HYPEBy Megan Cheah
As the tech-savvy millennial generation come into their own, youths and young adults are starting to jet off on solo trips or holidays with friends. It’s no surprise they are also finding pockets of time over the weekend to book in at hotels locally, taking a break from school or work for a staycation.
So what does it take to be a hotel for millennials? In a survey conducted by HYPE with 103 young people, cost (52.4 per cent) and comfort (41.7 per cent) were listed as the most important factors when booking staycations, with 49.5 per cent willing to spend from $101 to $200 per night.
Here are some great staycations you can enjoy:
At Your Doorstep: Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Located along Orchard Road, Hotel Jen Orchardgateway is highly accessible. Its seamless connection to 4 shopping malls means that guests can stay out all day without getting bored, returning once in a while to unload their shopping.
That is not to say that the hotel itself does not provide ample facilities. According to student Isabel Tay, 19, her stay was “a little expensive, but [was] compensated by the amazing facilities, breakfast choices, spacious rooms and service”. Such amenities include the rooftop infinity pool and a rooftop bar that features panoramic views of the city skyline.
There are 6 categories to pick from the hotel’s 499 rooms, the priciest ones being the Club rooms on levels 18 and 20. Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, the spacious rooms also find favour with the guests, making for a great place for a short getaway.
Where: 277 Orchard Rd.
Price: From $270 per night.
Contact: 6708 8888
Just The One: M Social
If there is a hotel catered solely for millennials, it’s M Social at Robertson Quay. Famous for its large social spaces, the hotel works in a way that allows guests to mingle while maintaining comfort and convenience in its rooms.
Sporting a chic, minimal interior and quirky motifs that point to the work of renowned French designer Philippe Starck, the 293 rooms are snug in nature, packing all necessities into 2 room sizes.
The social aspect comes in at various locations, such as the hotel restaurant Beast & Butterflies. Using a communal table concept, guests can come together, strangers or not, for conversation. While the restaurant is open to all, hotel guests can also gather in the two meeting rooms or outdoor pavilion.
Mr Starck says: “M Social will be the new and vibrant place in Singapore where elegance, creativity and technology meet to offer a unique experience to our global smart tribe.”
Where: 90 Robertson Quay.
Price: From $160 per night.
Contact: 6206 1888
Fantasy World: Wanderlust Hotel
Rocket through the stars or live in origami at Wanderlust Hotel, which showcases 4 themed levels designed by award-winning local design firms – Asylum, Phunk Studio, fFurious and DP Architects.
The Beatle’s ‘Yellow Submarine. Photo courtesy of: Wanderlust Hotel.
Situated on Dickson Rd, enter the hotel’s industrial-style lobby including a heritage montage. It continues to the Pantone-themed on the second level where 11 single-coloured rooms are labelled with apt song titles, such as Yellow Submarine and Purple Rain.
In contrast, Level 3 has a monochrome theme based on paper art – origami rooms featuring crisp white folds cradling the beds and Pop-Art rooms with art installations that look like stencilled 2D furniture.
The most popular level is the whimsical fourth which has 9 lofts over 5 themes. Highlights include a floor-to-ceiling rocket in the Wanderlust Space and a large, smiling vintage typewriter in Wanderlust Typewriter, welcoming guests to their stay.
“Sometimes, amazing things and original experiences get lost in the fog of our worldliness,” says Mr Loh Lik Peng, founder of the hotel. “With Wanderlust, it is my attempt at making that adult world into a fun playground once again.”
Where: 2 Dickson Rd.
Price: From $180 per night.
Contact: 6579 2026