After a very long but relaxing flight from LAX (17.5 hours to be exact), I finally landed in Singapore.
It was my first time visiting the “lion city” so I wasted no time and headed straight for my hotel for the weekend, the Conrad Centennial Singapore.
Review: Conrad Centennial Singapore (Singapore, Singapore)
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The Conrad Centennial Singapore is located in the Downtown Core of Singapore, in a building that houses 512 guest rooms including 25 suites.
The Conrad Centennial Singapore:
View of the Conrad Centennial from street-level
The unique Conrad Centennial Singapore keepsake – the Centennial Bear
The Location:
The hotel itself is located in a very desirable and central location within the Downtown Core, near other notable high-end hotels like the Intercontinental Singapore and the Mandarin Oriental Singapore (among others) and directly across from the Fountain of Wealth.
It was also a pleasant walking distance to some of Singapore’s main attractions including the Merlion, the Art and Science Museum, Gardens by the Bay, and the Marina Bay Sands Singapore.
FHOP Tip: Although not far from the major attractions in the marina, the streets and building entrances getting you out of the Downtown Core be a little confusing. For that reason, I recommend taking a taxi to a point (such as the Marina Bay Sands Hotel) and then walking back to the Conrad. This will not only save you some time, it will help familiarize you to the layout of the city and the Marina.
Getting There:
Getting there from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) was an easy 20-minute ride by taxi.
The Redemption:
On the nights of my stay, the a Deluxe King room at the hotel was going for 388.41 SGD (about $285 USD per night).
I booked my stay for 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night, which amounted to a standard redemption of rate of .48 cpp (exactly average for a Hilton Honors redemption).
The Check-In:
Upon arrival, I was greeted at the valet drop-off zone by several attendants and ushered inside to the front desk.
The front desk
It was late, and there was only one person at the desk, but the wait didn’t take long.
The front desk attendant was very business-like and professional (although I wouldn’t use the word “friendly”), thanking me for my Hilton Diamond status and for choosing the Conrad.
I felt a little strange because she told me she was going to upgrade me to a Deluxe King room, and I had to point out that was already the room I booked. She seemed annoyed that I had pointed this out. She then proceeded to tell me there were no room-type upgrades available to me but that she could offer me an “upgrade” to a higher floor. I accepted that, but I was left wondering whether she was being truthful to me about the lack of Diamond member upgrades.
She then handed me the following Executive Lounge letter notifying me of the access to the lounges on floor 4 and 31 and the benefits and dress-code.
Executive Lounge Letter
The Lobby:
The lobby on the first floor was massive. It was actually more warm and inviting than any business hotel in the Downtown Core had any right to be.
There were some stand-out art pieces and the wall of teddy bears was great.
I see a dancer, what do you see?
The great wall of teddy bears
Modern…and classy
The Elevator & Hallway:
When you see that much pink marble, you know you are in Asia
Bland…but classy
The Room:
The bedroom was bright, tidy and clean. After a super-long flight, it wasn’t the coziest of rooms, but it was comfortable.
A white water-melon; why can’t I look away?
Room Amenities:
Nespresso. Legit.
The Bathroom:
The tub comes complete with a rubber-ducky
The View From The Room:
Round-a-bout around the Fountain of Wealth
Fountain of Wealth by night
View of the Marina
The Executive Lounge:
As the Executive Lounge letter [pictured above] stated, there were two Executive Lounges Diamond members have access to; I opted for the Executive Lounge on the 31st floor.
I utilized the Executive Lounge for complimentary evening drink hour (5:30 pm to 8:00 pm) and for breakfast.
Click here for a full review of the Executive Lounge at the Conrad Centennial Singapore.
The front desk of the Executive Lounge
Breakfast at the Executive Lounge
Nearby:
FHOP Tip: Directly across the street from the Conrad Centennial Singapore building (directly to the south) is a large “strip mall” housing several bars and restaurants. I opted for the Paulaner Brauhaus Singapore which was quite the lively scene at night. The crowd was a mix of locals and foreigners and the live music was great. Not to mention, all the varieties of Paulaner beer on tap!
Live music at the Paulaner Brauhaus Singapore
The Bottom-Line Review: Conrad Centennial Singapore (Singapore, Singapore)
Overall, I found the Conrad Centennial Singapore to be a fine hotel. Although I’m sure some will disagree, I felt it was much more of a business hotel than a luxury hotel. The staff was to-the-point and efficient, but they were not warm or helpful in any stand-out way. I still wondered if the staff was honest with me as a to the lack of room upgrades available to me as a Diamond member.
Nevertheless, the location couldn’t have been better and the proximity to the nearby restaurants, malls and attractions was great. I really enjoyed the Executive Lounge and the hotel overall made for a very relaxing and upscale stay.
The Bottom-Line Rating: 4/5 stars. Recommended for business travelers and first-timers in Singapore.
Cheers!
