It’s June! Happy Pride month to all! With Pink Dot 2022 finally returning physically this weekend, I am super excited to tell you guys about the next hotel that we’re going to!
Located just opposite Hong Lim Park, Furama City Centre is the perfect hotel for your staycation this coming weekend if you’re heading to Pink Dot 2022. I am truly honoured this time round as the marketing team for the hotel upgraded my initial room all the way to the Premier Club room prior to my arrival.
I always take pride in showing the best room to you, so this was really great!
Furama City Centre has been around for a very long time. Built in 1984, the hotel is currently 38 years old. While the external facade looks rather old and dated, the lobby has just gone through a revamp back in 2017.
The hotel lobby is located on the second level, which is connected by a colourful set of stairs from the ground floor. Really fits the theme of Pride month, eh?
The vibe was interesting to me. For an old property with a very old and vintage look from the outside, the interior seems very bright and vibrant. It looks like a mini Fullerton Hotel almost.
The lantern lights definitely add up the ambience. It reminds me of the cloud-looking lights that Grand Copthorne used for their revamp too. Simple touches but it really enhance the modern feel to the lobby.
Unfortunately, I guess the revamp was only for the lobby?
When I reached to my level, everything looked tacky and really dated. The clunky elevators, the old-fashion brown carpet. I felt like I was living a life in the 80s. I mean, it’s cute? But it’s a total contrast to the bright and lively hotel lobby.
The Club Premier room is no doubt, a very spacious room. However, the design is really.. something else. It really is in dire need of change. The dark brown carpet makes the whole room really uninviting. It looks tired and dead.
What made it worst was all the dark furnitures too. It makes the room feel cluttered and messy.
I’ve never seen a tired-looking armchair in my life ever before. It’s time to retire. You’ve done a great service, Sir Armchair.
I want to say the bed was comfortable but then again, it doesn’t seem welcoming at all. Perfection to details were totally disregarded; pillows wasn’t fluffed, bed sheets wasn’t tucked in. I know, I know.. it’s a 4-star hotel and I shouldn’t expect for more but I can’t help it. Regardless of the stars awarded to the hotel, all rooms should be kept to a standard.
Inside the wardrobe; there was an ironing board, bathrobes, hangers and a safebox.
Interestingly enough, most 4-star hotels stopped providing bathrobes but I’m glad that Furama City Centre still does.
Extra pillows are provided too if you’re like me, and you need to be protected by pillows on all sides!
The TV and desk area was really.. I can’t even put in words. Appalling?
Wires and cables were left exposed on the console. It felt like the place was ransacked by a hacker or something. I don’t even know what that little board is? A modem that connects the TV to the hotel main channel? Unsightly.
If you’re bringing a child here or something, do definitely ask for a room change. And also an explanation? Then tell me what they say, cause I’m really curious as to what the manager was thinking when he/she gave the green light to let the room be assigned to a paying guest.
In case you’re wondering why I didn’t ask for a room change, the reason is simply because I usually don’t. The main point of doing a genuine review (for me at least) is to capture both the good and bad aspects of the hotel that I’m staying at. Asking for a room change just diminishes that purpose.
Plus, my visits are always planned and scheduled months or weeks in advanced to give them ample time for preparation. Boy, shocking is an understatement.
Literally a blast from the past, a DVD player is provided in the room. I feel like I’m in a museum. Oh! Do you know that National Museum of Singapore is now showcasing a new gallery with all the vintage equipments from the 1970s to the 2000s? I’m sure this DVD player is there too.
I don’t even know when was the last time any of these equipments are used, the dust collected here was insane. It felt like the whole area wasn’t cleaned or even sanitised during the pandemic.
A coffee-tea making station is also provided in the Premier Club room. But with that dust all over? Just no.
You know what? Let’s take a little breather. Seems like everything has been negative lately. Let’s find something great to talk about.
The view! My room was on the 12th level. Not on the highest floor but the view was just.. incredible! The sky, fantastic.
You can see Hong Lim Park just right in front too actually. The last time I went to Pink Dot there was probably a decade ago and I remember standing there in the park amongst the crowd and we saw a pink heart-shaped LED lights pasted on one of the hotel windows. If you think of doing that too, you know what room category to book now!
Another positive thing about the Club Premier room is the bathroom! It was really spacious, they could add a gigantic tub right in the middle of the room.
And the best thing of all, it’s super clean. No dust, no stains either. It’s like nobody has used it before!
One downside though, no bidet here. Sadly too, the hand-held shower was too far to reach the towel bowl. So.. bring an extra bottle for the washy washy, besties.
But of course, just like the room itself, the interior design is just not it. It kinda looks like a rejected BTO toilet renovation.
The bathroom also has a rain-shower system which I really love.
Toiletries used in the hotel is from a local company, Citron Fresh. Infused with Vitamin C, these toiletries has great benefit so you absolutely have nothing to worry about. It’s not some brand-less toiletries bought in bulk from AliExpress.
The vanity and sink area is located just outside the bathroom. Nothing aesthetic here but I guess it’s practical?
I actually find the wrappings for the amenities rather cute. They have the same font as Lady Gaga’s Born This Way album cover! It looks edgy and cool. But then again, does it complement the vibe and theme of the hotel in general?
Now, would I actually recommend this hotel for your next staycation?
In all honesty, I will not. Though the rate is rather affordable for a hotel in a great, prime location, it’s just not worth it. I really feel that safety and comfort is the most important aspect when booking a hotel room. I feel neither, during my short stay and I wouldn’t want the same for you.
I definitely have to give props to them for trying to change or revamp parts of the hotel to enhance the guest experience.
New technology is being incorporated as we speak (or type), like the self check-in and check-out counters. Some 5-star hotels are already doing it currently, the reason why I’m partly impressed that they’re doing it here too.
Then again, the change started and stopped abruptly at the hotel lobby. Once they decided to do a thorough renovation and revamp of the whole hotel and by that, I mean including the guest rooms too.. I promise I’ll be there for the reopening.
But for now, it’s a no from me.
Aliff Daniel 