Review: Escape the city with Oasia Hotels, Singapore
Seasoned travellers know perfectly well that constantly being on-the-go all over the world is no excuse for not checking in on your overall wellness.
And through the “Journey Well” programme, Oasia Hotels by Far East Hospitality ensures that you make it a priority when you stay at any one of their two properties in Singapore: Oasia Hotel Novena and Oasia Hotel Downtown.
The programme focuses on three key elements. ‘Refresh’ prioritises quality of rest, while ‘refuel’ refers to well-planned meal offerings and ‘recharge’ provides ways for guests to invigorate the mind and body through spa and fitness options.
With the “Journey Well” programme, leisure travellers might find the “refresh, refuel and recharge” approach a novel way to explore the unique experiences Oasia have to offer and here's what we thought:
Oasia Hotel Novena
First, we venture into Oasia Hotel Novena, where two elements should immediately strike your attention. Built with repurposed slabs of sand-coloured stone, the lobby’s high-ceilinged, the cavelike facade is a stark difference from the hotel’s corporate grey exterior.
Wood fittings add to the lobby’s natural theme, like the skeleton of a tree, polished and repurposed into a work of art, and now stays proudly between the reception desk and entrance to Marmalade Pantry, the hotel’s bistro.
(Swipe below to see more photos of the hotel)
Just when you’ve adjusted to the scene, you’ll notice a pleasant scent in the air – notes of lavender and lemon, followed by coriander and ginger hit your olfactory senses – another one of the deliberate elements meant to help you “refresh”.
There’s time before dinner, so “refuel” at the Living Room on level 22, Novena’s heavily zen-inspired club lounge, where freshly-made coffee and all-day snacks are served.
The club guest-only pool here will help you “recharge”, and the Oasis on level 8 has a 24-hour gym, sauna and steam room. And when you’re finally hungry enough, chefs at the Marmalade Pantry can whip up a modern bistro meal for your “refuel” enjoyment.
Oasia Hotel Downtown
The Oasia experience wouldn’t be complete without staying at least one night at Oasia Hotel Downtown in Tanjong Pagar.
Its pink exterior and live creepers creating a vertical garden around the building is an attention grabber amidst the other skyscrapers in the CBD area, but
that’s only the icing on the design cake.
Hallways in the hotel are bathed in fashionable rose gold, and rooms have the finishing touches of Spanish interior design extraordinaire, Patricia Urquiola.
(Swipe below to see more photos of the hotel)
The open-air garden space at the check-in lobby on level 12 is where Sunday yoga classes are held, and club guests can enjoy luxurious privileges on level 21.
For one, the club floor's swimming pool is actually covered, but unless it rains, guests will barely notice that they are actually relaxing indoors due to the open air design concept of Oasia Hotel Downtown.
In the evenings, grab a complimentary cocktail or three when refreshments are served at the club lounge and bring them over to one of the poolside cabanas or cushy armchairs.
When a cool breeze prances through, it’s likely that for a moment, you’ll forget that you’re in the middle of one of the busiests cities in the world, and fall into a reverie of lying somewhere on a private island.
If this is what it means to refresh, refuel and recharge at Oasia Downtown, then we’re all for doing it again and again.
For more information and to make your reservations for Oasia Hotel Novena and Oasia Hotel Downtown, please visit www.oasiahotels.com.
