Changi Budget Terminal

My niece (my brother Frank’s daughter) and goddaughter Janice (Jaja) was slated to marry her Malaysian boyfriend of 4 years Ken Wong in a Roman Catholic ceremony in Singapore and my son Jandy and I, together with my sister Tellie and her daughter Amanda (Mandy), all decided to attend.  We left together  on the 6:20 AM Cebu Pacific Air  flight (5J-801) from the NAIA 3 Terminal and arrived in Singapore’s Changi Budget Terminal by 10 AM.

Amara Singapore Hotel

At the terminal, Tellie and Mandy took a taxi to the city center where they  were to stay at the Klapson Hotel (site of the wedding reception).  Jandy and I, on the other hand, were picked up by Vacation Asia representative and boarded a shuttle for the 20-min. drive to the 388-room Amara Singapore Hotel, conveniently located in Singapore’s thriving Central Business District, next to the Tanjong Pagar MRT Station.

Minimalist-Themed Hotel Lobby

At the Front Desk, manned by a Filipino, at the minimalist themed lobby, we were booked at a 10th floor airconditioned de luxe twin room (Rm. 1007) designed by the renowned design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates.  It has a spacious private bath with bathtub and separate shower; cable flat screen TV, phone, minibar, fridge, in-room safe, broadband internet access and coffee/tea making facility.

Room 1007

The hotel also has a coffee shop (Cafe Oriental), where we had our daily breakfast, and bar (Alphabet Bar), both at Level 1, and a collection of chic restaurants: Santaro Fine Dining (Japanese), the iconic Silk Road (Chinese), Hyangtogol Korean Restaurant (Level 2), Thanying Restaurant (Thai) and Element (International). It also has a contemporary Balinese-style, half Olympic-sized swimming pool; business center; fitness center; a spa; tennis court (Level 6); a 850-pax Grand Ballroom and 4 function rooms.

Cafe Oriental

Amara Singapore Hotel: 165 Tanjong Pagar Rd., Singapore 088539. Tel: +65 6879 2555. Fax: +65 6224 3910. Email: singapore@amarahotels.com. Website: http://www.singapore.amarahotels.com.