Singapore — JUST STAYING IN THE HOTEL for more than 24 hours in a foreign land sounds crazy, but for this tired soul it was one of the best treats I’ve ever given myself in Singapore.

The past eight days of non-stop strolling, meeting friends and fellow Filipinos over a cup of coffee or a sumptuous meal, trying local foods, visiting Singapore’s tourist spots, and a lot more physical activity had taken a toll on me.

So on my ninth day in this posh city, I decided to just stay in our hotel, Pan Pacific Singapore, to rest, enjoy the hotel amenities and its various food choices, and savor the awesome feeling of being alone, which rarely happens when I’m in Manila.

Cozy, Beautiful Room

Waking up in a room that’s not yours but is as homey and comfortable as home, outside your country’s zone, is every traveler’s dream, I guess. At Pan Pacific Singapore, my dream came true, with a beautiful icing on top: waking up to an amazing view of Singapore’s Marina Bay area. We stayed in one of the hotel’s 700+ rooms, a Harbour Studio on the 26th floor.

The soundproofed room has a king-sized bed, a huge bathroom with shower and bubble bath, a super cool mini-bar area, and a wide working table, perfect for me, whose agenda in Singapore included business. Most days of my 10-day stay were spent meeting clients and doing business presentations for my PRU Life UK business, so Pan Pacific Singapore was a perfect choice. No wonder the hotel is touted as World’s Leading Business Hotel by the World Travel Awards. It’s a five-minute walk from SUNTEC Convention Center, a five-minute walk from Esplanade MRT, and a 20-minute drive from Changi Airport.

It was during these times that I wanted to stay inside my hotel room for days. I’m serious.

The Pacific Club Lounge

When you’re at Pan Pacific Singapore and have access to its Pacific Club Lounge, staying in your room 24-7 is a bad idea. Located on the hotel’s 38th floor, the lounge serves breakfast for Pacific Club members from 6am to 10am. In the afternoon, it’s open from 3pm to 5pm for Afternoon Tea, also free for club members and those staying in premium rooms. An hour after tea time, it opens its doors for Cocktail Night, when house-blended drinks are served.

The Pacific Club Lounge is a nice place to discuss new ideas or plans with friends or a partner over meals, or to simply swap stories with your favorite cocktail in hand, while the panoramic view of the city skyline, Marina Bay, the West Philippine Sea, and neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia waits to be captured in photos or simply remembered for life.

Aside from the sumptuous food and the view, what I liked about this lounge is the personalized service. The staff, including the lounge manager, seem to have perfected the art of quality service, which is why I really enjoyed dining here.

One time, we ordered Eggs Benedict, French Toast, and Pancakes, and were so mesmerized by the presentation that we spent a lot of time taking photos for our Instagram accounts. When we remembered we needed to eat, I took a bite of the Pancakes. Then a staff member approached to ask if something was wrong with my Eggs Benedict, since I hadn’t eaten it yet. I answered, “None.” He said it was already cold, and no matter how I insisted it was okay, he replaced it with a new one so I could enjoy it better. The manager also approached me and explained.

Their sincere gestures are one of the reasons I’m blogging about them now. Definitely a perfect score from a satisfied guest.

The lounge doesn’t only speak of exclusivity and class. It’s the epitome of 5-star hotel service. [More about the Pacific Club Lounge in our next post.]

Dip, Relax by the Pool

For someone for whom swimming is part of life (though not a sport), a view of a river, the beach, or the pool is already a treat. The view of the pool here is already a find, especially from the hotel’s outdoor glass elevators, but dipping deserves its own time. I loved swimming here and taking selfies, and had a morning and a night session.

Make sure to take a dip after breakfast, before going back to the Pacific Club Lounge for Afternoon Tea, or after Afternoon Tea, before going back to the lounge for the night cocktails.

Rejuvenate at St. Gregory Spa

It was hard to find time for an hour of massage or a good body scrub between meals, but the hotel’s St. Gregory Spa is waiting for anyone who wants to relax or be pampered even more. Located on level four, the spa offers massages, facials, and Traditional Chinese therapy.

On a staycation, the service is best done at night before bed. If you’re budget-conscious, there’s a promo with SGD30 savings on all à la carte treatments from Monday to Thursday between 11am and 4pm.

One’s 24 hours is actually not enough to try and enjoy a stay here, but these activities are enough to reward oneself from time to time. Since our stay was longer, we got to try a lot, especially the wide array of food from their various restaurants. We’re blogging about our Sunday Champagne Brunch experience at THE EDGE in a separate post.

According to Tricia Quak, the hotel’s marketing communications manager, whom we met together with marketing director Annie Choy, the hotel is also the best place to stay on New Year’s Eve and during special occasions such as the Grand Prix, as the rooms offer a great view of these exciting events. Occupancy during special occasions is very high, so make sure to book early. Check out their website for the best deals so you can plan the staycation you deserve.

Note: For Philippine residents, Cebu Pacific flies from Manila to Singapore daily. Check out cebupacificair.com for tickets and schedule.