(my first actual post. Yay!)
We have been trying to arrange a getaway of sorts with Kong & the gang for eons. After all, the last was.. 2009 (6 years ago *gasp*). Plus we were getting a bit tired of weekend potlucks that was limited to 3 hours-ish.
So we talked about staycations – the perfect idea for a quick break without having to deal with passports and customs for 6 adults and 3 young tots. Then comes along one fine day when I saw Mandarin Orchard’s facebook post in my newsfeed – SG50 Special Singapore Staycation deals at 50% off! After sounding like a naggy mother chasing after availability for days, the dates were fixed for 15-16 August hehe.
Address – 333 Orchard Road Singapore 238867. Tel: +65 6737 4411. Website
Price – $281.89 ($239.95 + GST & svc charge) for an Executive Suite (we booked a total of 3 suites): 52SqM inclusive of a separate living room. Club privileges included. Unbelievable deal.
Location – Mandarin Orchard Singapore is located right smack in the middle of Orchard Road, but can be a bit troublesome if it rains as its not sheltered to anywhere else, except maybe Mandarin Gallery itself and almost Cineleisure. But otherwise, for shopping and food, you are spoilt for choices.
Check In – Check in is done at the lobby on level 5. The queue at 12noon was loooong. With only 2 counters and total of 2 staff handling check ins, it was nightmare wait of almost 30mins. I suspect the check in process can be improved as each guest took longer than usual. The rooms were not ready and they offered to store our luggage at the concierge and asked us to return 1.5 hours later, but directly to the Club on level 38 to collect our key cards. They gave us a temp access card for this. How nice.
Room – The Suite is really really nice! Feels more than 52SqM for sure. The bedroom was spacious by itself and comes complete with a seasoned leather chair. Never heard of their Etro toiletry range but oh well it was quite nice. And the Pharo Moonlight Shower Panel with therapeutic massaging hydro-jets (sorry no pics!) was fun to play with haha! The living room, which can be partitioned from the bedroom, contains the desk and a sofa which can easily double up as a bed for 1night if need be. Cleanliness absolutely not a problem here.
Meritus Club Lounge – The highlight of the stay was really the Club access. Located on level 38, the lounge is split into 2 levels: the reception desk and a few reading tables and washroom, then the actual dining / drinks area upstairs. I have to commend the Lounge team as they were all smiles during our stay, plus they very kindly accommodated the 3 tots to be there with the adults, enabling us to enjoy every moment of food and drinks without worrying about taking shifts. The paranomic view was really nice, and really romantic at night. Coffee, tea, biscuits all day, and come evening, hot and cold options which substituted for our dinner and all you can drink bubbles! What’s not to like. I love love Club Lounges!
Breakfast – We chose to have breakfast at Triple Three on level 5. It was really busy at 9+am and the staff were barely coping. There were both quantity and quality and we were absolutely stuffed when 1 hour was up.
Check Out – Check out at the lounge was effortless as the rooms were pre-paid. We also got our complimentary parking coupons then – but you had to give them the car plate number for records. It would have been $60 parking otherwise….sheesh.
Service – we spent most of our time at the lounge and service was excellent throughout. The smiles never wavered one moment. Very classy Meritus standards indeed.
Its a pity that Meritus don’t seem to have a good loyalty programme – a little strange to me especially when most of their competitors do. Something to tug at the loyalty heartstrings wouldn’t hurt at all.
Oh well.