Staycation Review: M Hotel

I was turning cranky and moody (real badly) recently due to my hectic and totalled grounded schedule that I could not take time off to travel so a close friend of mine treated me to a staycation weekend at M Hotel! Oh yeah~

Exterior of M Hotel

I have no idea where he found out this deal from, but according to him, it is a promotion called “Amazing M” and the package was the hotel room, that came with free WiFi and breakfast.

How can I not take this chance to add in one more review to my blog?? It was a opportunity that I could kill two birds with one stone. Relax and a post on my blog. Sweet!

Lobby of M Hotel – Guests queuing up to check-in

My initial impression of M Hotel was a business hotel, right in the heart of the central business district and surrounded by skyscrapers. Weekends should be like ghost town, but how surprised I was seeing so many locals checking into the hotel for a weekend getaway.

My room!

Luckily, checking in was a breeze. I did not have to wait very long despite a queue. The reception desk staff were very friendly and helpful in making a speedy check in.

Newly Renovated Comfortable Room

My friend got me a deluxe room which has a city view, and I like it very much although I would preferred a seaview. (It’s a gift! I cannot be picky yeah?) The room is very comfortable and new owing to its recent renovation, according to the hotel staff. There was also a letter on the desk informing guests that there may be some noise during the day as other floors of the hotel was still under renovation, and due to be completed by first quarter of 2016.

Deluxe City View Room

I can live with it, although I must say, I did not experience much noise at all during my stay. Well, I guess it may also because due to the fact it was weekends. 😀

I loved how the room has a huge desk which is pretty distinctive since it is a business hotel but it was really handy when I wanted to do some blogging on it, as there was a comfy director’s chair accompanying it.

Lots of electrical outlets to meet every power need

Electrical outlets are pretty much in every corner within my reach, which is a factor I really like in business hotels since I am quite a gadget junky myself, which my laptop, camera, mobile phones, mp3 players — all in need of that extra power juice.

Table with many electrical outlets

Electrical plugs on both side of the bed

Electrical plug on both side of bed and complimentary water

Keep time in check

Every hotel would have a small digital clock at the bedside table for that needed alarm. But no, M Hotel took it up a notch by having this huge clock on display in the room.

A huge digital clock in the room

It was pretty handy for me as the mirror opposite does a reflection and I could see the time from every corner of the room, including in the mirror (in reverse of course) to make sure I was on the ball. Time in money in the world of business, and this is one interesting feature that really jumps at me when I walked into the room.

Mini bar

Most contemporary hotels have mini bars. Here’s a preview of what they have in the fridge. However, what interests me most were the special glass drawers beside the fridge that held the dry food and alcohol mini bar and of course the hot drinks, drinkware and water kettle.

Mini bar

Mini bar fridge

Mini bar glass drawers

I honestly think this idea is brilliant. I probably want to copy this idea for my future home interior design inspiration. The glass drawers became an instant display and a rollaway shelf for easy storage. Although I have seen other hotels with drawers that held the drinkware and hot drink, these glass drawers still intrigued me much more than the regular covered drawers.

Glass drawers

Clean, functional bathroom with lots of mirrors

The bathroom /toilet/ shower is moderately sized, as per regular hotels, and it was very clean –based on my standard. I love it when there is a bathtub because then I can take a bubble bath!! There is no rainfall shower in the toilet though 🙁 ; another facility which I do enjoy when staying in hotels.

Toilet / Bathroom

Shower Amenities

Toiletries

Full set of toiletries were all available in the bathroom. The design of the boxes can’t help but reminded me of gentlemen in pinstripe suits with a bowtie. Formal and proper.

Corner mirrors – Function x 2

I have seen fancy basins and vanity area. For M Hotel, the corner mirror definitely takes the pie. I am not a makeup person but definitely, I think girls who makeup would love the corner double mirrors — can check both side of their face. Great for men who shave too~

Basin area in a corner

There are too many mirrors in the bathroom, in fact almost one side of the entire wall is over with mirrors, and I can’t help myself but to indulge in a silly selfie.

Mirror mirror on the wall

Amenities for convenience

The hairdryer is hidden away in a drawer in front of the vanity mirror in the bedroom, which an iron and iron board hidden away in the cupboard (which I failed to photographed it) as well as robes and bedroom slippers for additional comfort.

Powerful Hairdryer in the drawer

Outdoor Pool, Jacuzzi and Gym

The swimming pool, jacuzzi and the gym are located on the 11 floor, named as the water floor. Since it was a weekend, it was pretty interesting to enjoy the a dip in the midst of the surrounding skyscrapers. There is also 2 jacuzzi at the far side of the pool to chase all those sore necks and muscles away.

Swimming Pool

I didn’t managed to photograph the gym and the jacuzzi up close as there were other people using those facilities and I doubt they would be happy to appear on my blog either exposed or heavy drenched in sweat.

Sundeck

Cool off in the pool

Top-Up $ for Club Lounge Access

I do not really want to share this, but when I probed further and found out that it was “subjected to availability upon check-in only” means they kept it to a limit!!

Thus, I shall share this secret tip.

M Club Lounge

For $60++ (1st person) and $30++ (second person), one can access the club lounge of M hotel!!

M Club Lounge and Suites

Club lounges in hotels are usually only meant for club rooms and above (all more high end luxury rooms) and I first stumbled upon it when my aunt booked into a club room in Genting and that was it! I was hooked to club lounges.

Overview of one side of the lounge

It is a different world totally. The lounges are usually quiet, peaceful and the people who really use the lounges (guests from more atas rooms) are usually more refined and polite. Sorry for stereotyping, but generally, they are!

I enjoy club lounges for its silence and peace (although I consider myself really clumsy and noisy at times) and of course the endless supply of COFFEE and drinks. Yup!

M Club Lounge

Located on the 28th floor, M hotel club lounge has a simple layout with roller armchairs… (yes they are on wheels!!!! Love it) and comfy sofas with either a view of the sea with the PSA in the foreground or a view on the other side of the room facing the financial district.

Small bites in Club Lounge

On other hours, they have a small selection of cookies and sweets with soft drinks from the chiller and coffee from Boncafé. Yums!

Cookies and M&Ms

Evening Refreshments

Evening refreshments are a different offering. Selection of cold cuts to canapes to desserts and even serving creamy tuna spread. The spread is heavenly of course, and I literally built a little hill of tuna on my bread crumpet. Lol!

Evening Refreshments

Canapes and tarts

Creamy Tuna Pate

Hot Bites Station

Did I mention the desserts were made in house? Their chocolates and mousses are yummehhh!!!! I wonder if they sell their chocolates????

Desserts

Mouthwatering desserts

Breakfast: They do mean business

I am a breakfast person but I’m not a morning person. However, I definitely will wake up early for breakfast when I know there is either (a) a buffet was involved or (b) there is going to be traditional English involved or (c) there is scrambled eggs. Oh yeah!

Breakfast buffets are common in major hotels as well as some boutique hotels. Here at M hotel, the spread was really good and even came with service stations for omelette as well as coffee and tea.

Breakfast Buffet

Cold cuts and salad station

Dimsum

Fruits and Muesli

English Breakfast / Chinese bee hoon

Omelette Station

Indian style breakfast / Waffles!

Chinese congee and Egg Soup

Not every hotel would cater to almost every cuisine when it comes to breakfast. However, here the number of food items was as many and as good as a full lunch buffet.

Cereal

Coco Pops! Man! I love Coco pops! Okay, enough of my fascination.

Breads!!

The breads and pastries were baked fresh in the hotel.

I highly recommend their croissant!!!!
Put one into the roller toaster and the thousand layers of rich buttery taste with flaky exterior of the croissant is just heavenly.

Assortment of Juices / Water

Coffee & Tea Station

Boncafe coffee. OMG!!! Need I say more?!?!

My Plate

Here’s a peek of my breakfast plate. I am definitely more of a English breakfast person.I did try a vadai from the Indian breakfast food, but it was lacking a stick of green chilli.

Breakfast in Club lounge – Balancing Quality & Quantity

I have been to some club lounges breakfast and usually it was a much simple fare compared to the buffet spread. The idea of club lounge breakfast was to cater for the folks who wanted something easy, simple and these folks are just going to eat and take off, unlike the folks at the buffet.

Breakfast spread in Club lounge

Breakfast Spread in Club Lounge – Cereals & Muesli

However at M Hotel, I was impressed by the spread they have. Comparing to the buffet below, they have almost every item matched to their buffet downstairs, but at a smaller portion, I missed out photographing the bread section, but they have every pastry and bread I saw in the buffet downstairs but just a smaller portion too.

Cereal and assortment of spreads

Nutella spread!!! I am in heaven!

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Cold Cuts and Salad

Cold cuts and salad

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Chinese Congee and Soup

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Hot Food Station

What surprised me at the hot food station was the type of food served in the club lounge compared to the buffet on the ground floor. There was blueberry pancakes and stir-fry capsicums as well as.. SALMON!

The effort the kitchen put in to maintain the quality and the quantity was definitely an eye-opener.

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Vegetables, Blueberry Pancakes, Beef Hash and Baked Beans

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Sausages

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Salmon

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Bacons and Hash

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Steamed lotus paste buns

Breakfast in Club Lounge – Mini glutinous rice packages

I also loved that they had set up a mini omelette station to cater to the guests who wants a good ‘ol omelette. The service staff provided a very personalised and closed to restaurant service attending to their guests’ every need.

Breakfast Club Lounge – Omelette Station

My plate

With such aMazing view, breakfast up on the 28th floor in the club lounge was definitely pure enjoyment. Of course, I must have another cuppa of that coffee.

IMO, the additional SGD$70 was totally worth it.

Enjoying the sunrise and the amazing scenery

Overall

M hotel is great for a quiet weekend.There are no huge malls to take away your attention and one can take some time to unwind and relax in this hotel with amazing seaview. Top up for the club lounge definitely makes the experience even better. It was worth it.

The location being in the financial district presented less distraction from activities like shopping and allows one to concentrate on resting and relaxing. Definitely a good place for a staycation if you need a place to hideaway from the world, yet stay connected and plugged in.

Fully recharged and rejuvenated!

Thank you friend!

Okay friend (you know who you are & yes I promised to keep you anonymous on my blog!!), thanks for the stay and I promised to be less grumpy k?? I really had a relaxed, quiet, recharged, rejuvenated weekend thanks to you!!

I swore the bull moved.

Aside from the nice stay, did anyone of you (if you stayed in M hotel) realised that the bull shifts its place from time to time? I did!

How much we paid for the staycation

“Amazing M deal from $165.00++ a night” Package
http://www.millenniumhotels.com.sg/mhotelsingapore/hotel-specials.html

Deluxe Room = SGD$250.50
Service Charge = SGD$25.05
City Tax = SGD$19.28
Club Lounge = SGD70.20 (Rate is $60++)
Total = SGD$365.03

My friend paid close to $300 and I paid for the $70.20 club lounge fee.

*Upon check-in, the hotel required a $100 deposit from credit card which they swiped and deducted. The $100 deposit was then refunded (again swipe card and refund) upon check-out.

M Hotel
81 Anson Road, Singapore 079908
t: +65-6224-1133
www.m-hotel.com