Hotels Reviews

Review: Intercontinental Singapore

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Review: Intercontinental Singapore

We arrived late to the Intercontinental after flying KLM business class from Bali. My mom was certainly surprised that we were back in Singapore.  The funny thing was when we head faked my mom 5 days ago with a night at the World’s Best Airport Hotel: The Crowne Plaza Singapore Changi, it was so hot and humid she remarked, ” Oh thank heavens we aren’t staying here.” SURPRISE MOM…we’re back! LOL.  I’d been to Singapore several years ago, and my dad had done business here a long time ago, but I really thought that both of them would think Singapore was really cool. We also ended up here because I wanted my folks to fly Singapore Suites and experience Singapore’s First Class check-in and Private Room. Those reviews will come soon, but it all contributed to a few days in one of my favorite cities.  By the end of it…They LOVED SINGAPORE – despite the heat and humidity. We chose the Intercontinental Singapore for its location, recent renovation, and the bevy if IHG points we had. Check out our experience!

Loved the tile work in reception!

a hall with a black and white patterned floor

The Deets:

  • When: April 2017
  • Where: Singapore
  • Loyalty: IHG + Ambassador
  • Rate: 60k per night per room
  • Upgrade: Heritage to Deluxe
  • Value…$400 a night.

The Location:

As describe by the hotel:

The InterContinental® Singapore places you minutes from Marina Bay and the Central Business District, and it’s a short stroll from the National Museum, the Singapore Art Museum and other cultural institutions. Direct access to Bugis train station connects you to the city’s many shopping and entertainment precincts. You can dine on European cuisine in Ash & Elm restaurant or try Chinese dishes in Man Fu Yuan. Glimpse into Singapore’s past with the hotel’s Guided Heritage Trail walking tour.

I’ve stayed at the Grand Hyatt and The Fullerton as well..and much prefer this location to the Grand Hyatt. The Fullerton…hard to beat, but this is a great spot to stay. You’re walking distance to a great many attractions including Raffles…which is a must do.

Check In –

It was late and we arrived via blacklane. The lobby was empty and our guest relations rep was very nice, but here’s the thing: He had a TERRIBLE cold. I felt really bad for him, and in all honesty the hotel, any hotel, should have a policy that if a guest relations person is sick…they have to go home. The last thing people want to do on a trip, especially one to a far off location, is get sick. We purelled, zicammed, and anti-bacterialed everything in sight. Especially, which under normal circumstances I think is a nice touch, he accompanied us to our room. I MEAN…germy germy germmmmmmmy.  The medicine bag came out that night. Luckily we didn’t get sick because that would have for sure ruined the trip.

In keeping up with the surprise theme…I’d notified the hotel ahead of time about my mom’s 75th birthday 🙂

Our Room:

We had adjoining rooms which worked pretty much the same as a suite. I asked to see a heritage room, and I believe I’d prefer to stay in the newer building. The remodel looks great. You can see from the moldings, quality of the doors, and finishes that they went for the 5star market.

a hallway with a bed and a desk

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The bathroom was well done and featured a soaker tub and shower with multi-heads.

The room had a solid view as well.

And on the second night a Birthday Cake was delivered.

I thought this was a very nice touch. They not only went the extra mile by providing a cake, but knew we’d be too tired on the first night to enjoy it.

a piece of cake with berries on a plate

The Victoria Bar has a cool vibe to it. You can have high tea there as well.

a large room with columns and chandeliers

We were there only a couple days after Easter and the presentation was still on display.

a display of a garden with a bird house and other objects

I ordered food one night from Ash & Elm…here’s the weird thing

a restaurant with a bar and a sign

I just wanted to order a pizza to go. That’s it. No big deal, but I didn’t want to sit down etc etc.

The host told me that that was impossible.

Me: “Wait, what?”

Host: “I’m sorry, the restaurant doesn’t allow you to take food away.”

I said, “well, I’m staying in the hotel and I just want to take it to the room.”

Host, ” oh, well you can order it from room service.”

Me, ” I realize that, but I’m here right now and I don’t want to go upstairs to order, then wait, and pay a delivery fee, etc. I’d just like to order it to go.”

Host, “That can’t be done. I can place a room service order for you now, but it will have to be delivered.”

Me, ” I’ve traveled quite a bit, and this is the first place I’ve ever been to that the hotel restaurant won’t let a guest order food to go. You’re sure this is the policy?”

Host, ” I’m sorry, it’s just the policy.”

Me, ” Fair enough, one other question. If I were to sit down, not finish my pizza, and wanted to take it upstairs, do you have to go boxes? Or there’s just no ‘to-go’ available.”

Host, ” Yes, if you were to sit down and order the pizza and didn’t finish it we have to-go boxes.”

I just laughed and  then ordered the pizza because I was hungry and had spent the last 15 minutes walking around the attached mall and found nothing appealing. He ended up discounting it for my trouble. Anyways…

Overall:

We were really heavy in IHG points so spending 60k a night wasn’t the end of the world for us, but 60k is a lot.  Even if you were to buy these points when they’re onsale for half a cent…you’re tossing $300 a night at a room. That’s no small potatoes.

Is the hotel worth it?

It’s a very good hotel in a VERY expensive city so I understand it being priced at the top of the scale. Comparing it to say…the Grand Hyatt, at 15k points per night, off Orchard Road, I’m not sure the Intercontinental is worth the point premium. Or…an even closer comparison…the JW Marriott which is about a 5 minute walk from the Intercontinental, brand spanking new, and is 40k per night ( or 13,333 SPG – remember you can convert 3:1) and if you stay 4 nights you get the 5th free. That’s a hard choice.

We had a great time, and the hotel worked for us. If we were to go back…I think maybe we’d check out the JW Marriott. It looks to have an INSANE infinity pool overlooking the city, and with status you’d get club level. That’s hard to beat.


You don’t have to stop here. Check out how we paid $5k and took a $125k Surprise trip Around The World to celebrate my Mom’s 75th

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Flights:

Hotels:

Lounges

Afternoon Tea

TIPS:

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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