Overall, we had a pleasant stay and would definitely recommend this hotel, especially because of the commendable service provided by the concierge and reception staff. Shout out to Manager Smith, the lady trainee and the friendly lady chef.
Entering the hotel was a little confusing at first as there are two sides to enter from. From the side we entered had to walk all the way to the end before taking the lift up to the 9th floor, where the hotel lobby is located (would be nice if they had some directory or stickers on the ground to direct us to the correct lift, we saw other guests being lost too). It was also quite difficult to book a taxi directly outside the hotel. Even when we set the pick-up location as Stanford Hotel, some taxi stopped at Ibis Hotel instead. This is something to take note of, especially when travelling with elderly guests, as they may have to walk further to reach the pick-up point.
We stayed in a Family Twin Room and added an extra bed. The room became quite cramped with the additional bed, but was otherwise comfortable. As we were travelling with elderly family members, one downside was that the bathroom only came with a bathtub, with no option for just a ground level standing shower. However, when we asked the receptionist for assistance, they kindly found a stool for us and brought it directly to our room, which we really appreciated.
There were also a few minor issues with the room. Our room phone could not dial housekeeping directly, so we had to contact the reception instead. The toilet bowl also clogged quite easily during our stay, it happened twice, so I would recommend being careful not to use too much toilet paper.
Happy that the hotel had quite a few convenient facilities. There was a laundry room on level 10, snacks available for purchase at the hotel lobby, and even a luggage weighing scale right in front of the lobby, which was very useful before our flight. There is also an Olive Young directly below the hotel, which was great.
There were a few dining options on Level 9 as well, including a bar and a breakfast/coffee area. We tried the hotel breakfast and enjoyed it. There was a nice variety of food. Definitely not the extensive assortment you might expect from a five-star hotel, but still more than enough for an enjoyable breakfast. They even had a croffle station.
The lady chef at breakfast was also very friendly and would often greet us when we arrive and again when we left. These may seem like small gestures, but they really go a long way in making guests feel welcomed. Hotel guests also received 10% off breakfast, which was a nice benefit. On days when we were tired and did not feel like heading out early, it was convenient to simply stay in the hotel and have breakfast there instead.
One thing to note is that breakfast closes strictly at 10am. If you are still eating past the closing time, the staff may remind you to finish up quite quickly, so I would recommend going down earlier if you prefer a more leisure breakfast.
What stood out most during our stay was the service. The concierge and reception staff were extremely helpful and often went beyond their usual duties to make sure we were well taken care of. When we encountered an issue ordering food delivery, they assisted us with the order. On another occasion, we needed help rescheduling an appointment, the trainee kindly helped us contact them when the place opened and rearrange it for a later time.
We also ran into some issues regarding our check-out, and thankfully, Manager Smith stepped in and helped us resolve the situation.
Despite the few inconveniences, the thoughtful and attentive service made our stay a positive one. The little gestures from the staff, together with the convenient facilities, made a difference, particularly as we were travelling with elderly family members. It was also nice that there were many great food places near the hotel, within 3-10min walk. We would definitely recommend staying here.
