YOTEL Singapore Orchard Road

Went on a (kind of) spontaneous trip down south to check out a couple of things - Harry Potter: Visions of Magic, and The Art of Banksy: "Without Limits" Exhibition. I thought I could check out the Banksy thing the afternoon of my arrival, and then the Potter thing the morning of before leaving or something. But because I'm cheap, it was cheaper to go check out the Potter thing on a Thursday as it's considered off-peak period, so that's what I ended up doing. Don't worry, I did not exactly pay full price for the Banksy thing either, because I used some random referral code I googled for the Fever app and got $7 off, so I call that beh pai.

I think the only reason(s) I went with YOTEL this time was because..

• the Banksy thing was a short walk from there, like, round the corner, kinda. 
• I had also never stayed on Orchard Rd as a grown ass person. 
• It was about the same price (give or take) as the other hotels I would've gone with

Getting there: Changed lines at City Hall, then up the red line to Orchard station. Navigating the steps in the underpass (as well as figuring out the numerous exits because it's a busy station) to the hotel was something, and was kinda glad my luggage wasn't too heavy to lift up and down stairs.

Checking in: Of course I went the longest possible way to the hotel lobby (on the second floor?). Found out later that there was a lift in the International Building that also takes you up to the lobby without having to scale up the road... Anyway, I knew there were self check-in kiosks, but I think I made a beeline for some human interaction (not that there was a line or anything)..

Room: Cosy is the word I would use. But well thought out. The in-room safe and slippers were under the open air clothes rack.. Took both the plastic laundry bags - one to use, other just cos.

There's also 2 sets of blinds in the bathroom - the privacy blinds and blackout blinds. The blackout blinds worked a treat.

The scent of the in-house bathroom products are not my favourite, but ok la - after awhile you don't smell it on yourself any more.. 

Can lower the bed to convert it from couch to bed

Tiny desk and drinks making area. Also where most of the 
light switches and charge points are

Bottled water was pretty cool, and yes, there's a bottle cap opener too..

Dunno if someone brought home the second umbrella, or..

Both hair dryer and iron were in a drawer under the sink

Other facilities: If there was a 7E or equivalent convenience store, I didn't see it. But there's at least one open til late cafe the next building over downstairs. Also too tired to look, so.. 

Pool was more for laps, but by the time I managed to take a dip in the pool, it was almost 9 p.m. (pool closes at 10 p.m.), and the water was bracing cold. And there wasn't a lot of lights, not even from the in-house eatery. But definitely got view of the award winning Pan Pacific Orchard, from the pool. 

Sleep: Even with the tiny lights from the motion sensor detectors and what not... the blackout blinds still worked and I got some sleep.

If you're travelling alone or as a couple, still ok la. If got elderly family members and what not.. probably try someplace else.