It’s 1am, just back from the rooftop bar at Marina Bay Sands, and there’s a robot roaming the hotel corridor. It turned, seemed to clock me standing there, then turned back around and headed off on its way. Honestly not the strangest part of the stay, but a solid opener for what turned out to be a better hotel than expected.

Using the links in this article may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me put out more content like this to help you make informed decisions on your travel.

The Context for This Stay

This was a trip over a long weekend (Wednesday to Sunday). I was travelling with a friend, but he was staying elsewhere. The flight was booked on points. The mission was finding somewhere affordable in a city where $200 a night usually gets you very little. Hotel Waterloo Singapore, part of the Handwritten Collection, came up and looked worth a shot.

First Impressions and Check-In

The foyer is clean and well designed, entering the building made a good first impression without trying too hard. The hotel pushes self check-in online, meaning you can access your room key on your phone and go straight to your room without stopping at the desk. A physical room key is available if you prefer it. I went old school with the physical room key, but managed to check in online OK through the app.

The Room

Compact is the honest word for it. Walking in, there’s a mini bar and bathroom sink on one side, with the toilet and shower in a separate area off the entrance. The bedroom has a comfortable bed, beautiful wallpaper, a small work desk and a large window looking out over the neighbourhood.

Everything feels new and well maintained. The hotel provides filtered drinking water in the room, which is a small but welcome touch that saves repeatedly buying plastic bottles. Sound insulation is the main problem here. You can hear neighbours through the walls, which is worth knowing if you’re a light sleeper.

This is not a room designed for spending time in. It’s designed for sleeping, resting, showering and getting back out the door.

Location

This is where Hotel Waterloo earns its keep. A few minutes’ walk from Bugis MRT puts you on a line that connects directly to Changi Airport and most of the city. Bras Basah, Bencoolen and Dhoby Ghaut are all nearby.

Areas that are walkable from the hotel include the City Hall area, Bugis malls and street markets, Fort Canning Park if you want green space and Clarke Quay just the other side of the park for evening options. A short MRT or Grab ride covers hawker centres like Lau Pa Sat, Chinatown and the Marina Bay precinct. It’s a genuinely well-positioned base for moving around Singapore efficiently.

Pool and Amenities

There is a pool. It’s functional and a reasonable option for cooling off after a long day of walking, but don’t come expecting resort-style facilities. That’s not what this hotel is.

Is It Set Up for Working?

Not really. There’s a desk and the basics, but if you’re doing a workcation or need a proper remote setup, this isn’t the right fit. The main reason for this is that the desk is tiny – really only enough space for your laptop and mouse! And it’s stuck right in the corner so you really want to just get in, check your emails and get out. The room is better for a short trip focussed on getting out and exploring.

The Honest Numbers

The stay across four nights came to A$808.80 at time of booking. Checking rates about a month out, the same hotel was sitting around A$892, with a Hotels.com member discount bringing it back to approximately A$791. In Singapore, that’s a reasonable outcome for a clean, well-located, well-maintained room in a hotel that’s clearly had genuine thought put into it.

Verdict

Hotel Waterloo Singapore is not a resort. It is not built for remote work or long lazy mornings by the pool. What it is, is a well-priced, well-located base for an active Singapore trip where you’re out the door early and back late. For that purpose, it delivers well above what $200 a night usually looks like in this city.

If you’re planning a Singapore trip and want to check current rates, click the links below. Follow 5 Star Trip and subscribe for more honest hotel reviews and Singapore guides.

Book Hotel Waterloo Singapore – Handwritten Collection

Book with Hotels.com here.

Book with Trip.com here.

Book with Booking.com here.