Hotel Review: Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen, Bugis (Singapore) – Where to Stay

The cruel exchange rate in 2017 had made me think twice before deciding to stay in Singapore for a two-day one night trip to the island city-state with my mother, my wife and my sister. Being an AccorHotels member, I decided to stay at any Ibis hotel in Singapore and after browsing through their website, I settled with Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen near Bugis.

The hotel building.

There are several reasons why I chose Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen Hotel. Apart from gaining points for my membership (the very obvious reason), another reason is because  of its superb location – it is situated within walking distance from Bugis MRT station. In addition, other hotels in Singapore are expensive but for this hotel, it is worth its price.

My wife, my mother and my sister, waiting for the lift at Level 12.

CHECKING IN

I booked the hotel via AccorHotels.com website and I fully paid the two rooms that I booked prior to my arrival. The advantage of being a member is the ability to do online check-in, which was what I did for this stay.

A day before my arrival, I checked-in online and when I arrived at the hotel, I went straight to the dedicated counter for customers who had checked-in online. A receptionist attended to me and after checking the record, gave the keys to my rooms and all that was settled in under 5 minutes.

The bed.

CONCEPT

Just like other Ibis hotels worldwide, the concept at Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen is modern and minimalist with large window thus giving more light to the ambiance of the room. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar, a launderette and an ice dispensing machine. If you pay more for the extra benefits, it also includes an off-site gymnasium since this hotel, despite its huge size, does not have its own gymnasium.

The shower.

ROOM

I was given two rooms on Level 12 – specifically room nos. 1220 and 1221. Both rooms are of same size and same design. The room is spacious enough for two people and comfortable enough to put our stuff and to walk around.

The TV.

There is an iron and an ironing board, a safety box, tea making facility, a minibar, a TV and since I paid for extra benefit, a mobile phone called as handy. I will elaborate more on handy below.

The room’s lighting is bright and during daytime, even without switching on the lamps, the room is bright enough thanks to the natural lighting from sunny Singapore. The TV has many local channels plus a few satellite channels.

The toilet.

As for the bathroom, it is comfortable and clean. Shower area is separated from the toilet by a sliding glass door and amenities is provided – if not, just call housekeeping and they will be more than happy to bring the amenities to you.

Body wash and shampoo are also provided by squeezing the dispenses. They smell good and when I showered after a long day of walking in Singapore, I felt refreshed. The only setback for me is the fact that the toilet has no water hose. Since Asians normally use water to wash after using the toilet, not having a water hose could be a hassle for some.

Generous buffet breakfast.

BREAKFAST

Let me tell you, I was skeptical when I booked the rooms. I was thinking, should I add-on the buffet breakfast or should I not? I decided to add-on buffet breakfast and I would say, that was the best decision that I have ever made.

There are a lot of choices, from Japanese food, locals delights, Western choices. The croissants were soft and delicious. There are Nescafe machines, coffee machines, 3 types of juices, a wide array of tea choices and ahh.. you will be spoiled for choices! Trust me, the breakfast is amazing.

The handy handy.

OTHERS

For my stay, I booked my room with extra benefits which include free usage of bicycles, handy mobile device, early check-in, late check-out and access to off-site gymnasium.

Of all the extra benefits, I found the handy mobile device to be the most useful of all. It allows me to use the device with 4G unlimited data and make free calls to any number in 24 selected countries. Apart from that, I used it as a hotspot for mobile data and it helped me to get connected when I was out of the hotel.

The view from my room.

I also found the late check-out option to be a bless. My flight back to Malaysia was at 7.30 pm, so I opted for the late check-out and I was allowed to check-out at 4 pm. Just imagine, coming back from Downtown Core, drenched in sweat but since I could check-out late, I could sleep for a few minutes, took a shower and went to the airport fresh.

As for the WiFi, it is fast and reliable. There is also a 24-hours 7-Eleven just beside the hotel if you are craving for late-night snacks.

In short, I really recommend this hotel to those who are looking for a good affordable hotel in Singapore. The walk-in rate during my visit (April 2017) was SGD 185 per night.

More photos with explanations:

Some of the amenities available.

Tea making facility,

Iron and ironing board.

A Planet 21 hotel. Recycle bin and normal dustbin.

Cereal selections.

Drinks station.

+++++

Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen is located at 170 Bencoolen St, Singapore 189657. It is an 8-minute walk from the Bugis MRT station to the hotel. From the station, cross the road and walk through Bugis Junction and walk pass Albert Centre and turn left. The hotel is a minute walk from here. Alternatively, you can get to the hotel by walking on Queen Street.

T: +65 6593 2888  |   E: h6657@accor.com

For further inquiries or booking, kindly visit here.

Rating (Maximum 5 stars):

• Value for money: 5 stars
• Location: 5 stars
• Customer service: 4 stars
• Security: 4 stars
• Cleanliness: 4 stars
• Facilities: 4 stars
• F&B:  5 stars

Overall:

88.6%

+++++

All views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely mine. ‘Where To Stay‘ is the series for accommodation reviews by Kaki Jalans.