Living the high life
Okay, so this entire post is probably just going to read like an ad for The Westin, but wow, this place is super nice (and I do give a little detail about the area itself and what to see/do at the end).
Some background: I flew in to Singapore to go to this ASEAN career fair thing, because I won a free trip to do so thanks to a Kahoot quiz when the people promoting the fair came to my university.
I came in a couple days early though, to do some sightseeing and because my brother is working here currently, and said I could/should definitely come and stay with him.
He's not actually based here though, so he's pretty much living out of a hotel room at the Westin. He does this regularly (his job flies him around and puts him up in top hotels and all that), so he is apparently a preferred, Platinum-level guest.
That means he's got a room that's upgraded from the normal five star one and special lounge access and Westin Club membership and so forth. We're on the very top floor, which I suppose is called the penthouse floor, except they're just traditional rooms with a great view, not like a penthouse penthouse, if that makes sense?
It's super awesome. I mean, he definitely works for and deserves it, with the 16 hours workdays and stress and all, but since I'm just staying with him, I get all the benefits of the high life and none of the issues. It's a tough job, that's why they have to lure you in with the benefits.
A Description
The view
So, here's the part where it starts sounding like an ad, but I figure somebody somewhere might like to know what it's like to be living like this or staying in five-star hotels as a preferred member? I had no idea, anyway, and might never stay in such a high-so place again.
It's possible he got the room itself upgraded for while I'm staying here (I know he changed it to have two beds, at least), but I'm sure it's nearly his normal.
It's in a great location right near Marina Bay and an MRT station and malls and the business sector. They give you free chocolates and cookies every day with house-keeping, and there's the view of the bay.
This is just part of the bathroom, there are two doors leading to the shower and the toilet behind the gray bit on the left
For work
The place itself is larger than most apartments, with a desk area and dining and living/sofa areas and possibly the best bathroom(s) I have ever seen (separate rooms for the toilet, the shower, and the bath/sink area) and personalized messages from the hotel to my brother on the TV, and so forth.
Really, I'm not kidding. They send him an email via the TV welcoming him and referencing his past visits and preferences and so forth. They have the flight times for all planes departing/arriving at Singapore and loads of other information.
That's not even getting into the infinity pool area and exclusive breakfast buffet in the lounge area for those with membership (only 3 other people were there besides me). There's a regular breakfast buffet too, if you want to go eat with the normal customers to The Westin, I suppose. I also went to that. They've got the view over the beach, as opposed to the lounge area's view over the pool.
The pool
Then there's the spa! Totally free of charge/included in the price, and you've got a jacuzzi, several saunas, insane bathrooms, and random fluffy white towels in baskets and expensive toiletries all over the place. I haven't looked at the gym yet, but no doubt it's wonderful and the sort of place I'd be scared to enter because they have fitness experts to help you.
More than that, the service is really at your beck and call. He's got early check-in (12) and late check-out (4 pm!) and they ask when I want the room cleaned and come at the exact time said. He flies back to his home base country every weekend, so they'll store everything and pull it out for him again when he comes back again after the weekend.
There's something called "express service", where he can literally just call and be like, "I forgot to ask for extra cheese for my meal, can you send some up please" and they do, knocking on our door around five minutes later with parmesan in a bowl, no problem, and so on. They have universal plugs and all the bathroom amenities and a Nespresso coffee machine with the various flavor bullets, etc.
Perhaps the best of it is that it's all for my brother. He says he's gotten used to it (I didn't gush too much, but I did mention how cool it was), but back when we were kids this would've been unimaginable, and he totally deserves it.
I mostly stayed in today (lounging by an infinity pool on the 32nd floor) and planned for my trip here and then did some online work, which I've been putting off. The connection here is great too, naturally.
The Area Nearby
Like I said, this area is in close walking distance to all the fancy/important bits. The closest MRT station is called 'Downtown', which sums up the place nicely. Like I said, it's the business sector where all the major companies and hotels and rich people are, and there's also a major mall (several, in fact) and all the food places you could want, plus a really nice running area and the 'beach'.
Marina Sands Bay
There's the light show done by Marina Sands Bay every night, and loads of the major events are held here. For example, there was a carnival/festival thing going on, with a bunch of rides and such.
A pop-up carnival, sponsored by Grab and a view other companies
Around 7 pm, I headed out and walked to the Garden by the Bay, which is absolutely, incredibly beautiful and a must-see.
Only a small portion of the Garden by the Bay, which is huge and mainly free except some special areas I didn't go to
I walked through the Promontory area until the Supertree Grove, where I got to see the Garden Rhapsody light/music show (the trees lights flash in time to opera music). That was beautiful and calming, and all free. I also got a SIM card, so now I have data and won't get lost.
The Supertree Grove, containing light-up trees which shine in time to the music and a walkway high-up (not free) to view the rest of the Garden from
