Ariva on Shan Serviced Residences (SG Clean)

Our renovation plans fell apart while we were away on holiday. We’d been assured one bathroom would be ready when we returned after 12 days, so we could stay in our condo while the rest of the work continued. Instead, we landed in Singapore with no finished bathroom and nowhere to live. My husband, two kids, and I were stranded at the airport with all our luggage. I remembered Jonelyn, an acquaintance who’d become a friend and had recently joined Momentus, and messaged her on WhatsApp. She quickly arranged a two-bedroom place for us at the last minute. With legal Airbnbs unavailable in Singapore and hotels often expensive and cramped, Momentus was a great fit for a family needing a short stay and room to spread out. The apartment suited us well, with space for my husband and me to work from home and room for everyone, including our helper, to be comfortable. Jonelyn and the manager, Mr. Peter Chua, provided outstanding service. They moved quickly to accommodate us and even arranged a fruit basket and hotel-style amenities. We stayed for three weeks and ended up treating it like an extended holiday. The location was convenient for Zhongshan Mall, FairPrice, and the food along Balestier Road. The uphill walk to Novena via Irrawaddy Road wasn’t my favourite, but it was good exercise. It rained during our stay, and when reception had no umbrellas, the security guard kindly lent me his own. I wish I could remember his name. That thoughtful gesture meant a lot. Thank you, Momentus, for making a situation that could have been stressful into a pleasant stay.

Ms Santi made a good impression even before check-in, promptly responding to my questions. She was warm and friendly when I arrived too, and set the tone for a pleasant stay at Momentus. The location was also great, central to many city attractions. Thank you, Ms Santi, your service made my stay enjoyable.

The rooms are clean and nicely decorated, and the location is convenient. It’s about a seven-minute walk to Novena MRT station and five minutes to eateries. The swimming pool is good, though the gym is very small. Outside noise is quiet since the building sits away from the main street, but the rooms don’t block sound well. I could easily hear people shutting doors or watching TV at normal volume. Staff were okay.

For what it costs, this basic apartment was disappointing and uncomfortable for resting. The room was dusty, including the window beside the bed, and there were cobwebs by both the bathroom and bedroom doors. It felt like a hotel room in Malaysia. Sound insulation is nonexistent: we heard the next-door guest eating, washing dishes, and making a racket. There was also a hole in the large balcony window frame, letting in sunlight and the sounds of children swimming and airplanes flying past on ordinary days. The kitchen wasn’t usable either. Previous guests had scratched the rice cooker badly, and the Teflon pan was so scratched it was impossible to cook with, despite the extra charge for a kitchenette. The pool was tiny, on level two where people walk by, and looked more like a pond or water feature than a proper pool. Very disappointing. I don’t recommend it.