being rather dated, the property definitely excels on the softer side. The timely check-in, excellent service and additional benefits for Platinum members have all contributed to this being one of my favourite IHG properties in Singapore. 

I recently redeemed for a Reward Night (25,000 IHG points) in a Deluxe Room at this property. Upon checking in, I realised that I have been awarded an upgrade to an Executive Room (on level 26) with Executive Lounge privileges. Therefore, even though reward night redemptions do not generally come with complimentary breakfast, I was given the option to have breakfast at the Executive Lounge or the Melting Pot Cafe on level 4. Addtionally, I was also given two welcome drinks, a late check-out at 4pm and a fruit platter for being an IHG Rewards Club Platinum member. The hotel was also (still) running a lucky draw promotion where you are able to pick from four cards. I won 20% off local and international calls so nothing extremely exciting (especially since my room came with unlimited local calls anyway). 

If you're a returning guest of the property, you'll realise that major refurbishments are under way. In fact, the iconic bubble lifts in this property received a makeover on the inside. Fortunately, they did not take away the rather emblematic design of the bubble lifts. The lobby area now allows for more guests to sit and wait with a refreshing touch of colour. When I was there, part of the check-in area was covered up as some works were going on but I was told that this would be completed the Monday following my check-out. There were a couple of new initiatives by the hotel like the free bottle of Merlot if you dine at the Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant. 

The cocktail hour from 6pm was nothing to get excited about. The Carbernet Sauvignon (house wine) was extremely disappointing and I could not even finish my first glass. The canapés served were dull and rather unappetizing. There were cold sushi (no fresh fish!), pseudo-crab claws, dim sums and a small cheese station. With that being said, the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium is not a luxury property to begin with and therefore one should not expect the finest to be served. The staff in the lounge were however attentive and seemed rather friendly towards the Executive level guests.

If you're craving for something local, the famous Zion Riverside Food Centre is only a short stroll away. Conversely, if are interested in Western or European cuisine, you can walk towards Robertson Quay where you will be able to find an amalgamation of restaurants featuring different dining experiences and flavours. Also, one of the most famous and popular nightclubs in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Zouk, should remain in its current location on until the end of the year (after occupying this space for 23 years).

Head on down to the Singapore Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium and enjoy a different side of Singapore or simply drop by Zouk before it's imminent relocation. Spend a lazy weekend at this charming property and watch the world go by in this busy city (especially if you're an IHG Rewards Club Platinum member!). 

Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road, Singapore 169075
Website | Email

Hotel Review: Conrad Centennial Singapore (Executive Room)

Voted as one of the top 10 luxury hotels in Singapore, the Conrad Centennial Singapore is located downtown with just over 500 rooms. I opted for the King Bed Executive room (43 sqm) which came with the following executive benefits on level 31: 

• Champagne Breakfast - 6am to 1030am
• Afternoon Tea - 230pm to 5pm
• Evening Cocktails (and hors d'oeuvres) - 530pm to 8pm

In addition to those benefits, executive level guests also receive a fruit plate on arrival, two hours of meeting room usage and a late check-out at 6pm (subjected to availability). Complimentary pressing of up to five items and complimentary local calls where also provided for. When I arrived at the hotel around 12pm, there was a rather long line of people waiting so I approached the concierge who then led me to the executive lounge for a private check-in area. 

Similar to the InterContinental Singapore (in terms of overall decor and hotel standing), the Conrad Centennial Singapore also show signs of age throughout the property. With that being said, the room and hotel grounds are extremely clean, showing only little signs of wear and tear. 

Unique stuffed toys are provided complimentary to hotel guests at all Conrad hotels around the world - I got a toy monkey previously at Conrad Bali. A fruit platter and a box of pralines were found behind the stuffed animal with various cutlery in the drawer underneath it. The thing about Conrad Centennial Singapore is that there are so many drawers located around the room that it makes me question the necessity of it all. 

There were generally two main issues I had with the room. Firstly, electric sockets were not readily available. In fact, I could not find one by the bed at all. I counted a total of three main electric sockets around the whole room. One by the coffee machine, one at the TV console and one near the work desk by the window. Secondly, although the bed provided direct views of the marina and its surrounding area, it was slightly difficult to watch the TV from the bed as you would have to be lying on your side. 

Perhaps that's what the small recliner sofa is for besides allowing for some light reading or lounging for those who are particular about the bed being only a sleeping place and nothing else. The work table at the corner of the room overlooks the Pan Pacific Singapore with views of the wider marina area. Internet can be costly at hotels like Conrad but having a Hilton Gold status will automatically give you free internet access. Internet access costs S$29.96 for 24 hours and S$10.70 for an hour of usage. There is however complimentary internet in the executive lounge if you do not wish to pay for internet and still need to get some work done.

The room also came equipped with a minibar and snack counter stocked with various nibbles for both children and adults. There was basic tea making facilities and a Nespresso machine if you are too tired or unmotivated to make the trip up to the executive lounge. For those who are unmotivated, it is worth noting that the executive lounge has an all day open bar. 

The bath room was spacious with a separate bath and shower area (no rain shower though). While the tub was generally wider than most hotels, I thought that it wasn't deep enough. Moreover, a tub caddy would have been perfect for those that enjoy using their mobile phones or tablets inside. If you were sharp enough to notice, there's also a rubber duck which is perfect for those with kids (or even adults too). 

Bath salts are provided by the hotel but I would highly recommend you getting a proper bubble bath (especially if you're on a staycation) because you deserve that more. I requested for an evening turndown service via the Conrad Concierge iPad application before leaving my room for evening cocktails around 715pm. 

The executive lounge is pretty quiet during normal hours and afternoon tea time but it was full during cocktail hour (why of course). One good thing about the hotel is that they are completely prepared for this and have therefore opened up the meeting rooms on the other end of the corridor to accommodate more executive level guests during this crucial time. 

Local delights alongside the usual bread, cheese and desserts were served during the cocktail hour. As with the case of Hilton Singapore, this can serve as a light dinner for weary travelers who are simply too fatigued to leave the hotel.

Upon returning to the room after drinking at least half a bottle of Shiraz, the bed was made, towels were replaced with clean ones, toiletries were refilled and laundry bags were brought out for convenience. The default amenity provided comes from the Aromatherapy Associates but do note that you can easily request (via the application or just a simple phone call) for Shanghai Tang (click here to find out more about Shanghai Tang's range of soaps) or Tara Smith (organic) amenities if you do not favour the ones in the room. 

Something different then caught my eye as I entered the room. There was a flowering tea that was made available and I was dying to try it (although the smell did not exactly resonate well with me). 

Even though the process of blossoming was pretty beautiful, I was definitely not a fan of the tea (taste-wise). 

The view from the room was not as amazing as the one from the Harbour Studio in Pan Pacific Singapore which allows for an uninterrupted view of the Marina Bay Sands and the bay area. However, my room did allow for a much wider view of Singapore. It was also strangely therapeutic gazing into the city lights from afar. 

I had breakfast at Oscar's the following morning (S$43++ per guest if breakfast is not included in your room rate) which served egg cocottes and frittatas apart from fresh sashimi. More interestingly, there was an ice-cream counter where you could concoct your favourite sundae recipe. 

The rates at Conrad Centennial Singapore do not usually come cheap but there's still a week more to go before the current weekend promotion (25% off weekend stays) runs out. Rooms start at S$270++ for double occupancy (classic room with no executive lounge access and no breakfast) or S$360++ for the executive room I stayed in. Advance rates (non-promotional) are usually S$324++ and S$432++ respectively so the current promotional rates are actually pretty decent. 

Enjoy up to 30% off hotels and resorts in the Asia-Pacific Region by clicking through the link.

Conrad Centennial Singapore
2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038982
Website | Email

Lodgewood by L'hotel Mongkok Hong Kong

Located in the heart of Mongkok on Kowloon West, lies a new kid on the block with only 83 rooms and suites - the LODGEWOOD by L'hotel. Chosen for her proximity to famous eateries and night markets, the hotel can be easily accessed via various methods.

In my opinion, the best way to get to the hotel is to take the Airport Express (Train) to Kowloon, then take the free hotel shuttle into the hotel. Do remember that group discounts apply for 2-4 people so make sure you don't buy them using the ticketing machines as you won't get the discounted tickets. Single trip tickets from the airport to Kowloon costs HKD$90 per person but only HKD$70 person when you buy two tickets. Buying four tickets reduces this to HKD$55 per person! The train comes every 10 minutes or so and it takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to get to Kowloon. 

Seasoned travelers would know that accommodation in Hong Kong is definitely on the higher side and especially so for luxury hotels. To put things into perspective, the Conrad Singapore costs approximately S$340 a night whilst the Conrad Hong Kong costs S$577 for the cheapest room without breakfast. The Lodgewood in comparison, costs approximately S$200 a night. 

The room was not luxurious but yet charming in its own way. Space was maximised as custom-built furniture ensured that no space was wasted. There was ample space under the bed to put your luggage and more than sufficient drawers/cupboards were available for hanging of clothes and storage. An electronic safe albeit small, was also provided to keep your valuables (relatively) safe while you're out visiting the city. 

The room also came equipped with a mini-fridge and a microwave oven. You may also find a range of cutleries (including chopsticks and soup bowls) in one of the drawers. Having a microwave in the room enables you to heat up (leftover) street food should you get hungry at night. 

Albeit not having a bath tub (which is usually a main consideration for picking hotels), my stay at Lodgewood has been more than simply enjoyable. The rain shower area overlooked the room through a concave glass window. The only problem for me was that the privacy curtains were located outside. That is to say that someone can open these curtains while you're showering and there's no way you can draw them since they are located outside the bathroom. Then again, you'll probably be staying with friends or your loved ones so this should not be a problem at all. 

The room also came with two complimentary bottles of water each day and some basic grooming/hygiene amenities. The bathrooms were not extravagant but definitely spacious and modern with quality fittings. Bath amenities were White Tea scented and were locally branded. Interestingly, even the television in the room was branded by L'hotel. 

The bedrooms also came with an iPhone dock from JBL that was compatible with iPhone 5/5s. Electrical sockets can also be found around the room and there was one at each side of the bed to make sure that technology-reliant travelers get ample juice after a restful night sleep. 

My room on the twelve floor overlooked a quiet part of Mongkok and there was no noise to disturb my sleep at night. However, the walls between rooms are slightly thin so you can actually hear it when your neighbour comes back or slams a cupboard door. That being said, it does not happen often and will most definitely not affect your rest. All in all a great property that is value for money in a rather centralised location. 

Leave a message if you need food recommendations around the area and I'll do my best to help! 

Lodgewood by L'hotel
1131 Canton Road, Mongkok, Hong Kong
Website | Email