A new breed of boutique hotels in Singapore

Finding a stylish alternative to the high prices of big hotels in the Southeast Asian city-state

A new breed of boutique hotels in Singapore is offering visitors more bang for their buck.

The price of a hotel room in Singapore is
now among the most expensive in the world, with the average nightly rate
reaching USD$214, according to the US Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com, the
hotel booking arm of Expedia. The report showed this was an 18% increase from
prices paid in 2010. 

Recently, there have been a growing number
of boutique hotels springing up around the city-state, not only offering more
reasonable prices, but  becoming known as
hip, off-beat alternatives to the generic, global hotel brands that populate the
Singaporean skyline.

“These new boutique hotels are smart, in
the fact that they’ve identified a niche in the market, not only in terms of
price, but also in terms of location, so that they can serve both the business
and the leisure markets,” said Abhiram Chowdhry, Marketing Director for
Hotels.com in Asia Pacific. 

“These
hotels are very much focused on service with an eye on the design elements,” explained
Roshan Mendis, President of booking website ZUJI and Regional Vice President of
Travelocity Asia Pacific.

Even though the general perception is that
Singapore hotels are very expensive, it is still possible to find good deals
and boutique bargains. 

The
Saff

Named after the spice saffron, the Saff hotel blends cultural elements
from the exotic climes of Spain, Morocco, Persia, Turkey, India and Thailand.
The hotel is situated in a historic building, so the rooms are on the small
side. The standard single rooms are between 133-140 sq t, while the deluxe
doubles can be as large as 322 sq ft. The majority of bathrooms are a little
pokey too, but they are clean and have a brand new finish. Sari fabric curtains
and faux snakeskin upholstery give this hotel a contemporary feel.

There is no mini bar or restaurant in the
Saff, but there is a cute bar and restaurant next door where you can have
breakfast, and there are scores of great dining options just a few steps away.
The Saff is in the heart of Chinatown, just a few minutes from the CBD and a
five-minute walk to Outram Park or Chinatown MRT stations 

Hotel
1929

As the name suggests, Hotel 1929 is housed in a building that is
more than 80 years old, but step inside, and it s nouveau chic all the way. The
lobby is filled with designer chairs, and there are 32 individually designed
rooms. Be warned, the single room is small and only meant for one (small)
person. Luggage is stored under the bed to save on space. If you want to go lux,
opt for a suite with an outdoor bath. Every room has a flat screen TV as well
as an iPod docking station and there is free wi-fi.

Hotel 1929 is located near what was once a
notorious red light district of Singapore. But now, Keong Saik Road is more
home to boutique hotels and charming bars. It is a short walk to the Chinatown
MRT station as well as the buzzing bars and restaurants on Club Street. 

Wanderlust

“Industrial glamour” is the look this
boutique establishment is going for. Describing itself as an alternative hotel,
Wanderlust is the place to stay
for the adventurous traveller looking for a radical hotel experience. This
four-storey hotel has 29 rooms and each individually themed floor is the
creation of local leading design and architect firms. The best priced are the
Pantone rooms,  11 capsule-like spaces
with compact storage solutions and modern features. The nine loft suites on the
top floor are for the truly indulgent, each with a whimsical and original
design.

Wanderlust is smack in middle of Little
India, where the streets still have that rustic charm – women in brightly
coloured saris, incense and spices wafting from nearby temples and Bollywood
music blasting from shops and homes. The developers have yet to move in, so
this is a rare enclave in Singapore that’s to be savoured. But if you are
craving order and sanitation then Orchard Road and the CBD are roughly 10
minutes away by taxi. 

Hotel
Re!

Hotel
Re! offers a lineup of 1960s and ‘70s inspired guestrooms and suites with
mod cons and psychedelic furnishings, resulting in a blend that is truly “modern
retro”. There are 53 reasonably priced, superior rooms with brightly coloured
walls adorned with ‘60s inspired stencils. The top class suites are decked out
in gold, silver or bronze, complete with a Jacuzzi hot tub and a waterbed, very
Austin Powers. This is a hotel that screams fun.

Located at the base of Pearl’s Hill,
Hotel Re! is a little away from the action, but it is only a short taxi ride to
attractions like Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Orchard
Road.

Moon
Hotel

The Moon
Hotel is a friendly and cosy establishment in the heart of the traditional
Singaporean enclave of Little India. There is a trendy feel about this hotel,
with an Ikea-like compact design. The standard rooms are seriously tiny and
some do not even have windows, but they are all equipped with iPod docking
stations, flat screen TVs, LED lighting and bathrobes. There is only one suite
with a balcony and open bath.