Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on December 29, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

The recent opening of Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore in September 2014 marked the launch of the new Hotel Jen brand by Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd, which seeks to be fresh, friendly and fuss-free. The Hotel Jen brand is inspired by the virtual persona Jen, a professional hotelier who loves life, travel and the adventure of discovering new places. Hotel Jen takes care of guests with efficiency and care, while also giving them informed access to the best a particular destination has to offer. The location of Hotel Jen Orchardgateway is just perfect, giving direct access to Orchardgateway shopping mall. It is right smack in the middle of Orchard, where all the other vibrant shopping centres are.

There are a total of 502 rooms within Hotel Jen Orchardgateway with a choice of four room types – Superior (27 sqm), Superior Cityview (27 sqm), Deluxe (32 sqm) and lastly, Premier Panorama (41 sqm), which we had the luxury of checking into. When we first stepped into our room on the 17th floor, we were blown away by the floor to ceiling glass window, which is very unique because it leans outwards, thus enabling you a better view of Orchard Road.

The layout of the room is also rather uncommon. The work desk is actually quite hidden from view, unlike in most hotels, the work desk and bed are placed so closely together. I guess in this case, it demarcates the boundaries between work and play (or sleep). Most business travellers should appreciate this!

If you notice, our Premier Panorama room is surrounded by plenty of windows, making the room look really spacious!

This is the super comfortable King-sized bed which gave all of us a great night’s sleep. My only gripe is that the pillows are filled with down feather. As much as I enjoy the cushiony pillows, the smell of the down feathers was a bit too overwhelming for me.

Hotel Jen Orchardgateway’s 46-inch Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system is something to boast about. And if you are lucky, you might even have one in the bathroom!

Apart from the usual coffee and tea making facilities, the fresh cut fruits and my favorite childhood iced gem biscuits were a pleasant surprise.

There isn’t a separate rain shower in the bathroom, which means that there is no way I can avoid having to climb in and out of the bath tub even when all I wanted was a shower and not a bath. However, I’m glad that there is plenty of space around the tub for me to place my toiletries. This is very important, considering the amount of toiletries I have!

Baby Chanelle enjoys hotel staycations too! Here’s a photo of her testing out the firmness of the bed. See how upright she is sitting up?

Look, Papa and Mummy! I can chill here all day!

A mandatory family photo before we head out! We had been granted access to the Club Lounge but did not manage to make it for cocktails from 5.30pm to 7.30pm because I had an eyebrow embroidery appointment with Browtisan. By the time I was done, it was time for dinner.

Dinner saw us having a feast at Makan@Jen! The variety is really remarkable; they had everything we could think of, and more!

The automated WineStation has got to be the coolest thing around at Makan@Jen!

I love buffets because it’s a good time for me to get my salmon sashimi and oyster fix!

Very yummy curry chicken and pork knuckle.

Yay to having prawn noodles for dinner!

I like the baby chairs provided at Makan@Jen because they come with food trays, which are great if you wanna let your baby self feed.

Gave Chanelle different types of bread to nibble on.

It was our first time having buffet togther as a family! Bread and cucumber buffet for Little misschewy but towards the end of the dinner, she started hurling food everywhere because she got cranky.

After dinner, we took a leisurely stroll along Orchard Road to enjoy the Christmas lights.

Good morning! All of us are well rested and ready for breakfast!

Decided to check out the Club Lounge on the 19th floor and also avoid the morning crowd at Makan@Jen.

I would expect the variety at Makan@Jen to be much more impressive, but this one at the Club Lounge is also adequate. Most importantly, there are waffles and eggs!

Here’s the gymnasium if you desperately want to squeeze time out for some exercise before check-out!

Gotta love Hotel Jen Orchardgateway’s very own infinity pool!

Very nice place to lounge around with a good book and a glass of beer.

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Felt very reluctant to check out after such an enjoyable stay at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway! Room prices start from S$215++ per night. There are various promotions that cater to the needs of different travellers, so be sure to check them out here!

Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
277 Orchard Road
Singapore 238858
Tel: 6708 8888
Email: hjog@hoteljen.com

Hotel Clover The Arts Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on October 15, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

Having stayed in a number of hotels in Singapore, our recent staycation in an art-themed boutique hotel was a first for us. Hotel Clover The Arts, situated in Chinatown, is a 6-storey and 44-room hotel which opened in April this year. This new hotel builds on its conviction to create a unique arts experience through its individually-themed rooms. Designed in styles as diverse as retro kitsch, urban street art, Pop Art vibrance and line art minimalism, each room in Hotel Clover The Arts creates its own distinctively unique experience.

In a bold move to lend a voice to the Singapore’s brand of creativity, Hotel Clover The Arts invited students from different arts and design schools in Singapore to participate in a mural competition for 19 rooms. Independent professional artists were also commissioned to create art for Hotel Clover The Arts, including local artist Ceno2, who has his own distinctive brand of aerosol art, otherwise known as ‘Graffiti Fine Art’.

Ceno2’s work can be found in the lobby of the hotel. The idea behind incorporating Singapore’s iconic attractions onto public spaces of the hotel is to create a talking point to encourage guests and staff to mingle by sharing stories, experiences and memories of subjects which they hold dear to their heart.

As strange as it may sound, we felt that we could very much connect with the hotel because of all these paintings of Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Flyer and the like. It certainly gave us a sense of home.

Love the cute idea of having a little sneak preview of each hotel room.

We took the lift and checked out every floor of the hotel. Interestingly, you will be able to find the painting of a black cat on most levels. Kudos to the artist who managed to cleverly incorporate unsightly elements into the murals across all lift lobbies, transforming different corners of the hotel into a visual feast.

As mentioned previously, each of the 44 rooms feature artworks which are strikingly different, ranging from stunningly picturesque mountainscapes to vintage-inspired comic art.

Because each room is different, you will be guaranteed a whole new experience and an element of surprise each time you stay with the hotel. Perfect reason to keep heading back!

Photo Credit: Hotel Clover The Arts

We had the privilege of staying in this beautiful Arts King room, the highest of the 6 room categories available. Once again, Ceno2 lends his signature touch of creative genius to a breathtaking mural of Mount Fuji, depicting nature at its best – amidst clear blue sky, crystal waters and inspired forals. We were simply blown away by the magnificence of our room, not so much in terms of its space, but the dazzling beauty of Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms.

All rooms come with a postcard featuring the design of the room, for guests to bring home as a momento or keepsake. It might seem as a small gesture but I think it’s a really nice personal touch.

The 3 Arts King rooms at Hotel Clover The Arts include the following:

– Fully air-conditioned with individual control
– Laptop-sized safe
– Branded bathroom amenities
– Hairdryer
– Laundry & dry ceaning service
– Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine
– Daily housekeeping service
– LED HDTV with satellite channels
– Complimentary Internet & local calls
– Iron & ironing board (upon request)
– Secured key card locking system

We took a little tour around the hotel and guess what we found! A giant tea cup!

There is a roof terrace garden where guests are welcome to unwind with a book or even do yoga. Hotel Clover The Arts does not have a swimming pool but guests can hop over to its sister property Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street and utilize its swimming pool there.

Art lovers will appreciate the striking scenic view of a larger-than-life waterfall which literally cascades down the external facade of the hotel, bringing a charming and quaint feel to the quiet evening. The best time to check this out is early in the morning or late evening before the sky turns dark.

I checked that the hotel does not provide baby amenities, so we brought Little misschewy’s inflatable tub along. Doesn’t she look like she’s having a whale of a time soaking in an onsen with an awesome view of Mount Fuji? 😛

According to Hotel Clover The Arts’ Facebook page, their comfortable and fluffy guest room beds have 350 thread which will make you feel like you are sleeping on a cloud. We couldn’t agree more!

There were only 3 to 4 tables but thankfully, the table turnover rate was high. Even though the breakfast selection was limited, the food surpassed my expectation! Even misterchewy who doesn’t usually have much of an appetite in the morning, went for a second helping.

We certainly had a very memorable stay at Hotel Clover The Arts. Waking up in the Mount Fuji room made us feel like a million bucks! It is definitely something that we want to experience all over again. Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Hotel Clover The Arts
58 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058689
Tel: 6439 7088
Email: enquiries@hotelclover.com

Park Hotel Clarke Quay Staycation Review

Posted on September 15, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

It was more than half a year ago when misterchewy and I last went for a staycation in Singapore. Very long ago right! I still remember I popped 18 days later. Hehe. Our recent staycation at Park Hotel Clarke Quay was our very first one as a family of three. Really glad that we brought Little misschewy along because our wedding anniversary and misterchewy’s birthday was a few days later, so we wanted to celebrate the occasion together. I was thrilled about staying at Park Hotel Clarke Quay because I love its classic architecture which is inspired by Singapore’s colonial past. Besides that, I like that the hotel is strategically located in the heart of the city and the nightlife at Clarke Quay is very vibrant. Perfect for party goers and foreigners who want to experience the nightlife in Singapore.

There are 336 well-appointed rooms and suites at Park Hotel Clarke Quay which all showcase modern baroque furnishings, elevated ceilings, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that offer guests sweeping views of the Singapore River and the city skyline. Our Club room located on the 9th floor wasn’t too big but there was space for our small luggage, baby playpen and stroller, with room to walk around comfortably.

Baby Chanelle was just as excited as Papa! She was in a bright yellow summer dress, courtesy of Aunty Mag 😀

Do you know that children under 12 years old stay for FREE at all Park Hotel Group’s establishments? Kids meals are also complimentary!

In-room amenities tailored for little ones are also available at no additional charge. A bottle sterilizer in the room makes things much more convenient for us.

Very impressed with the wide selection of snacks!

As a breastfeeding mother, the first thing I did when I opened the mini fridge was to check if it’s cold enough to store my expressed milk and not what’s inside the fridge. Felt that the fridge wasn’t cold enough and there wasn’t a freezer compartment to freeze the cooling panels of my cooler bag 🙁

It was Chanelle’s nap time so we let her have the queen-sized bed.

Little girl woke up about an hour later and we simply had to show her the view from our room.

Before dinner, we pushed Little misschewy around in her Maclaren Denim Quest Stroller. For an extra cushy ride, I got her a Skip Hop Memory Foam Stroller Liner from Agape Babies. They are currently having a diaper bag sale and also 15% off playmats!

I really love the stunning pool that overlooks the panaromic city skyline. With state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment and superior standards in service, the hotel is an ideal venue to host wedding solemnizations, events and conferences. In fact, there was a wedding ceremony that took place that day!

We were treated to a delectable weekend seafood buffet at Brizo Restaurant & Bar.

Brizo offers contemporary Asian and Western cuisines with seafood specialities. Helmed by Executive Chef Wilson Shum, guests may embark on a voyage through a menu of well-executed fusion creations.

We enjoyed the wide selection of fresh seafood and hot cooked food.

We had to scrap our initial plan of taking a stroll around Robertson Quay because it started to rain after our dinner. Baby Chanelle was in good hands while I took a quick shower 😛

Behind-the-scene action. Hahaha.

Pigeon baby bath amenities and bath tub are provided.

Little misschewy was probably scared when we left her to sleep in the playpen given that the environment was an unfamiliar one.

When she was finally drunk (on milk, not wine!), we transferred her back to the playpen. Hehehe.

Our little bubba is clearly a morning person! 😀

Thanks to Chanelle, we never really had to set our alarm on weekends because she would be the one waking us up by 9am. Lol. We were in time for breakfast at Brizo! It was Chanelle’s very first time on the high chair, which was too big for her. Anyway, we didn’t have much appetite so we only grabbed a few bites. The egg station is not to be missed!

Someone was interested in the bacon. Lol.

It was a nice family staycation for us and we are looking forward to our next one!
Do check out the hotel’s website for the various ongoing staycation promotions that suit you best!

Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Park Hotel Clarke Quay
1 Unity Street
Singapore 237983
Tel: +65 6593 8888
Email: info.phcq@parkhotelgroup.com

AMOY Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on March 12, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

I’m sure our recent staycation at AMOY Hotel would be our last before I pop! Very soon, we will be welcoming Little misschewy into our family of two and I know that life will never be the same again! Three’s a party YO! Lol. Even though we spent very little time in this lovely hotel because we each had a wedding dinner to attend, we enjoyed every moment because AMOY exudes a very homely atmosphere. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it could be due to the personalized service that we received throughout our stay.

AMOY is Far East Hospitality’s newest boutique hotel and the first in Singapore to incorporate a museum that traces the footsteps of early immigrants from China. How cool is that? I reckon it’s a gem for locals and foreign travellers who are history buffs!

The first thing our forefathers did upon arriving in Singapore was to build a temple to honour the gods for their safe voyage. As part of AMOY’s authentic experience, guests will enter the contemporary hotel via Fuk Tak Chi museum, formerly a temple and the headquarters for the Hakka and Cantonese communities in the 1800s.

This photo was taken at night but the lobby looked even more stunning in the day with natural sunlight streaming in through the glass ceiling and windows. The husband and I were each presented with a welcome mocktail drink while waiting for our check-in to be done.

Another part of the lobby.

One of the hotel staff, Lina, personally showed us to our Deluxe Double room on the third floor and along the way, she explained that each room is emblazoned with a Chinese family name on the door, an ode to the contribution of Singapore’s early migrants who lived around the area. I think you can try to request for a room that has your surname but it’s subject to availability.

We also learned that AMOY Hotel was converted from a series of historic shophouses dating back more than 170 years and much of what is seen within the hotel, such as the steps along the corridors, is painstakingly conserved.

Revolving around the theme of “Old Meets New, East Meets West”, our reasonably spacious room had interiors that evoke the charm of traditional Chinese design and architecture as well as the comfort and convenience of contemporary facilities. The rooms are thoughtfully designed to include heritage accents with carefully selected furniture like traditional Chinese stools and porcelain basin. The idea is to recreate the living experience of the early Chinese settlers with a modern and contemporary twist. No two rooms are alike, in terms of layout and furnishings.

Definitely not your typical ‘garden view’!

The mini bar is entirely complimentary!

Besides coffee and tea, you can enjoy fruit juices and also have a bag of chips and peanuts to go with your can of beer! Heh that was what misterchewy did when he was hungry in the middle of the night.

I find the layout of the bathroom very interesting. It’s elongated probably to maximise whatever space there is. There are doors to separate the wash up area, toilet bowl and shower stall.

We didn’t have time to tour the hotel immediately after checking in as we had an appointment at Artica Hair Studio at Far East Plaza and had to rush down. 1st March 2014 (1314) is a very popular date for weddings! I was invited to Nadnut’s wedding at Orchard Hotel and misterchewy was asked to emcee at his buddy’s wedding at Hotel Royal @ Queens. The banquet at his side ended about two courses earlier than my side, so he managed to pop by and take photos with us at the instant photobooth! Hurray! 😛

So happy that we managed to get a nice shot together! 😀

We still had energy when we reached the hotel so we decided to do a quick night tour even though it was really late! Haha. Kinda fun actually because we were whispering to each other, not wanting to disturb other guests 😛

Earlier on, we managed to find out from April, another hotel staff, the location of the 周 (Chew) room which is actually a Cosy Single room.

Found my surname too! Think it was occupied by other guests.

AMOY provides turndown service! Some people might not think much of it, but a simple gesture like this really goes a long way.

We also found a cute handwritten goodnight note left on our bed.

I stuck this on my magnetic board at work as a little momento from AMOY 🙂

Very thoughtful to have reading lights fitted on each side of the bed frame.

I tried my best to get the widest possible shot of the bed and bathroom by plastering my back against the cupboard. Anyway, we had to check out really early the next day so we woke up at around 6am. Took a hot shower which instantly made me feel refreshed even though I only had 4 hours of sleep!

The breakfast buffet spread was very simple yet homely, featuring items such as cereal, bread with an assortment of spreads, pastries, beehoon, yogurt, etc.

We were probably the first guests to arrive at 7am but I’m kinda puzzled by the rather empty juice dispenser.

Although the breakfast selection was nothing to shout about, I thought that the plain white toasts with kaya were good enough to keep us satisfied.

AMOY is really such a cool hotel that we certainly don’t mind going back to for another staycation! Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

AMOY
76 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 048464
Tel: +65 6580 2888
Email: reseasy@fareast.com.sg

Naumi Liora Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on March 3, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

How’s it going chewys! I have not been updating my blog as regularly as I would like to because I’m either feeling lazy or too exhausted after a long day at work 🙁 Yes! I’m still working even though I’m about to pop anytime now! I don’t intend to take maternity leave early. Say hello to my 9-month old baby bump! Hehe ok I think it’s not very obvious in this photo. Getting really nervous because I don’t know how it’s gonna turn out on the day I go into labor! :S Yeah I’m more nervous than excited actually. Glad that misterchewy and I managed to squeeze in a weekend staycation at Naumi Liora Hotel recently to take my mind off things! 🙂

Located in the heart of Chinatown, Naumi Liora is The Hind Group’s second boutique hotel that opened in November 2012. Naumi Liora boasts a design concept of an old yet modern charm that is strongly reflected throughout the hotel. To remain true to the inherent spirit of the 1920s Peranakan-styled building’s heritage that Naumi Liora is housed in, the original timber flooring, French-styled windows and ‘five-foot way’ have all been traditionally preserved.

Through the use of its signature light motif alongside a harmonious balance of warm and vibrant colours such as hues of Chalk and Pumpkin, the craftsmanship of Naumi Liora creates an intimate environment that invigorates and soothes at the same time. Abstracted from the lattice design of traditional Peranakan tiles as well as the original metal railing pattern from the exterior of the hotel, these light motifs are also translated into timber screens and used strategically from the lobby to the rooms.

Guests are more than welcome to help themselves to the complimentary 24-hour self-serve Nibbles snack bar at the reception lobby. There is a whole range of treats such as Nespresso coffee, Dilmah tea, and ice cream!

Biscuits, cookies, chips and chocolates are also available at the snack bar.

We had to rush off to the Babycare Festival at Singapore Expo, so earlier in the day, I contacted the hotel shortly after we finished lunch at Ion to see if they could accede to my request for an early check-in at around 1pm. Was told that the only room available is located on the ground floor and it is also smaller than our designated one 🙁 Didnt have a choice but to accept it. This is the Liora Heritage Double, which is approximately sized up to a comfortable 28 square meters. Single bedding option is also available.

Liked the personal touch that made us feel at home in an instance. The welcome note highlighted Naumi’s signature service philosophy. During the later part of our stay, I phoned one of the Naumi Aides upon finding out that there wasn’t any toothbrush and toothpaste in the bathroom. Wanted to confirm if these were being provided for by the hotel and was told that they will be issued only upon request. I had two sets promptly sent to our room in a couple of minutes! Was super impressed by the Naumi Aide’s efficiency!

Open wardrobe concept.

The size of our room was modest yet it feels adequately spacious for two at the same time. The layout of the room is also perfect for families with babies or toddlers in tow as there is definitely enough space for a stroller and a travel cot.

My favorite Malin + Goetz peppermint shampoo and rum body wash are provided!

The mini bar is complimentary and is well-stocked with coffee, tea and soft drinks.

A selfie in our room before heading out! Haha now you can see my huge baby bump 😛

We were supposed to meet my in-laws at the fair but they couldn’t make it at the last minute. Buying stuff to prepare for the arrival of Little misschewy was a pretty mind-boggling affair because there were so many things that we weren’t sure if we needed to buy.

We snagged a limited edition Maclaren stroller, which is pretty chio (in our opinion lol). Good thing there was free delivery! Also bought other stuff like organic baby bath, milk bottle sterilizer and loads of pampers (some with free delivery). In the evening, we went our separate ways to meet our friends for dinner. Guys’ night out and girls’ night out 😛

Complimentary breakfast is provided just next door, at Keong Saik Snacks. Was looking forward to it since it’s by Michelin Star Chef Jason Atherton. Breakfast starts from about 7am and ends at 10am. We intended to wake up earlier but the bed was seriously so comfortable that we kept hitting the snooze button and woke up with only 20 minutes to get showered and changed!

We went there expecting that the breakfast would be somewhat similar to what was being served at Cocoette during our stay at Wanderlust Hotel. To our dismay, the spread at the buffet counter was quite limited. A small selection of bread, cheese, ham, cereal, yogurt, etc, nothing to get excited over.

The ambience at Keong Saik Snacks was nice though. If only we had more time to enjoy our breakfast, I seriously wouldn’t mind paying extra for the weekend brunch which is available from 11am to 3pm but that would mean we had to wait an hour for it.

Taking a quick look at the gym before checking out. It’s open 24 hours. It’s a pity that there’s no swimming pool in the hotel.

As part of its celebration of Holi, an ancient Hindu festival, also known as the “Festival of Colours” as all ages go into the streets for fun, throwing of powder paint and coloured water to celebrate the victory of ‘good’ over ‘bad’ and also the triumph of devotion to god, Naumi Hotels celebrate the colour ‘Pink’ which symbolises the significant support of Breast Cancer Foundation and its cause. During this playful ‘Festival of Colours’, Naumi Hotels will proudly donate up to SGD$15 for every eligible room stay on 17 March 2014.

In the meantime, do visit ZALORA SG, Asia’s leading online fashion destination! Zalora carries a huge range of apparel, footwear, accessories and beauty products from various brands, you will definitely be spoilt for choice!

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Valentine’s Day Staycation @ Oasia Hotel or The Quincy Hotel

Posted on February 4, 2014 by missuschewy

February is the month of love. If you are planning a romantic staycation in Singapore this Valentine’s Day, Far East Hospitality is offering two very attractive hotel stay packages for all you lovebirds out there.

Oasia Hotel Singapore Valentine’s Day Package

Pricing: $588++

Package includes:

· Stay in Club Room
· Buffet breakfast
· Evening cocktails (6pm-8pm)
· Complimentary mini-bar
· One bottle of Helenenhof Hubertushof Pinot Noir red wine
· 5-course Valentine’s Dinner for 2 by Zaffron at The Living Room
· One complimentary 45-minute Couple Spa Retreat by Enchanted Spa Retreat
· One Naturalis Tea Gift Set

Terms & Conditions:

· Booking period: 27 January – 16 February 2014
· Stay period: 13 February – 17 February 2014
· Limited vacancies are available for Dinner at The Living Room on a first-come-first-served basis. In the event of full house, the complimentary dinner will be held at Zaffron.
· Guests may choose to enjoy the complimentary Couple Spa Retreat at the hotel’s Spa Suites at levels 24/25 or at Enchanted Spa Retreat at level 2, on a first-come-first-served basis. In the event of full house, guests may choose to make use of the spa voucher at a later time, valid for a period of 3 months
· Naturalis Tea Gift Set is subject to availability
· Price is subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes
· Standard cancellation policy applies

Click here to book your Valentine’s Day Staycation at Oasia Hotel Singapore now. You may read about my experience staying at this hotel.

The Quincy Hotel Valentine’s Day Package

Pricing: S$368++
*Early Bird (book before 07 Feb): S$338++

Package includes:

· Stay in Studio Room
· One bottle of Bottega’s Il vino della Amore sparkling moscato
· One Molton Brown Traveller Gift Set*
· Dinner for 2

Terms & Conditions:

· Booking period: 20 January – 17 February 2014
· Stay period: 13 February – 17 February 2014
· Top up S$30++ for room upgrade to Studio Deluxe Room
· Book before 07 February 2014 at S$338++
· Promotion includes one bottle of Bottega’s Il vino della Amore (The Wine of Love) sparkling moscato
· Excludes one-way airport transfer
· Price is subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes
· Standard cancellation policy applies

* Selection of gift set subject to availability

Click here to book your Valentine’s Day Staycation at The Quincy Hotel now.

Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on January 30, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

Happy Chinese New Year, chewys! May all of us HUAT in the Year of the Horse! Anyone looking forward to Valentine’s Day already? Do consider a staycation in Singapore if you don’t have any solid plans yet! I’m sure we are all familiar with Rendezvous Hotel Singapore, one of the many hotel establishments by Far East Hospitality. But do you know that the 16-year-old hotel recently unveiled a brand new look after undergoing a transformation in November 2013, guided by three core values A.R.T. – Attitude, Retro elements and Technology?

Located in the Museum Planning Area of Singapore, Rendezvous Hotel Singapore draws inspiration from its surrounding arts and cultural district along Bras Basah, while at the same time offering its guests convenient access to several popular art galleries and museums such as Singapore Art Museum, SAM at 8Q and National Museum of Singapore. To top it off, guests will enjoy free or special entry rates to museums in the vicinity simply by presenting their key cards at the respective ticketing counters.

Upon entering the hotel, guests will be greeted by a magnificent floor-to-ceiling sculpture along with wall panels behind the reception counters that changes colors every four hours throughout the day, taking guests through a cycle of warm orange, purple and magenta to reflect a sense of vibrant excitement during the day, to a soothing, classy warm yellow, cyan and deep blue during the evening.

The hotel’s bar lounge, renamed The Library, is fitted with plush seats and has a wall of shelves lined with books. This totally takes chilling out to a whole new level.

The artistic revamp is also extended to Club Rooms which occupy the three highest levels of the hotel. These rooms may either be adorned with breathtaking photographs or may bear quotes by famous authors such as the Club Room which we put up at.

The Club Room isn’t one of the largest around but there is a choice of a large king bed or two single beds. The height of the large king bed was around my waist level (maybe I have really short legs) and had difficulty hoisting myself up given my huge baby bump in the way. The husband clearly had a lot of fun jumping from the side and doing some kinda side roll onto the bed. LOL.

Our room comes complete with a large screen television, writing desk and complimentary WiFi.

Bathroom amenities from French Connection.

If you are hankering after a cup of tea, The Courtyard basks in natural sunlight, making it a lovely place for you to indulge in freshly baked scones and other dainty pastries.

Club guests will have access to the Plaza Club Lounge on the 11th floor offering all day complimentary coffee and tea, and also light bites and cocktails from 6pm to 8pm. We popped in after an early dinner tasting around the area to check out what the lounge has to offer.

Interestingly, within the lounge, the different views that guests observe through each particular window are imprinted on the curtains in grayscale. In time to come, the hotel façade facing the junction of Orchard, Stamford and Bras Basah roads will also be transformed into a piece of interactive anamorphic art where pedestrians will be able to see the intended composition at a specific spot diagonally across the street.

Still quite full from dinner earlier on but we happily helped ourselves to piping hot dimsum and some other desserts. We saw that a young couple sitting two tables away from us order practically every single drink from the alcohol menu. Poor server was kept really busy marching in and out of the kitchen the whole time.

Went back to our room to chill for awhile. Our initial plan was to either make a trip down to Switch for some live band music or catch a late night movie. At around 9pm, we looked at each other and decided that we just wanted a good rest after a long day. We were feeling a teeny bit hungry and misterchewy wanted to try Maki-San at The Cathay.

This time, I was captivated by the sculpture’s beautiful shade of blue when we arrived at the lobby because it’s my favorite color!

Love Rendezvous Hotel’s superb location! So many food choices around the area. It took us only a 5-minute walk to get to The Cathay.

Took a long hot shower before hitting the sack! Bed was so comfy that we slept for an additional hour before dragging ourselves down for breakfast 😛

Club guests can choose to have American breakfast served at the club lounge from 7am to 10am. The selection is limited but I suppose there has to be some sort of trade-off for exclusivity.

For a much wider variety, I suggest heading down to Straits Cafe on the ground floor. The buffet line closes at 10.30am and we were there at around 10am.

We were gently reminded that the buffet line closes in 30 minutes so we grabbed whatever looked yummy to us. Should have gotten more of those hot fluffy waffles with maple syrup!

We were entitled to a late checkout at 3pm so we took a little tour around the hotel.

As part of the new Rendezvous Hotel Singapore’s opening promotion, guests who make bookings now to 16 March 2014 for a minimum two-night Club Room stay now to 30 April 2014 will enjoy 30 per cent off the hotel’s best flexible rate. To sweeten the deal, guests will be eligible to enjoy the Far More Perks programme, such as guaranteed early check-in from 10am or late check-out till 4pm, as well as complimentary FunVee City Tour. So many perks! How to resist! 😀

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
9 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189559
Tel: +65 6336 0220
Email: info.rhs@fareast.com.sg
Reservations:
Tel: +65 6496 7699
Email: reseasy@fareast.com.sg

Capri by Fraser Changi City Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on January 10, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

What better way to kick off the first weekend of 2014 than by pampering and treating yourself to a revitalizing Singapore staycation? Here’s a photo of us, happy to have finally checked into Capri by Fraser Changi City! 🙂

Capri by Fraser is a new hospitality concept which cuts through the conformity of typical hotels, bringing together the extensive range of facilities and services of a smart hotel together with the comfort and convenience of a full serviced residence, designed to meet the 24×7 lifestyle needs of today’s tech-forward travellers.

The hotel which just had its grand opening in January 2013, is located moments away from Singapore Expo, Changi City Point, and a mere 5 minutes from Changi Airport. There is an airport shuttle service which runs to and from the airport on a frequent basis. The MRT station is just opposite the hotel, which makes travelling to popular shopping belts like Orchard Road extremely convenient for both locals and overseas guests.

The lobby area exudes sophistication and yet, feels warm and homely at the same time.

The check-in procedure was pretty smooth. No hiccups whatsoever.

I always look forward to swiping the electronic hotel card key and pushing past the room door to see what surprise awaits me! We were given a 44sqm Studio Premier room on the 6th floor which is immensely spacious as compared to the rooms of most hotels that we had reviewed over the previous two years.

Welcome fruits and drinks.

The king bed looks so tempting!

Gotta love the extra living space! Perfect for lounging on the couch and watching movies on the LED television all day long. You can borrow DVDs from the hotel and play them on the DVD player as well.

Another unique feature about Capri by Fraser which I adore is the kitchenette! You are free to do light cooking in the room but we didn’t because yours truly can’t cook to save her life. LOL.

Electrolux microwave oven

One of the major advantages of induction cooking is safety, especially if you have young children in the hotel room. The stovetop stays cool even when you are cooking.

A must-have at every hotel stay these days, the Nespresso machine!

The bathroom is connected to the bedroom on one side and the walk-in wardrobe on the other. We didn’t have a bathtub but we loved the rainshower feature.

The safety deposit is also unique because there is a charging point inside where you can charge your devices while locking them safe should you decide to leave the room.

Played songs from 98.7fm via the powerful Geneva sound system.

The view which greeted us when we looked out the window!

Hopefully this is a better shot of our room enough to justify its magnificence. I can’t emphasize how awesomely huge it is!

Another selfie before we check out the hotel amenities! I realized I blend well with Capri’s choice of cheery color, orange 😀

There are 24/7 laundrettes on every floor which go by the name Spin & Play because all you have to do is chuck your laundry into the washing machine and play while you wait!

This is on the 6th floor, where you can utilize this unique-looking cycling machine to get some cardio exercise.

There are also interactive games such as Wii and XBOX, etc in the Spin & Play rooms on selected levels.

24/7 gym with pool view. The 20-metre pool is very cool too, because there’s a hydro treadmill if you are sick of doing laps after laps.

I think misterchewy fell in love with the suntanning rocking beds.

If swimming is not your thing, there are bicycle loan services as well!

The Pod is a 98sqm function room for up to 36 persons classroom-style seating. Looks very relaxing and fun to just lie around on the giant bean bags!

Keep yourselves occupied during your staycation by borrowing some console or boardgames to play.

We were hungry from all the walking and decided to pop by Delite which is open from 10am to 7pm serving soups, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and other light bites.

The husband had Buffalo Wings ($15) to go with his pint of Erdinger.

My Albacore Tuna Sandwich ($13) tasted delish. Loved the flaky tuna and crusty Turkish wholewheat toast.

Caprilicious is an all-day dining oulet with hotel buffet breakfast, set lunch, a la carte dinner, and 24-hour room service.

Also located on level 1, Drinx has quite a few Happy Hour deals!

Boys will always be boys. The husband was having fun with the XBOX in one of the Spin & Play rooms while I played Hay Day on my iPad. Hehe.

We had late dinner and decided to have it in the comfort of our room. We phoned Caprilicious and it didn’t take long for our food to be served.

Char-grilled Portobello Mushroom ($11)

Rock Lobster Bisque ($13)

Seafood Tom Yum ($11)

Saffron Risotto ($20)

Grilled Lamb Cutlets ($32)

Snuggled in bed and was planning to watch Pacific Rim which we borrowed earlier. Decided against it in the end when we realized that there would be violent content that I better not expose myself to right now 😛 Off to slumberland!

Breakfast in bed is the ultimate experience! Nothing beats waking up to the smell of delicious American breakfast and a glass of freshly squeezed juice.

Our staycation experience at Capri by Fraser Changi City was a splendid one and we felt really reluctant to check out after a night’s stay. We will be back again with little misschewy! 🙂 In the meantime, do check out Capri’s Lunar New Year Festive Staycation Package for a really good deal!

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Capri by Fraser Changi City
3 Changi Business Park Central 1
Singapore 486037
Tel : +65 6933 9833
Fax : +65 6933 9888
For hotel bookings or reservations:
Tel: +65 6338 0800
Local Toll-Free: 1800 338 0800
reservations.singapore@capribyfraser.com

The Plot Hostels Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on December 12, 2013 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

I thought this would never happen in a million years but thanks to The Plot Hostels, I can finally do this – ~~stay in a hostel~~ to my bucket list! Hurray! Prior to this hostel experience, the very idea of sharing a room with complete strangers is exceedingly intimidating and bothers me a lot. Even misterchewy was completely taken aback by my decision to review The Plot Hostels because he’s well aware of this unexplainable paranoia of mine. But I have to say that I was quite impressed by what I saw on The Plot’s website, so much so that I was convinced enough to give it a shot.

Now, the question is, “Why The Plot Hostels”?

The best stories have a great plot. And at The Plot Hostels, you will encounter lots of intriguing and interesting stories from other travelers and backpackers. Then, once you’re finishing interacting and sharing stories and your best travel adventures with other backpackers and travelers, it’s time to plot your future travels. Plotting journeys is part of the fun for backpackers! Plot your next solo adventure or join forces with one of the other adventure seekers that you’ll meet at The Plot Hostels. It’s a place to forge new friendships, to share stories and delightful conversation and it’s the perfect place to plot your journey and plan your next adventure!

Conveniently located within walking distance of Chinatown, Tiong Bahru and Outram, along with the local heritage area, travellers staying at The Plot Hostels will discover a unique blend of Singaporean cultures.

I didn’t see the need to wake up bright and early that Saturday (for the record, I woke up at 12.30pm) since the check-in could only be done from 3pm onwards. The husband and I took a cab from the East and reached slightly around 3.15pm. Guests had to produce either their identification cards or passports, of which a photocopy will be made upon checking in. We were each given a security access key which came in the form of a silicone rubber wristband.

One of The Plot’s friendly staff showed us up to our room on the fourth level, which is also the highest level.

This is how the access key looks like. Pretty cool right! And you don’t have to worry about misplacing it because you should be wearing it around your wrist everywhere you go, even in the shower since it’s waterproof. The wristbands come in two colors – blue if you are staying in a Mixed room and red for Ladies room.

The Plot Hostels consists of 11 rooms, all of which are air-conditioned. The mixed rooms are available in 3 different configurations – 4-Pod, 6-Pod, and 8-Pod, which you can select during your booking process. Room rates are around SGD35 to SGD50 per person per night, depending on room type, length of stay and stay period. We were assigned a 6-Pod mixed room which comes with an ensuite bathroom and shower. You can easily identify your own pod based on the alphabet indicated at the side of the personal lockers attached to each pod.

When we first stepped into our room, I knew for sure that pod B was occupied by another guest because the curtain had been drawn shut and told misterchewy, “Oh no! We have another male companion in our room!” He asked how could I be so sure that it’s a male and I went, “Why would any solo female traveller want to stay in a mixed room if there are ladies rooms available? Unless…”

I don’t sit on my bed if I’m not showered and in clean clothes but I made this an exception since we were only going to stay for one night. Besides, sitting at the side of the bed wouldn’t hurt right? 😛 I used to think that staying in a hostel is almost akin to staying under slum-like conditions but The Plot Hostels proved me very wrong. Our room was impeccably clean, reasonably spacious and brightly-lit. It really made me feel right at home.

The husband’s pod was just above mine. I was actually quite worried that he would roll off the bed in his sleep given the fact that he’s quite a heavy sleeper at times.

Every individual pod includes a personal locker which has ample space to store your bags, personal valuables, and definitely that precious tablet or laptop which you cannot live without.

There is an international electrical outlet for charging your devices and also a light switch if you wish to do some packing or reading within the comfort of your own pod. Blankets are provided for and if you need towels, you can request for one at the reception.

Washing up area at the other end of the room.

There are conditioning shampoo and shower gel dispensers in the shower room. And for those who are concerned, there definitely is hot water.

Guests are free to use the common bathroom and shower area located outside the rooms on each level. The Plot Hostels is also thoughtful enough to cater to travellers with physical disabilities.

Taking a selfie in the room. Darn, should have backfaced the green-tinted windows 😛

Taking the elevator down to fetch our guest of honour. Haha!

We were pretty much entralled by the futuristic outlook of the elevator. No chance to take photos earlier as we were accompanied by The Plot’s staff. Paisey la 😛

Communal TV lounge with movie screening

Comfy seating area

Complimentary use of iMac computers

Mini library

Hot & cold filtered drinking water dispenser

Chargeable snacks and mini bar

Guests are free to do light cooking in the kitchen. There is a refrigerator and a microwave, as well as cutleries and crockeries.

There is also a Laundry Area with a coin operated washing machine, coin operated dryer machine and communal drying area.

Still very fascinated by the elevator.

YP and I 🙂

Balcony area where you can get some fresh air, chill and exchange stories with fellow travellers.

We headed out for very late lunch around the area. It was almost 5pm and I had not eaten all day! Little misschewy must be very hungry but still had tremendous strength to kick me. LOL. Hopefully I will have time to do a separate review on The Orange Thimble 🙂 There are plenty of cafes and eateries located near The Plot Hostels. Thumbs up for its strategic location!

After late lunch, we had late high tea at Drips Bakery Cafe, a place which specializes in tarts. I chose the Lemon Meringue tart which had just the right amount of sweetness and its zesty lemony taste was very refreshing.

We also shared the Chocolate tart (raspberry was from the lemon meringue) which was slightly bitter as it was made with dark chocoaltes. Reminded me of Awfully Chocolate’s dark chocolate truffles. Yummy!

By the time we were done with our mini pigging out session, it was 7pm but this didn’t stop us from wanting to eat dinner. We agreed that the best way to work up an appetite was to take a 2-hour nap 😛

The husband was teasing me, “Eh? You haven’t shower, so dirty leh. You dare to lie down on your bed ah?” -_-

YP highly recommended Tian Tian Seafood, a mere one-minute walk from the hostel. Fish head steamboat!

Ordered additional sliced pork, golden mushroom, fried yam and hotplate beancurd.

Decided to relax at the communal area after dinner. YP and I caught the last 20 minutes of Life of Pi while the husband updated himself with soccer news and MapleStory on the iMac. The three of us then trotted over to Cheers to get bottled water.

After a nice hot shower! Pardon my eyebrowless face and dark circles >_<

A group selfie before lights out 🙂

The guy at the reception sure wasn’t kidding when he emphasized that “simple breakfast” will be served.

Plain white bread or wholemeal bread with peanut butter, margarine or strawberry jam. You can also help yourself to the toaster.

I had cocoa krispies with milk. Headed back to our room to pack up and nua a bit more before checking out at 11am 🙂

It was a very delightful experience for us staying at The Plot Hostels for one night. The amenities were more than just basic, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the seasoned backpacker found himself being pampered during his stay. I strongly recommend The Plot Hostels not only to travellers seeking maximum comfort and value at a low cost, but also to locals who are keen on organizing staycations for large groups on a budget.

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

The Plot Hostels
259 Outram Road
Singapore 169056
Tel: +65 6223 5866
Fax: +65 6223 9626

Central Reservation
Tel: +65 6298 8889
Fax: +65 6396 8356
Email: reservation@theplothostels.com

Village Hotel Katong Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on December 5, 2013 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

It had been a good 3 months since the last time misterchewy and I went on a romantic staycation in Singapore. It’s always nice to spend quality time with your spouse over the weekend, experiencing a totally new yet comfortable and chic environment such as the newly launched Village Hotel Katong, which is the latest addition to Far East Hospitality’s growing portfolio of hotels and serviced residences.

Located in the eastern region of Singapore, Village Hotel Katong is a non-smoking property housing a total of 229 hotel rooms and is integrated with the family-friendly shopping mall, Katong V. Being just a 15-minute drive to the Changi International Airport, Central Business District and Orchard Road, the hotel provides excellent connectivity to key business and leisure locations. It is also within a 5-minute walk to the Parkway Parade Shopping Mall and 10-minute walk to the East Coast Park. Superb for family staycations as well.

My parents dropped us off at the ground floor of Katong V and we took an escalator up to the lobby of Village Hotel Katong. The husband and I waited in line for quite sometime and we both thought that the check-in process could be faster and more efficient.

This was our lovely home for one night, an expansive 35 square metre Club Room on the 6th floor of the hotel. Do note that the larger rooms are all situated on the lower floors. Our club room, in a soothing shade of blue, was not only cosy but very homely. I was already making notes for our future abode! We certainly don’t mind coming home to this every night 🙂

In line with the Village brand’s philosophy of drawing inspiration and vitality from its surrounding neighbourhood, Village Hotel Katong reflects the strong Peranakan heritage of the surrounding Katong and Joo Chiat district in Singapore.

The larger rooms are also designed with a comfortable couch sitting area where you can relax with a good book and a pot of hot tea.

Adequate supply of complimentary coffee and tea.

Clearly, misterchewy was very impressed with this. He exclaimed, “WAH! New one! For iPhone 5!” The iPod docking systems that we encountered during all our previous staycations were designed for the older iPhone models and not suitable for iPhone 5.

A sliding glass door separates the bathroom from the room.

Our room didn’t come with a bathtub. The husband phoned reception in order to satisfy my curiosity and they mentioned that rooms with bathtubs were not ready yet. We weren’t exactly affected anyway because of my pregnant state, it’s not advisable for me to take hot baths.

All bathrooms are equipped with a powerful standing rain shower to revitalize and refresh tired guests after a long day of work or shopping.

My OOTD for this staycation was from Maternity Exchange! Absolutely love this black number from my maternity sponsor as the cut is flattering and it accentuates my baby bump. Best of all, the material is light and stretchy (made of lycra fabric if I’m not wrong) which does not trap heat or cling to my skin. To jazz up my outfit, I paired it with my black and gold necklace from Diva 🙂

I would also like to thank Beauty Direct for the Star Lash falsies in Dark Brown #17 which is very natural-looking.

I was kinda starving as we didn’t have lunch. It was almost 4pm when misterchewy came back with 328 Katong Laksa! He took only 20 minutes (including having to wait for the food). Plenty of eateries around the area! It’s too good to be true! Anyway, I have been avoiding cockles ever since I became pregnant. Somehow, laksa doesn’t taste as shiok without cockles but this was quite good. Very satisfying lunch for the both of us 🙂

Not only is Village Hotel Katong integrated with Katong V, NTUC FairPrice Finest is just directly below the hotel, on the ground floor. Talk about ultimate convenience. For those who have always wanted to check out Group Therapy Cafe, it’s there too!

Staying in the Club room combines exceptional comfort with a host of exclusive privileges like access to the Peranakan Lounge for daily breakfast and evening cocktails from 6pm to 8pm, in a comfortable environment, both for both work and leisure that will make you feel right at home, Peranakan style.

We popped by the Peranakan Lounge for some light bites at 6pm and saw that finger food such as cold cuts, chicken satay, seafood quiche and pastries were available. The husband had two cans of beer while I opted for freshly squeezed orange juice.

We were supposed to check out a newly opened restaurant for dinner at 8pm but we changed our minds since it was raining and also because of the fact that we were kinda full from the numerous sticks of delicious chicken satay. Earlier in the day, Judy the baker from Happy Avenue delivered her homemade kueh lapis and cupcakes to us. My intention was only to try a few slices of kueh lapis but misterchewy and I ended up finishing up the whole box! :O

We felt so guilty that we woke up at 6am the next morning to… take photos of the gymmasium.

Just pretending to be working out.

I was quite amused by the swimming pool. Does swimming around the circumference count as one lap? 😛

Katong Kitchen, located on the 4th floor of the hotel, opens as early as 6am for breakfast. I’m glad we woke up really early for our best meal of the day!

This is by far my favorite at Katong Kitchen, the Nasi Lemak station! 🙂

If you have enjoyed our Village Hotel Katong staycation review, check out the opening promotion valid till 9 February 2014 or take advantage of the Holiday Savers+ and get 25% off per night when you book now till end January 2014!

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Village Hotel Katong
25 Marine Parade
Singapore 449536
Tel: 6344 2200
Email: info.vhk@fareast.com.sg

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

Tag Archives: things to do during a staycation

Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore Staycation Review

Hotel Clover The Arts Singapore Staycation Review

Park Hotel Clarke Quay Staycation Review

AMOY Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Naumi Liora Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Valentine’s Day Staycation @ Oasia Hotel or The Quincy Hotel

Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Capri by Fraser Changi City Singapore Staycation Review

The Plot Hostels Singapore Staycation Review

Village Hotel Katong Singapore Staycation Review

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: