Park Avenue Rochester

The pool seemed small in the photos, but in person it was a decent size. Its unusual shape made it fun to invent swimming challenges with the kids, and pool towels were available before the deck entrance. Across the street, Star Vista Mall had lots of food choices, including a grocery store. We could eat out or bring things back to cook, and the MRT station was right by the mall. With ride hailing, Grab and Gojek picked us up at the lobby, but CDG Zig kept directing us to a spot by Rochester Mall, a two-minute walk away. For about $270 CAD a night, our two-bedroom place with a kitchen and washer/dryer felt like a steal compared with regular Singapore hotel rooms. We’d been warned about major renovations, but barely noticed noise. The room looked newly renovated, though some dried grout was left on a few tiles, there were pencil marks on tiles, and plastic film remained on some door handles. The beds were comfortable, the kitchen had plenty of dishes and cutlery, and the bathrooms were nice. The hood vent over the stove had no buttons or symbols, but I eventually figured out that you pull it out. A simple “pull” sticker would have helped. Water temperature took at least 20 seconds to respond when I adjusted the handle. Having the washer/dryer combo was great, and they provided a few detergent pouches. There were three TVs, one in each bedroom and one in the living room. Only the second bedroom TV was a smart TV, and it was Samsung’s old, slow version with very few options.

We booked two rooms with twin beds for a business trip with three colleagues, and had called ahead to confirm. Staff assured us we’d get them, but on arrival the reception team was uncooperative and gave us two moderately dirty rooms with queen beds and filthy blankets. Both rooms faced an active construction zone. A planned transit stop turned into a nightmare. I’d advise against booking this place, even for one night.

Breakfast on New Year’s Day was a very different experience from check-in. The food was mediocre at best, and some of it didn’t seem freshly made. Worse, I found a baby cockroach crawling on my plate after I’d put sliced meat and salad on it. I told a staff member right away, but they brushed off my feedback and tried to say it was a fly. I took a photo, which shows otherwise. The restaurant’s hygiene needs immediate improvement. Check-in on New Year’s Eve had been fantastic, thanks to Ram and Faiz. Ram greeted my family warmly and politely in the lobby. Our room wasn’t ready, but Faiz kindly apologized for the wait and reassured us it would be ready soon. Their hospitality made the wait a pleasant start to our stay. Thank you, and Happy New Year!

The parking situation is a mess during the renovation, with very few spaces left. The carpark has become a makeshift storeroom with mattresses lying around, and workers blocked off several lots for their own convenience. Management doesn’t seem to be doing anything. The “complimentary parking” cost me $8, and staff gave me an expired ticket without checking the details. I couldn’t get through the exit gate, which caused a major traffic buildup. Security just said it was my problem to solve and that they couldn’t help. The reception staff and doorman were just as helpless when it came to solving the issue. The doorman, an Indian gentlemen, had a very poor service attitude. His body language, dragging his feet and swinging his arms around, wasn’t what I’d expect from someone at the front desk. The “none of my business” attitude really annoyed me. Please improve staff training.