Yotelair Changi Airport
BACKGROUND The Yotel brand is on a roll at the moment. It has a core brand – Yotel – and then an extended-stay brand called Yotelpad. And then there are the Yotelair properties, which are in or near airports, both landside and airside. Yotelair recently opened not only at Singapore Changi’s new Jewel complex but also both landside and airside at the new Istanbul airport, adding to properties at London Heathrow, Gatwick, Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
WHAT’S IT LIKE? Check-in is via easy-to-use automatic kiosks, although seeing that I was well past millennial age, a member of staff came over and showed me how it worked. It takes a scan of your passport, then you swipe your credit card and generate your keys on a pad. Reception is on level 4 of the Jewel building and most of the rooms (called cabins) are on level 4M, one floor up. Staff are very helpful.
Bear in mind that there are no storage facilities, so if you want to leave luggage somewhere after check-out you’ll need to go down one level and pay for the airport storage facility should you need it – about S$15 (£8.50) a day for checked bag size. The rooms can be booked for a minimum of four hours and if you extend your stay it’s around S$25 (£14.40) for every two hours. The showers can be used without staying – currently S$20 (£11.50).
WHERE IS IT? To reach level 4 of the Jewel building, take the link bridge from Terminal 3 and then go up one level either via the escalator or lift. The hotel entrance is on the right. If you are coming in from Terminal 4, for instance, you’d have to use the free hotel shuttle bus to get here.
ROOMS The 130 rooms have adjustable mood lighting that can be controlled through four separate switches. All are en suite with two showerheads (power and rain), and the upper half of the beds can be raised to watch the large TV.
I was in an entry-level Premium Queen Cabin (10 sqm), which the site says can cater for two people – it would be a tight fit but was fine for one – and there are larger Family Cabins (21 sqm) sleeping up to four. There are also fully accessible cabins.
To make the most of the space, you can push your bag under the bed, and there are hangers on the wall. The bed was comfortable and soundproofing was very good. There were lots of power points and USB sockets. Free wifi is fast, and you can stream your own content from your device on to the TV. There is a sliding door between the bedroom and bathroom for privacy. Two small bottles of water and tooth-brushing kits are provided. There are shelves in by the door, and hooks in the bathroom. It’s all carefully thought out.
FOOD AND DRINK There is a good self-service café called Komyuniti on the lobby level, which has a great view out into the Jewel from an open balcony. The Rain Vortex – the world’s tallest indoor waterfall – can be seen from here. Free coffee, tea and water is served all day, and the breakfast is exceptional value for money – S$10 (£5.50) when I was staying.
If you want to eat in the evening, go down to the second basement level of the Jewel and head into Five Spice, which has lots of Asian and Western options. I had a delicious three-course meal there for S$12.50 (£7.20).
MEETINGS There is no event space.
LEISURE The property has a small but well-equipped fitness centre.
VERDICT This is an excellent option for a one-night stay and access to the Jewel. The rooms are comfortable and I would certainly stay in another Yotel if it was in the right location and for the right price.
The Rain Vortex – the world’s tallest indoor waterfall – can be seen from the café