Back from the enchanting Andaman Langkawi and before returning to Paris, a short stopover in Singapore where I chose to stay at the St Regis Singapore.
Where is the butler?
Since the memorable part of the experience starts here at check-in, we might as well start with some details. A brand is about moments of truth and markers. At St Regis you can find, for example, the champagne breaking out at aperitif time, the Bloody Mary and…the butler, who assists the guest throughout his journey. It is one of the distinctive signs of the brand, one of those that have contributed to its fame.
I arrive at the St Regis Singapore directly from the airport. The hotel is located at the top of Orchard road, very convenient to go shopping but quite far from the center that you will have to take a cab to reach, unlike the Westin, theSofitel So and to a lesser extent Marina Bay Sands.
The lobby is in the great St Regis tradition: marble, light tones, large chandeliers, sober and chic, recalling the luxury hotels of the beginning of the previous century.
It’s almost Christmas:
I settle down for the check-in which is done seated.
The protocol is carried out without a hitch: recognition of the loyal customer, thanks for the loyalty, upgrade… A bit stingy on the upgrade: I went from a deluxe to a grand deluxe when there were still entry-level suites available.
As I am about to get up to go to my room, I am asked if I would like to have a drink brought up to my room. I ask for a mint tea.
So I get up and head with my luggage to my room. 1st bug. The butler is absent and never at the St Regis does a customer have to drag his stuff to his room. Besides, a client should never go alone to discover his room.
In a hurry to take a shower I let it go. Besides, I’m in a hurry and grumbling at the reception to lose 10 minutes in the end is not productive.
The Grand Deluxe at The St Regis Singapore
The room opens to an entrance where you will find a closet and a coffee machine.
We then enter a large room decorated with taste and well arranged, also with a large closet.
The bathroom is large and tastefully decorated. Old style, warm but not overloaded.
In the middle is a large bathtub.
It is completed by a large shower and toilet.
A nice detail that we are starting to find in some hotels but not yet widespread: a cell phone with a local plan available for the duration of the stay and which erases all your settings and data (google, facebook…) once you have checked out.
A really nice and spacious room. Nothing to complain about.
A pleasant setting to enjoy the mint tea I was offered at check-in. Mint tea that will never come. That’s a bit much considering the price of the room and the standing the property claims to have.
The St Regis Singapore pool: avoiding peak hours
The St Regis has a “beautiful” outdoor pool. Not because its aestheticism rivals that of many recent hotels, but because it is relatively quiet, high up, without being disturbed by the rising noise of the street. But in fact of noise not need of the street, the guests are enough. Generally speaking, given the size of the hotel, it is quickly saturated at peak times, when most guests decide it is time to take a dip, due to its size but, above all, an insufficient number of sunbeds.
Add to that the fact that it’ s the holiday season, so with a lot of families, the situation is not idyllic.
The solution I’ve adopted: go early in the morning after my workout while clients are still waking up or lingering over breakfast.
Let’s talk about the gym. Directly overlooking the pool it is very pleasant. Not big but well equipped.
Not comfortable, not excited, I will not test the bars and restaurants of the hotel.
The check-out will be very easy thanks to the mobile check-out available on the spg application on my cell phone.
Bottom line: my failed experience at the St Regis Singapore
My first real disappointment with St Regis. The room was very nice but for the rest I did not feel the same as in Istanbul or Abu Dhabi (see here all our reviews on St Regis). The check-in experience alone, with an absent butler and a drink that is offered and never arrives, sets the tone and conditions you for the rest of your stay. For the rest, no warmth, no experience. I’ve never been happy to leave a hotel I’ve stayed in without trying to explore it too much before, in this case I was. At this price it is unacceptable for a 5 star luxury hotel.
In a general way we feel a little bit of let go in the brand lately…to confirm or deny during next visits.
In a general way we feel a little bit of let go in the brand lately…to confirm or invalidate during future stays.
Ratings:
– Hotel: stylish, well decorated but a little too out of the way for my taste. 7
– Check-in out: absence of the butler, the agent who offers me a tea that never arrives… fortunately the mobile check-out saves the day. 4
– Room : nothing to complain about. 10
– Catering: not tested
– Facilities: swimming pool quickly saturated, nice gym.
– Service and attention: I had to deal with the check-in agent and the people outside in charge of hailing the cabs. the second ones were very good, the first one more than average. I never felt a particular attention of the staff for the guests. 5
– Loyalty program application: no strict application of the upgrade system otherwise customer recognition protocol and other benefits ok. 7.
Experience for money : 3.
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