Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre (Chinatown) opening April 2024

[OZDUCK]

We have stayed at the Village Hotel in Katong several times previously - not since 2018 though. It was always good and with plenty of Nonya food and Chicken Rice restaurants nearby. I am a 'member' of Far East but there was a special on Agoda which was much cheaper. The bus stop is very convenient but it appears that the new MRT station virtually across the road on Marine Parade will now open in June - a month too late for us.

 

[Flyfrequently]

We have stayed at the Village Hotel in Katong several times previously -

Ah, am preaching to the converted!

The bus stop is very convenient but it appears that the new MRT station virtually across the road on Marine Parade will now open in June - a month too late for us.

Yes, you have just jogged my memory, the construction was happening when we were there.
Look forward to your TR @OZDUCK

 

[OZDUCK]

Ah, am preaching to the converted!

Yes, you have just jogged my memory, the construction was happening when we were there.
Look forward to your TR @OZDUCK

This is only going to be a short trip so I wont be doing too much reporting.

 

[OnePenguin]

If you are Accor plus the Sofitel often has Red hot Rooms for between $260-320. It’s an excellent hotel IMO

Ooh thanks for the heads up.

Looks like a lot of the Red hot rooms don't line up with my dates, but I did manage to grab the Mercure Singapore Bugis at a discount. Seems pretty decent, and I've never been in a loft style hotel room.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks for the red hot rooms suggestion. Unfortunately the Sofitel City Centre works out to be well over $500 for our stay.

I did have a look at the Mondrian which was about $450 for flexible rate. Also looking at Novotel on Stevens the flexible rate is $265, a long way from Chinatown but maybe a taxi ride/uber is reasonable? A compromise from tiny rooms and bad reviews at the Mercure Icon?

@DavidX13 I will look at Mercure Burgis

 

[OnePenguin]

Thanks for the red hot rooms suggestion. Unfortunately the Sofitel City Centre works out to be well over $500 for our stay.

I did have a look at the Mondrian which was about $450 for flexible rate. Also looking at Novotel on Stevens the flexible rate is $265, a long way from Chinatown but maybe a taxi ride/uber is reasonable? A compromise from tiny rooms and bad reviews at the Mercure Icon?

@DavidX13 I will look at Mercure Burgis

I'll be there next week, so I'll let you know how it goes. But if I'm being honest, I saw it was on sale and I wanted to try out a loft style room.
The reviews generally look pretty decent though.

In general, I don't mind how far the distances in Singapore are too much, given how small it is and how cheap Grab is compared to Uber's in western countries.

 

[Telemachus]

The hard product like tiny rooms, sink outside bathroom and toilet paper above your head can't really be fixed now but they really need to focus on the soft product and some of them are such easy fixes:

- My check in took a long time and no online check in is available which often speeds things up in Australia (odd for such a large hotel). I understand Singapore laws require them to sight an ID at check in but still it shouldn't take a long time.
- Lack of espresso pods in my room despite a pod machine and staff unable to provide ice.
- The welcome amenity and drink is I think the worst I've ever received at any Accor hotel (and 100% the worst in Singapore). Give people a choice of a beer, small bottle of wine and put some chocolates/biscuits in the room instead of the current joke.
- Check out took equally as long, they said an invoice would be emailed but it wasn't and also it took 3 days for the transaction to show on my card (I've actually never experienced it like this before making me think it might have been some offline transaction)
- Finally I am missing my points which again is such an easy thing to get right.

The google reviews are the worst, currently 2.8 stars and dropping with one review (no idea how true it is) saying they were robbed.

OK, more than enough info (especially about the non-fixable design issues) to conclude I would not have picked the ICON if I’d known all this earlier; so I’ve cancelled my flex booking. FWIW I see that QF Hotels has removed the Tripadvisor review link from its listing of the ICON. Accor has a bit of work to do.

Can recommend Village Katong @OZDUCK
We stayed 2 nights in a Peranakan Club room in 2019 (yep pre "that covid thing")
They had a free airport shuttle back then, (although after flying from CDG/DXB, found it wasn't easy to find the pick up area at Changi )
Taxi back to airport was $S25 cash
Staff were excellent - especially in The Club, rooms clean and ok location. Caught a public bus for less than $S2 to Clarke Quay and 12 minute walk to East Coast Park/Beach for something to do, though there is quite a bit of history to explore.
Booked through Qantas Hotels but if you book directly through Far East can get a discount
https://www.fareasthospitality.com/en/hotels/village-hotel-katong
Enjoy!

Grateful to you and to @OZDUCK for this recommendation, so I’ve now switched from Mercure ICON to Village Hotel Katong for my short stay in late May. Never been to Katong-Joo Chiat and it looks an interesting area. Considering also the Village Hotel Changi for a couple of nights in late June, with trip over to Pulau Ubin. From the Village Hotels/Far East Hospitality website it appears to me the airport shuttle is currently operating only for the Village Hotel Changi and not for the chain’s other Singapore properties.

EDIT: Getting more OT for this thread but anyway Village Hotel Katong has now confirmed for me that there is no airport shuttle.

 

[ellen10]

Well after much reviewing and worrying I think I am going to cancel my booking.
Its not only the bad reviews about ongoing work and service. Its also the tiny rooms and bathroom.
We will be returning from 6 weeks in Europe and will have a bag each and carry on. The rooms sound so tiny for two people in this instance.

I am looking at the Novotel Singapore on Kitchener reasonable rates (we only need one night). It's in Little India and on our last visit to the area my husband bought the "best" leather belt he has owned (his quote), and would like to get another). So I am thinking of staying there, its a short taxi/grab ride to Chinatown or satay street for our evening or maybe we will eat in little India or the Arab area.

Has anyone stayed there/ or in the area?

 

[OZDUCK]

Well after much reviewing and worrying I think I am going to cancel my booking.
Its not only the bad reviews about ongoing work and service. Its also the tiny rooms and bathroom.
We will be returning from 6 weeks in Europe and will have a bag each and carry on. The rooms sound so tiny for two people in this instance.

I am looking at the Novotel Singapore on Kitchener reasonable rates (we only need one night). It's in Little India and on our last visit to the area my husband bought the "best" leather belt he has owned (his quote), and would like to get another). So I am thinking of staying there, its a short taxi/grab ride to Chinatown or satay street for our evening or maybe we will eat in little India or the Arab area.

Has anyone stayed there/ or in the area?

I haven't stayed in that area but visited many times. However we will be staying in the area in May. While Grab to Chinatown would be fine the Novotel is only a 1- 200 metres from the Farrer Park MRT (North East Line) and Chinatown is only four stops away on the North East Line. Personally I would be happy eating in Little India or around Arab St. Muthu's is just up the road a bit if you like 'Banana Leaf' Curry restaurants.

 

[I love to travel]

Well after much reviewing and worrying I think I am going to cancel my booking.
Its not only the bad reviews about ongoing work and service. Its also the tiny rooms and bathroom.
We will be returning from 6 weeks in Europe and will have a bag each and carry on. The rooms sound so tiny for two people in this instance.

I am looking at the Novotel Singapore on Kitchener reasonable rates (we only need one night). It's in Little India and on our last visit to the area my husband bought the "best" leather belt he has owned (his quote), and would like to get another). So I am thinking of staying there, its a short taxi/grab ride to Chinatown or satay street for our evening or maybe we will eat in little India or the Arab area.

Has anyone stayed there/ or in the area?

One Farrer is a great hotel directly above MRT. Reasonable rates

 

[pippen_2k]

I checked into Mercure Icon last night (here for 4 nights ). Most of the reviews are pretty accurate. My observations so far:
Small room however I am travelling solo so it’s ok by me. Two people would be too many.
One review mentioned people could see straight into your room ? There are double blinds so privacy is fine.
Bed is comfortable.
TV is well positioned and good size however the channels freeze and buffer ALOT.
Bathroom and toilet is tiny. No toilet brush. If you are a larger person it’s going to be very cramped. Someone already mentioned the weird TP location.
Location is fantastic.
Very nice lobby with friendly staff.
Restaurant looks recently opened.
Pool looks great.

This is my first time to Singapore so I can’t compare to other hotels. I’d say for solo travellers it’s totally fine however two people in a standard room would suck.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks @OZDUCK @I love to travel for your thoughts.
And thank you @pippen_2k for your up to date review. It confirmed my hesitations.
I have cancelled my Mercure Icon booking and have now booked at the Novotel on Kitchener. I will do a review after my stay at the beginning of June.

 

[Mr Enthused]

Mrs Enthused and I had a stay at the Mercure ICON on Apr 22-27 and we loved the pool and facilities. The room is a bit small and only on one occasion when we were in the room did we get disturbed by the sound of drilling, and that was at around 4pm.

I did manage the expectations of Mrs Enthused, but she definitely was not disappointed.

The location is fantastic, with 3 hawker centres within a 5-8 min walk (Maxwell, Hong Lim both 5 min away, and Amoy Street 8 min away, and Lau Pa Sat is 15 min walk up Cross Street, but very touristy and charges accordingly).

Maxwell MRT (Thomson East Coast Line), Chinatown MRT (Down Town Line, North East Line) are within a short walk, plus all the buses in all directions.

I definitely think that things have improved from the first weeks, although there is room for improvement in terms of a/c in the lifts not working, and the Welcome Drinks. I do suspect that they do not yet have their licencing finalised for serving alcoholic beverages as the bar and restaurant are not fully stocked as yet?

Would definitely return though.

 

[auriga]

The location is fantastic, with 3 hawker centres within a 5-8 min walk (Maxwell, Hong Lim both 5 min away, and Amoy Street 8 min away, and Lau Pa Sat is 15 min walk up Cross Street, but very touristy and charges accordingly).

you missed the biggest hawker centre of them all, Chinatown complex (Smith Street)

 

[Mr Enthused]

you missed the biggest hawker centre of them all, Chinatown complex (Smith Street)

Yes, of course. And People's Park, but we visited them previously.

 

[kyle]

My partner is there right now and he said, probably no next time:

1. New hotel, but stains already showing around the basin.
2. Cheap hardware.
3. Full flush button not working.
4. No toilet roll. Only a hand towel holder (like you see in office toilets) dispensing single sheets of toilet paper.
5. Room very small.

The only good thing - balcony has a good view.

 

[kyle]

My partner is there right now and he said, probably no next time:

1. New hotel, but stains already showing around the basin.
2. Cheap hardware.
3. Full flush button not working.
4. No toilet roll. Only a hand towel holder (like you see in office toilets) dispensing single sheets of toilet paper.
5. Room very small.

The only good thing - balcony has a good view.

And he adds that hotel is very noisy - can hear everyone talk in the corridor whilst in the room and when guests leave their rooms.

 

[Human]

All of the above descriptions really make it sound like an Ibis. I wonder why they went with the "Mercure" branding.

 

[sudoer]

I wonder why they went with the "Mercure" branding.

Price.

Also with 1000 rooms they will undoubtedly be targeting volume bookings like conferences and airlines. Easier to win those deals with a Mercure flag.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I looked at this, and even as a solo traveller, I looked at the rooms and rejected this hotel; however, the location seems quite reasonable.

I booked a night at the Grand Mercure Roxy. While being dated, I was serviced by efficient staff and had the fastest lifts in Singapore.