Bluewaters Female Only Hostel

The shared space is really well set up, with everything I needed and even spots to do my makeup. The bathrooms and showers were clean, though sometimes there was a short wait for one of the two bathrooms. My room was spotless, and the two air conditioners kept it cool enough for everyone. It even got chilly sometimes, despite concerns I'd read in other reviews. The location is great, within walking distance of the MRT and lots of restaurants, and the price is reasonable for the area compared with other hostels in Singapore. The bar upstairs was the one issue, though it's not the hostel's fault. They've reported it to the police and encourage guests to complain too, so hopefully things improve.

The work area had four partitioned desks, and the kitchen in the common room was well equipped. In my 16-bed room, the corridor was wide enough to open my luggage without blocking anyone. The sleeping pod was fine, and came with a blanket and towel; the locker could fit a cabin bag. There were three showers in the hostel, but the toilets were across the hall and shared with building management staff, so I often had to wait. The bar directly above played live music well past midnight, and with the room's warm air conditioning, falling asleep was hard. I was glad to find a female-only hostel in such a convenient Singapore location, but I'm unsure about staying again. The staff seemed unwelcoming when I arrived, just looking at me until I spoke first. Earlier reviews describe them as friendly, so maybe I caught them on an off day.

I stayed four nights, and the staff were lovely. The receptionists spoke gently and were helpful, especially Elva, Hajar and Ruchelle if you need anything. Ruchelle from housekeeping even brought me an extra blanket because the air conditioning was running at full blast. Clean towels are available if you ask. The showers have body wash but no shampoo, and hairdryers are provided. I also liked the free coffee machine in the shared dining room, and the toilets are outside, so there aren't unpleasant smells inside. The main drawback is the nearby bar. The parties went on until around 3am, which could be difficult if you're sensitive to noise or have trouble sleeping. The hostel provides soft soundproof earbuds, though, and they blocked about 80% of the noise for me. Clarke Quay is very close to tourist spots, so if you're young and here for the atmosphere, this could suit you. For longer stays, there's a rule that you need to request a bedsheet change two nights before leaving.

Ruchelle at the front desk deserves full marks. My English isn't very good, but she patiently walked me and my friend through check-in and even took photos for us. I was really touched by that. The place felt clean and spacious, and its location is convenient for walking to Merlion Park and the National Gallery. The coffee and water dispenser in the restaurant area were handy too.