Oxford Hotel

The area was quiet and peaceful, and our standard double room had a window, though we were told not to open it. The room and bathroom were clean, daily cleaning was available, and check-in and checkout went smoothly. Staff were helpful, and the front desk was open around the clock. The MRT station is a 10-12 minute walk, so that distance is worth keeping in mind. The deposit was the bigger concern. They required 50 SGD on a credit card and said it would be refunded within 14 working days. I offered cash, but they preferred a card. Since the stay was prepaid, I didn't have another option. That's disappointing on a budget trip. Agoda should mention this so people who aren't comfortable with it can choose somewhere else.

The room was damp and had a strange smell. Turning on the shower's hot water brought a really strong tonic-like odor, almost like toxic gas. It was awful. Housekeeping said they were already closed, so we had to go downstairs and collect things ourselves. What is the manager even there for? There wasn't a paper bag, and no toothbrush either. They only provided shower gel, a shower cap, and conditioner. Just a really bad experience. Oh my god.

The room itself was okay, with clean, comfortable beds and no bad smell. It had a window, though there was no city view, and at least it felt conducive. The housekeeping guy was polite. Around the hotel there were plenty of amenities, and we could walk to Bugis, MRT stations, bus stops, and eateries. What made me give it two stars was Aunty Josephine's rude, unprofessional service. She talked down to my friend and me as if we couldn't afford a better hotel, and said we might as well get one with a pool and gym. She also criticized other guests and bad-mouthed the hotel she works at. She talked about herself so much that she forgot to give us a room card. I had to demand one. If she hadn't spoiled our mood, I'd have rated the stay four stars. Ms. Jaspreet was professional and polite. She greeted us and helped with requests. I saw her and a male staff member give other guests top-notch service, and she was attentive throughout. Her effort and pride in her work made me reluctant to leave such a low rating. There weren't enough sockets, and the ones provided felt loose when things were plugged in. There were no bedside sockets, and appliances used nearly all the available ones. I'd come back if staff like Josephine weren't there.

My main frustration was the 50 SGD deposit. I felt it was unreasonable. When I said I didn't have a credit card, they said they could debit it, but wouldn't accept cash. It felt strange, almost like a scam. The money is still being held on my card, and they only said it would be returned in two weeks. The place itself was pleasant and well located. Bras Basah MRT is about 200 m to the right of the hotel, with St. Peter's n Paul Catholic Church next to it. Behind the hotel there's a crossings cafe, then a food court with meals starting at 8 SGD and a convenience store beside it. Staff helped us figure out where to go. We walked about 600 m to Chijmes, 500 m to Bugis, and around 600 m to the National Museum of Singapore. The bathroom was fairly clean, but water pooled during showers because the drain was slow, and the sink drained slowly too. There was a decent amount of coffee, tea, and other amenities. Overall it was good, but I wasn't happy about the deposit.