This is my 3rd (and last) The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood property in Singapore!
After rather interesting stays in Kesa House and Wanderlust, this property has always been on my radar to check off. But their initial requirement of min. of 7 nights was impossible, then it closed due to COVID. When it became available again, the min. 7-night requirement was somehow removed and while room rates were not cheap compared to 2021 times, the timely Amex offer and the fact that the property would again be closed w.e.f 15 Oct 2022 (what’s happening?) motivated me to confirm my plans.
Address – 28 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069708. Website.
Contact – Tel: +65 6958 1588. Email: general.annsianghouse-singapore@oakwood.com.
Location – Located smack in the middle of the Ann Siang / Club Street / Maxwell happenings, the property enjoys unsheltered proximity to as much eats as you can inhale, plus fancy atas clubs and bars to your heart’s content if you so wish. If you are looking for the nearest MRT, its a good 7-10mins walk away to either Chinatown Station (DT19/NE4) or Telok Ayer Station (DT18) – so if you are not a fan of walking especially in the heat, buses are a better bet.
Price – $264++ = $310nett booked for a Deluxe Room under the 14-day Advanced Purchase – room only with no meals included. The Amex offer netted me $60 off so I think that made the cost more reasonable?
Getting there – the bright blue property is hard to miss in the Ann Siang neighbourhood and not really super near an MRT station so much easier to grab there if you can.
Pre-arrival – The team was very kind to accommodate a date change out of goodwill due to some last min work stuff – thank you! Later on, there was no pre-arrival email but I reached out to ask for early check in (12pm) and late check out (1pm) and was informed that the prior is subject to availability whereas the latter is chargeable at half day rate for a late check out of 3pm. Not sure where the 3pm came from so I simply acknowledged the info.
Check In – I arrived to an empty lobby at 12pm on a weekday and the entrance was unfortunately, hindered by a line of construction. Eventually I found the ground lobby, saw the sign that the reception is on level 2, got into the lift, and the button to level 2 did not work – I could not activate it for the life of me. Then suddenly, the button lit up and brought me to level 2.
After speaking to the staff at check in, I realized that I had missed the secondary note at the ground lobby to press a bell and wait to be brought up. Opps.
The check in was done rather efficiently but also a almost too robotic (no warm smiles, no nothing). This check in area was cosy – a small block of one desk, one couch, and a corner set up with complimentary coffee and tea + gem biscuits. I didnt get a chance to try them but I’m sure they are much appreciated.
I was sent on my way in less than 10mins after getting a key card sleeve – a cute touch that it opens up to an area guide!
Room – The Deluxe Room (35SqM), 301, was almost exactly the same as the pics on the website.! Not expected with shophouse properties, the space was laid out in a rectangular length.
The first space is the main bedroom section which contains a king bed with generous bedside table spaces equipped with lighting controls, a work desk + chair, and a mounted smallish TV which can be swiveled out for TV-ing in bed. This section has 2x windows but it is partially boarded up for privacy reasons so no views to speak of here. Everything is functional and I appreciate the thoughts that go into making sure this space has some pops of cheery colors but the bed is a little too soft for my liking.
Leading from this is your mini bar area where you’ll get a kettle and some glassware, accompanied by freeze dried coffee and Clipper branded tea bags.
There’s also a cosy wardrobe diagonally opposite this spot and it contains the usual slippers, hair dryer, safe, but no bathrobes.
The bathroom is the section I liked the most – all clean white tiles, surprisingly spacious for a boutique property like this – even has space for a bathtub! Toilet and shower were in 2 separate spaces but …no doors. Shower amenities were Ashley & Co while toiletries were Pob-Vitalite branded. I even managed to squeeze in a quick soak in the evening which was very relaxing~
While I’m typically quite chill with not having many TV channels to rot to during my staycays, this was my first time feeling disappointed. The channel selection is already rather small to begin with, but then CNN has image but no sound, CNA was just a black screen, and Fox Movies is Channel 5. Erm. Okay.
Service – Rather limited experience as my room was on level 3 which meant I could get to my room bypassing the ‘front desk’ located on level 2, but I was able to borrow an umbrella with no issues.
But I also have to point out that at check in, I didn’t get around to clarify the 3pm late check out mentioned on their email and forgot about it, so I went about my day preparing to check out at 1pm the next day. At 12+pm (thank god I checked my email), I received an email from the front desk seeking confirming if I would like to proceed with the 3pm late check out and if so, they will proceed to charge my card for additional $180++. I hurriedly shot off a reply declining it and got out within 30mins and all was good in the end BUT I thought it would have been better if they had called as the situation kind of warranted immediate attention.
Check Out – Painless done at the front desk.
In Summary,
a decent price to check off this quaint property and I had alot of fun eating out the Maxwell / Amoy food centres, but not a property which compels a return.
And since the property is not part of any loyalty programme, do remember to check out Klook for any deals or promotions for the property!