Shopping in Singapore, Leisurely in Langkawi and our first SQ experience

[Quickstatus]

nope dont remember but thats ok and going off topic.

so in review, is the Raffles still the Raffles with that old colonial charm?

 

[Flying mermaid]

1535618[/URL]]nope dont remember but thats ok and going off topic.

so in review, is the Raffles still the Raffles with that old colonial charm?

It is a superb colonial building. It has been heavily extended, but from what we saw of the newer part it is totally sympathetic with the original. The whole building is a maze of courtyards and gardens and so attractive. It is just very quietly elegant and the public areas are the same. They try to maintain a dress code particularly in the evenings and non residents can only enter the hotel if they are going to a restaurant. Tourists can go around the outside or through the gardens to the long bar and the courtyard restaurant, which keeps it all very sedate.

Staff are amazing and nothing seems too much trouble and are genuinely warm.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Early evening we headed back to Gardens by The Bay for the light and music show. There are two a night 7:45 and 8:45. I would suggest sitting in the Super tree grove for the first one, to get the full effect of the music. If you sit with the walkway above you and looking at the main supertree (it seems t have a control area at the top, which the others don't have, that would be a great view.

 

[Quickstatus]

Hmm somehow I'll replicate this trip but at a much lower price point.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Still a few more photos to come, but until I have them, I will add this bit of info about tipping in Langkawi. Generally Malaysia doesn't have a tipping culture and it is not encouraged. At Four Seasons what they did was add a 10% service charge to everything and it went into a general pool. It was then divided via a points system. I gather different work categories had different points allocated and also length of service.

It was a terrific system system and it took all the stress away from who/how much to tip.

I was a little more uncertain in Singapore - we knew to tip porters and generally tipped 10% in restaurants, but wasn't totally sure whether we needed to or not.

 

[Flying mermaid]

After the first light and music show we walked towards the Sands Hotel and went up the escalators. There is a viewing platform overlooking the gardens and this is a good place to view the second show. The music is very faint, but you get a different perspective for the show.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Quite sad to leave Raffles - definitely our hotel for Singapore stays in future. I had a lovely hug from one of the staff to say goodbye.

We we had organised a limo transfer with the hotel and our driver phoned ahead so that when we arrived st the First Class terminal, there were SQ staff waiting to take luggage and escort us in. You sit at a desk to be checked in and you are then escorted to the immigration desk to complete formalities. All very smooth and private - what F checkin in a home port should be like...

We hadn't been able to get 3c and 3D together - someone was in 3D but I was hoping s/he might be kind enough to swap with Mr FM so we could be together. He was in 3A.

on reaching the entrance to the lounge we were escorted to TPR.

Now I have read a lot of reports bagging this lounge's decor, but clearly I like old fashioned things as I really liked it. Very calm and quiet, not like the Qantas zoo.

The dining room is about the same size as the Qantas one was when it opened in 2007. Mr FM had chicken and while I was tempted with lobster, I had to have Satay. Champagne of course and very nice. We had a dessert as well - just a tiny cake.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Apart from the menu, there is a buffet with light snacks and sandwiches and the most divine chocolates, of which I ate far too many!

 

[Flying mermaid]

After our meal we retreated to the chairs and had another glass of champagne and read. Very attentive service at the chairs as well. Some general pictures plus the change table room.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Now I have read a lot of reports bagging this lounge's decor, but clearly I like old fashioned things as I really liked it. Very calm and quiet, not like the Qantas zoo.

one might use the term 'civilised' here FM!

 

[get me outta here]

I just about devoured all the available chocolates out, both in the TPR and on the plane. Yes, very delish.

Apart from the menu, there is a buffet with light snacks and sandwiches and the most divine chocolates, of which I ate far too many!

 

[Flying mermaid]

There didn't seem to be boarding calls (which I like), so we took ourselves off at the appropriate time and boarded. I then found Mr 3D had a wife across the aisle from him. They were a lovely couple - bit older than us and clearly enjoying their experience. Being a chronically nosy person, I started chatting to them and asked why they weren't sitting together. I knew their seats had been taken before I booked mine, which is some months ago.

They seemed a bit bewildered by the question and said the TA had done it.... OK clearly not FFs - the way we all obsess about our seats!

Anyway I offered to swap with her - and Mr FM and I don't mind being on opposite sides of the plane - we actually went through a phase of choosing 1A and 1K with Qantas

A quick dinner of caviar and lamb shank and then off to sleep. Just fruit for breakfast. Mr FM and I decided when we do this again we will just eat in the TPR and sleep on the plane - just not enough time for both and we shouldn't have been greedy about our food

 

[Quickstatus]

Indulging in a bit of Fcriticism - high backed chairs tick!, short skirt tablecloths - no tick!

But the food!!!. What a luxurious juxtaposition - eating iconic street food in an F+lounge!!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Mr FM and I decided when we do this again we will just eat in the TPR and sleep on the plane - just not enough time for both and we shouldn't have been greedy about our food

There's a thought! 2C/D were also occupied?

 

[Flying mermaid]

So all in all very impressed with SQ. Bed is very comfortable on SQ, but don't totally like the concept of either a bed or a chair, but that might be just a case of getting used to watching TV and then asking for the bed to be made and getting it taken away when you wake up. We are used to waking up and watching TV in bed so to speak.

Service much better than on QF - you can get good service, but it is increasingly perfunctory. I just couldn't imagine anyone on SQ sighing and reluctantly making a plate of cheese and biscuits, which is what happened to me on QF when I slept through the meal service and then didn't want a steak sandwich....

I found the staff delightful to talk to and very friendly. Have also seen people say they are "robotic" - definitely didn't find this. The head guy told me twice I was an angel for swapping seats

Food is good quality on QF, but unexciting. Having two good champagnes to choose from was a bonus.

Much preferred the lounges with SQ and the checkin in Singapore blows Qantas away.

We never travel on awards overseas, only domestically, so given we are paying reasonable sums of money for our flights, why on earth stick to an airline that is at best F- and probably J+?

we have given up on status with FF programs, so will travel airlines that make sense for our destinations, but SQ will definitely be a favourite. I can see us flying EK/QF to East Africa, as EK seems the only airline to fly F to there.

We did have a nice touch when flying SYD-CBR - I was carrying my evening dress and of course had been hung up on the flight to Sydney - I was dreading trying to squash it under the seat. We were flying a dash8, so all economy. As soon as I boarded though the FA asked if she could hang up my dress for me. as I have always said I do like Qantas staff!

so no more travelling for awhile (unless you count 3 trips to Sydney for fittings for Miss FMs wedding dress). Next year is the year of the wedding and after I recover from that I will find the energy to start planning our trip to see the Gorillas

 

[Flying mermaid]

1537883[/URL]]There's a thought! 2C/D were also occupied?

yes when I booked and 3D was occupied, I emailed SQ and requested 2C and 2D but they were already occupied, not blocked. It was a very full flight.

 

[Flying mermaid]

1537875[/URL]]I just about devoured all the available chocolates out, both in the TPR and on the plane. Yes, very delish.

oh good - not the only piggy person

 

[Quickstatus]

Thank you for having us along for the journey!! Off to get a lotto ticket.....

 

[kermatu]

Thanks for the report!

I have been lucky to experience TPR twice in the past few months as I branch out from QF. Agree it is far superior to our local F lounges. I still enjoy every QF F lounge visit, but could be so much better as the home port, as you say.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I just managed to catch up with this TR. Fabulous, thank you for posting.
I love your dress !!