International Service Apartments

There’s good natural light and the accommodation is affordable and clean. It’s conveniently near downtown Singapore, just a short ride away, and the trip into the center passes some buildings with cool architecture. Getting around really calls for driving or using Ubers. Reception wasn’t always staffed when it should’ve been, so sometimes I had to wait or go find someone. That was inconvenient, and basic amenities weren’t provided. It’s still a decent, cheap, convenient option, with those tradeoffs.

The smooth check-in was the one part I appreciated. Staff let my husband help without any hassle. After that, things went downhill. The location was inconvenient and far from most places, and the room felt neglected. There was dust everywhere, sticky floors, stained sheets, and old, worn towels. The wardrobe had no hangers, the utensils were dirty, and there were no plates. The fridge made a lot of noise all night, the window handles were coming loose, and the water pressure was weak. Toiletries were sparse: two tiny packets of cheap shampoo and body wash, not enough for one person, let alone two. No toothpaste or toothbrush. The toilet had no door, just a thin shower curtain, so there was little privacy. Mold in several corners added to the sense of poor maintenance. At least five air fresheners made the room overpowering and triggered sinus problems for people sensitive to smells. Reception looked more like an industrial warehouse than a hotel. Mattresses were stacked along the floor, no one was at the counter, and the “front desk” was a study table and chair. It felt unhygienic and unprofessional, with no real hospitality. Even at a low price, it wasn’t worth it. It felt like sleeping in a dorm in an industrial park, not a serviced apartment. I absolutely wouldn’t return.

I asked questions on Agoda and WhatsApp and got no reply. On arrival at 11:30 am, there was nobody at the counter, even though staff hours were supposed to be 9 am to 9 pm. I rang the bell three times before someone came down from the staff room and said early check-in before 3 pm would cost an extra SGD50 per hour. I left my luggage in the lobby and came back after 3:10 pm, but again nobody was there. I rang seven times and called three staff members, with no answer. The location wasn’t very convenient, about 500 m from the bus station. The room was unclean, the bedsheet was stained, and the water pot was dirty and oily. The TV plug was unplugged when we arrived, and the air-conditioning seemed fixed at 24C no matter how many times I used the controller. Checking out on the third day was worse. We had to check out on the third floor. At 9:45 am, one staff member was inside but ignored us after two doorbell rings because he was cooking behind the counter. He gave me an angry look, as if I’d disturbed his morning. Another staff member eventually helped, but we waited 15 minutes while they retrieved the deposit and checked the room, then had to fill out and sign a form. If you need to get to the airport, check out early. The service was slow and nobody even apologized. I won’t return or recommend this hotel to friends and family.

The rooms were okay, but the bedding and service made this one of the worst places I’ve stayed. Rooms are cleaned only once a week, and mine wasn’t cleaned properly. The towels were old, and the linen looked so worn and wrinkled that I wondered if it had even been changed after the previous guest. Late checkout also costs 50 dollars per hour, which felt like “blackmail,” especially with checkout at 11 AM and check-in at 3 PM.