JW Marriott Singapore South Beach

March 25th, 2023

Posts in this series:

Introduction - A Long March To China

Review - United Airlines Business Class B767-400 Newark to London Heathrow

Review - EVA Air Business Class B777-300ER London Heathrow to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi

Review - Thai Airways Business Class A350-900 Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Chengdu Shuangliu

Review - JW Marriott Singapore South Beach

Review - Singapore Airlines Business Class A380 Singapore to London Heathrow

Review - United Airlines Business Class B777-200 London Heathrow to Newark

Enroute:

My Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong landed shortly before midnight. Passport control was a breeze, however, the bags took their sweet time to come out. I had a hard time using Grab, as drivers were scarce after 1AM. You’d think as international of a city as Singapore, that wouldn’t be an issue, but I was proven wrong.

Eventually I was picked up and on my way to the hotel, which only took about 15 mins.

Check-in:

The night shift agent was clearly depleted of his sociable allowance for the day, which I was perfectly fine with. What he had also exhausted was his ability to perform basic functions efficiently, as it took him over 15 minutes to check me in.

Below is a picture of the hotel promenade during the day, which looked fine.

Unpack:

My Marriott app suggested I was upgraded to a premier room with Marina Bay view on the club level, which was a standard upgrade.

Upon entering the room, there was a spacious bath complex to the left, consisting of a soaking tub, a separate rain shower, a toilet and a sink.

As is the standard for most upscale hotels in Asia, a Washlet-equipped Toto toilet was present.

JW Marriott’s standard Aromatherapy Associates toiletries were provided in reusable bottles.

Outside the bathroom was the hallway leading to the bedroom. I feel like the hotel may have started as a W but was changed to a JW halfway through the development. Like what’s with the white leather daybed and the mirror walls..? Actually, the décor of this JW feels suspiciously like the SLS I stayed at in Miami not too long ago…

The hotel prepared a box of treats as a welcome amenity, which was a nice touch.

The room had an excellent view of the financial district. Although I’m not sure where they got the Marina Bay view from.

Overall I thought the room was beyond adequate for my short overnight stay, as well as for any business travel. For tourists who are visiting Singapore for leisure, there are plenty of other options in various neighborhoods with a bit more charm.

Refuel:

The next morning I visited the executive lounge for breakfast, which was in another building. But don’t worry, as was the norm in Singapore, there was an air-conditioned overpass connecting the two.

There was a proper reception at the lounge, where you’d be admitted should you be eligible. The breakfast selection was better than a typical continental breakfast, but not as extensive as a restaurant buffet.

A live cooking station was available, and there was a full coffee bar with barista made drinks. The staff at the lounge were the friendliest I’d encountered at this hotel, but that might have something to do with one of the waitresses asking me if I was a K-Pop star, lol.

The breakfast itself was fine. I’ve spent enough time in Singapore so I can just be lazy and eat at the hotel. But if you’re a first-time visitor, you should definitely venture out, as there’s so many great foods outside your hotel.

Depart:

The JW was serviceable for my short layover in SG. The hotel was convenient and clean. With the exception of the lounge staff, the other members of this property were mostly indifferent. There was a bellman who was visually not pleased when I asked to retrieve my luggage. Suffice to say I won’t be returning to this hotel given all of the options in the city.