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TRIP REPORT: Summer Premium Adventures – Hotel Indigo, Katong, Singapore

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Off into Singapore and the Hotel Indigo, Katong, Singapore
Summer Premium Adventures

Singapore and Bangkok Trip Report

In this Summer Premium Adventure (Warning: Long!)

a plane on the tarmac
Thank you A350-1000.

Arriving into Changi, I exited the plane and pondered exactly where in Changi I was. Because this wasn’t Terminal 3… and it didn’t look like Terminal 2.

a woman walking down an airport walkway a group of people walking down an airport walkway
Airports blend together after a while – even one as sumptous as Changi

a group of people walking in an airport
Arrivals

people sitting at tables in a restaurant

The Green Mermaid is never far away. 

a sign on a wall

Yep. It seems in the years I was here last, Qatar Airways has moved to Terminal 1.

With a long hike to immigration ahead, I got in some exercise walking to immigration. Thankfully, there was no queue – and I was seen to straight away.

an escalator in a building
Down to Immigration

a large plant in front of a window
Good luck getting anything like that in the USA.

My landing card was taken, and passport stamped. With those formalities complete – I was in Singapore.

a bag on a shopping cart
Waiting for the bags

There was a short wait for luggage, but eventually – my bag spat out. With it in hand – I was on my way through to customs control.

I was waved through – and into the paradise and shopping mall that is Singapore Changi.

My travel took me past the Jewel, and the water feature. And yes. It is over the top. Because this is Changi.

a group of people in a room with plants and trees

a group of people in a courtyard with a waterfall

a water falling from a dome

Welcome to Singapore. I’m sure a value version of this will turn up in KLIA soon enough during the next refurbishment.

I was onto my next problem of the day – how the heck would I get to the hotel. I could do a taxi, or I could catch a rideshare (as public transport to where I was staying was a little sparse.. And I had no transit card at that point).

In the past, this would have been an Uber ride. With Uber gone from Singapore, it’s time to get used to riding with Grab.

A quick download of the app, a few taps and syncing to my PayPal account – and I was good to go. A few taps later – I followed the directions in the app, and a driver turned up.

It was then down the ECP and into Katong. A short enough drive, but with the luggage I had… not one I would attempt on public transport.

So welcome to a new hotel brand for me – well within the IHG Group – the Hotel Indigo.

a sign on a wall of plants

a building with a walkway and a tree

Hotel Indigo Katong 

a room with a large white and black floor and a black and white tile floor

a man standing at a desk
Reception area 

a group of vases stacked in a room

a red device with several cards in it
Rentable power banks. I like that idea

a table and chairs with a lamp on it
Tradtional seating

a man sitting on a rug in a room with chairs and tables
Non traditional seating

a room with a table and chairs
And art. 

a room with a red carpet and a glass statue a statue of a monster in a glass case
And welcome lions. If there was one thing I would had liked to take home, these guardian lions are it. 

Entering the hotel, I was greeted by the front desk staff. I was welcomed as an IHG Platinum member, and a welcome drink of tea was offered.

a glass of liquid on a table
Welcome tea

The hotel… could be described as one for the Instagram lovers, with a lot of Chinese influence, yet modern hints.

None the less, with all the formalities completed, it was time to head upstairs. A nice high room had been assigned. Let’s see what sort of room I have.

a glass doors with black and white designs
Instant Instagram image. 

At t £103 for the night, it s a nice high room, with many many urbanist/hipster touches.

a camera on a bed
The bed

a bed with a drawing on the wall
Street vendor wall art

a room with a bed and a drawing on the wall
More of the room 

a couch with pillows and a table with a game board
Sofa 

And most importantly – the air conditioning was lovely and chilly.

Yes, I could deal with this.

The bed was pretty comfortable to sleep and relax in, whilst the sofa also made for a great place to relax and offload pictures in.

a display of coffee cups and other items

In terms of amenities, a welcome sight is a Nespresso machine, along with a plunge filter coffee option. TWG teas also make an appearance here for the high end-look.

Moving into the bathroom… which was near the windows of the world to see. And to see in too.

a bathroom with a sink and toilet
Toilet 

a bathroom with a sink and a chair
Washing Area

a bowl with a small bag and small objects
Amenities and washbowl 

a bathroom with a mirror and sink
Washbasin

a tray with green cups and bottles of water
Water and cups

a shower with a shower head

Whilst some places insist on small amenity bottles, the Hotel Indigo went for larger type bottles. This I approve of in a few ways as 1) fewer refills during a stay 2) there’s’ a lot more incentive to take these home and use them fully.

A nice touch to say the least.

As for the view from the room…

a rooftop of a city     a city with many buildings

a city with buildings and a sunset
I’ve had a lot worse. 

The hotel has an pool on the top deck – an infinity pool. Whilst I didn’t go for a dip – it seemed well patronised.

a hallway with a red seat and a sign
To the pool

a camera on a table
A place to rest the beast

a pool with people sitting at tables and chairs
The pool 

a pool with a view of a city
Infinities Edge. 

a city with many buildings  a group of buildings with a tower
Views from the top deck 

a city with many buildings
Panorama 

a glass wall with a pattern on it
Reflections

Check out was a simple process, with the front desk staff checking everything. With no further charges, I was thanked and allowed on my way.

Overall: Not a bad property at all if your love is Instagram. If you want to stay there as a hotel – it’s a pretty good property to stay at – if a little distant from downtown Singapore. Expect to pay in Taxis, Grab or learn to use the local public transport. If the price is right, this hotel is a good bet.

With that – it was time to switch hotel. But we’ll get onto that later – let’s talk about food. And more importantly – hawkers markets

Next:  Exploring food and Hawkers Markets in Singapore

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Comments

  1. MDR says

    A friend and I stayed in the adjoining HI Express recently, We liked the area, and would stay there again. A couple of thoughts:

    There is a bus that goes directly from Changi to within a block of the hotel. Continuing along the same route, you can get to city center easily enough on that same bus route. There are also convenient bus lines that go by the well-rated Old Airport Road and Tiong Bahru food centers.

    We really liked Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen, which is a 10 minute walk from the hotel. In particular their grilled sambal fish is very good. (The fish was barramundi when I visited.)

    If you are into Tim Ho Wan, there is one conveniently located in the building immediately adjacent to the hotel.

  2. Sang Kancil Guru says

    “value version of this will turn up in KLIA soon”

    Surely you can give us more credit? It’s not like we in Malaysia constantly steal things, like Singapore, and claim them as our own in over-the-top marketing materials. I doubt anyone from Malaysia thinks a giant leak-hole in the sky is that impressive to display as a centerpiece in a transit terminal.