My Dear Readers,
As you already know I tend to plan my trips last minute and that’s what happened with this one too. I booked it maybe two weeks prior to my departure. All I knew was, I wanted to splurge a little (a bit understatement, yes) and stay at high-end, quality guaranteed hotels. I hadn’t even decided the actual destinations yet - all I knew was I wanted to go to Asia.
However, when browsing flight options, turned out that I didn’t have that many options because I wanted to fly in business class, and of course, with Finnair. It’s a long flight and I knew that I would get meals that have been checked in terms of my food restrictions and intolerances and in addition, A350 plane type’s business class seats go to complete bed mode (i.e. flat) so I sleep there very well, which helps at both ends.
And it turned out that Singapore was the only long-haul destination in Asia that still had some upgrade business class seats available. Well, at least now I had my tickets to Asia and back home.
While browsing the hotels, I remembered, my best friend from Australia now lives in Singapore, maybe I want to stay in town for a few days before going somewhere else. No matter how many hotels I checked out, I always ended up, time after time, back to browsing rooms at Shangri-La Singapore so I figured, it must be the right place for me. (Yes, it really was!)
As you already know I tend to plan my trips last minute and that’s what happened with this one too. I booked it maybe two weeks prior to my departure. All I knew was, I wanted to splurge a little (a bit understatement, yes) and stay at high-end, quality guaranteed hotels. I hadn’t even decided the actual destinations yet - all I knew was I wanted to go to Asia.
However, when browsing flight options, turned out that I didn’t have that many options because I wanted to fly in business class, and of course, with Finnair. It’s a long flight and I knew that I would get meals that have been checked in terms of my food restrictions and intolerances and in addition, A350 plane type’s business class seats go to complete bed mode (i.e. flat) so I sleep there very well, which helps at both ends.
And it turned out that Singapore was the only long-haul destination in Asia that still had some upgrade business class seats available. Well, at least now I had my tickets to Asia and back home.
While browsing the hotels, I remembered, my best friend from Australia now lives in Singapore, maybe I want to stay in town for a few days before going somewhere else. No matter how many hotels I checked out, I always ended up, time after time, back to browsing rooms at Shangri-La Singapore so I figured, it must be the right place for me. (Yes, it really was!)
I wasn’t quite sure what to do after those 2 days as the weather seemed to be a bit unstable around SE Asia, hence I decided to take it day by day and all I did was book my return flights with Finnair, upgraded to business – which was absolutely lovely as always, booked those first 2 nights at Shangri-La Singapore (LINKKI: https://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/ ) for the room type of Horizon Club Deluxe.
I will tell you more about the room later on this post.
I have certain routines on my flights, one of them being; no actual work on the plane (so far I’ve kept this promise relatively well) and the other one is, one glass of quality Champagne is always an excellent way to start a trip on Finnair’s business class, so yes, please.
The flight was pleasant, I got a proper 4-5 hours of sleep and the food was good, as always!
I arrived at Changi airport quite late, around 5 pm – late in a sense that I just wanted to get to the hotel in time to get something to eat and enjoy the evening just a little.
All the customs and immigration formalities went smoothly – I have to say it’s always a pleasure when officers speak English, it’s just so much easier and Changi airport is super organized and always a pleasure.
Even though everything went smoothly, it was quite a walk around the terminal with all my luggage – as you know, I don’t pack lightly, and I was getting a bit worried that I won’t make it to the hotel in time for my fave, the cocktail hour, so I needed to figure out my transportation to the hotel, fast. I jumped into the elevator and got to the -2 floor (if I remember correctly) – that’s where all the taxis and limo services were. The taxi line was just way too much for me, for which reason I decided to go for the fastest option, which turned out to be a Transfer Van Limo Service. I believe it was somewhere around 50 € in total. Probably the most expensive option there was but it had its pros; it arrived quickly and the driver picked me up from the counter so there was no need for me to wander anywhere and he took care of my luggage, which meant; my holiday has now officially started!
Just note that when you pay the fee at the counter, you’re only paying for their services. You have to pay separately to the driver, which, in my case turned out the be a somewhat frustrating experience as his credit card machine’s wife wasn’t functioning properly so he had to swipe like 3 times each of my 3 credit cards before he actually managed to get the fee through. I’m sure this seemed a bit sketchy to all those hotel guests standing outside the hotel, pretty much next to me, waiting for my limo to become available. They probably thought that poor girl has no credit on her cards to pay for her ride, why else would it take that long… well, may I add, they were wrong – just saying… to avoid any misunderstandings.
It took a good 30-40 minutes to drive to the hotel, I had no idea the traffic would be that bad, so when you go to Singapore, always expect relatively heavy traffic - better be prepared than getting late because of it.
It felt amazing to finally see glimpses of the hotel between the lush garden’s trees…
There it is, my first stop on this journey, I was so happy to finally get there!
Arriving at Shangri-La Singapore – one of the best
there is!
Once I arrived at the hotel, it felt as if I had just come to a whole different world, all the hustle was gone. After all the traveling and that traffic, I could sense the tranquility. Also, I noticed the humidity immediately, it was the end of the monsoon season, which meant that it rained almost on a daily basis still. I couldn’t wait to get a shower after a long trip and humid weather and me not wearing clothes perfect for such tropical climate…It was easy to tell just by looking at the entrance area that this is a grand old hotel with an impressive history and glory.
And my staycation begins… and I’m one
happy traveler!
I was sweaty, dirty and tired and just wanted to take a quick shower before the cocktail hour. However, I wanted to make sure that my luggage comes right behind me, after all, it would have been quite troublesome had they gone to a wrong place as that has happened before...
Luckily, the check-in process was quick and the receptionist was very respectful and professional and completely understood when I said that I would appreciate a quick delivery of the luggage as I want to get freshened up and get to the cocktail hour before it ends.
Well, I didn’t quite make it.
I got to my room, which was, no surprise, absolutely beautiful, and very spacious, and I, of course, loved it! My special request, a foam pillow had been delivered, much appreciated. I also always enjoy when a hotel provides something welcoming for its guests, even if it's just a fruit basket like the one in the picture. Besides, I like the fact that I have some healthy snack in the room.
I was sweaty, dirty and tired and just wanted to take a quick shower before the cocktail hour. However, I wanted to make sure that my luggage comes right behind me, after all, it would have been quite troublesome had they gone to a wrong place as that has happened before...
Luckily, the check-in process was quick and the receptionist was very respectful and professional and completely understood when I said that I would appreciate a quick delivery of the luggage as I want to get freshened up and get to the cocktail hour before it ends.
Well, I didn’t quite make it.
I got to my room, which was, no surprise, absolutely beautiful, and very spacious, and I, of course, loved it! My special request, a foam pillow had been delivered, much appreciated. I also always enjoy when a hotel provides something welcoming for its guests, even if it's just a fruit basket like the one in the picture. Besides, I like the fact that I have some healthy snack in the room.
Like I said earlier, my room type was Horizon Club Deluxe Room (click this to open the link), which is located with the newly renovated Tower Wing. (More about the Tower Wing at the end of this post on the hotel description section.)
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| On the left; an art piece by the entrance of the Tower Wing / On the right; night view from my room. |
The room itself was quite contemporary, which I don’t really mind, as I still
felt that it had some Asian details and pieces that reminded me that I’m
actually in Asia, not just in any luxury hotel. The interior was, naturally
very inviting, it really was warm, practical and comfortable and yet very
stylish. My room was 38 sqm with a city view that I really enjoyed watching –
day and night!
The bathroom was marble-clad with bathtub and separate glass-enclosed shower and of course, there were premium Shangri-La toiletries as well. Wifi was fast and I had no problems with it at all, which I of course very much appreciated as someone who needs to be present in social media pretty much every day.
I’m sure the TV was ok, I just basically never watch TV when traveling but I know that they had satellite TV as well as in-house movie channels to entertain those that do. Coffee and tea making facilities, as well as the minibar, were also at my disposal, as were the slippers and robes.
You can read more about other room and suites here: Rooms
It took a moment before my luggage got there so when I finally made it to Club Lounge, I managed to get my fave; my arrival Mimosa but special diet food options were no longer available at the cocktail hour.
However, they kindly offered to bring me dinner to my room according to my wishes, and simply asked if there was something I was graving. Well, those of you that have followed my travels, you know it; of course, I wanted to check out if I could have that gluten-free pasta gorgonzola. And just like in a 5-star luxury hotel should, they said; no problem! This actually turned out to be an excellent choice, I didn’t even realize how tired I was until I got back to my room, I was barely able to eat the delicious pasta before I passed out.
The bathroom was marble-clad with bathtub and separate glass-enclosed shower and of course, there were premium Shangri-La toiletries as well. Wifi was fast and I had no problems with it at all, which I of course very much appreciated as someone who needs to be present in social media pretty much every day.
I’m sure the TV was ok, I just basically never watch TV when traveling but I know that they had satellite TV as well as in-house movie channels to entertain those that do. Coffee and tea making facilities, as well as the minibar, were also at my disposal, as were the slippers and robes.
You can read more about other room and suites here: Rooms
It took a moment before my luggage got there so when I finally made it to Club Lounge, I managed to get my fave; my arrival Mimosa but special diet food options were no longer available at the cocktail hour.
However, they kindly offered to bring me dinner to my room according to my wishes, and simply asked if there was something I was graving. Well, those of you that have followed my travels, you know it; of course, I wanted to check out if I could have that gluten-free pasta gorgonzola. And just like in a 5-star luxury hotel should, they said; no problem! This actually turned out to be an excellent choice, I didn’t even realize how tired I was until I got back to my room, I was barely able to eat the delicious pasta before I passed out.
And the bliss continues
The next morning I woke up just to realize that the hotel is absolutely stunning and on top of that, the sky was clearing up as well. Seems like my first day in Asia is going to be a pretty nice one… I decided to head down to the garden and pool area right after breakfast at the Club Lounge. I wanted to luxuriate myself in the wonderfully landscaped garden and by the pool while working on my tan (which I barely had left since it had been already 4 months since my trip in September to Italy). The garden area of Shangri-La Singapore is spectacular!
The next morning I woke up just to realize that the hotel is absolutely stunning and on top of that, the sky was clearing up as well. Seems like my first day in Asia is going to be a pretty nice one… I decided to head down to the garden and pool area right after breakfast at the Club Lounge. I wanted to luxuriate myself in the wonderfully landscaped garden and by the pool while working on my tan (which I barely had left since it had been already 4 months since my trip in September to Italy). The garden area of Shangri-La Singapore is spectacular!
I loved walking around inside the hotel admiring all the art and splendid details as well as in the garden area, just absorbing the calm vibes and good energies.
All those flourishing colorful flowers and senses certainly calmed me down after all the busy times in Finland and almost a day of traveling.
One thing I found strange though was that not once was I asked if I wanted to order some drinks. Which, naturally, would have been much appreciated, I mean that first day’s poolside Mimosa is a must for me, it kind of kicks off my holiday.
However, one of the staff members served guests frozen grapes (served in a cocktail stick), not sure if it was only for the Club Lounge level guests or for everyone but it was such a pleasant surprise as they were really refreshing.
After a few hours of sunbathing and relaxing it was – obviously – time for my nap, after all, the time difference was 6 hours so I was still a bit confused as to what time it really was. After my fantastic nap, I took a long shower and just sat by the window, watching the surrounding neighborhood and waited for the sunset.
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| This beautiful statue in the garden was donated by a grateful guest years ago. |
Doctor on callI had, unfortunately, strained a muscle on my back the day before and it was
getting quite painful so when I went to cocktail hour, and I asked the Club
Lounge front desk manager, Ivan, if it would be possible to meet with a doctor
so that I can get some painkillers so that I can continue to my next destination
in a few days. I had earlier that day decided that I will go to Langkawi,
Malaysia next, although I had been there before because I heard that my sister
and her boyfriend was there at that very moment and since we live very
separate lives, it was an excellent opportunity to meet up with her as well.
So, Ivan kindly organized the doctor to come to my room and what a lovely doctor he was. One of the most skilled doctors I’ve met in my entire life. It was not cheap by any means; it was approximately 450 euros but it was the weekend and after 4 pm so he charged extra for that but luckily I have an excellent traveler’s insurance that covered the costs. This originally Chinese doctor even had necessary meds with him, so I didn’t have to go to the pharmacy at all. How handy, this is what I call a 5-star service!
At this stage, I felt like I had enjoyed my stay at this spectacular hotel so much that I just had to stay a bit longer, so I extended my stay from two nights to four in total.
So, Ivan kindly organized the doctor to come to my room and what a lovely doctor he was. One of the most skilled doctors I’ve met in my entire life. It was not cheap by any means; it was approximately 450 euros but it was the weekend and after 4 pm so he charged extra for that but luckily I have an excellent traveler’s insurance that covered the costs. This originally Chinese doctor even had necessary meds with him, so I didn’t have to go to the pharmacy at all. How handy, this is what I call a 5-star service!
At this stage, I felt like I had enjoyed my stay at this spectacular hotel so much that I just had to stay a bit longer, so I extended my stay from two nights to four in total.
Chi, The Spa
I booked a foot massage for Sunday and I have to say, it was heavenly. Even the garden nook with waterfalls just before the spa area is so calming that you start to relax before you have actually stepped into Chi, The Spa.
Spa’s therapists were extremely warm, kind and certainly skilled – well at
least the one that provided me with my foot massage. I felt rejuvenated
immediately, my body and my soul were truly and thoroughly pampered. I also felt
my back getting better already. I’m pretty sure I had just gotten 10 years younger
and was a young girl again, what an amazing feeling!
This place really is something else!
One of the most fascinating places in the hotel was Tower Wing's lobby.
It was almost surreal, so spectacular it was with all the statues, art and centerpieces as well as that incredible plant feature wall. (Btw, you can imagine the size of it if you check out this photo carefully; there's actually a waitress behind the bar but she is very difficult to see as she seems so tiny, this wall so fabulous and very impressive!)
There was no request that would have been too much. The concierge service is always ready and willing to take care of your wishes. The chef was superb, she came up with new ideas for my special diet every morning and every evening and I absolutely loved every dish and canapé she prepared for me. Oh, and by the way, turned out that the duty manager who personally served me every evening had been in Finland for quite a while and knew some of our most popular musicians. How cool! It’s a small world.
I had the pleasure to meet up with the hotel’s GM as well, such a lovely, respectful gentleman who wanted personally to make sure that I was feeling better and that I had everything I needed. So lovely.
Overall, truly immaculate service and an experience I will never forget! I felt almost sad to leave this hotel but after being here for 4 days it was time for me to head to Langkawi.
More about that and the rest of my Asian adventures in my next blog post, unless I decide to tell you more about my trips to Italy first.
Don’t leave just yet though, here is more awesome details and stories of
this superb, world-class luxury hotel!
SHANGRI-LA SINGAPORE
This sophisticated urban retreat is set in lush greenery and yet only minutes from the Orchard Road shopping belt, which was hard to believe as despite the humongous size of this hotel, it felt always peaceful and enjoyable, whether you were in the street level lobby with bars, sitting areas, check-in counters etc in it, in the Club Lounge on the 24th floor of the Tower Wing or wandering around in the garden. Shangri-La Singapore features 792 luxurious guestrooms and suites across three distinct wings, which include unique family-themed rooms, supported by a host of dedicated family-focused amenities.
I enjoyed the gym, it was quite spacious and it was facing the kai pond and the water feature, what a view to watch while working out!
This sophisticated urban retreat is set in lush greenery and yet only minutes from the Orchard Road shopping belt, which was hard to believe as despite the humongous size of this hotel, it felt always peaceful and enjoyable, whether you were in the street level lobby with bars, sitting areas, check-in counters etc in it, in the Club Lounge on the 24th floor of the Tower Wing or wandering around in the garden. Shangri-La Singapore features 792 luxurious guestrooms and suites across three distinct wings, which include unique family-themed rooms, supported by a host of dedicated family-focused amenities.
I enjoyed the gym, it was quite spacious and it was facing the kai pond and the water feature, what a view to watch while working out!
As unbelievable as it sounds, there are also 11 restaurants and bars in the hotel
area. I think that itself says it; this place is like a little hotel town
itself.
And based on all the meals I had, this hotel's chefs truly know their way to guests' hearts and stomachs, everything was so tasty and exactly what I hoped for.
And based on all the meals I had, this hotel's chefs truly know their way to guests' hearts and stomachs, everything was so tasty and exactly what I hoped for.
The Tower Wing
..in which my room located at, is an actual part of the first Shangri-La Hotel in the world, opened in 1971, which basically established the standard for the unparallel signature Shangri-La experience. The name Shangri-La has become synonymous with paradise, inspired by the famed utopia by James Hilton’s Lost Horizon. The Tower Wing, with is spectacular art amenities, a completely redesigned, very impressive lobby and Lobby lounge is a true centerpiece of Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. The Lobby was no doubt the most impressive one I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen many. Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!
Horizon Club Lounge
On the 24th floor of the Tower Wing, there’s an exclusive Horizon Club Lounge, in which guests staying at Club level rooms are entitled to unwind and enjoy a high-end service, including hot breakfast buffet, afternoon tea, evening cocktails, and canapés. You also can have a priority check-in and check-out if you so wish. The Horizon Club is open all day, it’s like a peaceful haven where you can relax and enjoy the panoramic view. Also, 24 hr concierge assistance is available. However, I would like to remind you that smart dress code applies at the Horizon Club Lounge and that children under 12 must always be accompanied by an adult.
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| The champagne station at the Club Lounge / My breakfast along with the wonderful views! |
The Garden Wing
This part of the hotel has clearly been inspired by nature. Its tranquil ambiance is literally surreal when you realize that you are still in the middle of Singapore! The Garden Wing underwent an extensive renovation. There are now 158 spacious guestrooms and suites there with warm, welcoming interiors.
I loved the sounds of the waterfall and truly enjoyed watching koi swimming in the ponds.
In this wing, there are Three Premier Balcony Suites that are perfect for an ultimate getaway in Singapore, as they each feature an outdoor jacuzzi, private barbecue grill and sun loungers on their large balconies. They are ideal for your private parties with your loved ones. Further, for guests of these suites, there are personal housekeeping and round-the-clock butler services available. If this isn’t the ultimate luxury then I don’t know what is!
The Valley Wing
This sanctuary with its 131 elegant guestrooms and suites is an epitome of luxury. Its exclusivity is evident and certainly experienced immediately upon guests arrive through a separate entrance for a private arrival and departure at the Valley Wing Lobby. This is the choice for heads of states, heads of major corporations and discerning travelers.
This sanctuary with its 131 elegant guestrooms and suites is an epitome of luxury. Its exclusivity is evident and certainly experienced immediately upon guests arrive through a separate entrance for a private arrival and departure at the Valley Wing Lobby. This is the choice for heads of states, heads of major corporations and discerning travelers.
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| The Lobby of the Tower Wing |
I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love this place and I warmly recommend to
anyone. In my opinion, it’s not even that pricey compared to some other high-end
hotels that are not even (in my professional opinion) at the same level as
this place.
I can only express my greatest gratitude for making my stay unforgettable. The staff of the hotel truly was warm and caring and thanks to them, I’m absolutely certain, I will be back one day!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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