A home from home
Godfrey Hall stops off in Singapore and enjoys a stay at the Goodwood Park Hotel.
I really like Singapore, clean, well-organised, great shops and lots of high-class attractions. Around 13 hours flying time from the UK and around 15 from the west coast of the USA it is an idea destination for a short break. Rather than picking one of the many top-quality high-rise hotels I would like to suggest that you should seriously consider somewhere a bit different, the Goodwood Park Hotel. Located close to the corner of Scotts and Orchard Road it was built in 1900 as the Teutonia Club for the German community and operated for 18 years when it was bought by three Jewish brothers who named it after the famous racecourse in the United Kingdom.
Lovingly restored in the past few years it is now listed as national monument in Singapore. Over the years it has played host to a number of world class celebrities. It was the first hotel in Singapore to feature a kidney shaped swimming pool.
Very colonial in its design it sits nearly between a number high rise blocks. The hotel’s facilities include two delightful swimming pools, gardens and several restaurants. Famous for its afternoon teas I was amazed by the number of local people who came along to enjoy freshly cut sandwiches, English tea and a selection of delightful cakes. A well established and favourite event amongst residents and guests alike I was also impressed to find that some of the hotel staff have been with the Goodwood for 50 years or more. The Goodwood Park Hotel has 233 rooms and suites each with its own characteristics and I was fortunate enough to have a refurbished room overlooking one of the swimming pools. Large and well appointed, it had a well-equipped bathroom and plenty of space. Any requests to housekeeping brought a quick response and I was impressed with the quality of the linen and towels. Any house-keeping requests were quickly dealt with, from extra jugs of milk for your early morning cup of tea to more towels and pillows.
One of the specialities of the hotel is Taiwan Porridge which I was told it was first produced around 36 years ago. It is now a well-known feature in the various restaurants. The current owners of the Goodwood Park also run the Royal Garden Hotel in London.
I found the staff extremely friendly and very helpful providing maps and booklets on the various attractions. They also had inside knowledge on the MRT and various attractions suggesting the best route and often tips on how to get the most out of your visit.
I really enjoyed both of my short stays and will certainly consider the hotel when I visit Singapore again in the near future. A great location a short taxi ride from the airport, close to the MRT and buses.
Images courtesy of Godfrey Hall.
Silver Travel Advisor recommends Singapore Tourism Board.