A trip down Memory Lane with HotelView editor David Simpson
Learning that Raffles Singapore was accepting reservations for its new and expanded suite life brought the memories flooding back. Is it really 25 years since I crossed the threshold of this iconic hotel with my wife to celebrate her 40th birthday?
From the word go she was treated like royalty, and as we were shepherded to the Noel Coward suite, one of 12 personality suites named after renowned guests who have visited Raffles over the past 130 years, we gathered an entourage of staff members laden with champagne, flowers and the first of many birthday cakes ablaze with candles.
Breakfast on the verandah outside the Noel Coward suite
I had alerted the hotel manager to my wife’s celebration, but as the door of our suite was opened to reveal even more staff ready to provide a rousing Singaporean version of “Happy Birthday”, to say expectations had been exceded is an understatement.
Even more so given that it was almost midnight having flown in late from Hong Kong where stage one of the celebration had been spent at the Mandarin Oriental.
For us there was a perpetual air of excitement during our three-day stay at Raffles, whether it be taking breakfast on the verandah, a dip in the rooftop pool, a legendary Singapore Sling in the Long Bar, now fully refurbished, or dinner in the courtyard.
The rooftop pool of Singapore Raffles was a perfect place to cool off
The feeling as we used our private key to access the guest-only inner sanctum under the watchful gaze of visiting diners was quite extraordinary.
When Singapore Raffles reopens its doors in mid-2019 following a major renovation, it will continue to offer luxurious all-suite accommodations but with an expanded suite count of 115, adding new categories and updating existing distinctive accommodation with new amenities.
Maybe now is a good time for Raffles Revisited!
CLICK HERE for more about the Singapore Raffles rejuvenation
