Singapore, luxury family visit to the shangri-la, hotel

saragouthwaite
Sep 23, 2017
4 min read

Updated: Jan 22, 2021

So, this was our very first stay at a Shangri-la hotel. From reading phenomenal reviews and seeing beautiful pictures online, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about! Having booked Singapore for 2 nights and being within 20mins of the airport, it seemed the obvious choice! The second we stepped out of the taxi we were greeted by a kind gentleman in traditional dress, nothing was too much trouble for him and I was very grateful. After 2 long flights with a three year old, I had spilled saucy carrots all over my WHITE Jeans and broken the zip, I felt horrendous, I hadn't had a sip to drink in hours and very nearly fell asleep in the taxi! Thank good for the stress free arrival and exciting prospect of a luxury hot spot! The ladies at reception were all down to earth and we felt at ease talking to them! We were shown to our BEAUTIFUL room, something out of home catalogue or luxury holiday brochure! Even the slightest detail catered for...e.g. Cass took a trip to the bathroom during an episode of 'the lion guard' on Disney junior (yes all of your favourite channels are there!) and I realised I could for some reason hear the show in surround sound....obviously the TV sound is set up in the bathroom too! Complete with sound controls! Fantastic! There were plenty personal touches, a free shoe polish, bath robes, a whole drawer of luxury toiletries, extra pillows, a fruit bowl, enough bottles water for a day in the Sahara, what seemed like an entire year supply of towels....definitely not complaining, you can never have enough! Your usual items iron, hair dryer etc and anything else you can think of, you are welcome to call and ask for eg a crib (cass still has one as he tends to roll out of hotel beds!) We even had a handwritten note, pillow chocolates and beautiful book marks, they may not seem Like much but it all adds to the ambience! And I couldn't have been happier! The lounge on floor 24 is available if you book certain rooms or pay a little extra. I can say wholeheartedly that I would come Just for the lounge (not that everything else isn't already incredible enough) you have an extra special breakfast, afternoon tea (it was to die for) and cocktails + canapés in the evening all the while sitting in luxury surroundings with panoramic views of the lush green and sky scraper city! I could have sat there for hours! This is ideal for business travellers, but also for families looking to unwind, high quality snacks and drinks for the kids (allowed until 6:30) and perfect for a bit of 'mum only' time when you fancy catching up on a good book (or Facebook!) with a few cocktails and tasty snacks (no expense spared!) There are several bars and restaurants, a gym, 2 pools and every amenity you could ask for. The hotel decor is modern and immaculate, there are some great quirky features from rebound artists, or sustainably sourced items from around the world, there are some really great and unique ideas. I've added a few of my favourites especially the tree canopy ceiling at reception or the sculptures of 'children dabbling in water' these are unique and very very interesting up close, not something you see in your average luxury hotel! We tried breakfast on both the ground floor and 24th floor. On the 24th floor, breakfast is made up of very fine ingredients, there is a smaller selection but higher quality and in closer proximity, and more luxurious...again with the amazing views and more of a personal touch, on the ground floor the breakfast is still fit for a king, but busier and more vast, I personally preferred the 24th floor because I could get breakfast for cass pop him on a comfy chair then quickly get myself something tasty, with him still in sight, which is ideal. There are several restaurants in the hotel,and on our last evening, we thought we would give the buffet restaurant a try! Every dish was nothing but premium, at 93SGD (inc taxes) per person, it's a little pricey but worth every penny, ideal if you have children, as it's free for under 5's and the choice of food is great for kids for obvious reasons if you have fussy eaters! Overall we had a ball! I couldn't fault the service, food, drink, location, cleanliness, surroundings or cost. Singapore itself feels and is incredibly safe, taxis will cost no more than £15 anywhere you go in the city, there is plenty to do for families, including universal studios, the science centre, snow centre, kidzania, various cinemas and parks. Very humid, a little rain, but the people are some of the friendliest I've met in the world! I'll definitely be visiting Singapore again! And the shangri-la without a second thought! Bravo!