Hotel Review: Innotel Hotel Singapore

On a recent visit to Singapore, my colleagues booked me at the Innotel Hotel along Penang Lane somewhere in downtown Dhoby Ghaut area. More of a business inn rather than the posh RnR jaunts, the hotel provides some relief to the city shortage of mid-class accommodations.

The 4-star hotel which opened in 2011 has about 70-rooms classified into four accommodation options (superior, deluxe, executive & suite) which are spread across a low-rise building. The room sizes range from 19m² to 35m².

I arrived at the hotel on a quiet afternoon and shared the reception area with two other clients checking in for the day. The lobby is small and typical for the hotel of its size but nevertheless functional. The front desk staff was courteous and readily offered suggestions on how to make one’s stay comfortable.

A few months after operation, the hotel was already enjoying high occupancy; during my stay, I was upgraded to a Suite Room which turned out to be a really nice. It had king size bed, complimentary Wi-fi access, LCD TV with cable channels, an Internet Protocol telephones that can divert calls to mobile phones, a stereo set with iPod/iPhone-compatible docks, a bath tub and leather recliners – and a good view of Fort Canning Park.

The room was pretty neat and astoundingly spacious. It differs from most run-of-the-mil hotel rooms with its pastel multi-colored walls that gives the whole area, a youthful and energetic appeal.

The hotel is just perfect for the city explorers because it runs right smack to where the action is — a mere 5-minute walk to the Dhoby Ghaut train station and Fort Canning Park where they hold concerts and other outdoor activities. It is also very close to a popular mall, Plaza Singapura, where one can do the compulsory shopping (well, you didn’t stay in Singapore if you didn’t do shopping…)

Walking around, you’ll discover hidden gems nearby such as the Singapore Philatelic Museum and the National Museum of Singapore.

On the downside, the hotel lacks decent dining options with just a small coffee shop at the lobby and a vintage themed bar on the second floor. Well, there’s always Starbucks at Plaza Singapura for the morning person in you.

Also, the hotel corridors exude an industrial factory feel with steel, nuts and bolts visible and obvious, but it is guaranteed to be forgotten once you enter the colorful rooms.

The bathroom is ordinary but functional and the toiletries were more than sufficient for a the daily traveler’s requirements.

I must say that Innotel Hotel is a good choice for hotel if you’re on a budget. The phrase “value for money” really found its niche in this hotel. I hope to come back again and savor the warmth and hospitality which I rarely find in other Singapore hotels I have stayed on.