St Regis Singapore or somewhere else

[Cynicor]

Quick questions-

Has anyone every stayed at the Royal Plaza on Scotts in Singapore? I've read lots of the Tripadvisor reviews but it's hard to judge a place based on them sometimes

and at $650 for a Club Deluxe room (so club access, free in room basic minibar, internet and breakfast at club or restaurant) or about the same price for an "Executive deluxe king room" (their basic room I believe) at the St Regis with breakfast for 2 which would you choose?

I'm only going for 2 nights, get in at 9pm 2nd Dec, fly out 7pm 4th Dec and won't be in the hotel a great deal. I'm open to other suggestions but I'd like it to be close to Orchard rd, even though taxis are plentiful and cheap.

Which is my last question- is it actually easy to get to Orchard Rd (Paragon/ Ngee Ann City part) from the St Regis?

Thanks

Jon

 

[Keith009]

Orchard Rd is right around the corner from the St Regis. You walk a block down and reach the Hilton/Wheelock Place bit of Orchard. Cross the road and you hit ION which is now the place to be for luxury brands - Ngee Ann City and Paragon a little further up.

But in response to your original question - anywhere other than the St Regis at that price point. You can get much better hotels at those rates. Unless you're doing an SPG Cat 5 Cash+Points in which case the St Regis becomes a compelling proposition on price alone, I'd be looking elsewhere such as the fab Four Seasons just a 100 metres up the road or the Grand Hyatt on Scotts Rd. drron and I have reviewed the St Regis and despite having at times radically different views on travel - we have managed to agree that the St Regis is cough. Look under "Hotel Experiences and Reviews" for more detail and pics.

Never stayed at Royal Plaza on Scotts so can't offer an opinion on that one.

 

[DTM1]

you might also want to look at the fairmont. It's a little bit further from Orchard than the st regis (at the other end of orchard - it's near raffles), but if you join their president's club on line, then you get free inr oom internet and the rooms are pretty nice as well, although starting to date a bit. The gym is state of the art and the breakfasts are pretty impressive as well, and if you're not going to be there much, the other facilities eg pool don't really matter that much. Probably a 15 minute walk to Paragon, but right round the corner from Chjimes.

 

[drron]

By the sounds of it you are quoting the price for 2 nights.Yes the St.Regis rate is for their basic room.it certainly is large enough but to me just doesnt work.Not too far from Ngee Ann.The Royal plaza would also be a reasonable walk.Never stayed there but I to discount Trip advisor reviews.
No free internet at St. Regis unless SPG plat and they dont upgrade you.Room is 50sqm against Royal plaza 32sqm.
I suggest though you consider lunch at Iggys in the Regent-great place and very reasonable at lunch.See here-
The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - View Single Post - Dubbo to Dresden.

 

[thewinchester]

Has anyone every stayed at the Royal Plaza on Scotts in Singapore? I've read lots of the Tripadvisor reviews but it's hard to judge a place based on them sometimes.

If you can hang on 48hrs, my good friend will be staying there, checking in tomorrow evening. I'll check the place out, and get his thoughts on the joint and get back to you here.

Is there anything specific you'd like to know about the property? Anything specific from the TripAdvisor reviews tweaking your spidey since you'd like to know more detail about?

 

[chrizzz14]

when in Singapore i always stay at the Grand Hyatt (scotts rd)... one of the best hotels in asia as far as im concerned.

 

[Flashback]

you might also want to look at the fairmont. It's a little bit further from Orchard than the st regis (at the other end of orchard - it's near raffles), but if you join their president's club on line, then you get free inr oom internet and the rooms are pretty nice as well, although starting to date a bit. The gym is state of the art and the breakfasts are pretty impressive as well, and if you're not going to be there much, the other facilities eg pool don't really matter that much. Probably a 15 minute walk to Paragon, but right round the corner from Chjimes.

I'll second that, stayed there in December last year and was a fantastic hotel.

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks for all the replies.

QF009/ DRRON: So it seems like the St. Regis is out this trip, though I could do a points+pay. Might save the amex points though- I had actually already read your review but saw so many good ones on TA.

thewinchester: I can wait a while, don't need to book today. Guess with the royal plaza I'd be wondering if the Club room is worth the price difference to the Superior or Deluxe rooms, which come with breakfast, internet and minibar anyway, and whether it's an ok hotel in general.

I've even considered at the York and Elizabeth just up from Orchard but right now don't want to sink to that level of hotel- I'm looking at~350AUD night with breakfast maximum.

DTM1 and Flashware: I've stayed at the swissotel in the same complex and quite liked the place. The Fairmont deluxe room is also going for ~$450AUD (2 nights) on expedia so I think you might have sold me on this. Worth it at this rate, and do you know what the breakfast costs? Same rate as the Royal Plaza but it seems like it might be a slightly better hotel. Only difference is plaza has the basic minibar and breakfast...

Decisions, decisions.

Jon M

 

[Keith009]

There's a nice bar at the top of Swissotel/Fairmont - New Asia Bar, v happening even on weeknights.

 

[drron]

Cynicor-I dont think QF009 or myself are saying the St.Regis is no good-it just doesnt work for us.I guess one thing we have in common is that we have been in lots of hotel rooms-though not together i may add .The feel isnt quite genuine.Some people though do like the decor and certainly it is a much bigger room than the Royal plaza.Breakfast,apart from the bacon,was good.For just 2 nights I would still consider it.It might be worth checking a week out on starpicks-sometimes quite a discount as long as whatever booking you do have is on a cancellable rate.

 

[Flashback]

Thanks for all the replies.

QF009/ DRRON: So it seems like the St. Regis is out this trip, though I could do a points+pay. Might save the amex points though- I had actually already read your review but saw so many good ones on TA.

thewinchester: I can wait a while, don't need to book today. Guess with the royal plaza I'd be wondering if the Club room is worth the price difference to the Superior or Deluxe rooms, which come with breakfast, internet and minibar anyway, and whether it's an ok hotel in general.

I've even considered at the York and Elizabeth just up from Orchard but right now don't want to sink to that level of hotel- I'm looking at~350AUD night with breakfast maximum.

DTM1 and Flashware: I've stayed at the swissotel in the same complex and quite liked the place. The Fairmont deluxe room is also going for ~$450AUD (2 nights) on expedia so I think you might have sold me on this. Worth it at this rate, and do you know what the breakfast costs? Same rate as the Royal Plaza but it seems like it might be a slightly better hotel. Only difference is plaza has the basic minibar and breakfast...

Decisions, decisions.

Jon M

They make a mean omlette and eggs benedict, and the buffet is quite good also! Breakfast was included in the room rate for us.

 

[Keith009]

Cynicor-I dont think QF009 or myself are saying the St.Regis is no good-it just doesnt work for us.I guess one thing we have in common is that we have been in lots of hotel rooms-though not together i may add .The feel isnt quite genuine.Some people though do like the decor and certainly it is a much bigger room than the Royal plaza.Breakfast,apart from the bacon,was good.For just 2 nights I would still consider it.It might be worth checking a week out on starpicks-sometimes quite a discount as long as whatever booking you do have is on a cancellable rate.

There's nothing inherently wrong with the St Regis. All I was saying is - for the rates they're charging and at the market segment the St Regis is positioned, you could do a lot better. This is Singapore, good luxury hotels aplenty. You won't have a terrible experience at the St Regis, but it won't be spectacular either and certainly isn't worth the rates they want other than SPG C+P.

 

[thewinchester]

Prelim on Royal Plaza on Scots

So far so good is the report from my friend currently staying there, and I've popped in a few times and all seems in order.

Rooms are spacious and well laid out, free mini bar and frequently stocked with assortment of beverages and water. Complementary in-room broadband and wireless on property, runs blazingly fast.

Food service is on par with expectations for this hotel rating. Rate friend is on has breakfast as inclusion, and good value for money - albeit I was a little shocked when he told me they have pre-cracked and mixed eggs (by way of sealed plastic packaging) supplied to the property for use in their kitchens. Then again, I'm a food naz_ and I think that stuff is just plain old cheating and borderline lazy.

Getting around wise, property is centrally located, just up from junction of Orchard/Patterson/Scotts. Tunnel entrance is 1min from the hotel, and just another 4min to the MRT via ION Orchard.

Its far easier to use the underpasses to get to the hotel, specially now since the pedestrian crossing at Patterson Road between ION and Wheelock Place has been removed.

Usual on-property facilities, TV's are flatscreen but poor MATV system causes poor signal quality.

Rooms are also being progressively refurbished/upgraded. Work is only being conducted during daytime hours, and friend was staying on one of these floors. No noise whatsoever, only small amount of rooms at any one time (3-4 max) and newer rooms look quite good.

Staff seem very attentive, mostly foreign, either Japanese or Indian backgrounds, no issues with service reported to date and check-in service was a breeze with everything ready to go on arrival.

The hotel was also looking after its F1 guests quite well, with regular shuttle buses to the track. Given how well the MRT runs, what the organisers learnt from last years debarcle, and the fact you can be from gate to bed in under 25min, the shuttle isn't all that necessary.

Only other downside of the property are the foyer, which for my liking was a little too pretentious (painted murals, spiral staircases with iron work, and the fascination with tea light candles thought the lobby.

Hope that gives you enough info, feel free to PM me if you need to know anything more specific.

 

[drron]

Cynicor I have just realised that royal plaza on Scotts is an I prefer hotel as I just got an email from them with a current special-3 nights there in a Club deluxe room for $A600.
So if you have booked and not an I prefer member you should join-it is free and they usually give you some sort of gift or amenity when staying(usually free internet or drinks but with those included maybe something else).