BEAT. Arts Hostel Chinatown

The room temperature was nice and cool most of the time, which isn't always the case in Singapore. I booked another room for two days, and it was definitely quieter. The bed still wobbled, but the room was bigger and only one person underneath me was shaking it. The first 12-bed room was really small, and the beds shook like crazy when someone turned over or got up. You couldn't sit upright on the bed, and traffic noise from the window was pretty bad. There seemed to be only one shower, so I imagine it could get crowded. Maybe it suits groups of kids. A place next door, probably religious, also started playing loudspeaker audio at 5:30 a.m.

The way staff handled guests' belongings made me feel unsafe leaving anything unattended. On several occasions, I saw them touch or move personal items without asking or explaining. I also found the staff controlling and overbearing, and their behavior toward some guests came across as bullying. It made the dorm feel monitored instead of like a safe, welcoming community. Service was poor from check-in. Staff weren't friendly or helpful, and asking questions seemed to bother them. They were living in the same dorms as paying guests, which blurred the boundaries and added to the uncomfortable atmosphere. I booked Beat. Arts Hotel Chinatown expecting a comfortable, creative, welcoming stay, and it was far from that. Hostels should make travellers feel respected and safe, but this was one of my worst hostel experiences. I'd strongly suggest looking elsewhere in Singapore for hospitality and care. Sadly, this place didn't provide that.

On April 2, 2026, our flight was delayed, so I told the hostel we'd arrive around midnight or later. I also asked to rent three towels. When we got there around 12:00 AM with our three small children, the door was locked, and we hadn't been given the access code that the notice outside said late arrivals would receive. We were worried and stranded. We knocked, but nobody came, and calls to the contact number went unanswered. After half an hour, a guest happened to pass by and let us in from inside. We got in around 1 AM and found our room key at reception, but there were no towels. The air conditioner in the room was broken, so after showering we had to dry ourselves with tissues. The receptionist didn't show up until 10:00 a.m. We were exhausted and didn't want to drag the matter out. It was a really disappointing experience.

I don't usually leave bad reviews, but I'm writing this in case it helps someone planning to stay here. Someone changed my bedsheet by mistake, thinking I'd checked out, and my phone charger was stolen from my bed. When I spoke to the rather arrogant girl at reception the next day, she acted like she didn't care. I was frustrated because my tickets and visas were all on my phone and my flight was coming up, but she laughed at me. She said there would be some refund and that they'd report it to the police after I said I'd review them and report it to Booking. Nothing like that has happened to this day. Keep everything in the locker if you stay here, or you may lose it.