Only a 15 minute taxi ride from Singapore’s airport, the Furama Riverfront Hotel is conveniently located on Havelock Road, on the Singapore River. It is a short drive to the Bugis shopping district and the Fortune Center, where you can find great vegetarian and vegan dining.
First Impression
The first impression of the Furama is grandiose with its marble columns leading to the high ceilings in the lobby. Check-in was very easy with friendly staff, who gladly answered all our questions and even reminded us to schedule a wake-up call for our last morning.
Rooms
Our room was spacious with a nice view of the city overlooking big trees and complete with with a mini-bar and fridge, flat screen television and ample surface space to do work. Everything looked clean and the closet contained comfortable slippers, an iron and a safe. Bottles of water, as well as tea and coffee, were complementary with the room.
The bathroom was large and was equipped with both a shower area and a large bathtub. The shower had the best water pressure I have found in Southeast Asia.
Breakfast
The complimentary breakfast, in my opinion, was the best feature of the Furama Hotel. Every morning from 6:00 – 10:30am, guests can enjoy a large array of culinary choices from all over the world, including China, Singapore, and Japan, as well as North American and European favorites.
As a vegan, I was able to find many choices, including an assortment of international fruits, cereals with soy milk, rice dishes and toast with peanut butter and jam, to name a few.
Amenities
The Furama Riverfront is a full-service hotel, including professional taxi service out front, a large outdoor pool, a very helpful concierge, laundry service and room service. This hotel also features large ballrooms, which are perfect for seminars and conferences, as well as more personal events, such as weddings and graduation ceremonies. Guests staying here will feel well-taken care of. When I asked for an adapter, for example, one arrived to my room within minutes!
Room for Improvement
I found the entire hotel to be set on freezing cold. When in parts of the hotel other than my room, I often had to escape outside just to warm up. So if you book here, bring a jacket!
It was disappointing that the price of the room did not include WIFI. Instead, I was asked to pay $8 for 30 minutes, $15 for one hour or $25 for an entire 24 hour period (all prices in SGD).
Overall, my experience with the Furama Riverfront Hotel was exceptional and I would stay there again when visiting Singapore.