Hello everyone – welcome back to another of my reviews. In today’s article, I’ll be reviewing my stay at Ramada by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park.
Ramada by Wyndham stands out for a reason – it’s located somewhat in the middle of nowhere, or more specifically Toa Payoh. A four-star, full-fledged establishment (it even has its own restaurant), I always wondered what a hotel like Ramada was doing in the heartlands. Out of curiosity, I decided to book a stay at this under-the-radar hotel. Let’s see how my staycation went!
Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park – Video Review
For those interested in seeing some hands-on footage of my stay, do check out my Youtube review of Ramada by Wyndham below:
Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park – the Brand
Opened in 2013, Ramada by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park (I’m just going to refer to it as Ramada for short hereafter) is, as its name suggests, located in Zhongshan park and managed by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. For those coming by public transport, the nearest MRT is Novena MRT, though that’s still a 15-minute walk/a few bus stops away. With 382 rooms, Ramada is a fairly big 4-star hotel that’s connected to Zhongshan Mall (and its variety of F&B options).
Most of Ramada rooms are similar (22-23 sqm), differentiated by minor details such as the view (city or park), whether there’s a patio, etc. The entry-level category (with a city view) can usually be found for less than $100 during Traveloka’s Weekend Flash Sales, and it includes $20 dining credit that can be spent at the hotel’s restaurant, New Ubin Seafood at Zhongshan Park. I thought it was a pretty good deal for a newly opened 4-star hotel, and felt I wasn’t really losing out on much by booking the cheapest category due to the minute differences. In fact, if you visit the hotel’s website you would be hard-pressed to tell the differences between the rooms.
Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park – Check-in
Being a proper 4-star establishment (none of that boutique hotel nonsense), the lobby of Ramada was large and impressive.
There were plenty of seating space, with safe distancing cutely demarcated by pandas. Chinese paintings adorn the walls, giving the lobby a distinct oriental feel. As it was a weekday, there was no queue and I was assigned a room within minutes.
There’s even a bar in the lobby – the first one I’ve seen in all my staycations to date.
There’s also a business centre, where presumely computer terminals and printing/fax services are available for a nominal fee.
The corridor of Ramada was carpeted, with white walls, while rooms had a wooden exterior with room numbers that was contrasted against a red lighted panel. Once again, very oriental feels.
Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park – Park View Room
I was assigned a room on a relatively high floor, and was actually accorded an upgrade to the Park View Room.
Upon first impression, the room felt cosy at 22 sqm, or about the same size as Hotel Bencoolen and Five/6 Hotel Splendour. The entrance featured wooden furnishing, which results in a sense of continuation from the wooden exterior of the room.
The room features a full-fledged wardrobe, which includes more wooden hangers than you’ll ever need, a pair of bathrobes (not the fluffiest I’ve tried, but they do the trick), as well as an iron and an ironing board.
The wardrobe also includes a safe, a weighing scale, as well as a pair of complimentary in-room slippers.
What I appreciated most however were the extra pillows, which were neatly stowed away at the top of the cupboard in protective pillow bags – a nice touch.
The bedroom area is a nice nuance of modernity and tradition, with contemporary finishing balanced with heritage touches such as the artwork of Singaporean shophouses above the bed as well as the oriental-looking bedside lamp. Like the corridor, the room is carpeted, though with a paisely pattern. Thankfully, the carpet is clean and devoid of stains – unlike the one at Goodwood Park Hotel.
The room features a King bed. I found the bed to be pliable but firm enough – that’s because the mattress is a Serta, just like the one in five/6 Hotel Splendour. Together with the comfy and fluffy pillows, I had a good rest. The sheets are immaculate as well, with nary a stain anywhere to be seen.
Beside the bed is a lantern-shaped lamp and the television remote.
A variety of switches can also be found, namely the controls for the master, night as well as reading light. A power port can be found as well, which will definitely come in handy for those that usually charge their phones beside the bed.
Should it be your preferred bedtime reading material, a Bible can also be found in the drawer.
I’m pleased to report that there’s identical light controls and power ports on the opposite side, so you and your partner won’t have to fight for who gets to sleep beside the ports. Interestingly, there’s also a small cushioned bed where one can lie, have a cup of coffee and look out at the view.
The view of the room overlooks – you guessed it – Zhongshan Park, which actually makes for quite a nice view. It’s definitely one of the better views that I’ve seen (markedly better than the one at Lloyd’s Inn last week).
The room also features a mini-fridge, which actually came with bottled water and glasses already chilled inside. It’s a small detail, but a thoughtful one, should guests check-in with a dire need for some cold water. I also found it big enough to accommodate a bottle of wine.
Further refreshments come in the form of Dilmah tea and Nescafe Gold coffee – standard stuff. However, I appreciated the presentation, which made the refreshments look more atas than they actually are. There’s also a kettle provided, as well as an ice box, though I’m not quite sure where one can go to get ice from. Once again, the cups and spoons provided were all clean as a whistle.
As for the $20 dining credit in the Traveloka package, the amount can be spent at New Ubin Seafood Zhongshan Park, in-room dining, or poolside dining.
If you need to get some work done, there’s a small workstation that’s equipped with an office chair, a notepad and pen, an analog phone, a desk lamp, and plenty of power ports. There’s no Herman Miller, but it gets the job done.
The room is equipped with a 40-inch LED Samsung Smart TV. I found the picture quality to be decent, though not mindblowing. In theory, you can connect to the TV via screen mirroring, though I didn’t manage to do so during my stay.
The bathroom features a transparent glass panel, which should be…interesting if you’re staying with a romantic partner. If not, don’t fret as there are blinds available for more privacy.
Like the room, the bathroom is actually of a decent size – not exactly spacious, but also not cramped.
The toilet is a traditional one, though it comes with a bidet one the side and a trash can on the other – nice touches.
Toiletries are from local brand Happy Skin Studio, with quite a variety available, including dental, shaving kits, shower cap, sanitary bag, and even cotton buds.
My Park View room came with a bathtub. However, that’s not the case in all rooms, so if you want a bathtub be sure to specify in your booking or email the hotel before arrival (as I did). The bathtub itself is on the smaller side, and can just about fit one person. It’s a tad cramped, but at least it was clean. There’s also a handheld showerhead available for you to rinse off afterwards.
A body cleanser and a “conditioning” hair cleanser are provided. They get the job done, though weren’t particularly remarkable to use. However, I wished that a separate conditioner and body balm were provided as well. In fact, I checked Happy Sklin Studio’s website, and found that they actually do make conditioner and body balm, which makes it a tad surprising that those weren’t included here.
Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park – Amenities
Being a full-fledged hotel, Ramada possesses all the usual amenities such as a swimming pool, gym, and even a herb garden!
I’ve been to quite a few hotel swimming pools by now, but I still have to say that the one at Ramada ranks as one of my favourites, right up there with One Farrer Hotel and Orchard Rendezvous Hotel. Firstly, it’s of quite a sizeable length – those looking to put in serious laps will not be disappointed. I also love the surroundings, which gave it an idyllic feel. I had breakfast by the poolside on one of the lounge chairs, and it was honestly one of my favourite staycation mornings ever. For those with kids, there’s also a 0.4m kids pool.
The indoor gym was closed during my stay (due to pandemic measures), though there was an outdoor gym with some free weights available.
There were quite a few tables and chairs scattered around the area, all surrounded by beautifully manicured fauna.
The hotel also has its own herb garden, though I’m not sure if the restaurant actually uses the herbs grown here – it would be cool if they do though.
Apparently, the garden area can also be used to hold wedding ceremonies. I can definitely picture it, with the beautiful flanks of palm trees and manicured plants making it look like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland. If you’re looking for a place to hold your day wedding ceremony, this could be one to consider.
Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park – Service
The service at Ramada was prompt, pleasant and efficient. When I requested in advance for a bathtub room, they took the initiative to upgrade me (for free) to the Park View room, which I really appreciated. As I had mentioned in my booking that the stay was for a birthday celebration, the staff provided a sizeable slice of cake, as well as a personalised greetings card.
I distinctly recall phoning for additional toiletries and bottled water at 4am, and had the items delivered to me a mere 5 minutes later. In all our phone conversations, the staff always remembered to address me by my surname, instead of the generic “sir”. Last but not least, they were even accommodating enough to slightly extend my check-out time so that I could use the $20 dining credit for lunch the next day. While perhaps not at the level of One Farrer Hotel, I would still rate the service of Ramada as one of the best I’ve encountered thus far.
Conclusion – so Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park “shiok” or not?
Definitely so. I believe Ramada to be a hidden gem in the heartlands. Honestly speaking, I’ve never heard of Ramada prior to randomly discovering it on the Traveloka app. It’s certainly not one of the usual places that come to mind when booking a staycation, and that’s a shame. Ramada has consistently punched above my expectations in every regard, from the meticulously clean room to the picturesque pool. The service is great and even the food from the hotel restaurant was delicious (be sure to order the fried rice). For less than $100, Ramada is a great value proposition. I will definitely return.
Those interested in booking a stay can do so on the Traveloka app. Traveloka constantly has some sort of ongoing promotions, with prices so ridiculously low that I’ve personally booked about 90% of my staycations on Traveloka. Just for my readers, you guys can use the promo code “WAHTVLKSRV” (if you’re using SRV) and “WAHTVLK” (non-SRV) for 10% off any hotels bookings (up to $30 off, with a minimum spending of $100) for new users and $5 off any hotels bookings (with a minimum spending of $50) for existing users. The codes are valid till the end of 2022. Here’s a pro tip: keep a lookout for Traveloka’s Weekend Flash Sales which occurs every Friday to Sunday for the lowest prices! However, this post is not sponsored – I paid my own dime to book and review my staycations.
Ramada by Wyndham at Zhongshan Park Location:
16 Ah Hood Rd, Singapore 329982
P.S Do check out the new “Discounts!” page for exclusive discounts for Wah so Shiok readers! More brands will be added very soon – stay tuned!
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P.S.S.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
