Where to Stay in Singapore - Singapore and Malaysia - page 74

76

Allson Hotel Singapore Value Allson continues to be a strong tourist-class hotel
in the city's historic district. F ive floors hav e been r enovated so far, with an ongoing pr o-
gram scheduled for 2009, which will incr ease the number of pr emium rooms. Standard
deluxe guest rooms are a good size and simply but pleasantly decorated. Car ved rosewood
furniture—headboards, side tables, and armchairs in quaint M ing-style carvings—are an
elegant touch for such moderately priced accommodations. P remium r ooms ar e mor e
European in flavor, with free Internet and soft drinks. They're certainly attractive but, sadly,
lacking the car ved furniture that giv es standard r ooms their charm. B athrooms are v ery
small but clean, with combined tub/shower. The small pool area and even smaller gym have
received some maintenance touch-ups. There are no views here, but with a good location
and modest prices, Allson remains a great choice for value-conscious leisure travelers.
101 Victoria St., Singapor e 188018. & 65/6336-0811. Fax [phone]. w ww.allsonhotels.com. 450
units. S$218 (US$146/£98) delux e double; fr om S$339 (US$227/£153) pr emium. AE, DC, MC, V. 5-min.
walk from Bugis Junction MRT. Amenities: 3 r estaurants; lounge; small out door pool; health club w/
Jacuzzi, sauna, steam, and massage; room service; babysitting; smoke-free rooms; executive-level rooms.
In room: A/C, TV w/satellite programming and in-house movies, minibar.
Parkroyal on B each Road Formerly kno wn as The P laza, the P arkroyal is just
across from the color and gr eat restaurants of Arab S treet and Kampong G lam. It's 15
minutes' walk to the MR T (sub way), so y ou'll need to take buses or taxis just about
everywhere else—but the trade-off is that if you stick around, you can take advantage of
the attractive recreation and r elaxation facilities, which include a huge swimming pool
and a lovely sun deck decorated in a lazy-days B alinese-style tropical motif, and a B ali-
themed poolside cafe, cooled b y ceiling fans. Two gyms to the side hav e plenty of space
and new equipment, but the most ex quisite facility of all is the ex otic Bali-inspired spa.
Other hotel facilities include outdoor and indoor J acuzzis, a sauna, and a steam r oom.
Guest rooms were renovated in 2007 and are simple but clean and comfor table.
7500A Beach Rd ., Singapore 199591. & 65/6298-0011. Fax [phone]. w ww.parkroyalhotels.com.
350 units. S$230 (US$154/£104) double; from S$500 (US$335/£225) suite. AE, DC, MC, V. 15-min. walk to
Bugis MRT. Amenities: 2 restaurants; lounge; outdoor pool; health club; spa w/Jacuzzi, sauna, steam, and
massage; concierge; airport transfers; room service; babysitting; executive-level rooms. In room: A/C, TV
w/satellite programming and in-house movies, high-speed Internet, minibar, hair dryer.
Peninsula • Excelsior Hotel Value As its rather uninspiring name suggests,
this huge hotel was cr eated when two of the city 's busiest tourist-class hotels merged,
combining their lobb y and pools and other facilities into one giant v alue-for-money
property popular with tour gr oups. The location really is excellent, in the H istoric Dis-
trict within walking distance to Chinato wn and Boat Q uay, with some fantastic vie ws
over the city, the Singapore River, and the marina. A long-o verdue renovation is finally
taking place, and tired rooms are being freshened up. All the rooms in the Excelsior tower
have now been renovated, and the Peninsula revamp is continuing into 2009. If you can
bag a refurbished room overlooking Marina Bay, you'll be getting a great deal.
5 C oleman St., Singapor e 179805. & 65/6337-2200. Fax [phone]. w ww.ytchotels.com.sg. 600
units. S$190 (US$127/£86) double; fr om S$295 (US$198/£133) club r ooms, suites. AE, DC, MC, V. 5-min.
walk to City Hall MR T. Amenities: Restaurant; bar and lobb y lounge; 2 out door pools; health club w/
Jacuzzi; concierge; room service; babysitting. In room: A/C, TV, minibar, hair dryer.

5

INEXPENSIVE
Hotel Bencoolen Bencoolen is the signature backpacker hotel on a block that's best
known for budget accommodations. A tiny lobby has a reception desk, bellhop, and one