I have been wanting to stay at the Intercontinental Singapore for quite some time now after viewing photos of the newly refurbished property online. So when I saw the property selling in the low SGD$200s~ I knew I had to act fast and ended up booking 2 nights in a King Heritage room.
Located in the Bugis area of Singapore, Intercontinental Singapore is located in a neighbourhood that is always alive, and within walking distance to all the famous attractions. It is a mere 5 minutes walk from the Bugis MRT, making it extremely convenient to get around.
Upon arrival, I stepped into the Peranakan inspired lobby where there were ushers guiding guest to the check in counters. Unsurprisingly though, I was conveniently ignored (probably due to my attire and age) and other mature adults dressed in suits and formal wear, who came after me were served first. I had to approach a service staff and inform him I was checking in, before they escorted me to the Ambassador check-in desk. Definitely profiling at its best here, which I do not appreciate.
Moving forward from the incident, the lobby had sufficient sitting area and the motifs on the floor was absolutely gorgeous.
Anyhow, the agent that attended to me was the most sterile person that I have encountered. She processed my check-in in the most robotic manner and informed me of my Gold benefits – which was basically nothing. Soon, I was on my way to room 327. I decided to make a detour on the way to the room to check out the lobby lounge, which was extremely classy and elegant. It exuded old time glamour that was timeless. I could definitely see myself sipping afternoon tea here while having scones.
My room was in the shophouse wing of the hotel so I did not require the key to access my level. Not a major issue because Singapore is quite safe anyway. The room overlooks Bugis Junction, but I could not hear anything from the busy mall at all thanks to the good soundproof-ing.
There was a minibar located on the right of the entryway, with the toilet located on the left. On the minibar was my welcome amenity, which included a bowl of fruits and a bottle of Evian water. Not too shabby for a Gold member.
The bedroom featured a king sized bed, a 46’ TV, a proper work desk and a lounger. I liked how the room was classic and fused Peranakan elements. The wooden flooring paired with the cream coloured walls and the chandelier made the place very contemporary yet “traditional”. The room had such a boutique feel, it did not feel like a business hotel at all. The bed, typical of Intercontinentals, was super comfortable.
The bathroom was amazing too and featured a sink, a tub, a separate shower area and toilet. Toiletries were provided by Agraria, which I am not a fan of because the lemon smell was too strong and it reminded me of dish washing liquid.
There was a small little corner where the wardrobe was located, which I though was a waste of space.
The gym was pretty comprehensive with sufficient free weights and cardio equipments. There was a sauna in the gym toilet that was opened 24/7 and eased all the tension I had in my neck when I used it in the evening.
The pool was on the small side and received very little sunlight. Nothing special about it, so I did not use it.
During my stay I also made several unconventional requests including refreshing my room at 1am, getting someone to purchase poker cards and getting the restaurant to deliver a crab plier. The hotel was very professional and I was impressed with the way they manage to handle all of them.
On the whole, I am sold. The hardware of the entire property was beyond incredible and the staff, although sterile, got the job done. I visited the Intercontinental pre renovation and I must say they did a really good job at transforming the place. Given the price point, it is extremely value for money and if IHG treated their elite members better (suite upgrades, free breakfast and lounge access) I might just shift all my stays to them.