The Chow Kit - an Ormond Hotel

Overall, it was pretty good. Let's start with the positives: The location is great. It's close to the subway station, and there's a covered walkway from the hotel to the station, which is nice to avoid the sun. If the subway isn't broken, it's very convenient to get around by train. There are many beautiful and delicious cafes and restaurants nearby, all within a 10-minute walk. The soundproofing is quite good. Despite being on a main road and right next to the subway, you can't hear any traffic from your room. However, you can definitely hear neighbors opening and closing their doors quite loudly. There's a public water dispenser, but no hot water. The staff were friendly. The hotel's breakfast was also very tasty. Now for the many downsides: First, staying here feels like you're just renting a shell to sleep in. The room completely lacks amenities like toothpaste, toothbrushes, slippers, and a kettle. You can ask the staff for toothpaste, etc., but I wasn't happy about having to. The room lighting is very dim... There aren't many TV channels... I couldn't figure out the air conditioning temperature – I don't know if I just didn't know how to adjust it or if it couldn't be adjusted. I fiddled with it for a long time without success. It would also turn off by itself after a while, then turn back on again, leading to inconsistent temperatures that were neither hot nor cold enough... Most importantly, there are no power outlets by the bed! You can't charge anything there!

The hotel environment is absolutely beautiful, with a lovely Nanyang (Southeast Asian) flair, and the lobby plants are lush and vibrant. On the night we checked in, we saw them decorating the Christmas tree, and by breakfast the next morning, it was already fully set up! The hotel doorman was particularly charming; he always greeted us with a smile when we entered and exited. Once, when I ordered Grab food and was about to go downstairs to pick it up, he waved me over, letting me know he had already placed it inside for me. All the staff throughout the hotel were incredibly nice and very welcoming.