Beach Hotel (Singapore, Singapore)

You've got ‘the lot' here. The area is awash with shops, bars, restaurants … and atmosphere. The nearness of the MRT Stations means that all city areas are within easy reach. Marina Bay is an enjoyable walk away.

Everyone is very friendly and helpful. If you hit a problem they'll do all they can to sort it out for you. The surrounding area has a ‘colonial' theme and charm. The hotel is similar in style. It's quite elderly, but most things seem to work OK.

Bed linen is crisp and clean and for the most part, cleanliness in the rooms is of a high standard. The aluminium window frames are of a tight fit and very effective in keeping the street noise out. Air conditioning is good; very effective.

This hotel isn't easy to find. The initial access is via a not very obvious lift to the first-floor reception area - and from there to the room itself.

The few TV channel choices are limited to local ones, so they are of no relevance to the visiting tourist. The hotel itself offers a good standard of budget accommodation. In the absence of a suitable TV channel, you can always walk to the more up market hotels such as Raffles … and see how the other half lives.

Beds are hard so may take some getting used to, particularly after a day of arduous sightseeing.  The rooms are OK, but only if you are using them as a base. They don't encourage you to relax and spend time here.