My husband and I were in Singapore for a two week stay to visit our daughter and new granddaughter. We had an unfortunate experience with a previous host who canceled surreptitiously so we were very grateful to find this Airbnb that was reasonably priced and in a convenient location for our visit.
One of our favorite things about the unit we stayed in was the bed. Super comfy with nice, high quality bedding. We also liked the fact that it overlooked the pool and was fairly quiet at all hours (although we didn’t spend much time there). The staff that we met were very pleasant and eager to please, and communications with the hosts via WhatsApp was efficient and timely.
But the unit was not without its issues. On our first night after getting there at around ten our key card didn’t work. We contacted management and they sent someone to replace the pad. It was nearly midnight when we got access and after an eighteen hour flight from NY we were exhausted but frankly I was impressed they were able to get someone to come at that time.
Upon arriving, I was disappointed to find just two towels that would presumably last a week for two people. I requested two more and they quickly brought them, but they never adequately dried between uses. We tried to dry them using the dryer in the unit but it wasn’t working. Management was informed and they said it would be checked but it never got fixed. We also found it a bit odd no wash clothes were provided. Perhaps that’s a Singapore ‘thing’ but how are guests supposed to wash themselves? The bathroom could use an update, as there were cracked tiles and obvious mold. The St. Novena internet never worked, but we were able to use The Forest by Wang, which apparently was what the previous owners provided. Also, the stovetop was tricky for us ‘westerners’ and does not come with instructions, but again, communication was swift and helpful.
When I stay in an Airbnb I always try to find a place that has a separate sitting area. This unit has that, but it was very poorly planned. The sofa was extremely uncomfortable, with no arms, very shallow and quite small. The desk in the room is too big for the space and could be eliminated entirely. So while I like to watch tv or surf the web on a sofa in a perfect world, I ended up doing everything on the bed. Speaking of tv, there were very few offerings of anything worthwhile to watch. On the plus side, there was adequate closet space for two people, the air con worked well, and the small terrace was a nice touch.
None of the issues we encountered were deal breakers for us. Overall St. Novena was a pleasant place to stay and we would consider doing so again. We were just happy to be in Singapore COVID free and spend time with our new granddaughter :).