Park Avenue Rochester

As the saying goes, 'seeing is believing.' This hotel is advertised as a 4-star upscale hotel on Trip.com and other platforms, with glamorous promotional photos, and seemingly decent reviews and ratings. I booked a premium room here for multiple nights through Trip.com, only to discover that the 'glamour' you see online is nothing but a facade! Upon arriving in Singapore and checking in, the front desk staff were cold and unwelcoming, with frowns on their faces and absolutely no enthusiasm. My initial impression was extremely negative! I'd heard rumors online about some hotels in Singapore discriminating against Chinese guests, but having visited Singapore several times before, I hadn't experienced it firsthand. This time, however, I wonder if I finally encountered it? The premium room I booked felt no different in size or amenities from a 3-star hotel back home. The facilities were old and clearly didn't meet 4-star standards. After inspecting the room's facilities, I found even bigger problems: the bedding hygiene was appalling, frankly shocking! 1. The pillowcases had obvious stains. I asked housekeeping to replace them several times, but each new one I unwrapped was still dirty! The pillow inserts were full of hard clumps and stains, truly disgusting. 2. The bed sheets also had distinct, brightly colored stains, indicating they hadn't been washed properly – absolutely sickening. 3. The bathroom exhaust fan was broken and unusable, leading to noticeable odors. 4. The morning after checking in, I woke up to find several bites on my arms and legs from bed bugs. All these blatant issues were a stark contrast to the platform's advertising. The room facilities were severely inconsistent with the price, and the hotel's star rating. Is this what they call 'upscale'? Do they have no shame? Due to a busy schedule, I didn't have time to complain to the hotel further, and the hotel was fully booked. Judging by the front desk's attitude during check-in, even if I had wanted an upgrade or a room change, it would have been a pipe dream, and there'd be no guarantee the new room wouldn't have problems either. My overall stay at this hotel during my Singapore trip was extremely unpleasant. If I hadn't experienced it myself, it would be hard to believe the visual impact, shock, and dismay of seeing it with my own eyes. Immediately after returning home, I filed a complaint with Trip.com, requesting a partial refund. Trip.com's attitude was very sincere and proactive; they apologized first and then repeatedly communicated and negotiated with the hotel to address my demands. However, the hotel's response to the problem and the complaint remained passive, cold, and repeatedly delayed, with extreme rudeness. There was no hint of guilt or apology, just an air of arrogant condescension, and their reply was: 'The guest has already checked out, so no compensation or refund will be given!' Singapore Parkroyal on Beach Road, you're quite something! For such a deceptive hotel, I want to share my real experience with everyone, hoping you all avoid this trap when visiting Singapore!

The hotel's location is pretty good, about a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport. The driver dropped us off at the entrance of one apartment building, and we only found out the hotel was in the building behind it after asking the housekeeper of the adjacent apartment, who kindly showed us the way. We arrived around 7 AM, and the front desk said check-in wasn't until 3 PM, so we just left our luggage there, which was convenient. The hotel is very close to the subway, and there are covered walkways everywhere you go nearby, so you don't have to worry about the sun. We were able to check in directly when we went back at 2:30 PM. We stayed in a suite on the 9th floor, which required a key card to access the elevator and select our floor. We booked a two-bedroom suite: the twin beds were a bit small, but pushed together they made a 1.8-meter king-size bed, so essentially both rooms were 1.8-meter king rooms, each with its own bathroom. It was perfect for a family of three. The mattresses were comfortable, and we slept well. The room was clean and tidy. Although the sheets and pillowcases weren't changed during our three-night stay, we brought our own disposable toiletries, so it wasn't a big deal. The living room had a washing machine and pots and pans, so we could buy simple groceries from the supermarket and cook our own meals, which was a nice experience. The service throughout our stay was decent.

Pros: Close to the subway station, iron and safe in the room. Cons: The showerhead holder was broken, and the water temperature fluctuated between hot and cold. Overall, it was decent.

I specifically booked this hotel to attend a concert at Star Vista. It's only tens of meters away from the venue, so after the show, there was no need to rush back. The hotel room was very clean, equipped with toiletries and disposable slippers (though I'd recommend bringing your own for better comfort). The shower and toilet were separated, and the surroundings were very quiet, ensuring two nights of excellent sleep. The staff were friendly and could communicate in basic English. Since there was an available room, they allowed me to check in an hour early. Also, they didn't charge the 50 SGD deposit that Trip.com had warned me about. The housekeeping was very thorough; they even folded my pajamas neatly! 😃

When I booked, I didn't realize the room came with a microwave, cooking utensils, and a washing machine (including laundry detergent and dish soap). It's a residential apartment, very close to the train station and Star Vista, which is excellent. The only slight downside is that the floor had a bit of dust and paper scraps, but overall, I was very satisfied.