Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road

The Holiday Inn Express Orchard Road was once a corporate building, but it has made a decent effort to soften its looming gray exterior with vertical lawns and plenty of foliage, including a pleasant leafy roof garden. The interior is modern and fresh, with a large open-plan lobby incorporating sofa seating and the hotel's breakfast area. It's a bright space with large windows and light wood furnishings against white marble floors. While the look is low-key, the property has a bit of bustle -- not surprising given the busy part of town. A constant flow of travelers is generally coming and going throughout the day. The hotel's location in the Orchard Road shopping district appeals to both tourists and business travelers alike.

This Holiday Inn Express is right in the middle of Singapore's top shopping district, Orchard Road. It's just a minute on foot from 20-story Paragon Mall and surrounded by several eateries. Fort Canning Park and the National Museum are about a 25-minute walk from the hotel, though that can be a beast to tackle in Singapore's heat. Buses run along Orchard Road -- with a stop about a four-minute walk away. Alternatively, buses also connect with Clarke Quay and Chinatown in about 25 to 30 minutes, and down to Marina Bay in about 45 minutes for attractions such as the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay. The hotel is also between Orchard and Somerset Metro stations. Both are less than a 10-minute walk from the property and connect with downtown in about 20 minutes. Change at City Hall for connections to Changi International Airport, with a total transit time of about 70 minutes, or it's about 30 minutes by car. 

Rooms are simple, with unfussy modern decor in neutral colors. Pale wood furniture and touches of deep blue make up most of the decor, and there's minimal wall art. Chairs provide additional pops of color, as do tropical patterns on the glass walls that separate the sleeping areas and bathrooms. Standard amenities include desks with office chairs, electric kettles, mini-fridges, safes, irons, air-conditioning, flat-screen 40-inch TVs, iPod docking stations, a decent amount of cupboard space, slippers, and free Wi-Fi. Connecting rooms are available. The compact bathrooms are well designed and the curved walls reduce the intrusion into the main room. However, the frosted glass walls won't please everyone when it comes to privacy. There are pump products in both showers and sinks. Hairdryers are available free from reception. 

Features are pretty slim at this hotel, though there are a few extras and conveniences. The dining area is located on the ground floor, and offers a free breakfast buffet with hot and cold dishes, plus the option to grab and go -- great for guests heading out for the day. Drinks and snacks are available during the day, but there is no lunch or dinner service. Facilities are mostly found on the fourth floor -- including a 24-hour gym with cardio and weight-training machines, plus free weights and a punching bag. The gym has nice views out onto the leafy garden terrace, which has table seating. There's an ice machine and vending machine here too, plus a self-service laundry room. There are two internet stations with printers, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.