Media Invite
The husband and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary a few weeks back, and we were very glad to be invited to Hotel Intercontinental for a family staycation to celebrate the occasion. I’ve always wanted to have a staycation at Hotel Intercontinental because of how lovely the hotel is, and its accessibility to lots of good food and shopping areas. What I didn’t know was that the hotel decor was Peranakan-inspired, which was a really pleasant surprise. Although I am not a Nonya myself, I have a special love for its culture because my nanny who took care of me for about 10 years was a Nonya. I grew up savoring her delicious Nonya dishes and learnt how to appreciate furnishings and decor that carried the Peranakan style.
Lobby
Hotel Intercontinental has a very elegant lobby. This lobby accessible from an entrance direct from Bugis Junction has high ceilings, white washed walls and huge pillars, which made the whole area really grand and spacious.
There are abundant seating areas in this lobby for friends to gather for drinks and for business meetings. Love the drawings on the ceiling with the chandeliers, matched with beautiful carpets that cover the entire floor area - So much elegance.
The front lobby is usually accessed only by guests staying at the hotel and it is just as classy. The staff were friendly, courteous and very helpful. We were ushered to the Club Lounge for our personalized check-in because the hotel had arranged for us to stay in the Shophouse Room, which came with personalized check-in service and complimentary use of the Club Lounge. The first thing the manager said to me was, “Happy wedding anniversary!”, which was such a nice touch! More about the Club Lounge later.
Our Room
After our check-in was done in the comfort of the Club Lounge, with coffee and drinks served to us, we were ushered to our room. Look what greeted us! Beautiful bouquet of flowers and lovely snacks from the hotel, to congratulate us on our 12th wedding anniversary. It was such a special feeling to receive well-wishes in such a manner.
Our Shophouse room has two double beds, and they rolled in an extra single bed to fit our whole family. Absolutely love this room – Once you open the door, you will step into the area cordoned off from the main bedroom area, where the wardrobe and entrance to the bathroom is.
There is also a writing desk and a comfortable two-seater sofa with a coffee table. The room’s really spacious and cosy with panel windows and soft sheer curtains that I really like.
Bathroom’s complete with separate standing shower area and bath tub, and of course, all the luxurious and sweet-smelling toiletries are provided for as well.
Club Lounge
Our room comes with Club Lounge privileges, which include breakfast in the morning, hi-tea in the afternoon and cocktails in the evening. You can enjoy food and drinks served to you in the comfort of the Lounge, by servers with excellent service. It was such a luxurious experience!
I couldn’t resist taking time to appreciate all the Peranakan decorations and furnishings in the Lounge. Everything’s so pretty and lovely!
The Club Lounge at Hotel Intercontinental is HUGE. I’ve been to several hotel Club Lounges before, but this is definitely one of the biggest I’ve been to, so far. Apart from many private seating areas, there is also a board room within the lounge for you to hold your business meetings. Every guest can have one hour of complimentary use of the board room during their stay.
We were promptly greeted by the staff in the Club Lounge, and then served the hi-tea set for five. Look at this three-tier set of yummy goodies! The nonya kuehs were our favourites! We even asked for additional helpings. =P
As I sat on the couch, sipping the hot tea and enjoying the hi-tea snacks, I couldn’t help but feel extremely blessed to be able to enjoy life this way. It was so relaxing and cosy and best of all, I had my family with me to enjoy it together.
Needless to say, the food was delicious! Prepared by the hotel’s chef, no less.
All day long, cookies and biscuits are available in the Club Lounge. And we spotted vintage biscuits in a beautiful Peranakan ceramic ware!
So gorgeous, I couldn’t stop admiring.
And we asked Joey to help us take a photo for our wedding anniversary. It was such a great moment worth documenting down. :)
Breakfast
Hotel breakfasts are our fav. We woke up bright and early so that we can have two breakfasts. =P You see, as a hotel guest, breakfast is often included as part of your room booking. But on top of that, guests staying in the Shophouse rooms or suites can also opt to have their breakfast in the Club Lounge. We decided to try both! As expected, both did not disappoint - The selections were wide and food was delicious! I’ll let the colorful photos do all the talking.
The Club Lounge was much quieter than the main restaurant for breakfast, of course. The exclusive nature of the Club Lounge gave us a respite from the rowdiness outside. I felt so relaxed every time I step in. Second round of breakfast was just as fabulous, if not more so. The selections were a little different with more elegant food presentation to whet your appetite.
Hi-Tea Buffet @ Olive Tree
It was a pleasant surprise when I received a note from the hotel, to invite us for a meal at Olive Tree because most sponsored staycations do not include additional meals. Very nice and personal touch by the hotel, I say! And certainly made a deep impression on me. =D I was excited to try out the Sunday Hi-Tea buffet at Olive Tree Cafe because I’ve heard good reviews on it. Frankly speaking, the fresh seafood section was enough to win my heart. Behold this:
Everything was so fresh and delicious, I felt like I was transported to heaven.
The buffet has a good spread of cold cuts, seafood, hot food dishes, pasta, Indian dishes, desserts, cakes, ice-cream, crepes, etc etc. I think you get the idea. =D
Olive Tree Weekend Lunch Buffet
Adults: $78.00++ (Comes with free-flow coffee/tea, soft drinks and beer)
Child (7 - 12 years old): $28.00++
Child 6 yrs & below dines free with every paying adult
Swimming Pool
Hotel Intercontinental has the usual facilities provided in most hotels, but we only managed to make use of the swimming pool. Love it that there are separate pools for adults and kids, and a separate jacuzzi pool as well. Very family-friendly!
The December school holidays are fast approaching. If you do not have plans to travel overseas, but wish to take a short break, do consider going for a staycation at Hotel Intercontinental. From now till 31 January 2015, they are offering a Family Getaway Package at a really good price. Read the following for details:
Families looking to spend precious time together now have another reason to go on a luxurious staycation with InterContinental Singapore's new Family Getaway Package, where children can stay, dine and visit a local attraction for free. As part of the package, two parents and one child will enjoy a delectable buffet breakfast, with tickets to the Singapore Zoo which promises an immersive experience with over 2,800 animals across more than 300 species, making a family getaway not only fun but also educational.
The Family Getaway Package is priced from $390++ per night in a Deluxe Room, and available for stays between now and 31 January 2015.
For more information or to book, please visit intercontinental.com/singapore, email to sinhb-resvn@ihg.com or call +65 6825 1000.
Terms & Conditions: This promotion is valid for a minimum of two nights’ stay from now till 31 January 2015. Full prepayment is required upon reservation and is non-transferable and non-refundable. Rates are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes. Prior reservation is required and subject to availability. This offer is not valid in conjunction with other offers or promotions.
Thank you, Hotel Intercontinental Singapore, for such a wonderful staycation!
