The Vagabond Club, Singapore, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel

We arrived at the Vagabond expecting a usual USA Marriott hotel. What a shock. Met at the entrance and cases were whisked in. As soon as you entered you could not stop eyeing up all the great features. It is an Indian themed hotel with all the majestic features of the good old days that you dreamed of Indian hotels. We felt we were in India rather than Singapore. It was so special. The furniture in the lounge/dining area was luxury. Food was excellent. It has a whisky tale to tell. There are cabinets and cabinets full of rare whiskeys and people also have their own lock up visual cupboards with their world wide luxury drinks for when they visit. The key cabinet alone was a feast to behold with owners private tasseled keys fobs. As India is a top whisky connoisseur country then it was befitting of its display. There is too much to put in one review. Please check it out on the web. The rooms although a little small had everything you needed and was serviced to a high standard daily. Water was always available for you as you came in or went out of the hotel. Breakfast was English if required and very tasty (although served with rabbit food) - private joke with the waiter. I hope he gets to read this. Is their a single highlight?? Yes. It was the staff. The service, politeness, attention to detail was exemplary. We felt like royalty. It was a superb stay and thank you to all the staff for making our first trip to Singapore so memorable. Keith Chester

Overall, a terrible stay and I would not come back. The only positives are the design in the check in area and some staff who try to go above and beyond to help. While there is a huge list of negatives: 1. Suite had no windows at all so had to change. 2. The second room was so small that one cannot even move with one luggage. 3. Third room was fine but had a weird speaker static which could not be sorted but I was tired to change the room. 4. Poor housekeeping and cleaning in room. I complained even then no one came to clean or mop the bathroom and room. 5. Lounge benefits and limited a average quality. The limit of 3 drinks is not published anywhere, which is clear lack of transparency. I asked the staff why and I was told they are not required to provide lounge benefits so i should be happy about whatever they are providing. Super weird 6. Breakfast options cannot be mixed and matches. It is like you are in school mess.

I had a great experience during my stay! The room was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. A special shoutout to Elena from housekeeping for her excellent work—everything was spotless and perfect. Also, a big thank you to Belinda, Aarti, and Aqiel for assisting with the translated itinerary. Your help made everything so much easier. Definitely made my stay more enjoyable!

The Vagabond Club is an OK hotel. You may have heard about the tight room space, but if you have Titanium status, you might very well be upgraded to a larger 'Executive' room, and that larger room is certainly big enough for 2 people to hang out. However, even when I was upgraded, my room had no view, instead just facing another building's exterior wall just several meters away. The interior design is a bit on the kitschy side, with the Rhino front desk and the elephant. And that kitsch spills over into the rooms and the bathrooms. But if you're bored with the Ritz Carlton or those other cookie cutter places, then this place is for you! Pretty instagram-worthy, I think. There may be some people who are looking at (and comparing) this, the Serangoon House, and the Duxton (all Bonvoy hotels), and trying to figure which one to stay at. Anyways, they're all under the same management. I'd say this Vagabond Club is the poorest located of the 3; the Serangoon House is just on the northern edge of Little India, and the Duxton is right there next to Koreatown. This hotel, on the other hand, is really not near anything of interest for a handful of blocks, and of course, in the heat of Singapore, that may bother some people. (Another TA reviewer said that you're next to Kampong Glam. In my opinion, that's not quite accurate. This hotel is right between Little India and Kampong Glam, and at the end of the night, it's a bit of a downer making the trek back. I didn't stay for drinks or breakfast, so can't comment on those this time around. The biggest reason I give this a '4' is that the location is just not convenient for a good time, and it's an even more questionable pick for first-timers to Singapore who want to enjoy themselves. [ Bonvoy folks: But if you're just looking for a mattress run in Singapore during Q1 double ENC promos, this is still a good pick! :-) ]

I can only warmly recommend "The Vagabond Club"! Every time I stay there, I am thrilled anew. The rooms are not only stylish and comfortable, but also always spotlessly clean. Particularly noteworthy is the friendly and helpful service, which always makes you feel well looked after. The breakfast is an absolute highlight - it offers a wide selection of fresh and tasty options, so there is something for everyone. All in all, the hotel offers a perfect combination of quality, comfort and hospitality. I'm already looking forward to my next stay!