Short review
Value for money: 3/5 (It is nice alright, but not sure whether it is worth paying that much for the perks)
Services: 4/5 (Overall it’s very good; just a minor annoyance during check-in)
Bedroom: 4.5/5 (Reasonably spacious with a great view)
Bathroom: 5/5 (Loved it!)
Breakfast: 5/5 (A wide variety of options; the highlight of the stay)
Facilities and amenities: 5/5 (Swimming pools, spa, fitness centre, tennis courts; everything is there)
Pros
- Outstanding breakfast experience
- The largest kids’ pool I’ve ever seen
- Great amenities and facilities
Cons
- Despite the excellent facilities, amenities, and overall services, the hotel still has a relatively low value for money given the context
Long review
For our short 3-night holiday in Singapore, my family and I stayed in Fairmont Singapore. The well-known Fairmont brand attracted us to try this hotel. We also stayed in Fairmont Jakarta previously and were impressed with our experience.
Arriving in the hotel by taxi, we were greeted by a staff in a top hat. Nice touch. Entering the lobby, we were welcomed by an expansive place and a big artwork, resembling bubbles (as expressed by my daughter, Josie), hanging from the ceiling. There is also a massive painting behind the check-in counters, which, I believe, represents cultural diversity in Singapore.
Check-in was quick, but I was annoyed when I was told that I only booked breakfast for 1 person, even though I booked the room for 2 adults and 1 child. In the end, I connected to the hotel Wi-Fi in my room, went down to the lobby again, and showed my online itinerary to another staff before I was granted breakfast for my wife and daughter. A minor thing of course, but it was still annoying because I expected a smooth experience throughout our stay given the price that we had to pay.
The corridor to our room has a dark colour scheme and was dimly lighted. There are more artworks placed on pedestals along the corridor.
We booked a Deluxe room with 2 double beds. At 45 m2, the room is spacious and seemed to be newly renovated. The dark colour scheme is also prominent in the room. A corner sofa and a table were placed in the opposite of the beds. A plate of tropical fruit and cutlery were already prepared for us on the table. A control panel and USB sockets are located between the 2 beds. The control panel was convenient to control the lighting and the curtains. The curtains, however, could not close properly without being gently pulled. The motor perhaps wasn’t strong enough to drag the heavy curtains in this case.
The mini bar and fridge are enclosed inside a nicely designed cabinet. In the right side of the cabinet, there is a hot and cold water dispenser. Not sure about the cost of maintaining and running the system, but if it is feasible, more hotels should have this kind of dispenser. This is excellent indeed. I also found an iron and ironing board hidden in a wall cabinet.
The view from the room was amazing. I could see several Singapore landmarks, including Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Flyer, Esplanade, and the War Memorial Park. The room actually has a balcony, although the term balcony is rather generous in this case since it is very narrow, perhaps only 50 cm wide. Still, it’s good to be able to stand outdoor and enjoy the view.
The bathroom looks contemporary and is luxuriously designed. The circular mirror bordered by lighting is the elegant centre piece in the bathroom. The deep bathtub and shower are placed on one side, while the toilet is on the other side. The Rose 31 bathroom amenities were also excellent.
Overall, we were very pleased with the room. The beds were firm and comfortable. The pillows were excellent. The air conditioner was quiet and did very well in maintaining the room temperature.
Now let’s head to breakfast. Following the artsy décor of the hotel, the breakfast area is also uniquely designed with interesting decorative items, including a glam chandelier and bright green bar cabinets. The centre piece of the decoration is a light blue car. Yes, there’s a car inside the breakfast area. There are plenty of seats with different styles, which again creates a unique ambience which I personally like. Usually I prefer to sit near a window during breakfast, but in this case, it didn’t really matter because the overall interior drew me in.
The food selection was excellent. Near the entrance, typical breakfast food was served, such as bread and cereal. The honey was actually a piece of real honeycomb and it was super delicious. Passing the car into the middle of the long breakfast area, desserts and Asian cuisine were served. Finally, at the far end of the room, there were some typical Western dishes and the egg station. The foods were delicious. This was definitely one of the best breakfast experiences that I’ve ever had.
Now let’s see some leisure facilities in the hotel. We found 2 circular shape pools surrounded by plenty of open spaces for relaxing under the sun. One of the pools is actually a kid’s pool, the largest I’ve ever seen in a hotel.
The hotel has a large 24-hour gym or fitness centre and the Willow Stream Spa, which I heard is one of the largest in Asia at about 5000 sqm. The hotel website states that the Spa has 23 luxuriously appointed treatments rooms inclusive of 2 couples suites, male and female relaxation areas complete with sauna and steam rooms, Jacuzzis, showers and locker areas. Fairmont Singapore is also equipped with 6 tennis courses, in which 2 are artificial grass and the remaining four are clay courts.
Lastly, let’s consider the location of the hotel. Many facilities and attractions are located within walking distance from Fairmont Singapore. Raffles City Shopping Center is next door, providing quick access to restaurants and shops. Esplanade MRT station is only 100 metres away. Walk a bit more and you will reach Suntec City and Marina Square Shopping Mall. Singapore Flyer is less than 20 minutes away. It is also possible to walk to Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay. We chose to travel there by bus, which was very short and convenient even with a pram. An MRT is of course another option to go there. The location is indeed strategic. Having said so, many hotels in Singapore can claim that their locations are strategic because they are near to many amenities and attractions.
In summary, my family and I had a good time staying in this hotel. Our room is spacious and has a great view. The hotel amenities and facilities are excellent, offering a wide range of activities. The breakfast was very enjoyable and, I think, was the best thing about staying this hotel. Its location provides easy access to many attractions and shopping centres. We don’t really have any major negative aspects to share here. The price is perhaps rather steep, which is expected for this hotel brand. I’m still unconvinced that the hotel is high on the list in terms of value for money in the context of Singapore. It may be well worth it in other cities, but in Singapore where attractions can be easily reached by various modes of transport, its value diminishes.
