Singapore’s Accommodations

I’m sure there is a way to classify hotels as high-end, mid-range and budget but it is a little different in Singapore.  It seemed to me that Singapore is sorely lacking mid-range hotels.  Searching for hotels on Hotels.com I could find a bunch of very affordable hostels and more than enough high end hotels but no many mid-range priced $40-80 USD hotels.

I was seriously considering Novotel which has a perfect location and all the luxury amenities for around $200 USD per night when I thought about the price difference.  The Fragrance Hotel prices were around $40 per night which I figured to be 5 nights for the price of 1 when compared to Novotel.  I decided that saving major cash would be a better choice so I booked a room at Fragrance Hotel Pearl off Geylang Road.

Somewhere along Geylang Road, Singapore

Typical "Point at what you Want" hawker stall on Geylang Road

Fragrance Hotel Pearl

First off, there are numerous ‘Fragrance Hotels.’  They are mostly centered in Singapore’s red light district off Geylang Road.  “Red Light District” may have negative connotations to some but to me it also usually means lively and cheap.

I was concerned about the location but Fragrance Hotel Pearl actually had a great location.  It was a 10 minute walk to the Kallang MRT station which was 3 stops from City Hall, and 5 stops to either Little India or Chinatown.  Geylang road was renowned for its street food and it took me about 10 minutes before I was getting some delicious Malay/Indian/Chinese Singaporean food which was located on every corner of Geylang Road.

If you’re not staying near Geylang road it is certainly one of Singapore’s tourist attractions in itself as to me it felt like Bangkok more than Singapore, not because of the abundance of karaoke bars and ladies walking on the street but because it was a little dirty and rough, not clean and organized like most of Singapore.

The hotel room at Fragrance Hotel Pearl was just what you would expect for $40 a night.  There was a bed, a desk, a small wardrobe along with an attached bathroom which was the typical tropical style mixed toilet/shower.  Although there was a TV with cable there was no mini fridge, microwave or safe.  NOTE:  Wireless internet was available but at a price.  A 24 hour internet access card cost a whopping 18 Singapore Dollars ($12.87 USD) which I think is quite ridiculous even though I paid it.

Room in Fragrance Hotel Pearl, Singapore

Typical Tropical Style Shower/Toilet in Fragrance Hotel

Overall Impression

I will admit there were a couple times where I wished I had all the extra amenities of a Novatel but in hindsight if money is at all a concern, I’d rather have 5 nights at a fully comfortable although lacking hotel room than an overkill hotel room.  I would recommend staying in Singapore at Fragrance Hotel Pearl to anyone with the same attitude which I just mentioned.  If you spend more time out of the hotel room than inside, why spend 5x more for luxury accommodations?

Even though soliciting prostitution is illegal in public in Singapore there were ladies with umbrellas standing on the sidewalk across from Fragrance Hotel Pearl from 9am (earliest I woke up) until 4am (latest I went to bed).  It didn’t bother me, but if it is a concern to you, keep this in mind if you decide to choose a hotel anywhere near Geylang Road.  If this doesn’t bother you and want to spend $40USD per night staying in Singapore at a convenient location with great food, Fragrance Hotel Pearl is the place to stay in Singapore.

Common Sight along Geylang Road 24 hours a day

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