For our second and third nights in Singapore we decided to stay at the Hilton. For whatever reason just about everything in the city was sold out for the weekend, and the cheapest rates anywhere else seemed to be over $400USD per night. The Hilton, however, had rooms available using their “points and money reward” option, which cost 24,000 Honors points plus $122SGD per night. Not bad given what the alternatives were.
We took a taxi from the W Sentosa Cove in the early afternoon and arrived at the Hilton at around 2PM. The Hilton is located right in the center of the action on Orchard Road, and is a tired-looking building from the outside.
Hotel entrance
The lobby feels as generic as humanly possible. We proceeded to the reception desk, which is just inside the door on the right.
Hotel entrance
Lobby
Lobby
The agent working the reception desk was incredibly friendly. She acknowledged my Diamond status and explained the club lounge was closed due to renovations. Instead we’d get breakfast in the restaurant and appetizers in the lobby bar in the evening. We had two rooms, so she assigned them next to one another on the 21st floor.
Lobby and reception desk
Hotel directory
The hotel hallway felt “fresh,” though there was already a loud jackhammer noise in the hallway. It only got worse once we entered our rooms and realized we were directly below the club lounge, which was being renovated. So we headed back down to reception and explained that the rooms were too noisy. They were extremely apologetic, and instead assigned us rooms on the 12th floor. She apologized profusely that the rooms weren’t next to one another, though (as if we cared).
The 12th floor was also renovated.
Hallway
I was assigned room 1225, which was located about halfway down the hallway.
Room 1225
Room location
The room was pretty bland and standard. There was an entryway, and immediately to the left was the bathroom.
Entryway
The bathroom featured a single sink, toilet, and shower.
The toiletries were standard Hilton branded ones, which are pretty “bleh.”
Toiletries
Physically the room was reasonably nice, at least as far as “standard” renovated Hilton rooms go. The room had a comfortable king bed, a desk with a rolling chair, and a seat in the corner with an ottoman and side table.
Bedroom
King bed
Bedroom
Chair and ottoman
Desk
TV
The room featured views of some greenery and surrounding buildings.
View from room
There’s a rooftop swimming pool on the 24th floor of the hotel. There’s also a gym on the 23rd floor.
Rooftop pool
Pool
Pool and hotel
View from pool deck
View from pool deck
In the morning we had breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, Checkers.
Restaurant and bar
The spread is good compared to hotel restaurants in the US and Europe, though compared to most spreads in Asia I thought it was pretty sub-par, both in terms of variety and quality.
Restaurant
Restaurant
Cereals
Breakfast buffet
Water and fruit
Pancakes and french toast
Quiche and waffles
Breakfast buffet
Pastries
Bread display
Hash browns and bacon
Breakfast buffet
Samosas and naan
Dim sum and noodle bar
In the evenings a portion of Checkers was partitioned off for guests with executive lounge access, so I assume the spread was similar to what you’d find in the lounge. I took a look at the spread one night, though Singapore is such a phenomenal food city that I saved my appetite for places outside the hotel.
Temporary lounge in restaurant
Happy hour drinks
Hors d’oeuvres
Hors d’oeuvres
Dessert and fruit
Hot items
Before I mention my “beef” with the hotel, let me say that all the employees I interacted with were incredibly friendly. Almost too friendly.
Also, most people love staying on Orchard Road, since it’s sort of the 5th Avenue of Singapore with all kinds of amazing shopping, restaurants, etc. Personally I prefer to be near the Marina, because I far prefer the ambiance and restaurants of Clarke Quay, for example. So in terms of location I actually prefer the Conrad, which I realize puts my in the minority.
I won’t beat a dead horse, though there was something a bit off with the juju of the hotel. I wrote about it in this post. There are ceramic statues in front of the hotel, which are typically a bad sign about the history of a hotel.
Guardian statue
Guardian statue
Explanation sign
So of the hotels I’ve stayed at this was my least favorite and I wouldn’t return. The hotel itself is fine — it’s a generic Hilton — but as far as Hilton properties I prefer the usually similarly priced Conrad, and if I’m staying on Orchard Road I far prefer the St. Regis. But there was something about the “spirit” of the hotel (or more accurately, me listening to a couple too many stories about the hotel’s history) that prevented me from having a nice stay. Yeah, I realize I’m starting to go a bit nuts…
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