Singapore's BEST Citadines Raffles Place: Unbeatable Views & Luxury!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! We're diving headfirst into the glittering, sometimes overwhelming, world of Singapore's Citadines Raffles Place. And let me tell you, after sifting through all the bells and whistles, the press releases, and the perfectly-lit Instagram shots, I'm ready to give you the real lowdown. This isn't just a review; it's a confession. A love letter. A tiny bit of a rant. And hopefully, a compelling reason for you to book that stay.
First Impressions & OMG Those Views!
Okay, let's get this out of the way: the views from Citadines Raffles Place are jaw-dropping. Seriously, hold onto your hat (or your wig, whatever floats your boat). I’m talking panoramic, skyscraper-kissing, “Singapore is REALLY pretty” views. I spent a solid fifteen minutes just staring out the window when I first arrived, drooling and muttering about how much I needed to write about it. The vibe here is definitely "luxury with a view." Forget that tiny city apartment; this is where you come to feel like you've made it, even if you're just hiding from your own messy life for a few days.
Accessibility: The Good, The Needs Improvement
Okay, let's be real. They try really hard on the accessibility front, but there's always room for improvement. The website mentions "facilities for disabled guests," so that's a good start, but concrete details are… lacking. Elevators? Yes! Easy entry to the building? Check. But specifics about room features (like grab bars in the bathroom) are scarce. I’d recommend directly contacting the hotel before booking if you have specific accessibility needs. Don't just assume, because… well, life.
Cleaning, Safety, and Let's Be Honest, Sanitize EVERYTHING
Post-pandemic travel is a thing, right? Citadines nails this. I saw hand sanitizer everywhere (not that I needed it, but hey, the option is nice), and hygiene certificates plastered on the way in. Remember, they have 'daily disinfection in common areas', "individually-wrapped food options" and the staff are "trained in safety protocol" so that's all a good sign. I felt comfortable, though… I may have a mild germaphobe streak myself. They also offer room sanitization opt-out if you somehow want to leave the place pristine.
Rooms: Luxurious Nests (with all the essentials)
Now, the rooms themselves. They're modern, spacious, and thoughtfully designed. I mean, really, you get a window that opens! Little things like a proper desk (essential for the laptop workspace!), a good shower, and blackout curtains (because jet lag is a beast). The "air conditioning" works! There's a "coffee/tea maker" for a quick caffeination fix, which is perfect for those sleepless jet-lag nights. Okay, I’ll admit, the "complimentary tea" was a life-saver. They even have "slippers" (which is a small, yet satisfying pleasure).
The "extra long bed" was a major win for me, as was the "in-room safe box" to keep my emergency chocolate stash (kidding… mostly). "Non-smoking rooms" are available, which is a plus given they have a "smoking area". The "interconnecting rooms" might be perfect if you traveling with your loud/annoying family. The "mini bar" is available for your convenience, and there is a "refrigerator," "safe/security feature" and an "umbrella" for those unexpected downpours.
Internet & Tech: Connected (Thankfully)
Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? Yes, please! The internet was consistently reliable which, let's be honest, is a modern-day necessity. Whether you're working, streaming, or just Instagramming your ridiculously photogenic breakfast (more on that later), you're covered, even "Internet access – LAN" is available.
Dining, Drinking, and the Quest for the Perfect Breakfast
Food. Ah, food. This is where Citadines had me. They offer a "breakfast [buffet]," which is always a good thing, especially after a long flight. I'm an "Asian cuisine in restaurant" kinda guy, and, of course, a "Western cuisine in restaurant" for the rest of the fam. They have "restaurants", "coffee shop", "bar", and "poolside bar". And the best part? "Room service [24-hour]"! They also have those "desserts in restaurant," yummy.
"Breakfast [buffet]" Rant
Now, the buffet. It was good. Very good. But… and this is a big but… it was too good. "Breakfast [buffet]" is a dangerous game for me. I ate my weight in pastries, fruits, and some kind of amazing, spicy noodles. I think I actually regretted the entire thing, but I couldn’t stop. And don't even get me started on the temptation of the “bottle of water" on the table.
Things to Do (or Not Do, It's Okay!)
Citadines is perfectly positioned for exploring Singapore. "Taxi service" is available, as are "car park [free of charge]", "car park [on-site]", and "bicycle parking." You're moments away from the MRT (the subway), so getting around is a breeze. Plus, they have a "convenience store" if you forget something.
If you're the stay-in type, there's a bit to keep you happy. The "fitness center" is on point (I'm told… I saw it. I didn't use it), and a "swimming pool [outdoor]" - perfect for a sunset dip with those amazing city views. They have a "sauna", "spa" and a "steamroom" to enjoy, too.
Relaxation and the Art of Doing Nothing
Okay, so I didn't indulge in all the spa treatments, but the idea is nice. There’s a "massage," a "body scrub," and a "body wrap" on offer, and even a "foot bath". This is the perfect place to sit and read a book with those "wake-up service" and "complimentary tea."
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
Citadines offers all the expected services: "concierge," "laundry service," "dry cleaning," "daily housekeeping" and "luggage storage" among others. But it's the little touches that stand out. The staff were unfailingly polite and helpful. The "doorman" welcomed me enthusiastically whenever I went out and came back. And the "elevator" was a godsend.
Things I LOVED (and a few things I didn't)
Loved: The views, the comfy bed, the location, the breakfast buffet… I can’t stress this enough. Didn't: The potential for accessibility improvements. But hey, no place is perfect, right?
The Verdict: Book It! (with a Few Caveats)
Citadines Raffles Place is a fantastic choice, especially if you value stunning views, convenient location, and a touch of luxury. However, contact them directly about your accessibility needs to avoid potential surprises. Get ready to be wowed by the city’s skyline, indulge in the “breakfast [buffet]”, and enjoy a truly memorable stay.
Here's My Personal, (Highly Subjective) Offer
Okay, here’s a deal. If you, dear reader, are looking for an urban escape, a place to treat yourself, or simply a comfortable base for exploring Singapore, Citadines Raffles Place is a winner. Book now and get your complimentary breakfast… and a (very) early wake-up call so you can be in your room to watch the sunrise. Because, trust me, you do not want to miss it. And tell ‘em I sent you. Maybe they’ll give me a free cocktail next time. (wink)
Because let's be honest, the best part of any hotel is the memory (and the photos).
Unzen's Hidden Gem: Yuyado Joukiya - Must-See Japan Ryokan!
Okay, buckle up buttercup. This isn't your grandma's perfectly-planned itinerary. This is… my itinerary. And let's be real, I'm flying by the seat of my slightly-too-tight-for-this-trip pants. Here we go, Singapore, here I come! (God, I hope I packed enough sunscreen…)
Citadines Raffles Place, Singapore - The "Actually, I Think I'm Lost Already" Edition
(Pre-Trip Ramblings - AKA Anxiety Manifestation)
Okay, okay, deep breaths. I booked Citadines because… well, because the pictures online made it look fancy and I deserved to feel fancy for, like, a day. Also, the location, right? Raffles Place! Supposedly smack-dab in the middle of everything. Which, knowing me, probably means I'll still wander aimlessly for hours. I just hope the pillow situation is good. Sleep is crucial. And the aircon. Singapore humidity… I'm already sweating thinking about it.
(Day 1: Arrival & Initial Panic - "Is That Really a Durian?"
- 1:00 PM (SG time, which still feels weird): Land at Changi. Changi Airport! Apparently, it's a destination in itself. Okay, okay, let's tackle this like a… a slightly overwhelmed but ultimately optimistic tourist. Find luggage. Survive the customs line without bursting into tears. (I'm actually pretty good at not crying in public. Usually.)
- 1:30 PM: Find the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). They say it's easy. We'll see. Armed with my trusty, slightly-creased, travel guide and a burning desire to not look like an idiot. Pray for air conditioning.
- 2:30 PM: Arrive at Citadines. Hopefully. Did I pack the right adapter? Oh GOD, I didn't. Cue internal freakout. Pray the reception is nice. And maybe has a spare adapter.
- 3:00 PM: Check-in. If this goes smoothly, I'll consider it a minor victory. Unpack. Admire the fancy-looking room. Take a picture for the 'gram (obviously). Where's the coffee machine? Priorities, people!
- 4:00 PM: Wander around Raffles Place, looking for a coffee that won't bankrupt me (Singapore is expensive, I'm prepared, but still). Observe the suits. Try not to get run over by a tiny, efficient Singaporean.
- 4:30 PM: Found coffee (yay!) and a little "hawker center" (food stalls!) nearby. Oh. My. God. So many smells. So many choices. So. Much. Pressure.
- 5:00 PM: The Durian Debacle. Okay, so I spotted this… thing. It was… spiky. And it was being sold outside the hawker centre. And the smell… Oh, the smell! My travel guide said it's considered the "king of fruits," but the other tourists' reaction was mostly like, "Ew, what is that?!" I'm telling you, I think the smell is worse than you can imagine. Even from a distance. I was both repulsed and strangely drawn in, like a moth to a particularly pungent flame. I almost bought a little bit just to know. Just to say I did it. But my stomach went "Nope." Regret? Maybe. Curiosity? Absolutely!
- 6:00 PM: Recover from the durian experience. Maybe something more… familiar for dinner. Hainanese Chicken Rice, I think? The internet assures me it's a Singaporean staple. Gotta try things.
- 7:30 PM: Walk around the area. Marvel at the architecture. Try to decipher the local languages (mostly Mandarin? Malay?). Feel the humidity. Remind myself to drink water. Drink a lot of water.
- 8:30 PM: Early night. Jet lag is real. And I'm already starting to feel the urge to… nap. Bed, here I come. Maybe browse the photos of the hotel room from earlier. And maybe watch some episodes of Netflix, whatever I could download. I have high hopes for sleeping in a foreign country.
(Day 2: Culture Shock & Culinary Adventures - "My Face is Melting!")
- 8:00 AM (ish): Wake up! Actually, I think I was awake at like 5 am but successfully managed to go back to sleep for a bit. Morning coffee is essential. (The hotel staff will know my name soon, just from coffee orders alone.) And that breakfast I'd heard so much about must live up to the hype. Singapore breakfast, here I go!
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. If I can figure out this whole buffet situation. Try everything! Or… try a little of everything. Start with the pastries. Always start with the pastries.
- 10:00 AM: Explore Chinatown. Colourful, bustling, overwhelming, and beautiful all at once. The smells! The sights! The chaos! Buy a fake designer handbag (just kidding… maybe). Bargaining is my nemesis, I'm terrible at it.
- 11:30 AM: The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. This is where I have no choice: proper etiquette and respect the culture. Marvel at my surroundings and take in the sights, sounds, everything.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch in Chinatown. More hawker stalls! More pressure! I'm going to go for something safe. I have to.
- 2:00 PM: Gardens by the Bay. Supertrees! Cloud Forest! Flower Dome! Photos, photos, photos! Take a moment to stand in awe of the "Supertrees". Stare in wonder at the indoor "Cloud Forest". Feel like I'm on another planet.
- 4:00 PM: Recover from Gardens by the Bay. Seriously, my face is melting off. Take a break in a coffee shop. Hydrate!
- 5:00 PM: Shopping! Somewhere with air conditioning! Maybe Orchard Road? Try not to buy everything. (I’m bad at this.)
- 7:00 PM: Dinner somewhere with serious aircon. Probably the most essential feature in any establishment in Singapore. I'm thinking… chili crab? I've heard it's an experience. A messy, finger-licking, delicious experience. (Fingers crossed I don't get crab all over myself.)
- 8:30 PM: Drinks somewhere with a view? Or maybe just a quiet bar with good air conditioning. My feet hurt. My brain is fried. But I'm kind of loving this. Sort of. I think.
(Day 3: The Grand Finale - "Singapore, You've Got My Number!")
- 9:00 AM: Okay, final day! This time, I'm going to actually, really, truly try to wake up before noon. Maybe. Maybe the hotel coffee can do the trick.
- 10:00 AM: Last-minute souvenir hunting. Back to Chinatown? Or maybe Little India? Decision fatigue is real. I’m just going to start walking, and see what I find.
- 11:00 AM: The Merlion, for the obligatory tourist photo. (It's the law, practically.) Try not to look like a complete idiot.
- 12:00 PM: Last lunch! Another hawker center? Time to be brave, and try something I've never heard of before. (Wish me luck!)
- 1:00 PM: Packing time. (Ugh.) Did I buy enough gifts? Do I actually like the gifts I bought?
- 2:00 PM: One last coffee, back in the hotel. I could get used to this.
- 3:00 PM: Head to the airport. Pray the MRT gods are with me. That I don't get lost. Again.
- 4:00 PM: Check in and get through security.
- 5:00 PM: Wait at the airport.
- 6:00 PM: Fly home. And start planning my next adventure. Because even with the sweat and the confusion and the occasional mild panic attack, this trip… was worth it. Singapore, you weird, wonderful, slightly overwhelming place, you got me.
Citadines Raffles Place: My Slightly Chaotic, Utterly Gorgeous Encounter (and Your Burning Questions Answered!)
So, is the view *really* as good as everyone says? Seriously?!
Oh. My. God. The view? Okay, picture this: I'd just flown in, slightly delirious from the red-eye, and my first thought wasn't, "Where's the coffee?" It was, "WHERE'S THE WINDOW?!" I flung open the curtains (a bit too enthusiastically, I might add, almost knocking over a vase of... well, some kind of fancy flowers) and BAM! Singapore, spread out before me like a sparkly, futuristic postcard. The skyline, the Marina Bay Sands… Honestly? It kinda made me wanna cry. In a good way! So, yeah, the view is worth the hype. Absolutely. It's like, "Hello, you're officially on vacation, and everything's going to be amazing!" I even took *pictures*! So many pictures. They're probably on my phone somewhere amongst the cat videos and half-eaten snacks.
Okay, fine, the view is decent. But is the *hotel* actually luxurious? Or is it just a polished facade?
Alright, let's talk luxury, baby! My first impression? Slight skepticism. I mean, "luxury" can be so… stuffy, right? But Citadines really gets it. The lobby is slick, sure, but it doesn't feel like you're afraid to breathe. The room? Spacious. And more importantly, *comfortable*. The bed was like sinking into a cloud made of kittens (without the scratching part, obviously). I'm not normally a "bath person" but the bathroom was so gleaming and inviting. Suddenly, I *was* a bath person. I even contemplated bringing the robe home (don't judge me!). The little details – the Nespresso machine (essential), the fluffy towels (so good), even the *smell* in the room – all just screamed "pamper yourself." Maybe the facade of luxury? More like a glorious, gleaming, exceptionally well-thought-out reality. I felt like a queen. A slightly jet-lagged, robe-clad queen.
What's the deal with the location? Is it actually convenient, or is it a pain to get around?
Location, location, location! This is a *huge* win for Citadines Raffles Place. It's right smack-bang in the heart of the business district, but honestly, it's far from a stuffy, work-only zone. The MRT (that's the train) is practically at the doorstep – easy peasy to get anywhere! I'm talking Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India…all a quick hop away. And even when you're *not* using the train, taxis are plentiful (hello, air conditioning!). One tiny hiccup? Getting a taxi during rush hour. It's a free-for-all! I may have accidentally elbowed someone trying to hail a cab. Sorry, fellow tourist! But overall? Super convenient. I could wander around the streets, get a coffee, do some browsing...it was perfect. Now, if only I hadn’t gotten lost that one time... But hey, it's all part of the adventure!
What about the food? Good restaurants nearby? Or am I stuck eating hotel room service?
Room service - Tempting! But come on, you're in Singapore! FOOD IS LIFE. And Citadines absolutely delivers on that front. You step out of the hotel, and BAM! Food options galore. From fancy restaurants with Michelin stars to bustling hawker centers with the best street food you'll ever taste. One night, I wandered into a little noodle shop (recommendation from a random local, best advice ever!) and had the most incredible bowl of laksa. Another night, I went full-on fancy with a rooftop cocktail at a place overlooking the bay...again, the view thing! And honestly, the hotel's breakfast buffet was pretty good, too. But get out there! Explore! Eat everything! Regret nothing... except maybe the extra chili in that one dish. My mouth still burns a little, but it was worth it for the experience, the flavor...it was everything.
They have a gym? Is it any good? Because, you know… vacation eating.
Okay, about the gym. Yes, they have one. And yes, I *tried* to use it. Key word: *tried*. It's a decent size, well-equipped, and offers a good view (of course, still the view!). Now, this is where my personal perfectionism kicks in. The *intent* was there! But after a hard day of sightseeing, and eating I was just not in the mood for working out. I may have spent most of my gym visit scrolling through TikTok and staring at the skyline. But if you are the type to actually *enjoy* exercise on vacation? It will be a great experience!
Is it kid-friendly? I'm traveling with the little monsters... I mean, angels.
Not a clue! I've got no kids, but I did see a few families while I was there. The rooms seemed spacious enough, and the staff were super accommodating. I suspect they have all the usual amenities (cots, etc.). Honestly, from what I observed, it seemed like a good choice for families. It's clean, safe, and close to tons of attractions – all the things you NEED when traveling with the tiny humans. But do your research! Check with the hotel directly for child-specific amenities. And maybe pack extra snacks. Just in case...
Anything I should be aware of before I book? Any downsides?
Okay, let's get real. No place is perfect, and that includes Citadines. My biggest complaint? The *cost*. Singapore ain't cheap, and this is a luxury hotel. So, prepare your wallet! Also, it's a busy hotel (which makes sense given its amazingness), so sometimes the elevators take a beat. And, as I mentioned, finding a taxi during rush hour can be a struggle. But honestly? These are minor quibbles. The experience, the view, the sheer "wow" factor? Totally worth it. I'd go back in a heartbeat. In fact, I'm already plotting my return, because, let's be honest, who wouldn't want to wake up to *that* view again?
