Santa Grand Hotel Lai Chun Yuen

Santa Grand Hotel Lai Chun Yuen is situated in a historic Chinese opera theater originally built in 1887. The reception area gives hints to the opera past with a dramatic red-and-black hall surrounded by a metal frame. It has a lounge vibe thanks to red velour armchairs complemented by small white tables set with little lamps for ambience. There are even some displays from the old theater days. Despite the fun lobby design, make no mistake, this is a no-frills property geared toward travelers on a budget. Beyond the lobby, there are no public spaces and amenities are extremely limited. The hallways and rooms are dated and there’s no elevator, just an escalator to other floors. For that matter, there have been cleanliness complaints and reports of bothersome noise due to the Chinatown location. Budget travelers are best suited for a stay here, especially solo travelers and friends who will be spending little time in the rooms themselves. 

Santa Grand Hotel Lai Chun Yuen is located in the heart of Chinatown, meaning there’s plenty of shops and dining options on surrounding streets. It’s a loud, bustling area that stays open into the late hours, so there’s usually something to do. It’s a two-minute walk from the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum and a 13-minute walk to the Boat Quay. Across the bay is the Parliament building, National Gallery, and Marina Square; they can be reached in less than a 30-minute walk. Universal Studios Singapore takes 13 minutes to reach by car, though travelers could opt to take a bus or metro, both of which are a three-minute walk away. It’s a 25-minute drive to Changi Airport Singapore.

Santa Grand Hotel Lai Chun Yuen’s rooms are done up in a red, white, and black color scheme and are extremely tight on space, with some featuring pod-like bed enclosures. It’s a minimalist design with wood laminate floors and little on the walls beyond simple framed art pieces of traditional headdresses. Despite flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, safes, bottled water, and air-conditioning, the rooms are tired, dated, and reportedly have maintenance and cleanliness issues. Mini-fridges, kettles, and hairdryers are available upon request from the front desk.

Like the rooms, the black-tiled bathrooms are small with showers that aren’t separate from the bathroom area. Rooms are poorly insulated, making it easy to hear bothersome noise from inside and out. Some rooms have balconies that look out into Chinatown, a nice feature as not all rooms are equipped with windows. 

This property has few extra frills, which isn't uncommon for budget properties in Singapore. There is, however, a large, open lobby with plenty of seating and coffee and tea available 24 hours a day. The hotel offers a voucher (for a fee) for a basic breakfast at a nearby dining establishment. There are no restaurant, bar, or gym on-site. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.