Many people like to staycay at new hotels, but if you know anything about style and comfort, and if you have read the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, you would know that oldies are the best. Situated behind Cuppage near Somerset MRT, Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, a 4-star hotel, knows comfort and privacy that modern hotels can’t.

The check-in process takes literally seconds. Ok, maybe a minute. It’s one of the swiftest processing I have experienced.

One of the best things I like about the hotel is that you don’t need a card to access the floors. I can see the point of some people who say that there may be security risk, but for me, Singapore is safe; there are hotel security guards; and the rooms have locks. So anyone saying that there is a security risk is a worrywart. I’m not Kim Jong Un; I don’t need that much security.

Besides, this means that if you’re having a small gathering with friends, you don’t need to keep going down to fetch them. It’s such a hassle to do that.

Another great thing about the hotel is how spacious the rooms are. This is the least pricy: the Premier Room King Bed. And it’s huge. None of the small spaces of newer hotels.

Here are some amenities I enjoy:
-free wifi (shockingly, not all hotels give free wifi)
-they empty the bar fridge so we can store our own things. It’s thoughtful because nobody ever drinks a $8 can of coke
-iron and ironing board in the closet
-hairdrying
-light switches by the side of the bed (this seems intuitive but not every hotel does it)
-a safe

Here’s another feature I like about Holiday Inn: it’s smack in the shopping belt of Singapore but there is greenery as if we were somewhere else.

Another great feature: bathtub. Seriously, all hotel rooms should have bathtubs but the newer hotels, because of space constraint, do not have bathtubs in their basic rooms. What a travesty.

There is a kiddy pool, which I didn’t take a photo of because two young children were playing in it. At a corner, there is a a jacuzzi.

The gym is small but newish with good equipments.

They currently have a “Jump Start Your Weekend” staycation offer which includes buffet breakfast for two at their hotel restaurant, Window on the Park. It is a good inclusive spread that ranges from Taiwan porridge and dim sum to Indian food to Western breakfast (cereals, bacon, bread, smoked salmon, etc). There is also two live stations for omelette and soup noodles.

The prices here start from about $210 onwards, which is way more affordable than newer hotels of fewer facilities. This is a very comfortable staycation and we love it greatly. In fact, I think this is one of my favorite staycations. Old school is best school.

You may be interested in…
–Staycation at Hotel NuVe Heritage, Singapore’s Secret Boutique Hotel Behind a Cafe
–Capella Singapore Staycation: “Everything Is Complimentary But You Have To Pay”
–Staycation: Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy at Katong + Ernest Zacharevic’s Street Art at Joo Chiat
–Staycation at Dorsett Hotel Singapore at Outram Park MRT: The “Bermuda Triangle” of Eateries

Written by Dr. A. Nathanael Ho.