One of Singapore's grand old hotels
Written: Mar 23 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: wonderful ambience and service, excellent hotel restaurants
Cons: not conveniently located
The Bottom Line: Don't plan on using this as a travel base...stay in the hotel and enjoy some of the best food in town, complemented by equally excellent service.
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| singaporeboy's Full Review: Goodwood Park Hotel |
Although it may not be all that famous now, the Goodwood Park Hotel is one of Singapore's grand old hotels, and has been around longer than almost any of the other major 5-star properties on the island. It's every bit as charming and historic as Raffles.
Unfortunately for this hotel, it's not really that well located. It used to be in the center of things, but since the train system was built in 1990, commercial and leisure patterns changed, and so the Goodwood Park is no longer located right in the middle of everything. That having been said, all the action of downtown Singapore is about a fifteen minute walk away, which in the daytime can be quite scorching.
However, they've managed to retain all of their original charm, in a way that Raffles hasn't. This hotel is one of the only truly elegant properties in Singapore, and this elegance is not fabricated but genuine. The refined touch of excellent service graces every aspect of a stay in this hotel. I was particularly pleased with the room setup: tasteful, charming, and spacious. The fixtures aren't exactly modern, but they're perfectly functional, and form part of the hotel's ambience.
One of the reasons I mention the elegance and ambience of this hotel is that the vast majority of high-end hotels in Singapore were built recently, and therefore tend more towards modernity than classic elegance. History does not abound in Singapore, and finding good old icons is like finding a rare gem.
Of course, there is absolutely nothing lacking with the service offered here. The Goodwood Park, being an Asian hotel, emphasizes tradition Asian concepts of deferent service and ensuring an all-around pleasant stay for guests. There are a lot of attendants, and they're great with helping move baggage and get things sorted out. The check in staff are thorough and thoroughly polite.
The first time I stayed at the Goodwood Park, I was advised by a colleague to try dim sum in the hotel restaurant. The dim sum there is rumored to be among the best in Singapore. It really was excellent, as were the other meals I ate there. Then again...no hotel I know of in Singapore has anything less than fantastic restaurants attached to it!
Now, my complaints about this hotel. Aside from the location, access to the hotel itself can be a little inconvenient. The building was built long before ramps, stairs, escalators and elevators became common, so the entrance is raised and imposing. Actually, the hotel more resembles a colonial governor's mansion than a guest hotel, although that's part of its charm. Getting anywhere from the hotel on foot isn't easy, and taxis aren't always reliable, so I've found myself stuck at the hotel once or twice.
While it suffers from its location, the Goodwood Park is perfectly suited to people who aren't interested in doing the Orchard Road circuit or partying at Singapore's overpriced nightclubs. It's just fine for relaxing, enjoying wonderful service and ambience, and being taken care of by conscientious staff. And, of course, enjoying excellent Cantonese dim sum.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
singaporeboy
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Location: Illinois
Reviews written: 96
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Just someone who's lucky enough to have lived in several corners of the planet
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