The Intercontinental Singapore (Frasers House)
Growing Old in Style
It’s time to head to one of my favourite hotels in the world, which is just classical in so many ways and able to hit the right service notes. A shame the owners have switched flags on it now…
In this mammoth trip report (note, headings subject to change)
- Yes. I’m that old. Next.
- Off to Heathrow, Terminal 3 and Cathay Pacific Lounge
- BA768 London Heathrow to Oslo Airport (Club Europe)
- The Best Laid Oslo Plans, and the OSL Lounge
- TK1754 Oslo Airport to Istanbul Airport (Business Class)
- Welcome to Istanbul Airport… Wait, where’s my passport?
- TK054 Istanbul Airport to Singapore Changi (Business Class)
- Welcome back to Changi and the Ibis Budget Ruby, Geylang
- Back to Changi Terminal 4 and AirAsia AK710 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur International
- Into Malaysia and the Holiday Inn Express KLCC
- Exploring the Batu Caves
- Exploring more of Kuala Lumpur in the Dry, Wet and Nighttime
- Heading back to Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge
- MH627 Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi (Economy Class)
- Intercontinental Singapore, Bugis (Frasers House)
- For the love of Nasi Lemak, Laksa and Hawker Markets
- Exploring Singapore, whilst avoiding Rain
- Glasses in a Rush
- Pokémon Centre Singapore
- Back to Changi Terminal 1, and the Marhaba Lounge
- TK209 Singapore Changi to Istanbul Airport (Business Class)
- Into Istanbul and the Sheraton Levant, Istanbul
- Back to Istanbul Airport and the Turkish Airlines Lounge
- TK1753 Istanbul Airport to Oslo Airport (Business Class)
- A leisurely Oslo transit
- SK815 Oslo Airport to London Heathrow (Economy Classes)
- Of Luggage, Coffee, Coaches and a Walk
- Older, Never Wiser
The Intercontinental Singapore at Bugis
Rate Paid: IHG Ambassador Weekend Rate – £300 (First night paid, second night covered by a voucher).
Editor’s Note:
At the time of writing, the Intercontinental Singapore has been deflagged from the Intercontinental Hotel Group properties, with it reflagged by the Frasers Hospitality Trust as Frasers House under Marriott’s The Luxury Collection.
As such, this was written when this hotel was under the IHG Flag, rather than the Marriott Flag.
On with the show.
Arriving at the Intercontinental Singapore, I was welcomed in by the doorman and proceeded into the property. And of course, there was a queue to check in.
Sigh.
Eventually, I was pulled from the queue and invited to check in at the Ambassador Check-in table. The agent welcomed me and began processing my reservation. My status was acknowledged, as well as the notes I had been asked to fill out beforehand – including a belated birthday greeting. I was upgraded to a larger room.
The agent checked that I didn’t require Club Access at an extra $S100 a night, or the hotel buffet at $40 a day. If I wanted those features, I would need to go to the front desk to get them added on. Considering the prices of eats just five minutes away from the hotel, I skipped on this value.
I paid on my American Express (as the Curve Card had given up the ghost at this point).
With that done, two keycards were issued, and I was off to the 13th floor. Thankfully, this is one hotel I know my way around (least of all, the back door of the hotel is so helpful if you want to avoid the Singaporean heat).
Orchids at the lifts.
I headed upstairs to the room, and I found I had more space than I knew what to do with (compared to the last two rooms I stayed at)
Familiar halls.
Compared to the Ibis Budget, I could swing many cats in here.
Let’s start with the entranceway, where the drinks station was to my left. The minibar had long been emptied, but there were glasses, cups and of course, a Nespresso compatible machine. Oh, podular coffee, how I missed you. As well as this,s the hotel provides bottled water.
Pods
Water
Posh TWG Tea here.
And milk in the fridge. Ignore the trainers. I do
Going left, we have a full bathroom, with a shower, sink and a full bathtub. Yes, these are things I like – especially a full bathtub, which is lovely after a long day of walking around. And again, soft and fresh towels.
Sink
Sink ameitieis
A deep bathtub. Joy.
An independent shower
Luggage nook
You do not know how much that matters some days.
Going into the room, the Queen bed was dominating the space. This was just the right firmness for me, and plenty of space to starfish in.
Bedside outlets, alarm and phone
Pick an outlet.
Trust me, it matters.
Living area.
Next to the bed were the usual power outlets (and world compatible.. Always nice to see). There was a sofa there too, which was used more than once to edit a blog entry.
Finally, the table was more than adequate to charge and work on, as well as sort things out.
And trust me, I had to do some sort of thing a few times this trip, as my bag was swallowing things for a living. Opposite the bed was the integrated TV Set
Just as I was heading out for my first walk and travel, room service came by with a birthday cake from the management. A lovely touch.
The room was made up well each night, with a thoughtful touch of clothes folding, putting something in its place, or extra coffee pods.
Its thouse little touches I love about this hotel.
Of course, there was one matter I needed address. That suitcase. I picked one up on Orchard Road to tide meover for the trip back to the United Kingdom. Sadly, that meant I had to dispose of the other suitcase at the hotel.
One of those things is not like the other; one of those things doesn’t have wheels.
In terms of access, I accessed the hotel via the Bugis Junction mall, as it’s cooler than walking in the Singapore heat, or walking outside when you don’t have to. It’s a useful trick. To do so, head towards the bar on the ground floor and take a left….
Pass the bar
Pass the Italian restaurant and the breakfast place.
Into the heart of Bugis Junction
The Entrance at Bugis Junction? To use the the pantomine term – It’s behind you.
Just be aware that the door to access the hotel is keycard locked at certain times of the day from the mall.
This is also where the bar area is, and it always seemed busy when I went past. The Italian restaurant is also where the breakfast buffet is. I’ll be honest, I passed on these, as there is a perfectly good hawker food market five minutes’ walk away (Albert Street Food Centre, if you’re interested).
Eventually, it was time to check out of the hotel. Again, there was a bit of a delay to check out as there were only two agents working, but eventually, everything was confirmed and let on my way.
Overall
I am going to miss this hotel from the IHG Portfolio. It’s where I’ve had the best use of my Ambassador vouchers in terms of getting (and improving my value) on the IHG Ambassador cost (everything after that is free).
There are a few things that need addressing – with front of house staff being constantly short whenever I went to reception for something, but otherwise, the rooms remain solid, and the staff are so friendly and understanding.
And the bonuses I got from the IHG Ambassador status. Add the extra touches of the birthday cake and pre-arrival communication, and I’ve got a lot of time for this hotel.
I only hope it flourishes as Frasers House under the Marriott flag. With a thoughtful modernisation, there are plenty of little touches that can be done.
It’s still my benchmark for a luxury historical property.
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