The St. Regis Singapore

Set along a quiet part of Orchard Road, the St. Regis Singapore is a luxury property that exudes a classic atmosphere. Its extensive private art collection of museum-quality pieces (which guests can explore on daily art tours) adds tons of posh style. What's more? Extras like 24-hour butler service and live piano performances during Sunday afternoon tea make the hotel even more refined. That's all amplified by the formal atmosphere here, with decor including red carpets in the lobby, endless marble and wood surfaces, and larger-than-life chandeliers made from hand-cut crystals. Plenty of plush seats and sofas are placed around the hotel's common areas, and there's even a Drawing Room for guests to lounge around in while enjoying tea or a snack brought around by the seemingly always present staff. However, it's worth noting that the prim and properness of the place may be disconcerting to some, as they may find the vibe just a little too stuffy for their liking. Even so, the hotel remains one of the city's most famous and a picture-perfect example of the heights of luxury. 

Surrounded by high-end condominiums, sleepy shopping malls, and more hotels, the St. Regis Singapore is situated on the edge of Orchard's Tanglin district. It sits between the UNESCO World Heritage-Designated Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Orchard MRT -- both are about a 10- to 15-minute-walk away. Once in central Orchard (closer to the train station), it's easier to make your way on foot to the more popular malls in the area, like ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City. Getting to other areas in Singapore, like Marina Bay, Raffles Place, City Hall, take about 30 minutes via train. Changi Airport is best reached by car or taxi, and the journey will take approximately 20 minutes.

The hotel's 299 rooms are elegantly decorated, featuring glossy surfaces, bold accent pieces like sofa beds and chairs, and subtly Asian decor, with birds and trees set against backdrops of light, delicate colors. There are about 11 room categories at the St. Regis Singapore, and all large, with the entry-level Executive Deluxe Rooms measuring 560 square feet (52 square meters). Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, many with great views of the city, and some come with balconies, where smoking is allowed outside. Pillow menus are standard for every room, not just the higher-tier ones, as is the case for many other properties in Singapore. Tech-friendly extras include iPhone docks, Bose speakers in ceiling corners of each unit, bedside controls for drapes and lights, and free-to-use Handy phones that allow guests to send messages and make both local and international calls inside and outside of the hotel.The bathrooms at the St. Regis Singapore are truly something. Not only are they extremely spacious, but each has a soaking tub facing a mirrored flat-screen TV that hangs from dark, marbled bathroom walls. Bath salts and loofahs come standard, and every bathroom has couple vanity areas/sinks, walk-in showers (with quality amenities from the hotel's on-site Remede Spa), and separate toilet rooms.Other in-room standards include air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, flat-screen smart TVs with cable channels, hairdryers, bathrobes, safes, wardrobes (walk-in closets for some of the suites), and minibars. Don't expect coffeemakers, though. Butlers are available 24-hours a day and can handle just about any service, from making coffee to pressing of clothes and even unpacking. 

As befits this hotel's prestigious status, features are numerous and posh here (with prices to match). One of the highlights is the Remede Spa, a luxurious spot offering a range of treatments. However, what many guests don't realize is that even though these treatments are chargeable, they can go ahead and use the spa's Wet Lounge for free. This beautiful space features Finnish-style cedar wood saunas, heated chairs, ice fountains, and scented steam chambers. It also includes an outdoor garden with a whirlpool.There are three restaurants and a bar that belong to the St. Regis Singapore, and each specializes in a different cuisine, from Italian to French or Cantonese. Astor Bar is a swanky whiskey-focused drinking spot, and no kids are allowed here. While breakfast is available, waits can be long. The hotel also serves popular afternoon tea. The outdoor pool sits on the second floor -- not ground level as many guests think (that's the pool for the St. Regis Residences, which are opposite the hotel). It comes with a lounge section on the side, plus a handful of in-water pool chairs. However, the space tends to feel a bit cramped. Poolside service for light snacks and drinks from the adjacent LaBrezza is available. Nearby is the hotel's 24-hour fitness center, which faces the pool and is well equipped with cardio machines, free weights, and equipment like yoga mats. Headsets are provided if guests want to plug into the machines during their workout. Meeting rooms and event spaces like ballrooms can also be found on-site, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.