Singapore is not short of luxury hotels and we’ve been blessed to have stayed in a few but what makes a stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Millennia Singapore truly one of the most memorable?

In our home, I’m usually the ‘crafty’ one. No, I don’t do handicrafts but I do like to spring the occasional surprises for the wife and family. Recently, it seems that my wife and daughter have inherited my ‘craftiness’ – they planned and executed a surprise staycation for my birthday successfully. Both were completely silent on the plans and any form of packing was done stealthily. On the morning itself, I was just told that we were going somewhere ‘nice’ for lunch. It wasn’t until I saw them rolling out the suitcase towards the car that I suspected they were up to something. Even then, I was just told to follow the GPS to drive towards the staycation venue.

I’m glad to be back at a hotel that I remember so fondly.

How elated I was to know that it was the Ritz-Carlton hotel which the wifey has booked for the night! I recalled that I had casually told her some time back that it had been quite some years since we’ve last stayed there – I still have fond memories of our honeymoon stay at the hotel. Between then and now, much have changed. Back then, we were childless and had thoroughly enjoyed the pampering couple staycation. Now with 2 kids in tow, we look forward to reliving our experience again.

Spacious and luxurious lobby…But there’s more to this outstanding hotel.

We were ushered to the immaculate enhanced premier suite for an in-room check in. Our luggage was delivered swiftly to our room after. As we stepped into the room, we were floored by the stupendous view of BOTH the Marina Bay area from the living / bedroom and the Singapore Flyer / Marina Barrage view from the bathroom. The spacious suite boasts of a plush King-sized bed, a separate living area with a large settee (which the housekeeping staff ‘magically’ transformed into a comfortable single bed at turn-down for the daughter). The hotel has also taken initiative to arrange for a sturdy wooden cot for Buddy, complete with plush comforter and infant pillows.

The interior of our enhanced premier suite…complete with TWIN views of the stunning Marina Bay.

The hotel staff did up the room as a surprise….just like what good friends would. 

One of the views – overlooking the mouth of the Singapore River and the Singapore Flyer.

The other view – with a sweeping vista of the Marina Bay.  Breathtaking!

Unblocked fireworks view during NDP season!

Whichever corner of the suite, you’re in for a luxurious experience and a stunning view.

We were very moved that our baby’s needs were not forgotten.

Two of the exclusive premiums that come with the SG50 staycation package.  Only for a limited time.

Knowing that it was my birthday, the hotel surprised us with a full-sized artisan chocolate cake and from the corner of my eye, I spotted an ice bucket with, yes you guessed it, champagne, chilled and ready.

The Ritz-Carlton Touch.

The good folks at the Ritz know how to make a celebration unforgettable.

So apart from the view, the spacious rooms and luxurious furnishings, what truly makes the Ritz-Carlton outstanding? I believe it is that special human touch – one that is so tangibly felt throughout our stay. You see, a good hotel is more than just providing fine décor, throwing in the cakes, and ensuring fast check -in/outs. While these are no doubt important, an exceptional hotel goes beyond the hardware and look into the ‘heart ware’. The good folks at the Ritz-Carlton know that no celebration is complete without the warmth of friends and family.  So they go that extra mile to show guests that what is important to us is important to them. The entire team strives to make every happy occasion an even more joyous and memorable one with their personalised touch. And they exude pride in delivering a level of service that is unparallelled.

Many of these differences lie in that small details which spoke volumes.

Out in the living area, there were balloons lining the floor and a customized ‘Happy Birthday’ banner hung on the window. Next to the cake was an ice bucket with ice-cold champagne within with flutes on the ready.

Luxury is never too formal to lose that human touch – a specially printed banner for the occasion.

Beyond balloons and the cakes, there are other subtle signs to remind you that this is the Ritz-Carlton. 

The hotel also surprised us with a printed family photo complete with a frame. We were very touched!

Every corner I turned, there were cards written by representatives from different departments – guest services, housekeeping etc…to wish me a Happy Birthday. I’ve never received so many handwritten congratulatory messages from friends, let alone from a hotel!

Here they don’t print cards…they write them by hand.  That’s the Ritz-Carlton difference.

Inside the bathroom, a baby bath tub sat within the full-sized bath tub. Both, sharing the awesome Singapore Flyer view. Inside the bathroom, there were two packs of children’s bathroom products packed separately for our two kids. The daughter was provided with a stool to reach the sink and the baby son was provided with a diaper bin to seal the diapers in when disposed. There were also kid sized plush bathrobes and bedroom slippers provided. This goes to show that even the needs of their youngest guests were not overlooked. How very thoughtful! Not many 5-star hotels can boast of such family-friendly amenities.

Even the baby gets the view.  The hotel knows that luxury for parents also mean that our kids are well cared for.

There’s a plush bathrobe for our daughter too and I have a feeling that she’s gonna remember the Ritz-Carlton too!

Knowing that we have an active 7 year-old, the hotel manager highly recommended Dana to join the Ritz Kids activities by the poolside.  Colourful activity sheets along with crayons and lanyard ‘Ice-cream’ cards  were placed in our room for Dana and Alexander to redeem free ice creams during the day. Every ‘Ritz Kid’ was given a ‘sweet’ welcome in the form of a petite-sized fondant layer cake! All these seemingly small gestures made our daughter super excited about the stay.

Daily ‘Ice Cream Pass’…one of the perks of being a Ritz Kid.

A little welcome ‘snack’…

…and two little ‘friends’ to bring home, and they come with personalised names!

As we checked in past 2pm, we were feeling peckish and called for in-room service dining. For such a large hotel, the food came piping hot promptly (within 30 minutes).  We also requested for few items (such as extra towels) from the housekeeping staff.  Whenever the items were delivered, the staff addressed us by name, followed by a greeting, a smile and before leaving, a slight nod and farewell. Regardless of who was serving us, the service was consistently genuine and impeccable. Even on the phone,  calls were picked-up and responded to with a smile (remember the old adage that a smile can be heard? It’s very true.)

Our in-room dining came piping hot, fresh and delicious. Wagyu beef burger for the adults and fish & chips for the daughter.

At the Ritz Kids Club, Dana was guided to complete a photo craft. The staff though had their hands full with four other inquisitive, lively kids, were very patient, never missing a beat with their smiles and words of encouragement. At the end, Dana proudly displayed her finished craft, much to our delight. Then, it’s off to some ice-cream and swim time!

An hour at the Ritz Kids Programme. 

Making friends with other Ritz Kids!

A big shout-out of ‘Thanks’ to the patient and friendly staff!

It’s sometimes tough to remember that this hotel is actually in the city…especially with all the lush greenery around.

A family-friendly staycation hotel where even the littlest family member found it enjoyable. Floats were provided free for use at the poolside.

At the breakfast table the next day, we were greeted by name as we entered the marquee where breakfast is served – a temporary venue while the former Greenhouse restaurant is undergoing renovation. We observed the staff interacting freely with guests just to find out how they stay has been. The high level of service was evident not only at breakfast but at all its facilities such as the concierge, pool and lobby lounge, among others.

Breakfast at the marquee – a temporary venue but the food quality is just as scrumptious.

Our recent stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Millennia Singapore affirmed our belief that the discerning travellers are looking for more than just a luxurious stay.  They are looking for that the personal touch which enhances the entire experience. At the Ritz-Carlton Millennia, guests were not just pampered;  we were moved by high level of professional service delivered from the heart by every single staff, giving us a celebration that is akin to one among close friends. This is a staycation that we will cherish and remember for a long time to come. Thank you Ritz-Carlton!

The limited edition SG50 bears that come with the Celebrate Singapore, Celebrate You package (T&C applies).

To celebrate SG50, The Ritz-Carlton Millennia, Singapore has lined up Singapore Staycation Packages.

Celebrate Singapore, Celebrate You

Here’s a selfie to remember how special the stay had been.  Thank you Ritz-Carlton for celebrating with me. 

Disclaimer: We were hosted by the hotel for a one night’s stay for the purposes of this review. No monetary compensation was received. All photos and opinions are as usual, ours.