Queen of my Castle

t's not everyday that I sit in the lap of luxury, so it was only natural to feel regal when a bunch of us were flown business class through Qatar Airways, in a sevenhour (and 50 minutes to be precise) flight, to an address where influence resides the St. Regis Singapore. While the major part of our stay had us touring the opulent luxury tucked in the nooks and corners of the hotel, the vibrant city too had me intrigued the rest of the time. A relaxing bubble bath in my cosy executive suite thus served as the perfect end to a long, tiring yet well-spent day. So what makes St. Regis Singapore a class apart?
Bentley Baby

Cassey Oliveira indulges in a three-day luxury stay at st. regis singapOre tO explOre the many faCets that bOth the hOtel and the City have tO Offer.

have commissioned a fleet of Bentley cars to ride their guests around the lovely and bustling tropical island. Reason: the hotel views each guest as an esteemed VIP. Yes, we were referred to as "VIP" (Ah... what a moment!) while being transported through Singapore's exclusive private terminal at the Changi airport in a buggy to a waiting St Regis Continental Flying Spur Bentley car, ready to whisk us away to our hotel.
Allow me.

with sweet butlers is that you end up feeling guilty to make them do the chores, which I could have easily done myself; only they are much neater! Anyway, Ann also prepared my bubble bath later.
Amazing Art

St. Regis is the only hotel in Singapore to

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That's the signature style of the personal butler service, a hallmark of the St. Regis brand, catering to every guest's unique tastes and preferences. I had requested for a female butler to help me unpack and pack my suitcase, and an ever-smiling Ann turned up. The thing

One cannot fail to notice the inspiring works of art that is part of St. Regis's exquisite ambience. Offering private access to one of the finest premier art collections in South East Asia, the collection showcases over 70 original works of art, including sculptures, paintings, and prints by artists from the international master Pablo Picasso to the indigenous genius Georgette Chen. You could spot these works, at the fine-dining restaurants, by the grand staircase or while you wait at the

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lobby it's simply conspicuous. A particular Reclining Woman by Columbian Figurative artist, Fernando Botero, outside the hotel's entrance, seemed a hit with the cameras.
Culinary delights

No trip is complete without gorging on local delicacies, and the hotel's Yan Ting restaurant ensures you satisfy your palette with its authentic Cantonese cuisine. Not very adventurous when it comes to food, I managed to try the jellyfish. It's not soft, rather chewy, unlike other fishes...I stuck to the lobsters. Then there's the casual Italian dining

establishment, LaBrezza, which offers wholesome goodness of Italian cuisine. Traditional oven-baked pizzas, with a thin crust, that were laid on our tables got over in no time. Just when I was full with the risotto (and the slight parmesan cheese shavings simply adds magic), a plate of tiramisu came in. Could I say no to the classic Italian dessert? For some French-style dining, head over to the hotel's Brasserie Les Saveurs restaurant. Apart from its savoury menu, the restaurant's ambience exudes classic European elegance with its imposing floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the tropical gardens and

sparkling pool. The restaurant is beautiful in the evening, as the colourful fountains spring to life, and the music by the live orchestra adds to the tantalising French flavours.
Sip and shake.

You can always have your coffee, but if you partake in the Afternoon Tea dance at the Brasserie Les Saveurs restaurant, give those 31 exotic tea varieties a try, at least a few, if not all. A whiff of the freshly infused tea leaves makes each sip all the more enjoyable. And while I hoped that sipping hot teas and having a bite of those breads and confectioneries would make me look "engaged", my peers
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phOtO: singapOre tOurism bOard

OrChard rOad
The famed Orchard Road is just a five minute walk from the St. Regis Singapore. For shop-o-holics, the road has a chain of high-end shopping malls, department stores, boutiques in addition to restaurants and cafes. Things are a little expensive here, so if you are looking out for reasonably priced souvenirs, visit the Far East Shopping Centre.

night safari
The Night Safari at Singapore Zoo is the world's first safari park for nocturnal animal. Almost 30% of the species here are threatened; hence captive breeding is one of Night Safari's focus areas. Before embarking on the Safari, we were lucky enough to catch the day's last show of 'The Creatures of the Night' which had cute, furry creatures showing us some eco-friendly practices.

phOtO: singapOre tOurism bOard

singapOre's major attractions...

Clarke Quay
With a plethora of restaurants on the bank, and skyscrapers towering behind them the view is breathtakingly beautiful especially at night when everything is lit up. A walk on the Clarke Street, located next to the quay, is a must to experience the vibrant night-life of Singapore.

phOtO: singapOre tOurism bOard

Watch out
St. Regis Doha The iconic St. Regis is set to expand its legacy in the Middle East with St. Regis Doha eyeing a January 2012 launch. Ideally located between The Pearl Qatar, Lusail city and West Bay, the St. Regis Doha will feature 336 guest rooms, all with sea views. In addition, the hotel will offer more than 4,000 square meters of meeting and conference space, over 100m of private beachfront, a selection of exciting restaurants and lounges, plus the Remde Spa with over 20 treatment rooms. Continuing the brand tradition, St. Regis Doha will offer the finest butler service with a higher ratio of butlers per room. "The St. Regis is a true luxury brand with over 100 years of history that will be evident in the product and services we offer. With a number of major launches expected in the coming months, we are working with our colleagues around the world to introduce the St. Regis and share our excitement about the amazing difference The St. Regis Doha will bring," says Tareq Derbas, General Manager, The St. Regis Doha.

bOtaniC gardens
Home to a great diversity of tropical plants, the Gardens are an ideal place to find tranquillity. Spread over three hectares on the highest hill in the Gardens, the National Orchid Garden offers a visual spectacle of over 60,000 dazzling orchid-plants the National flower of Singapore.

intan museum
A descendant of Chinese immigrants, Alwin is a Peranakan. With the culture close to his heart, Alwin has converted his home into the city's first private museum to exhibit the Peranakan art and craft pieces that he has fondly collected over the years. While you tour his house, sample the Nonya desserts prepared by his mum.

Note: Qatar airways operates daily flights from doha to singapore using its flagship boeing 777 aircraft. starting november 3, 2011, flights will be twice daily.

The Jazz Club aT ST. RegiS Doha.

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WhIle you are In SIngapore...

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took notice, and I ended up on the dance floor, cha-cha-ing to the instructions of the dance trainer, which surprisingly was fun. St. Regis Singapore is the only hotel in Singapore to offer an Afternoon tea dance a form of social gathering that was initiated by the French elite.
Magical Jade.

admire the green. if you have lived in the gulf for long, the lush greenery that begins from the airport itself is a treat to your eye. don't litter or else pay a heavy fine. you will be surprised to hear locals speak english fluently. With a great foreign influx, english is considered the main language. try the black pepper Crab preferably at the long beach restaurant the creator of the original and the best black pepper crab of singapore. experience reverse bungy. the g-max reverse bungee is a threeseat capsule that is hurtled about 60 m into the air. definitely not for the faint hearted. spot the merlion. While you take a ride on the bum boat at Clarke Quay, you will see the iconic water-spitting merlion standing at the merlion park. taste the durian. though the national fruit of singapore, the durian is not quite relished by many singaporeans due to its formidable odour and distinctive taste. (missed sampling one as they were out-of-season.)

Jade stones have been used for centuries now in China for its healing properties. St. Regis Singapore's Rmde Spa employs these same very powerful precious stones in one of its signature treatments the Cooling Jade Facial

to massage and soothe tired, puffy skin. Inspired by the element of water, the Spa's dcor is relaxing in itself. From the full leaded crystal chandelier that reflects the formation of stalactites, to the Eucalyptus Scented Chambers and Ice Fountains, the spa takes you through the various stages of water formation. Once the treatment is done, sit back to enjoy customblended teas and artisan chocolate bon bons.
Little Surprises.

touch to your stay. Back in your room, scan the bed or your table for handwritten notes left behind by your butler or any of the staff wishing you a good night or checking if you need any assistance. A bunch of oversized children that we were, we would excitedly wait to get back to our rooms each night in search of those little surprises which I safely packed in my suitcase.

While everyone's turning high-tech, St. Regis Singapore makes sure to add a personal

With a century-old brand history, St. Regis Singapore carries on the legacy with timeless elegance...
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