No hotel chain has managed to create so consistent an experience as Shangri-La. This hotel is no departure from the formula: cosy rooms, solid rosewood furniture, light brown tones, flowery curtains. As soon as one steps in, the smell of Shangri-La. Of course, the Chinese restaurant is called Shang Palace and the Japanese restaurant is Nadaman. The oversize outdoor pool stands in the midst of a lush garden. And it does not hurt that the level of service in Singapore is just as good as in any of their properties. Although I am personally not a fan of their style, which I find bordering on stuffy, it really is a question of personal taste, and I know a number of people who, on the road, would only feel at home in a Shangri-La. This being said, I view Shangri-La Singapore as sub-par in two respects. First, the rooms in the older wings are at this moment very tired, well past their prime. This will probably be fixed one day in a renovation. Second, and more fundamental, the location of the hotel is not ideal: secluded at the end of an alley, it is not within walking distance of the main streets. Taxis in Singapore can be hit-or-miss: abundant at some times of the day, they tend to all disappear at the same time, for instance late afternoon or when it rains; during the downtime, one can feel stranded at the...No hotel chain has managed to create so consistent an experience as Shangri-La. This hotel is no departure from the formula: cosy rooms, solid rosewood furniture, light brown tones, flowery curtains. As soon as one steps in, the smell of Shangri-La. Of course, the Chinese restaurant is called Shang Palace and the Japanese restaurant is Nadaman. The oversize outdoor pool stands in the midst of a lush garden. And it does not hurt that the level of service in Singapore is just as good as in any of their properties.

Although I am personally not a fan of their style, which I find bordering on stuffy, it really is a question of personal taste, and I know a number of people who, on the road, would only feel at home in a Shangri-La.

This being said, I view Shangri-La Singapore as sub-par in two respects. First, the rooms in the older wings are at this moment very tired, well past their prime. This will probably be fixed one day in a renovation.

Second, and more fundamental, the location of the hotel is not ideal: secluded at the end of an alley, it is not within walking distance of the main streets. Taxis in Singapore can be hit-or-miss: abundant at some times of the day, they tend to all disappear at the same time, for instance late afternoon or when it rains; during the downtime, one can feel stranded at the Shangri-La.More