Pan Pacific at Raffles Boulevard hopes a special place in my heart. I have visited the hotel at least once during my childhood, my teenage years, and when I started working. Whether it was celebrating birthday of relatives, to a meal before celebrating at the Singapore River during Chinese New Year, to meals with friends after work, it has been a prominent landmark during my childhood. I was very excited with first staycation in Pan Pacific during the Covid Period.

I love my stay and this is why:

1. The view in my room was awesome. I requested for a high floor and I was pleasantly surprised was granted at the 19th floor. Having a balcony is a bonus because I can view the Marina landmarks from my window. The night view is a must to capture. I took many photos.

2. My room was great too. The moment I enter the room, I am greeted with a care pack with hand sanitizers, wipes and mask to stay safe. The 1 item I love the most in the room was the 55 inch Samsung TV. I did not expect such a big TV with good contrast in a hotel room. There are almost all the entertainment and sports channels you will ever need. There is HBO, Bein Sports, CNN, and National Geographic. It is hence not hard to occupy yourself in the room in event of bad weather. There are also electronic binds that can change the darkness of the room with just one button. The toiletries have a nice therapeutic scent. There is also an electric kettle with the heating plate attached to the TV cabinet. It was innovative.

3. Service is excellent. The queue was long when I checked in. But the team was observant enough to open new counters to speed up the check in process. There is also attendants smiling when I need help with directions and recommendations. Another additional tool that made my day was Mika the friendly digital concierge. Through scanning a QR quote, I was able to use it to book breakfast slots and get recommendations for food and services in the hotel. The AI is smart and pleasant to interact with.

4. There is good food and service too. I had my dinner at the Pan Pacific Marketplace Restaurant. The hot chocolate was creamy and the biscuit was crunchy. Then I had the Bak Kut Teh, which was tasty and had a strong herbal fragrance. The price is a bit expensive but the ambiance makes up for it. The breakfast in the morning was also rich in options from local, Japanese and western selections. I can order my omelettes through the app and my favourite was the Nasi Lemak, which is fragrant coconut rice, crunchy fried chicken and chilli egg. The staff was also proactive in topping up my drinks and clearing my plates. It was well worth the price I paid.

5. The last and also equally important reason why I enjoy my stay was the architecture and area. The hotel was just next to three malls: Marina shopping centre, Millenia Walk and Suntec City. It was also easy to get a MRT from Promenade MRT, a short covered walk from hotel. The architecture in the hotel has a timeless yet modern feel. The old spiral corridors I have seen since childhood is still there. There are many lantern shaped eating domes at the lobby that makes the place mystical. Another great place to visit is the Japanese Garden in level 4. It is a gem as it is quiet and peaceful in the morning for a short walk. There is a Japanese restaurant which unfortunately was fully booked during my stay. Nevertheless I enjoyed every moment of my stay in the hotel.

In short, Pan Pacific has maintained that aura of a beautiful hotel that has modernised gracefully over time. The excellent service, food and ambiance are well worth a stay.