Hotel InterContinental Singapore
80 Middle Road Singapore 188966 Singapore Tel: +65 6338 7600, Fax: +65 6338 7366 E-mail: singapore@interconti.com Web site: www.ichotelsgroup.com
I took a taxi from Changi International Airport, and arrived about 15 minutes later at the InterContinental. The cab fare was about $15 Singapore dollars. The hotel looked quite old, the exterior and entrance not all that imposing or impressive, although I later learned it was of the unique Peranakan (Straits Chinese) architecture. I was greeted by a bellman who took charge of the luggage, while another person greeted me and directed me to the reception counter. Only one person was ahead of me. While waiting, another person came through to welcome me to the hotel. Soon I was at the desk, my reservation was located, and I was told I had been upgraded to to Club Suite, located on one of three Club floors in the hotel. A friend of mine had made the booking for me. The rate was $225 (Singapore) inclusive of taxes. Soon I was heading to the tenth floor and Room 1015. There were two lift banks I noticed in the lobby area, quite ample for the hotel's 403 rooms and suites. Room 1015 was of course a suite. The white painted door opened to a large hallway, about six metres in length with marble floor, and a full-size timber framed mirror on the left, and a wardrobe on the right (which included a safe, iron, ironing board, torch and basket for shoes). A little further on was a large timber cabinet with chests and drawers, and another framed mirror. Opposite was the entrance to the bathroom. Into the suite-proper, covered in carpet, blue with an off-yellow insignia pattern, a grey patterned wallpaper all round, antique furniture comprising a 3 piece dining setting, a two-seater lounge, a luxurious arm chair with large foot stool extension, a luggage rack, and an occasional table with another armchair. There was a large timber cabinet in the room with a TV and mini-bar. Alongside was a timber trouser rack. The ceiling, which was in white, had a large indent in it. The room then opened into another room, the bedroom, all open-plan. There was a king size bed with four pillows and a white doona. There was a round bedside table (timber) with a glass top and a lamp on one side, and a timber cabinet with a drawer and two cupboards on the other. It too had a glass top and featured a phone, a digital alarm clock and a lamp. The timber frame bedhead housed a grey fabric. There was another large timber cabinet in the room containing another TV, also two large and two small drawers. Then there was an office desk partitioning the two rooms. Timber of course with a glass top, it included a phone, a data port for high speed Internet access (complimentary in the rate I had), and a dial-up modem port. There was a raised panel on the desk which had two power points (the British system), a phone and a lamp, along with compendiums about the hotel's services. There was also 3 drawers in the desk. The suite was a delight, ample space, beautifully furnished and decorated, very well laid out, and with every facility you would want in a 5 star establishment. There was also a bowl of fruit and two bottles of mineral water on the dining table. The bathroom was large, mostly in marble (including the floor and the vanity bench). There was a separate full size bath with flexi shower rose, a separate large shower, the marble top bench stretched from the shower through to the end of the bath, and provided ample space. Lighting was excellent and there was a set of scales in the room. After settling in I took a walk through the hotel and found it open, warm, and the staff most attentive and friendly. Everyone greeted me. The hotel had an old-feel about it, similar to the famous Raffles Hotel, which I elected to go and find and renew aquainences with. I left the hotel and walked for about half to three-quarters of an hour but couldn't find it, and ended up going around in circles. As I arrived back at the hotel I asked for a city map and directions to the Raffles. I found it was in the same street and only about 100 metres away!. Anyway I strolled down there, and spent some time exploring one of the most renowned hotels in the world. The InterContinental though compares favourably, and the location almost the same, close to the large Metro Mall and other shopping centres, and other 5-star hotels such as the Pan Pacific, another hotel we've reviewed over the years. InterContinental Singapore reflects Singapore's rich heritage, elegant interiors and a distinctive collection of old Straits artifacts. The hotel offers a variety of award-winning restaurants, a bar and a lounge. It also has conference and banqueting facilities, comprising six function rooms and one ballroom (with natural light to one side) with a maximum capacity of 430 guests. There is also a boardroom permanently set up for 12 people. The hotel has a 24-hour Business Centre, Fitness Centre, Laundry and Valet and Room Service. It also has the Instant Service, a 24-hour Guest Services Centre for all guest requests. The stay was overnight only, and I ddidn't get a chance to try the restaurant, but I had a drink in the big open plan lounge. It is a hotel well worth visiting on your next stay in Singapore, and it's only a stone's throw from the Raffles, provided you get directions, where you can still enjoy a 'Singapore Sling'.