Review: St. Regis Singapore

I stayed for three nights last May. I also stayed at the Westin for two nights that trip.

Agree that physically the St. Regis rooms are super nice and comfortable, the pool was nice, and the restaurants and bar were high quality.

But I had comically bad service during the entire stay.

Check-in was very slow - they were training someone new on the process, so every step was done twice. Wasn't really what I was in the mood for after 20 hours to get there. I wasn't upgraded - I know it's not guaranteed.

The butler was virtually non-existent. Took a lot of calls to get through, and the coffee wasn't quick.

Room service was especially bad - they forgot the coffee both mornings I ordered, and by the time the coffee got there, the food was cold. Now, they sure seemed annoyed that I wanted hot eggs and hot coffee at the same time, but when the price of the breakfast is about 50 USD, it doesn't seem like too much to ask.

They also couldn't check me out. They were running some report on the system, and said they didn't realize I'd be leaving so early in the morning - even though they booked the hotel car for me to get back to Changi. Of course then they emailed the bill there were two mistakes, which took a lot of emails to get solved.

I dunno - the hard product was excellent, but as you paid, so did i - 400 USD/night for service comparable to a Sheraton wasn't acceptable.

Especially as a Platinum - and especially given how much the St. Regis talks up the service and the butlers.

Have you stayed at the Marina Bay Sands (is that even possible on points)? I seem to remember an old post where you visited it but wasn't sure if you stayed there or would consider it.

I stayed at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel on my last trip to Singapore. I thought it was really nice despite it being quite pricey (although I did stay on New Years Eve)

@ Bill -- Yep, I have indeed:
https://onemileatatime.com/four-continents-and-37000-miles-in-two-weeks-marina-bay-sands-singapore/

I find the Conrad a better hotel. Off the Orchard road rip off prices!

Ben, next time try to make the trip over to Sentosa. We spent a fair bit of time at Capella last summer. I doubt you can beat the experience Capella serves up in Singapore.

@ Dr. Jumbski -- I quite like Sentosa as well, but for sightseeing I don't find it all that practical.

Hotel seems really nice and well, high-end.
If I may ask, why did you need a rollaway bed?

You'll find a higher experience at the Four Seasons.

Did you read the magazine about zombies that was on your coffee table?

Great review lucky. Really looking forward to your review of the Westin. Like you, I much prefer contemporary hotel rooms. We chose the Westin for our 3 night stay this past August and while the location isn't perfect, we found it to be pretty easy to get to/from.

I've stayed at the Conrad several times. I like the location much better. The room, service, and the exec. lounge were good. The exec. lounge can get crowded at times, though. As a gold or diamond you can have breakfast at the lounge, the main dining room, or a separate dining room they had set up on the pool level just for diamonds and golds or those with lounge access. The main dining room had the best spread by far.

The Fullerton also is a good hotel in a good location. It is near the Singapore River on Boat Quay and not far from Clark Quay. The location is excellent near lots of dining and entertainment.

For a Singapore hotel room that's looks enormous.

What's the retail on it?

+1 to Clarke quay but there's no good hotels down there. Location down by MO, Marina mandarin, Conrad etc isn't bad also.

Although I'm an SPG loyalist, I always stay at the grand hyatt in Singspore, they always give me a suite as a Platinum. I thought you would have stayed there perhaps.

@ Andrew -- Retail was ~1200SGD.

Wait...that was the abbreviated hotel review?

Is there no such thing as a 2-bedded suite? Seems odd that this is an on-going reported issue (in other blogs as well) ... You'd think they'd at least do the European "hybrid" style, which can be configured either way (1 or 2 beds).

I stayed there 1 night a year ago, had great butler service who helped with beverage service and laundry. Got lucky and was upgraded to a Caroline Astor Suite on a AmexFHR basic room rate, was SPG Gold back then. Your post/photos brings back fond memories!!

Maybe give Ritz Carlton Millenia a try next time around? Especially the Club rooms!! ... Better location, service and the lounge was just perfect! - a beautiful view of the flyer and phenomenal food offerings!

Have you ever tried the Mandarin Oriental in Singapore--we booked in Feb they had a deal pay 2 nights 3rd night is free.

We are then going to the St. Regis in Bali

It looks like you can see into the bathroom from the bedroom. Am I right? Those are windows on either side of the mirror at the dressing table? So tacky! I would expect it from a "trendy" fashion victim hotel, not a St Regis. Otherwise looks pretty nice.

Have you stayed at the Sofitel The Stamford. I have been very frustrated with the hotels in Singapore as well and have found The Stamford in terms of location and price to be excellent.

I personally find Singapore to be quite difficult to find affordable hotels in as well, thouh IHG has a big footprint there and that's my chain of choice, though Starwood isnt far behind.

What about The Fullerton Bay?

Just stayed there on the 6th for one night. Hotel room was extremely nice. Full buffet breakfast for plats. The "happy hour" drinks were quite silly: Belvedere vodka was included but not gin , whiskey , etc.
Once again, the same BS on suites not being available even though they were selling them online . Claimed they were not cleaned. I told them to clean one and never heard back.
I am really tired of Starwood properties not upgrading platinum members to available suites. The Westin Philly was so absurd as to tell me they had as many as 80 platinum members per night in a 208 room hotel.
I'm no longer status chasing any hotel group. I'm sick of having to beg for benefits

@ Ada -- I love the Fullerton Bay, but for those of us with more "traditional" points currencies, it's not really readily available.

@ Ladytravelbug -- I haven't. May have to check it out next time I'm in Singapore.

@ tara -- Yes, but there are curtains there you can lower, so it's not too bad.

@ Vito -- I haven't, though have heard fairly good things about it. I suspect you'll have a nice stay. 🙂

It's worth staying at Raffles at least once, it's such an iconic old world hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace hotel of Singapore. But yiu should really try the Ritz on the marina with a bay view room, perfect location and the best views in the city because you're looking at the Marina Bay Sands and downtown reminding you when you wake up that you're in Singapore, it's like having a view of the opera house in Sydney (admittedly not quite as cool, but still, this is Singapore).

@Bill,
While service might be a bit better at the Four Seasons, the rooms are tired and the pool is depressing. I'm not too much of a fan of the location, either. Overall, the St Regis is a better property.

@Ladytravelbug,
I think you mean Swissôtel The Stamford, no?

I found the harbour view suite I stayed in at the Westin of excellent layout, and I did enjoy the view. The club lounge and the pool were nice too. My main gripe is with the location - it's not far from e.g. Clarke Quay, but you'll need a taxi.

Looking forward to your Westin Singapore review ! Hope you enjoyed the stay at my country.

Inaccurate information. St. Regis, while close to Orchard Road is not on Orchard. Take this from someone that lives in Singapore.

And why in the world would someone want to be near Clarke Quay? Singapore is quite small and accessible that you can stay anywhere and get anywhere in very little time. Anyway, the Novotel there is a not so great option.

If you look beyond the major chains & "points/awards" hotels, you'll find a lot of good quality boutique hotels, offering an intimate experience at reasonable price points: The Scarlet, Klapsons, Naumi, Oasia, Wangz, etc.

In particular, Scarlet, Klapsons and the mid-sized Carlton City (opened just last year), are located in the Tanjong Pagar district. They are all within walking distance to the gay bars 🙂

On the bay, Pan Pacific and Mandarin Oriental* are great choices too.

*Happy hours at Mortons in MO are weekdays Mon-Fridays, 5-7pm. Half-price martinis and free servings of mini steak sandwiches.

I have reservations for both St.Regis & Four Seasons Singapore in March, so perfect timing to read your review 🙂

For St.Regis, I have similar package as yours and I am curious how stingy St.Regis are in terms of upgrade when booked with SPG Preferred Partner/Virtuoso rate? As for Four Seasons, I found them quite generous when booked with FSPP rate, not just one level upgrade.

@ Francisca -- In general I would expect a one or two category upgrade. I wouldn't expect a suite if you don't Starwood status.

Singapore has some of the world's worst so-called 5-star hotels, and I agree with those who think they are also a terrible value. The problem has to do with the service, which is not about attending to customers particular needs, but delivering everything in a wrote way pursuant to a checklist and memorized procedures. (In fact, one of the favorite expat topics of conversation in Singapore is "Why is service so bad here?") Any particular request is likely to be met with the response, "But sir, we do XYZ." If you persist with "But I would like it this way," the response is always "but we do it that way." They've been trained to perform in a particular way and are terrorized by management to perform exactly as instructed, rather than as requested by the customer. Staff are not empowered to accommodate guests and their whims and particular needs. I've seen the same thing on Singapore Airlines (particularly intra-Asia flights), often with male pursers terrorizing female flight attendants to do things in a particular way. I have had less-than-stellar service at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Marina Bay Sands (horrendous all-around, and run by that crook Sheldon Adelson), the Mandarin Oriental, the Grand Hyatt, Raffles, Fairmont, Marina Mandarin, and the Fullerton. The Four Seasons Singapore probably does the best job of combating typical Singapore-style service, although the hotel is relatively old and in a very inconvenient location. It always depresses me when I have to stay in Singapore and makes me long for Tokyo or Bangkok.