PassportChop.com had the opportunity to experience the Ritz-Carlton’s Time to Getaway package recently.  What caught our attention upon entering our room at the Ritz-Carlton was the magnificent view of the Marina Bay and the Singapore Central Business District (CBD) skyline.  The views from Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore Marina Bay-facing rooms are simply breathtaking – from our Premier Suite room at 30th floor, we have a bird eye’s view of the Marina Bay floating platform which explains why the Ritz-Carlton is typically at full occupancy when the National Day Parade (NDP) is held at Float@Marina Bay.  Imagine catching the entire NDP proceedings right from the comfort of your air-conditioned Ritz-Carlton Premier Suite with total privacy and then getting an up close view of the NDP fireworks finale right in front of you – a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore would definitely make for a perfect staycation over the National Day Parade (NDP) holiday.

Measuring 60 sqm, our Ritz-Carlton Premier Suite room featured a spacious bedroom with an adjoining living room – balancing space and a cozy ambience.  The work desk at the living room looked simple but it is actually very well-equipped with all the things that would make any IT geek like myself happy – 2 universal power outlets (no need for bulky travel adapters), an Internet Protocol (IP) phone, an iPod docking station, and a in-built VGA/HDMI connection port which would allow you to project whatever is on your laptop screen to the room TV (perfect if you intend to chillax in the room with movies during your staycation at the Ritz-Carlton).

The Ritz-Carlton “Sexiest Bathroom” in Singapore 

The view from our Ritz-Carlton Premier Suite never ceases to amaze us – even in the bathroom, we enjoyed a view of the “Singapore Flyer, the Marina Barrage and the Gardens by the Bay” through the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s signature octagonal window.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise why the Ritz-Carlton bathroom is known as one of the “sexiest bathrooms” in Singapore – the spacious bathtub sits just beside the the large octagonal window which overlooks the Singapore Flyer; general rule of thumb – if you can see someone in the Singapore Flyer capsule, they can also see you (if they look hard enough) 🙂  Thankfully, there are privacy curtains/screens in the bathroom so you can still enjoy a “sexy” bath without the worry of being featured on STOMP’s homepage or any other social media for that matter.

Besides the bathtub and the view through the signature octagonal window, the Ritz-Carlton bathroom is “sexy” in many other ways too – for one, it is very spacious and is quite a long walk starting from the walk-in closet on the far end of the bathroom, the toilet, the shower (with 3 modes of shower-head operation including rain shower), his and her sinks at the vanity area to the bathtub.  Every detail had been considered in the design of this bathroom right down to the anti-fog mirrors, Acqua Di Parma bath amenities and very very very (not a typo – it is indeed 3 times more comfortable than typical bathrobes) comfortable His and Hers micro-fiber Ploh bathrobes.

The Ritz-Carlton recently completed an extensive transformation of its guest rooms to enhance the guest experience by offering a thoroughly contemporary guest room concept featuring state-of-the-art technology.  From the teakwood work desk facing the wide living room windows to the bathtub under the octagonal window in the bathroom, the fittings and finishes felt luxurious – with teakwood and rosewood table-top surfaces, marble floors and vanity counters in the bathroom, and comfortable plush king-sized bed – epitomizing the sophistication, comfort, elegance and functionality that the Ritz-Carlton hopes to bring out with this makeover.

The Ritz-Carlton “Ultimate Sleep Experience”

The Ritz-Carlton’s Ultimate Sleep Experience comprises a feather king-sized bed, goose-down duvets and extra-large pillows of high-thread-count fabric and feathers.  Simply put, it made us want to indulge in the experience way past bedtime.  Coupled that with the black-out electrical roller blinds and daylight electrical roman blinds easily activated by a flip of a switch just by our bedside, the ultimate sleep experience is complete!

There are two 46-inch wall-mounted Hospitality LED TVs, one each for the living room and bedroom and you can even hear the audio from the TV when you are in the bathroom which is piped in through Bose hi-fidelity audio.

For a quick overview of the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore Premier Suite, check out this video below:

For more of such travel videos, check out Singapore Travel Blog PassportChop.com Travel Video Youtube Channel.

The Ritz-Carlton Time to Getaway In-room Breakfast Dining for Two

With the Ritz-Carlton Time to Getaway package, guests enjoy $20 off their package rate every hour after 2pm that they opt to check-in, up to a maximum limit of $80 off.  In addition, guests can enjoy in-room breakfast dining for two as part of the package – instead of having to go all the way down to the Greenhouse for breakfast with the rest of Ritz-Carlton guests, you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast from the comfort of your own room and in total privacy with great views of Marina Bay.  Simply indicate your choice of breakfast sets – from the Full Breakfast set (which we ordered – with bacon and eggs done up in your preferred manner e.g. scrambled, sunny side-up, 4 choices of bread type and your selection of juices and hot beverage) to a simple Waffle meal – before 2am and hang the order form outside your door and your breakfast will be served at your preferred time.

The Ritz-Carlton Time to Getaway $50 Hotel Credit for Dining, Shopping, Spa

As part of the Time to Getaway package, you will also receive $50 Hotel Credit which can be used for dining, shopping or spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.  We spent the credit on in-room lunch dining during the second day of our staycation at Ritz-Carlton.  Other ways guests can use the credit include getting your butler to draw your bath using aromatherapy ingredients either for a relaxing bath or a romantic soak at the “sexiest bathroom in Singapore”.

If you are wow-ed by the Ultimate Sleep Experience, the good news is you can bring this experience back home – simply purchase the goose-down duvets or extra-large pillows of high-thread-count fabric and feathers or everything back to build your own ultimate sleep experience (do note that your $50 hotel credit will not be able to cover such purchases completely – you will need to top up a lot more!).  You can purchase these and other items e.g. the micro-fiber Ploh bathrobes or Ritz-Carlton souvenirs (e.g. the cute Ritz-Carlton Lion seen below – from the Ritz-Carlton logo) at the lobby-level Gift Shoppe.

Indulge in The Ritz-Carlton Club Experience

If you are in the mood to indulge yourself during a staycation at the Ritz-Carlton, why not top-up to your Time to Getaway package with an upgrade with Club Privileges.  The Ritz-Carlton Club experience begins the moment you check-in – with an expedited two-step check-in process; the process is completed as you wait in the plush lounge at the Ritz-Carlton’s top floor – the 32nd floor lounge. You will be briefed on the Club’s amenities and other services and brought directly to your room upon completion of the registration process.

The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge on 32th floor (open from 7am to 11pm) offers a dedicated and knowledgeable concierge who will attend to all your individual needs in a well-appointed, relaxed lounge environment.  Here at the Club Lounge, you can also indulge in 5 complimentary culinary presentations –

• Breakfast from 7am to 11am;
• Midday Snacks from 11.30am to 2.30pm;
• Afternoon Tea from 2.30pm to 4.30pm;
• Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktails from 5pm to 8pm;
• Desserts and Cocktails from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.

As part of your Ritz-Carlton Club privilege, guests can also enjoy complimentary garment refreshment (Pressing, Laundry, Dry-cleaning) for up to 5 pieces of laundry upon arrival.  Perfect for a long weekend holiday staycation at the Ritz-Carlton – with no need to bother about laundry at the end of the staycation.

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore Self-Guided Art Tour

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore has a 4,200 piece modern art collection which includes works by Frank Stella, Andy Warhol and Dale Chihuly and its collection is considered by many to be among the finest corporate modern art collections in Singapore and Southeast Asia.  Valued at approximately S$5 million, 90 percent of the works were specially commissioned for the hotel including approximately 350 major, “museum quality” pieces.  One of the most talked about artpiece in the Ritz-Carlton is the “Cornucopia,” Frank Stella’s three tonne (2,800 kg) roof sculpture, suspended in the lofty entrance area, which greets all guests upon their arrival.

Guests staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore can experience a self-guided podcast art tour of the hotel’s modern art collection.  Recognizing the interest that art tours might have to art aficionados as well as hotel guests, guests at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore may download the link of the 28-minute Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore art tour directly from the hotel’s login page when they sign up for Internet connection.  For other visitors to the Ritz-Carlton, there’s a booklet on the hotel’s art and architecture that can serve as a guide.

The podcast presentation highlights a selection of the hotel’s works which are predominantly “pop art” or colour field pieces, an American art style that dates to the 1960s.   California-based art consultant and curator Ms. Elizabeth Weiner, who assisted in assembling this collection, describes the artworks as “vibrant expressionism.”  Guests will be able to listen to the artist’s profile and history, background music as well as the placement of the art pieces which enhances the distinctive contemporary architectural design of the hotel.

The art tour begins with a brief introduction on the hotel’s architecture and design by Pritzker-award winner Kevin Roche.  Guests’ initial introduction to the collection leads them to the strikingly beautiful sculptures by Zhu Wei located at the driveway of the hotel.  The pair of life-sized fiberglass figures in Mao suits is reminiscent of the Xi-An terracotta warriors bowing forward with a contemporary automaton feel.

As guests venture through the hotel lobby area down to the first level, they will witness the sheer scope of the hotel art pieces and sculptures that distinguishes the tour from most museum visits. Beginning from the lobby level, guests will be able to view many of the limited edition art pieces by David Hockney, Henry Moore, Andy Warhol and Sam Francis. The rest of the works are from well-established contemporary American artists such as Dale Chihuly, Larry Zox, Elsworth Kelly, Rainer Gross and Malcolm Morley.

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore Marina Bay Discovery Trail

The Ritz-Carlton is located minutes away from attractions such as the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay and the Singapore Flyer. For the shopaholics, 2 shopping malls are accessible via covered skybridge with over 2,000 shopping and dining options.

With its proximity to that many attractions around Marina Bay, the Ritz-Carlton team had came up with a booklet on the Marina Bay Discovery Trail which laid out a map of historic and cultural sites for you to explore around the Marina Bay area.  From the iconic Merlion to the world-renowned Flyer, you will hit several high points of Singapore while making your own lasting memories on this trail.  We will provide you with an overview (with pictures) of what this trail is about in this post.  Just a quick look at the various attractions covered by this trail, take a look at the picture below.

For guests with Ritz Carlton Club privileges, they can enjoy complimentary limousine service from the hotel to many attractions on the trail – Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Flyer, Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay, Merlion and Asian Civilisations Museum, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (subject to availability). Simply approach the Club Concierge for a copy of the Marina Bay Discovery Trail, in which other exciting attractions, accessible by limousine service, are also highlighted.

If all the art tour and Marina Bay Discovery trail is too tiring for a relaxing staycation at the Ritz-Carlton, why not just chill by the windows in your room and enjoy the view.  Catch the sunset over the CBD skyline and at nightfall, catch light performances around the Marina Bay – first the 10-minute OCBC Garden Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay at 7.45pm daily (second show at 8.45pm daily) and then the 15-minute Wonderfull Marina Bay Sands light show at 8pm daily (second show at 9.30pm daily; third show at 11pm on Friday and Saturday only).

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s Time to Getaway package is available from Fridays to Mondays from 1 to 31 March.  With Time to Getaway, guests enjoy $20 off their package rate every hour after 2pm that they opt to check-in, up to a maximum limit of $80 off i.e.

• Check-in from 3pm: $20 off
• Check-in from 4pm: $40 off
• Check-in from 5pm: $60 off
• Check-in from 6pm: $80 off

Guests will also enjoy an in-room breakfast for two and $50 hotel credit which can be used for dining, at the retail shop and spa.

Prices are quoted in Singapore dollars and are subject to 10 percent service charge and prevailing government taxes. Reservations are subject to availability and can be made by calling (65) 6434 5118 or emailing rc.sinrz.reservations@ritzcarlton.com.  For more information on The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore staycation experience, visit www.ritzcarlton.com

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore (Address: 7 Raffles Avenue Singapore 039799) is a 10-minute walk through Millenia Walk from Suntec City and nearest MRT station – Promenade Circle Line MRT Station. The hotel is approximately a 20-minute drive from Changi Airport by taxi or hotel limousine.

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s services and facilities include restaurants and a lounge serving Chinese, Western and international favourites; a Fitness Centre with swimming pool, indoor gym and treatment rooms; and a business centre.