Have stayed at this hotel several times and am always impressed with the quality of the rooms. They are clean and comfortable. The rooms are large, beds comfortable, the desk makes working in the hotel a pleasure and the bathroom is fully stocked. The separate bath/shower area with multiple shower head choices is very nice. The large picture window in the room offers a wonderful panorama view of Singapore.

The air conditioning is excellent which is a real "must" in Singapore for sleeping.

The broadband internet is fast whether you are using it wired for your laptop or WiFi for your smartphone.

The breakfast buffet is well stocked with both western and Asian breakfast choices. I especially like the espresso machines which make excellent coffee.

The location is also very good and there are plenty of restaurants, bars and shopping areas within walking distance.

The staff is helpful and friendly.

The hotel is quite well appointed and in a wonderful location adjacent to the Raffles and several shopping venues. By all means book on line as the walk in rate is absurdly expensive - as are the hotel restaurants and bar. Personnel are efficient and accommodating.

As you'll perhaps see, I reviewed this hotel in December 2011 when I thought it was in a superb location and really handy for the shops, the trains, Raffles and almost everything else you can think of. That's all still true.

Unfortunately, most of the other things I said about the hotel are also still true. As before, I stayed in the club wing, which you can't fault in terms of cleanliness and comfort. Beds are soft, air conditioning works well and the Molton Brown toiletries they provide are excellent.

It's the lounge, really, that gets me. It just lacks personality and is pretty tense. Everything in its place. As soon as you stand up they rush to put the cushions straight. You try and pour a drink, they run over and try to do it for you. You try to get a coffee at breakfast, they rush over and try to take over making it. It's all too much and it starts to feel a bit oppressive after a while, especially when coupled with the muzac that you CAN hear and the TV that you CAN'T.

Came to a bit of a head for me after ten nights there when I tried to take a guest for the cocktail hour. You used to be allowed to take two guests, and they used to be able to get free drinks. They now get just one complimentary drink. Unfortunately I asked for a second, and together with a bit of cheese from the buffet, was presented with a bill for $S28. Presumably if I'd taken a guest every night I was there and had one drink, the cumulative total would have been okay. Total cost to hotel, ten beers. But having one guest for one night with two drinks, that's just too much, sir.

Just to cap it all, you used to get two free pieces of laundry each day. That's gone as well.

And overall, they're still no more relaxed than they were last December, although if you're just here for a day or two, perhaps that wouldn't matter much.