This is my only staycation in a long time, and it is the 29th unique property I have checked out in Singapore. It’s been a long time since Staycations is no longer my focus. It was a wild phase then during that era. Now, there is barely any point in doing so since we can already readily travel out of Singapore. With how premium the hotel market here it might just be more worth it for a short getaway to a neighbouring country. Speaking about PARKROYAL Beach Road, it is one of the remaining PARKROYAL hotels that I have not checked out in Singapore. I belong to the lower end of PARKROYAL and the older one in Singapore. It did undergo a recent renovation at the end of 2022. You can check out my review of the Parkroyal Marina Bay, and Parkroyal Pickering over here. I have been here to dine at their signature Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant but never stayed. The recent Trip.com SG60 promotion brought me back for a stay given that the rooms go for only 60 SGD! That is such a sweet deal. I love the Peranakan and local heritage design that they built into the decor. I do like the location of this place with plenty of nice food in the area. You can find my list of staycations in Singapore over here.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I booked the base-level superior room from Trip.com for 60 SGD a night. This is a special promotion rate. This room would usually go for around 200 ish a night. I also managed to tag on my GHA Titanium status for privileges. I was accorded an early check-in at 11am and a late check-out at 4pm. They also provided me with a 2-tier upgrade to a Premier room that will go for around 300 ish. That is a very nice touch of them. Parking is also provided for in-house guests with 2 coupons for exit a day. There are two MRT stations located within about a 10-minute walking distance. It would be nice if the hotel could provide a shuttle service. PARKROYAL on Beach Road comes with 346 rooms and suites spread across 7 categories. You can check out the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Parkroyal Club Access | Bathtub | Room Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior | No | No | 35 Sqm |
| Family | No | No | 35 Sqm |
| Deluxe | No | No | 35 Sqm |
| Premier | No | No | 35 Sqm |
| Club Deluxe | Yes | No | 35 Sqm |
| Club Premier | Yes | Yes | 42 Sqm |
| Executive Suite | Yes | No | 104 Sqm |
Checking In
I got to the hotel at around 1pm since I had something to do earlier. I drove to the hotel and parked straight in front of the hotel. The bellboy very nicely offered me one of the lots nearer to the entrance. Other than the lots in front, there is also a multi-story carpark at the back with a slightly longer walk. Do note that the main entrance comes with some steps. They do have a device that makes it accessible. I love the lobby area after the renovation. Everything looks very new and fresh and they have this Peranakan heritage style going on. The lobby comes with plenty of seating. It is a great place to work if you wanna a change of scenery or vibes from your room.
Checking in was a stand-up affair, I was warmly held by a friendly associate who proceeded to check me in and provided all the relevant information. A GHA Titanium 4pm late check out is also extended. I was also reconfirmed to be in their Premier Room. Since I do not have breakfast included, a special rate of 30 SGD is offered if added at the front desk as compared to the restaurant rate of 42 SGD. I was also informed that since their facilities are under renovation at the moment, we can use the ones in their sister properties at Pan Pacific Singapore. Transportation is provided and you can take a taxi back with the cost fully covered by the hotel. This is a great policy to limit the inconvenience.
Premier Room
I was assigned a room located on the 5th floor. I got room 536 to be exact. It is just a short walk away from the elevators. This room category is considered one of the more premium ones it ranks just below the clubs and suites. Immediately upon entering. You can find a wardrobe on the left that is well-stocked with everything that might be required for your stay. There is an ironing kit, bathrobes, bath slippers, safe and hairdryer.
They do need to do something about the deadbolt. This is not workable!
On the other side of the entranceway, you can find the bathroom. The bathroom is a little bit on the smaller side in my opinion. It does come with plenty of counter space with a single sink. By the sink, you can also find a filtered water tap. All sorts of amenities are provided and then as per the usual over here in Parkroyal and Pan Pacific hotels they use APPELLES, an Australian botanical brand. They are in large pump-size bottles.
The bathroom only comes with a standing shower. I like that it is behind a fully enclosed glass screen that keeps the water from splattering all over the place. The water pressure and temperature control from the handheld shower head is excellent. I did wish that they had a rainforest showerhead since they had the space for it.
Moving back to the main space of the room, by the side is there you can find the minibar area. It is well stocked with both a kettle and a proper espresso coffee machine. Capsules are provided and there are also some packaged tea. They also provided some drinking water. These are not replenished as they had a filtered water tap in the bathroom. Singapore tap water is perfectly drinkable. There is also a mini fridge that is left empty for your use. You can find some creamer inside.
The room is in a squarish configuration. The high-quality smart screen television is mounted on the wall. I do feel that the television is a little bit on the smaller side. They could have installed a bigger one during the recent renovation that will make it much more better for a cozy movie night. The quality is good though and it also comes with Chromecast. There is a good number of both international and local cable TV channels. I did love the ledge under the television for some additional storage. It also allows you to put your device while connected to the television.
In the corner, you can find a circular working desk. This works perfectly for both dining and working. It also comes with a desk lamp and most importantly, they had a Herman Miller ergonomics office working chair which is a gem to work from. It offers excellent back support. The Wi-Fi works very well in the room. It is very easy to connect to. At the side, there is also this little vanity area with a mirror on the wall that I am sure will come in handy.
The plush king-size bed is the centrepiece of the room. The bedding and sheets were excellent. I had such a great rest. The mattress had a nice balance and offered great back support. This is better than some luxury hotels. They also offer plenty of pillows and both the soft and the firmer ones offer great neck support. Flanking both sides of the bed you can find nightstands with controls for the lighting as well as power sockets. There is also an alarm clock on one side of the bed.
The room comes with a good view over the surrounding area. It is a little block given that we are not on one of the higher floors. There are only 7 floors here. It offers a little view of the surrounding area. I love the natural light coming in which makes it welcoming.
Along the window, you can find a lazing day bed or sofa couch. This will be good for two pax. It can also be a bed for the little ones. Left on the coffee table is a welcome amenity for GHA Titanium members. It consists of some local flavoured cookies and a personalised note.
Kampong Glam Tour
My stay just nicely coincides with the hotel Kampong Glam tour. It is nice of them to offer a heritage tour around the surrounding area. This is amazing for both locals and travellers. It starts at 3pm and takes around 1 to 1.5hr. It is done by a proper tour guide in small groups. It is a great way to learn more about the heritage in the area.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed my stay, at least for the rooms and GHA benefits. I can’t speak much about the facilities, breakfast and lounge. I would highly recommend everyone to give it a try and to stay here if you are ever in Singapore. It is quite different from the usual Marina Bay or Orchard hotels. I love the vibes and heritage. This area is very vibrant with a touch of the local scene too. The bed was so comfortable and I had such a good rest. Measuring this at 60 bucks, it is excellent and probably 6 Star! At full rate, it offers a bargain and bang for your buck in a very expensive hotel market. I have to say that this is my favourite Parkroyal of all. Do remember to check out my list of staycations in Singapore.
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