Mini trip report: Conrad Shanghai and Conrad Orchard, Singapore

[Michael C]

Flew TWOV from LHR with BA PE on Avios + voucher: aircraft felt very new, spacious, great screen, etc.
The previous year when flying to Beijing on TWOV, we’d simply handed over our passports and had a delay of at least half an hour as the check-in person said we couldn’t travel without a visa. This time, I said “it’s TWOV and these are the tickets for our onward flight to a third country” and all v easy.

The landing cards given out on board are NOT the ones you want: these are at a small station at the very end of the passport desks, but again, all easy.

We chose the Conrad (after some excellent HfP advice!) as OH and our 11-yr old son like to be right in the thick of things as soon as you step outside the hotel. Others such as the MO and Kempinski looked far more luxurious, but the Conrad was great for our purposes. Spacious room on a high floor, big lounge with views (pretty good food, pretty poor drinks) and right at the start of the Walking Street as well as 3 mins. from the nearest metro (which was fabulous: credit cards taken, and an unlimited day pass was around GBP 1.50). At check-in we were given 8 (?!) cocktail vouchers for the wonderful sky bar which had crooners each evening. We also went to the bar at the top of the Ritz, which was stunning – book ahead.

Apart from visiting the concessions and strolling through markets/eating, we did a day trip to Suzhou which was lovely but packed. No need for Trip.com etc: go to the main railway station and there’s a separate building to buy tickets, and the bullet train gets you there in…16 minutes!

Everyone loved the trip (first time for the boys) and it simply made us want to go back to China soon.

Flew from PVG to SIN with SQ (GBP98 each, purchased about 8 weeks before: bargain!). Used China Eastern lounge with Amex Plat – more than ok. Everything like clockwork.

For the last few summers, we’ve stayed at the (new) Hilton Orchard, which has been great, although the rooms (and pool) are small (but the breakfast is stunning), but as I’d worked round the corner from the Conrad Orchard in another life, and knew it both as an IC and the Regent, I was keen to try it. Also, for full disclose, we’re Hilton Team Members so can sometimes/randomly have a significant price reduction! On this occasion, we had a balcony suite, which was stunning, spacious and full of little prezzies! Service was fabulous everywhere, from the concierge down to the pool boys. The Manhattan is a very classy cocktail bar for date night. I spoke a couple of times to Thomas, the GM, who coincidentally a) set up the Conrad Shanghai, and b) had previously been in Singapore at the same time as me. Very affable guy, and he mentioned the big new project for the area was the WA Bali (next to the Hilton) in 2027.

I know we have our For and Against Singa camps, but we just love it! Ate at a couple of Michelin hawker stalls, and a couple of recommendations for youngsters (or not!): the Adventure Cove water park (not normally a fan on Sentosa: everything about it was easy and relaxed, and the snorkelling section very original. Also, Kulnari Mystery Golf: never seen anything like it! Another eating highlight was Lou Shang, done out as a 60s/70s HDB block!

The Singapore week ended with a comfy but very retro direct Garuda flight to Bali (think squidgy tan foam-stuffed seats!).

[Man of Kent]

Thanks very much @Michael-C I haven’t trawled the other Singapore threads yet but would appreciate any restaurant recommendations and thoughts.