Singapore Stay:
Right in the heart of Haji
“That pool though!”
That’s what my two daughters said just now as we were reflecting on our fun two-night staycation at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road. You’d think young kids would tire of swimming, right? It doesn’t happen.
Fair enough in this case, though, as the pool at this property is among Singapore’s best. It’s an infinity pool on Level 21 with frankly astonishing views of the city and the Straits. We especially loved going up there at 6.30am, just as it opened, to watch the sun start to glint off the Singapore Flyer, before smashing out a few laps. There’s a nice-sized gym here too, which you can access 24/7 with your key.
Roomy rooms
Accommodation can be a tricky beast with multiple kids. Many hotels aren’t equipped to deal with two parents and two or more children, and before you know it you’re tiptoeing around a clunky fold-out sofa or a trundle bed. Happily, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road has connecting rooms. They’re super convenient, too, because they’re linked by a shared atrium with a main door out to the corridor. You can keep the two rooms open as one giant shared family space, or close them off when the kids are sleeping (or being so noisy you can’t think...).
Great rooms, by the way – each with a separate living and dining area, fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, ensuite bathroom with rain-shower, and loads of techy gadgets and entertainment options. And sea views to Batam and beyond.
On the ground
This is a prime location for a Singapore stay, because there’s something to suit everyone just minutes away. So, while the other three strolled the 100 metres to Haji Lane to admire the colourful murals and do some shopping, I went in the opposite direction (shops have that effect on me...) to the Kallang River for a riverside jog. Result! Besides having the interesting Arab Quarter right on the doorstep, there are three MRT lines (yellow, green and blue) less than a 10-minute walk away, so the island is at your fingertips. Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road offers a regular free shuttle too, with weekday services to the CBD for workers, and retail hotspots like VivoCity, Orchard Road and the Shoppes at MBS.
What else?
We enjoyed spending time in The Living Room, a residents’ lounge area set on a mezzanine above the lobby. There’s a mini library here, plus daily newspapers and a coffee machine; and, for the kids, a pool table and an Xbox (once they’ve wrestled the controls from Dad).
Downstairs is the Pacific Lounge restaurant, with a free buffet breakfast from Monday to Saturday. It’s not a lavish hotel brunch affair, but was still the ideal kick-start to our days, with fruit, pastries, muesli, made-to-order egg dishes, daily special items and more. (Still hungry? There are literally hundreds of restaurants in the vicinity.)
Finally, a special mention of the friendly staff who, after we had inevitably left something important in our room after checking out and leaving, got it back to us quickly and efficiently.
There’s a minimum two-night stay at the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road, so the property suits a staycation, a shortterm stay for visiting family, or something longer for newly arrived expats or those between leases. Rooms start from S$280, but the website has a bunch of special offers and discounts.
7500B Beach Road
6678 8888 | enquiry.ppssbr@panpacific.com