River City Inn

The atmosphere made the stay hard. Every night, lights came on at random, and doors were left open long enough for the living-room light to fill the room. At 6 in the morning, one guest switched on the lights and packed in the bedroom until 7, waking everyone because she hadn’t packed the day before. That incident alone might not have been a dealbreaker, but it showed how little respect people seemed to have for each other. It also felt like a group of men lived there permanently, and the gender balance was poor. The location is decent and it’s quite cheap for Singapore, but the staircase is disgusting. Cleanliness was acceptable, though there are only three showers and three toilets, with one always out of order. Beds have no curtains, so there’s no privacy. Don’t expect more than three hours of sleep. The hostel seems past its prime: reception displays awards from around 2012, and it feels like they’ve given up since then. If you’re backpacking, need sleep, or want a good atmosphere, stay away. If none of that bothers you, go ahead and book.

We came from Manila as a group of four and booked a private room with shared facilities. Check-in and check-out were easy, the shared areas were clean, and people were friendly. I’d recommend it as a hostel. If you’re expecting a hotel, you’ve got the wrong place 😜. It’s just old, so one star off.

This worked as a basic place to sleep while I was out exploring. I stayed four nights, and for a budget hostel it gives you what you pay for. The location is excellent, within walking distance of Clarke Quay, Chinatown, Little India, and Fort Canning Park. It suits solo travellers and backpackers who plan to spend the day out. If you want more comfort or a livelier hostel, the Ibis Budget Hotel next door or other nearby hostels may suit you better. The rooms are decent, and Neisa does her best to keep them tidy. Washrooms are okay but could be looked after better; the automatic flush is a nice feature. Dorm air conditioning runs from 9 PM to 9 AM. The property is on the fourth floor with no lift, which makes heavy bags difficult. There’s a refundable $20 deposit. Check-in hours are strict: 8 AM to noon, then 4 PM to 8 PM, with no staff from noon to 4 PM. Late check-in after 8 PM is possible for $8 per person, but you have to tell them beforehand and replies can take a while. Decent hostel for the price.

If you only need somewhere to sleep and don’t mind stairs, this is a good option. The location worked well for catching buses around the city, and I was impressed by how clean and well kept the bathrooms and toilets were. My main comfort issue was the bunk. It didn’t feel sturdy, and movement from the person above shook the whole frame and the person below. The lockers also stick when opening or closing, so I worried their noise might bother people during quiet hours. My bunk was across from the door, and hallway light came in whenever it opened. The curtains are too short for much privacy, don’t block much light, and I’d personally hang two so I could change inside the space.