Singapore Hotel Prices

[brucek]

What's going to happen to SG hotel prices?

I've been a regular visitor to SG for business and pleasure since 1975. The hotel prices were reasonable until about a year ago. We were there last Christmas and the prices were rising then. Since that time the prices have litteraly doubled.

We're returing late December and have been tracking the hotel prices for a couple of months. Info from QF Holidays sugests that SG hotel prices are about to rise yet again, dispite the current ecconomic situation.

SG hotel vacancy rates have been low for the last year or so as the SG Government has implimented policies to encourage pax to stop over for 1-3 nights and the prices have refelected this surge in demand. I would have thought that in the current climate demand may have subsided to some extent and that this would have been refelected in prices, and in particular future short to medium term published prices.

This does not appear to be occuring however. Are there factors at work that I'm not realising and incorporating into my thinking?

We are trying to work out whether to book now, or wait and see if prices come down. Does anyone have any thoughts, or intel about the above?

Cheers

 

[Keith009]

There's been some opportunistic pricing during F1. But other than that can't really explain the general upward trend.

 

[Flashback]

Keep in mind also the devaluation of the SGD vs the AUD...

 

[Keith009]

Keep in mind also the devaluation of the SGD vs the AUD...

I was thinking in terms of SGD. Hotel prices in SG have been steadily rising for the past few years. Of course now they're suddenly a lot more expensive after the AUD took a dive. Here's hoping the global economic distress will bring prices back down to earth a bit.

 

[Flashback]

I'm just glad I booked my 3 night stayed @ the Fairmont when the SGD was still around $1.30!

2 months before I get there, so hopefully it rises and the shopping trip is back on the agenda

 

[ArseneV]

I'm staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Feb and felt I got a pretty good deal (thru website) for a Marina Bay View room. It's quite big, great view and has a bathtub looking out to the marina as well.

The Mandarin Oriental also has some good rates considering a lot of their rooms have Marina views (they call it Harbour view).

 

[Alanslegal]

Office space in SIN is currently at a premium given that there is absolutely none, or near none, supply at present.

So this trend probably has filtered through to hotels, where the limited growth/development of new hotels, plus the increase in demand (mainly business) has caused SIN hotel prices to jump upwards.

 

[JohnK]

I don't know what it is with hotels in Singapore but the room rates for upper class hotels have increased remarkably in the last 12 months. I have been looking at availability for Holiday Inns/Crowne Plaza for late December and the cheapest room is well over SG$300/night. There is no way I am paying this type of money for a bed for a night.

So as this has been going I have lowered my standards and do not mind staying in some of the 2 star hotels outside of the city centre and there are some good bargains to be found. Recently I have stayed in Hotel 81 Princes and Fragrance Hotel Joo Chiat and I was pleasantly surprised with both of these hotels. The reviews on the internet, especially Tripadvisor, do not reflect the hotel so I have put in some positive reviews and the rating of Hotel 81 Princess has increased on Tripadvisor.

I will more than likely book a night at Hotel 81 Princess again for ~A$75/night, $US49. I don't mind staying in the Geylang area and it is only ~SG$15 by taxi from Changi.

 

[brucek]

I don't mind staying in the Geylang area and it is only ~SG$15 by taxi from Changi.

Hi John and tnx for the post

Your comments re Hotel 81 and Fragrance are interesting. The intel I've always received is that these hotels are also used for other 'commercial purposes' besides sleeping. Your correct about the comments on Tripadvisor. Next time your at this site, keep an eye out for 'cthink'.

We're committed to going to SG this time due to circumstances beyond our control, however were flying out of SG to KL within 24 hours of arrival and spending more time there and in Malacca before coming back to SG for five nights to lower the overall cost of the trip.

If SG is not careful it will price itself out of the market as KL, BK and HK are attractive alternatives and, in the main, less expensive. QF, TG, and MH variously pass through these alternate ports en route to the EU so there is choice for the 'stop over' pax.

 

[ksthommo]

Your right they are pricing themselves out of the tourist market.

Was in Singapore during the F1 Grand Prix, luckily had private accommodation. Story was hotels ended up putting there prices down for the F1 as everyone was booking Hotels in Johore.

Ticket prices for the F1 were also expensive, ended up getting a good buy
off Ebay.

 

[JohnK]

Your comments re Hotel 81 and Fragrance are interesting. The intel I've always received is that these hotels are also used for other 'commercial purposes' besides sleeping. Your correct about the comments on Tripadvisor. Next time your at this site, keep an eye out for 'cthink'.

I have had really decent, not large, comfortable rooms both times. I am certain that some of these hotels double as short time hotels but I have not noticed anything unusual so far. The reception staff could not be more helpful and they are very friendly. At the Fragrance Hotel Joo Chiat I was given a room on the top floor next to the elevator and I was able to sleep perfectly without any interruption.

My point is why waste $300+ on a bed for a night when you can achieve the same result for $75.

On tripadvisor I am johnk_1602 but I have only recently started providing hotel reviews. I think the reviews for the 2, 3 star properties are not very accurate of what is actually available....

 

[serfty]

Singapore pricing makes the 25K HHonor point redemption for the Hilton quite reasonable value.

 

[dajop]

I wonder how long before the economic situation, and the deteriorating AUD will start having an affect on hotel prices. Whilst Singapore attracts visitors from all over the world, Australian visitors do make up a significant number of these. Not quite the same, but I did notice a week or so ago at Changi airport that the cosmetics/fragrances DF store was offering an exchange rate of 1.2 SGD:AUD for purchases. Seems to be targetted discounting to try and retain AU originating business, again I guess that Aussies do make up a not insignificant proportion of their business.

 

[SeaWolf]

The reception staff could not be more helpful and they are very friendly. At the Fragrance Hotel Joo Chiat I was given a room on the top floor next to the elevator and I was able to sleep perfectly without any interruption.

How was it for getting in and out of the city? I've been wanting to head back to Singapore but after the dollar crashed the price of hotels made it a bit impractical for me, though the Fragrance and Hotel 81 all seem fairly cheap my major concern was that they'd be really ratty and full of ladies of the night (so to speak).

 

[JohnK]

How was it for getting in and out of the city?

Unfortunately I did not head into the city but from my understanding it is not that far away. The MRT station is also within walking distance so you could use that option if wanting to go into the city.

I did go to Geylang, to my favourite eating place, and the return taxi trip was ~SG$15.

 

[stryker]

I usually stay at either Hotel81 or Fragrance, with Hotel81 being my preference if the prices are fairly similar. In my experience Hotel 81 has slightly nicer rooms and facilities.

Ladies of the night (so to speak) are everywhere in Geylang, and they certainly do use these hotels for short stays (but it's quite fun to watch them, I think). You don't have to participate if you don't want to. As for the hotels, they are well geared up to this trade and I've never been inconvenienced in any way because of it. Even my wife thinks it's a bit of a laugh.

As for getting to/from Geylang, if it's between 6 am and 11 pm, the trains provide great service and you will have no more than a 10 minute walk. If you have luggage, a cab from SIN will run to SGD 12-20 depending on the time of day, and it will be a similar cost to get into the city from Geylang.

All in all, I think Geylang is a great place, with many reasonable restaurants, especially moslem ones.

 

[ArseneV]

Thanks for the info guys.
I've booked the Hotel 81 - Princess for a one night stay in December.

Can you recommend anywhere in Geyland for breakfast?

 

[stryker]

Thanks for the info guys.
I've booked the Hotel 81 - Princess for a one night stay in December.

Can you recommend anywhere in Geyland for breakfast?

You'll be overwhelmed by the choice. Just go up to Geylang Rd (a few hundred metres at most) and you will find literally dozens of choices, ranging from Asian to Moslem to fast food, and everything in between.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[drron]

The problem is it is not only Singapore hotel prices you now have to worry about.the pacific Peso is sinking rapidly.shopping is now out of the question for aussies.Despite the sales everywhere mrsdrron hasnt bought a thing.
In May this year I got $S1.26 for our dollar.At Changi last thursday $S1.02.today moneychangers have it at $S0.90.So eating is 25% dearer than May.

 

[JohnK]

I've booked the Hotel 81 - Princess for a one night stay in December.

Who did you book through? What was the rate?

I will be booking 1 night at this hotel in December and I have found Agoda the cheapest at US$49. Oh my, last week this was ~A$75 and now it is >$A80.

Can you recommend anywhere in Geyland for breakfast?

As mentioned just walk 200 metres up to Geylang Rd and you will find may places to eat. My biggest is having too many choices but I do have a preference for the place on the corner on the same side of the street as Hotel 81 - Princess.