A review of some Hiltons in South East Asia

[I love to travel]

Inspired by @drron and their recent TR on Bangkok ....and plagued by guilt about reading so many trip reports but never contributing, I am going to make my first attempt at a mini trip report based on some Hilton chain hotels in Singapore, KL and Bangkok. I don't have a great writing style, nor the photographic skills of many AFFer's, but hey I do have opinions and tips which am happy to share. Noting that I only decided to do this half way through, the photos will be lacking for some of the hotels and flights but they are easily attainable on the hotel websites if anyone wants further details.

This holiday was booked 4 weeks before departure. After going to the Melbourne AFF dinner, and having a great time, I came back to a horrible work event the next day. It took a few weeks to sort through and whilst I more than prevailed by the end of it, it took an emotional toll. Some people in this world are just plain mean and vengeful when confronted by others success and their own inadequacies...but I digress So this holiday was my "COVID revenge travel" equivalent. Have miles and ready to travel. I told a good friend who was also due to be on leave that I would gift her a SQ J redemption if she came with me (thanks spontaneous escapes, got BNE to SIN for 49 K in J) . I managed to get EK F home and she used her own QF points to get EK J It really is worth checking SIN to MEL a month out - seats do get released and taxes are minimal.

So when I told her of my offer, I sort of forgot to mention that I had a few things on my to do list - try out the QR lounge in Singapore and have my final hurrah in Hilton lounges as my diamond benefits expire in March. Now she knows me well and I told her to leave everything to me and I will come back with an itinerary and costings shortly. My riding instructions were that I was not to go crazy and that her husband will kill me if she comes back more tired than when she left. I smiled sweetly and said trust me. Half way through our trip, she now tells me that she she will never again just read the headline of cities and cost - that the devil is in the detail with me!! That said, she did ask whilst lazing about the pool with yet another coughtail in her hand whether we could push back out flights a few days and stay longer. Protesting too much me thinks.

So here is what it looks like:

BNE to SIn in SQ J
2 nights at Conrad Orchard Singapore (formely the Regent opened as Conrad in late Dec 2023)
1 night at Conrad Centennial Singapore
1 night Doubletree Sukhumvit Bangkok
2 nights Millenium Hilton Bangkok
1 night Conrad Bangkok
1 night Hilton KL Sentral
EK F SIN to MEL
Best Western Melbourne Airport
QF whY MEL to BNE

Next update soon

 

[I love to travel]

I am not going to review SQ J - lots of TR on this already. I was very pleased though to get the new bear, pic will be attached in the next post.

Was super excited to stay at the new Conrad Orchard. For those that do not know, it is the former Regent Hotel and reopened in late December. It is set away from the main part of Orchard Road, but only a 10 minute walk at most to Orchard MRT and the main shopping area. The area is quieter and nice for some leafy walks - lots of embassies are around here.

Hotel was closed for quite some time to refurb from Regent to Conrad. I never stayed in the former so cannot comment on what it was like previously, but honestly this is not a Conrad standard hotel. No diamond upgrade did not make for a great start - got the room I booked even though the hotel was very quiet. I did get a small jar of chocolates and cookies which was a nice touch. Singapore Conrads no longer do bears, but after asking, I did get a duck. Score .

I was surprised that they had very small bathrooms which were not really updated in a significant way (e.g. old tiles remained) and an even smaller pool. The exec lounge offerings were poor in both quality and quantity. Most Conrads you can have a substitute dinner at the evening happy hour in the lounge but not here. They also were very stingy with the drinks. On that basis, we took breakfast downstairs in the main restaurant and that was very good - the Indian selection in particular was fantastic and very tasty,

All in all, a wasted opportunity to really do a proper refurb and won't be back.

 

[pjm99au]

We have a trip to Singapore tomorrow and I had booked the Conrad Orchard to try it out but ended up going with the Centennial. On the basis of your time there I think I made the right decision unless you are about to tell us your time at the Centennial was worse????

 

[drron]

We stayed at the Regent in December 2022. It definitely needed a refurbishment. The rooms were small,dark and the doors were very hard to open. We experienced it, other guests agreed as did the GM. He told us they were considering what to do but doubted it would remain a Regent.

The lounge though was fine with a decent spread of nice food and the wine flowed freely.

 

[I love to travel]

We have a trip to Singapore tomorrow and I had booked the Conrad Orchard to try it out but ended up going with the Centennial. On the basis of your time there I think I made the right decision unless you are about to tell us your time at the Centennial was worse????

No you will be very happy their.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Interested to hear about Conrad Orchard. Was very close to booking after pulling trigger on HHDiamond via Velocity but with lack of reviews (and no champagne in the exec lounge) we went with the Four Seasons for not much more.