New 7th Storey Hotel, Singapore

This is a pretty old building by Singapore hotel standards. Built in 1955, its an ugly place in the middle of a green lawn. The building leans - not quite as bad as the Leaning Tower of Pisa - but it does lean. They've had it checked tho, and it's safe.

The hotel is located on Rochor Road - the nearest MRT (tube) station is Bugis. This brings you up into the Bugis Junction shopping area and you wend your way out on the Seiyu department ...
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It's a really quaint old place. A noisy creaky lift operated by a polite elderly gent - all these floors going up and up. Non-trendy decor. The place is something of an institution among budget travellers in Singapore.

The website lists the following facilties:
- Business Centre - Garden Patio
- Internet Stations - Reading Corner
- Beer Garden - Stamps and Postcards
- Bicycles Rental - Pantry ... more

This is a pretty old building by Singapore hotel standards. Built in 1955, its an ugly place in the middle of a green lawn. The building leans - not quite as bad as the Leaning Tower of Pisa - but it does lean. They've had it checked tho, and it's safe.

The hotel is located on Rochor Road - the nearest MRT (tube) station is Bugis. This brings you up into the Bugis Junction shopping area and you wend your way out on the Seiyu department store side. The hotel is on the grass.

It's a really quaint old place. A noisy creaky lift operated by a polite elderly gent - all these floors going up and up. Non-trendy decor. The place is something of an institution among budget travellers in Singapore.

The website lists the following facilties:
- Business Centre - Garden Patio
- Internet Stations - Reading Corner
- Beer Garden - Stamps and Postcards
- Bicycles Rental - Pantry & Chillout Lounge
- Laundry - Taxi Call Light
- Courtesy Umbrella - Darts
- Treadmill - Boardgames

However, we weren't aware of many of these. The 'Business Centre' was always closed, and I doubt many business types stay there. They'd probably open it for you if you needed. But there were 2 or 3 sweet little patios where you could sit on sun loungers. One had a tiny fountain with goldfish and coloured stones. The other listed facility are probably there somewhere, but which floor? You'd need to ask. I did find the reading area, tho. You aren't made aware of these facilities when you are there. Better to memorise which ones you want in advance, then ask!!

The rooms are small and basically furnished, but very clean. The beds are comfortable. There's TV, phone, and good aircon machines. There's coin op clothes washing on the 6th floor. If you get a Deluxe or Superior room you get a mini fridge which is pretty useful if want to eat in the room. I'd recommend that you pay a bit more if you can, and get an ensuite room as the communal bathrooms can be occupied in the mornings and make you have a late start.

There are also dorm rooms, but we didn't see these.

Costs:
In Singapore dollars
Dorm bed $9.50 a night
Standard (not ensuiite) twin room $29 room
Superior (ensuite) $42
Deluxe (ensuite) $44

It's a bit cheaper if you book in advance online.

Take note tho - the Superior and Deluxe are not furnished any better, they just are a bit bigger and have the ensuite bathroom and fridge. Only Deluxe has tea and coffee making. You get what you pay for.

We booked online and found the service efficient. The desk staff were very efficient when we got there too. The first time we went we were suspicious that we'd be ripped off somehow, but I think there's nothing like that there. This is an old established business with a good reputation to keep up.

We had one Standard room one night that really smelt. The smell seemed not to originate in the room. We wondered if we were near the place where the restaurant next door ferments its cabbage!!! Anyway, we got moved the next day. Another Standard room we had had a locked connecting door to another room, and one night there were some small kids through there and it was a bit noisy. You can always ask to change rooms, although they might not have anything spare, it gets very full sometimes. But if you pay more in the first place you are more likely to cut out these sorts of problems.

There's no restaurant at the hotel but you are very close to Bugis Junction which has all sorts of eating places. We ended up in MacDonalds a lot because we could never get a table for 4 in the food court in the basement - it was very busy the whole time. Bugis Junction, being trendy, is a bit pricey, but it has everything you need, eg cashpoints and the MRT access.

If you go through Bugis Junction and out the other side, and cross the road, you are then into the Arab Street Market. A bit sleazy but interesting to look round, and a good place to buy cheap teeshirts.

You are also within walking distance of Little India, and various other tourist sites. Well, most places in Singapore are within walking distance if you walk for long enough!!

Hotel website:

http://www.nsshotel.com/location.php3 

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