Ibis Budget Singapore Crystal

The rooms are small, but very clean, and the free Wi-Fi was surprisingly good. I felt welcome as soon as I arrived. The two guys at the desk were friendly and helpful, and the team showed the kind of care and attention you usually get at elite hotels. For me, it was 4-star comfort with 5-star service. It was my first time in Singapore, and the hotel was also a reasonable distance from the city.

The neighbourhood is in the red light district, with “open” signs in front of tinted windows and adult shops around. Every Grab or taxi driver mentioned it. It is legal, though, and the three of us women felt safe. For a budget hotel, it was good value. The room was small but very clean, with a modern enough TV. The bathroom only had towels, body wash, and a toothbrush, so bring any other toiletries you need. A Grab or taxi was around $40 SG to the airport, $35 to Lau Pa Sat food markets, and $30 to Marina bay sands. WARNING FOR FAMILIES: be aware of the area.

The hotel is in the red light district, but nobody disturbed us. It’s easy to reach by bus, with two stops nearby, though the MRT station is a bit far. The room was decent, clean, and crisp, but the mattress was a little hard. I travelled with my two children and expected us to share a double room without an extra bed. The front office said that wasn’t allowed and the room was strictly for two adults, even though my youngest is 16 and the three of us always share a room. They offered a family room upgrade and charged us an additional $70. I’d recommend it if you’re on a budget.

There’s free drinking water and hot water from a machine on the ground floor, and the bus ride to the city centre takes 15-20 minutes. I stayed here on a family trip, though I felt embarrassed walking with my family because there are many adult entertainment places around the hotel. Be careful about the location.