As I stepped inside the lobby of Shangri-La, Singapore, looking around reminded me of the James Bond series. For some reason, I imagined Pierce Brosnan flashing a credit card in his signature fashion, flirting with the receptionist all along!
The high ceiling tower wing added a modern yet elegant touch to the charming entrance. The greens spread around certainly did sooth my senses after hours of travelling and a hectic week before. The check-in process was fortunately prompt and pleasant, given our exhaustion after a not so delightful Jet Airways flight. For global standards, the rooms may not seem huge, but considering space issues in Singapore the room and washroom were spacious enough. I have also stayed in the hustle bustle of Clarke Quay, so the comparison comes in handy. 🙂
It was evening by the time we had settled in, so after a satiating cuppa, we went strolling around the property. It was then I could beat drums and say it must be one of the most spacious properties in the Merlion State. The restaurants, multiple conference rooms and corridors were sizeable, and even bigger were the outdoor areas. The swimming pool area was a non-smoking zone considering the fact that kids use it often, but there were ample spaces around to puff out and chill. Singaporeans are health conscious and it was only appropriate for Shangri-La, Singapore to dedicate generously to the health room zone. Healthy Singapore, told you! Neatly and aesthetically categorised gymnasium, yoga theatre and sports area were evidently a focus instead of just being another amenity.
I then advanced for a walk to get acquainted with the surroundings and I’m glad I did that. Orchard Road is a posh street with haute brands yet pedestrian friendly like the remaining parts of Singapore. Interestingly, it stretches up to ‘Little India’ and ‘Mustafa Market’, a place frequented by natives for daily supplies. From eateries, bakeries and tourist SIM cards to reasonably priced grocery, you can find anything and everything here. Unlike Indonesia and Thailand, there were multiple options available for vegetarians at the cute little cafes around. Moral of this stanza? Location location location! Now you might think how big Singapore is anyway, but smart people invest in time more than anything, right? 😉 Availability of both, retail therapy and knickknacks make it ideal for business, solo as well as family travellers.
If you believe in good breakfast while travelling and can make-do with anything for the rest of the day, you have another reason to love this place. The breakfast spread is great and caters to a variety of cuisines considering dormant occupancy at the time. I was surprised to see more Indian breakfast items than I have seen in Indian hotels. 😀 They also had an uber cool coffee booth I used to keep hovering around like a honey bee.
The staff was more than helpful and proactive throughout our stay. It’s a smart decision to choose this property irrespective of the kind of travel plan. Hope you have a pleasant stay just like I did! 🙂
P.S.: For more information on Singapore, check out http://happyhippie.blog/2017/07/25/why-singapore-is-what-it-is/
Food, Health, Travel, Lifestyle 