Besotted – Fullerton Bay Hotel’s Room with a View

If you’re all for sophisticated accommodation in a picturesque location, check into the new Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore, one of the most beautiful hotels in Singapore and the latest addition to the historical Fullerton Heritage precinct. It’s right by the glitzy new Marina Bay waterfront and occupies the old Clifford Pier, Singapore’s landing point for early migrants over a century ago.

All high ceiling, full-length glass windows, refined detailing and elegance, it’s a mini Raffles Hotel, and spanks of old world glamour with a stylish, contemporary flavour. If you’re checking in, just remember that the Bay View and Premier Bay View Rooms are the ones with views of the Marina Bay waterfront while the Premier Rooms have views of picturesque landmarks like

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Clifford Pier and the Merlion Park.If you’ve booked into a deluxe room though, be prepared to just have an eye full of Customs House – not a very pretty building, I’m afraid.

Booking early for the national day fireworks? The best views are from their suites. In the latter rooms, remember to check out the toilets – walk into the cubicle and don’t touch a thing. Just clap your hands and see the wondrous mysteries of toilet technology unfold! You don’t even have to handle your toilet seat ever again for a sound sensor lifts the cover and later, closes it again when you’re done and gone. Gorgeous rooms, this is a definite choice for a kinky weekend away.

For food, Clifford, the hotel’s modern brasserie – more like a fine dining restaurant – has become one of the prettiest restaurants in town. Sitting close to the water with full length glass and soaring ceilings above, you get a fine sense of occasion here. But happily, the service isn’t stuffy, and they’ve got baby chairs too for your gourmet tot. Friendly, huh? Food here is modern European and from sustainable, organic producers. We like the creamy porcini mushroom cappuccino, hearty duck confit served with delectable truffle mashed potatoes and a lemon tart with crème fraiche ice cream. And you don’t have to spend a bomb: the set lunch menu is an affordable $45 for three courses, and $36 for two. Considering the kind of surrounds you will be pampered in, this is incredibly good value. Having a power breakfast? How about scrambled eggs with shaved black truffles, and waffles with Champagne mango compote?

The Landing Point gives you the best view of the bay front in the day time and light bites all day. This gorgeous lounge with an al fresco terrace forks out afternoon tea ($38) all nicely infused in colonial nostalgia, and featuring such classic morsels as finger sandwiches, chocolate eclairs, caneles (excellent stuff), and scones with jam and clotted cream. Reserve a table by the window thought – it’s the best spot here and gets snapped up very quickly! Sniff hard here and you’ll notice a particular fragrance that will bliss out your olfactories. That would be the customized room fragrance, ‘The Scent of Fullerton’ – which is the latest practice among hotels these days in attempts to brand their ambience with a distinctive, unique smell. At this hotel, the fragrance is admittedly lovely – top notes of white jasmine, ylang ylang and lily, followed by a lovely floral rose and neroli middle note. Free smells!

Up to the rooftop, The Lantern – named after the red lanterns that used to light up the pier in days of old – is the latest bar to pack in the crowds with its 360 degree view of down town Singapore and downright breathtaking setting amid landscaped greenery and picturesque pool. Order signature cocktails, Red Lantern ($19), Merlion ($19) and Imperial Berry Mojito ($24) and nibble on bar snacks like wagyu Short Rib Mini Burger ($20), Pork Belly Sandwich with Apple-radish Slaw ($18) and Truffle Fries ($14). Definitely a must-go in Singapore, expect a full house every weekend so don’t forget to make your reservations!

What’s sad is that in the most historic part of the hotel – what was once the Clifford Pier building – is occupied by a Chinese restaurant, One on the Bund. It’s kinda crass and the staff downright unfriendly, and the food, to put it gently, ain’t that great. This is leased out and run by a third party. Hopefully the hotel will eventually put the space to better use.

80 Collyer Quay

Tel: 65-65975277

www.fullertonbayhotel.com

- Ee Waun

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Breakaway - Eloise and The Plaza Suite in New York

New York is the city that never sleeps, and if I’m checked into the Eloise Suite at The Plaza, in New York, I am not sure if I can get much shut-eye as well! But it’s good fun, isn’t it? And surely every girl, young and not so young, would lurve a night or two in this over-the-top haven of pink!

 

Designed by equally excessive Betsy Johnson, this suite is all about Eloise, the fictional character from children’s book series, who lives with her Nanny, pet pug Weenie and turtle Skipperdee at The Plaza and has free run of the place.

 

Set on the 18th floor, the Eloise Suite is all pink extravagance – with a signature Plaza chandelier fitted with pink bulbs, candy striped walls, black and white zebra-print carpet, king-size bed with bedspread covered with scenes from the books, a padded pink headboard sparkles with “trinkles” and comfy chairs upholstered in Johnson’s signature rosebud prints. Guests here get a disposable Eloise camera, Eloise DVDs and books, a tea set and Eloise and Weenie dolls, Eloise robes and towels complete with appliqués of Weenie and Skipperdee.

If that’s not enough, there’s Eloise shopping to do at the massive 2,100-square-foot Eloise shop down at the concourse level. Made out like a playhouse, you can relax in the Living Room, try out clothes in the Fashion Room or watch Eloise movie clips in the Library Room. Then if you’re feeling peckish, take tea at the shop’s Tea Room or, if you’re a resident in the city, organize parties there too.

"'I absolutely loooove The Plaza!' as Eloise would say,” says Betsey Johnson. “Now I hope she says, 'I absolutely loooove my new room decorated by Betsey Johnson! She's so pink, so fun...neon, and stripes, and flowers, and yipes!!! ...petticoats, princess crowns, and even pink chandeliers! Ahhhh...absolutely home-sweet-home.

 

To help you with your Eloise experience, the hotel has a dedicated ‘Eloise Ambassador’ to assist in booking a stay in the Eloise Suite. (Contact her at eloiseattheplaza@fairmont.com) Adjoining the Eloise suite is the Edwardian Suite for the grown ups and comes with a comforting bottle of Champers and truffles to soothe you from all the pink!

- Ee Waun

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Breakaway - It's a New Kind of Airport Hotel; Redefined in Beijing

What pops to mind when you think of airport hotels? Really 1970s type accommodation situated by the airport runway, where comfort is almost zero and everyone just sees guests as a sad creatures in quick transit with no friends to take them in for a while, and with nowhere else to go. So transit travellers are resigned to a day or two of total discomfort in a hotel where time forgot. That’s why we really like what’s happening at Beijing’s airport!

Langham Place, Beijing Capital Airport opens on August 16, 2010 with a bold new mission: to revolutionize the way we see airport hotels. It features DJs in the lobby, loft-style apartments and 372 stylish guest rooms and suites (45 sq m – 300 sq m) with Dream Big Beds, marble bathrooms with oversized baths and separate walk-in rain showers. Bars and restaurants include the 24-hour bar and internet hub Portal - Work & Play where you can access WiFi on big screens; Chinese dining at Ming Court, international fare at The Place and Fuel which features live music and DJs. Japanese Robatayaki & Bar, Tokoro, opens next March.

And you’re not stuffed in a forgotten corner of the earth too. It’s 10 minutes to the New China International Exhibition Centre and 15 minutes to the city on the Airport Express Railway.

Check out www.beijingairport.langhamplacehotels.com

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Breakaway - Kids 'Camp' in Hainan Island, China!

The June hols are round the corner. If you haven’t planned what to do, here’s a China immersion getaway with a difference. I don’t know if your kids will be improving much on their Chinese, but for fab fun, how about sending them off to ‘Summer Camp’ while you luxe away at the Mandarin Oriental in Sanya? That’s on Hainan Island, which is a little more tropical than the rest of China. I checked out the pictures of the hotel and it looks pretty tempting – not just the spa and villas but the pristine beach too!

The draw here is that they are pushing their "CoCo the Pirate" Children's Summer Camp for kids with a three-night promotion from CNY5,888 (S$1,200). The package includes room stay and brekkie for two adults and two kids, complimentary extra bed and the ‘summer camp’ for one child. Any extra chickadees have to pay CNY 450 per day at ‘camp’.

Sounds like a glorified kids club, but it keeps the young ‘uns busy with activities like treasure hunts, eco sessions, orienteering, snorkeling (in their sheltered Coral Beach), cooking lessons, art and crafts, etc. They get a whole lot of freebies as well, like pirate t-shirt and bandana, cuddly toy, lunch, etc.

So what do you do while they are suitably engaged? Luxe out, of course. Get pampered at their award winning spa village (check out their VIP spa villas), paste yourself on the beach with a good book, do tai qi, qigong, dine, relax, explore the nature reserves, sightsee, shop, whatever. Every one enjoys themselves. It’s a win win situation. (The "CoCo the Pirate" Children's Summer Camp takes place from 27 June to 22 August 2010.)

 

12 Yuhai Road, Sanya City 572000, Hainan, PRC China

Email: mosan-reservations@mohg.com

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