Hotel Review: Village Hotel Katong, Singapore

Admittedly, we chose this hotel first and foremost because of the unbelievably fantastic last minute offer we saw on Booking.com. We had been to Singapore a few times in the past and had always chose to stay in or around the city centre (mainly because that's where the tourists flock, right?) Well, it did turn out that Katong was not a touristic area, and for some people this may be a let down, because obviously saying you stayed in Katong during your recent trip to Singapore does not sound quite as fancy as saying you stayed in Orchard or the Clarke Quay. Anyway, we decided to give it a try and here is what we got to experience:

The Hotel

Love at the first sight it was not! The building looked unattractive from the outside - old, tired, and out of place. And of course it did not help that our taxi driver drop us off at the back entrance (if your taxi driver is unsure where to go, tell him/her the old Paramount Hotel!) However, once you step into the lobby, you would feel as if you had just made a great leap in time. The entire building has apparently undergone a massive refurbishment in the inside (to the extent that will put many other four-, or even five-star hotels, in Singapore to shame). The décor pays tribute to the Peranakan culture but with modern comfort and conveniences – we found it to be tasteful yet functional. The lobby felt spacious and plush, with plenty of comfortable seats.

The Location

Katong is actually more of a residential area with a number of streetside cafes and eateries which apparently are as decent but not as touristy (read: pricey) as Clarke Quay (I found out later that some of these eateries are famous among locals). There are two decent shopping malls just minutes away on foot (one of them – the Parkway Parade – is almost right across the street). For quick groceries shopping, there is also a supermarket right below and a couple of 24/7 convenience stores around the building.

Now, here's the catch: if you mainly travel by MRT, then this hotel is not for you. It is quite a distance away from the nearest station. That said, there seem to be plenty of public buses servicing this area and the hotel concierge would be happy to take you through them. And as if this was not enough a consolation, the management also offers shuttle services to some other places around the area (including an MRT station - see below).

I was travelling with my parents, so MRT was not quite a preferred means of transportation when taking taxis would not cost much more but was way more comfortable and efficient. Throughout our stay, we never had difficulties getting a cab (or an Uber).

The Room

We were fortunate to receive an upgrade to Peranakan Club rooms, which were - as expected – stylish and spacious (let me highlight the word "fortunate" as freebies like this should NEVER be taken for granted). The room was tastefully decorated in blue and turquoise and felt really fresh and inviting with a big balcony (would recommend placing a table and two chairs here) and plenty of daylight. Couples would definitely be delighted to see the indulgent open deep-soaking tub although my personal favourite was the strong rain shower (heaven!) and the lovely-scented shampoo (I normally use my own when travelling, but I gave in this time). Families, long-term travelers, and shoppers would also love the fact that there is A LOT of space to store your luggage.

There were also a few features in the room that clearly showed the management’s thoughtfulness, from the adjustable reading lights and switches on both sides of the bed (unfortunately the master switch was only on one of them) to the calendar-shaped mini tourist guide to the area. Each room also comes with a 46-inch LED TV and of course strong, free Wi-Fi.

The only issue I had during my stay was that my minibar fridge did not seem to work at all, even after having the technician(s) trying to fix it twice. I only had a carton of milk to chill and in fairness they did offer to store it for me, but it was just too much of a hassle for me. I ended up keeping it in my parents’ room, whose fridge was working well. I also spotted a few minor signs of wear and tear, but none major.

I took a video of the room and its facilities (below), but I found the virtual tour on the hotel's official website to be very accurate too.

The Facilities

We did not use any of the dining outlets, but I tried the gym (open 24 hours!) and pool facilities on Level 4. Both were relatively small, but if you go during off-peak times, chances are you would have them for yourself. There is also a steam room and shower facilities next to the gym – nothing fancy but again, perfectly functional (note that all of these are unisex). The only other thing to note is that there were no staff members permanently attending to these facilities, which may be an issue during peak hours.

The Service

I did not use any hotel service during the stay, but both the check-in and check-out were smooth and relatively swift. Having stayed in a few other hotels in town, I must say that at least in terms of friendliness and willingness to serve, the staff were a few notches above the norm. There was only one instance where I could reach neither the Operator nor the Front Desk despite several attempts (perhaps both lines went to the same team?), but I left a message to the Room Service and soon received a call back from the Front Desk. I was also charged an additional amount by mistake but they said the transaction had been voided, so I would just wait for my card statement to arrive.

Verdict

While it may not be the fanciest hotel in town (especially from the outside), we felt that the hotel does try very, very hard to deliver a thoughtful service to their guests and the staff would do the same to address your needs. This is one hotel you would want to come back to.

LIKE: The sleek, modern, and functional - yet authentic - design, the quiet neighbourhood, and the thoughtful and friendly service.

DISLIKE: A few minor observations here and there, but at the price we paid for, I really could not complain.

PRICE: Varies according to seasonality. Shop around as booking directly does not always give you the lowest price.

DETAILS: http://www.stayfareast.com/en/hotels/village-hotel-katong.aspx

DATE OF VISIT: January 2016

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