lyf one-north Singapore — Local services in Singapore

This hotel is specifically designed for solo backpackers and is recommended for stays of up to 2 days. However, our experience as two couples on a leisure trip to explore Singapore was not as expected. We made an online reservation after being enticed by the rooms showcased in the photographs with unique round windows and appealing wallpapers. Reservations were made with misleading information (photos and text) on the official website, leaving us disappointed upon arrival. Payment was made prior to check-in; however, to our surprise, my card was charged additional fees without any prior notice. We brought this issue to their attention, and they eventually refunded the amount back to my card, although it was unnecessary to put us through that hassle.||Unfortunately, upon entering our assigned rooms, we quickly discovered that they were not as depicted online. Instead of the vibrant and inviting ambiance we were promised, the rooms were plain white in color and significantly smaller than what was depicted in the photographs. The cramped space made it necessary for us to jump over our big suitcases just to reach the bathroom, which was incredibly inconvenient. The limited size of the room and lack of storage space left us struggling to find a place for our luggage, making it clear that only a cabin bag would be suitable for such small quarters. Additionally, the bed frame was larger than the mattress itself, posing a constant threat of painful collisions due to the already constrained space. These disappointing discoveries shattered our initial excitement of capturing Instagram-worthy moments and sharing our experiences with friends and family, let alone recommending the hotel to others. It was undoubtedly the most disappointing and terrible accommodation experience we had encountered in our many years of travel.||Despite the shortcomings in the room, the hotel's location was somewhat redeeming. It was conveniently situated within walking distance of the MRT and bus stops that took us to nearby malls and Quiet Street. However, even this positive aspect was not enough to overshadow our overall impression of the hotel. We couldn't help but feel that Lyf One North was attempting to present itself as an expensive and luxurious option, despite being more fitting for a budget hotel. It appeared that they still had a long way to go before achieving their desired image. Given the exorbitant rates they charged, we could have easily booked a few other nearby hotels that could have guaranteed better service, at the very least.||Moreover, our dissatisfaction extended to the lack of security or staff presence outside the hotel to assist us with our luggage or provide guidance. It was disheartening to have to handle our own luggage and load it onto a trolley after a long journey before even entering the lobby. To add to that, the reception staff did not welcome us warmly or display any enthusiasm during the check-in process, further dampening our initial excitement.||Our concerns about the discrepancy between the room description and the actual room were met with a dismissive explanation from the hotel staff. They claimed that the online images were merely "show rooms," which was clearly misleading and dissatisfying. Additionally, we were troubled by the absence of telephones in the room, as no orientation was provided regarding hotel emergency procedures or the location of public phones. This lack of clear communication and guidance only heightened our frustrations.||Furthermore, the housekeeping service left much to be desired. We had requested room cleaning, but they only provided fresh towels without properly wiping the floors or making the bed. Such basic hygiene practices should not have been overlooked by a hotel. In addition, the bidet shower in the bathroom was leaking, indicating a lack of attention to detail and proper maintenance. This not only caused us discomfort but also wasted water unnecessarily.||Moving on to the lobby area, it was decently furnished, and we were able to purchase coffee and snacks, although we had to use card payments as most transactions were cashless. However, the staff in general were not friendly or welcoming. A simple greeting as guests passed through the lobby would have made a significant difference in our overall perception of the hotel. Moreover, the housekeeping and other public area staff struggled with English, which is understandable, but basic directions regarding hotel amenities and facilities could have empowered guests to navigate and take care of their needs independently.||Upon checkout, when we requested a room extension for a couple of hours, our request was denied on the grounds of the hotel being fully occupied. However, when we showed willingness to pay for the extension, suddenly a room became available. This inconsistency was disappointing, and it would have been preferable if the hotel had offered some flexibility for late checkout, especially since we were occupying two rooms.||In conclusion, our experience at Lyf One North Singapore fell far short of our expectations, and we would strongly advise against it for couples or longer stays. The misleading information, lack of security and staff presence, disappointing room conditions, poor housekeeping service, and overall lackluster hospitality left a lasting negative impression on our trip...

I stayed here from 10-12 May 2022 in Room 512. I've stayed here at least 2 times before in 2022 and had great experiences (clean functional rooms and great reception service), hence my 3rd stay here. Room 512 was the last room of the corridor and was quiet, save for a guest who slammed the door so loudly I jumped each time. The room window faced a very quiet street too.

This time however, my stay was marred my some issues which I hope the management can resolve for future stays.

Aircon auto reset/off: In my previous stays, I'd stayed on the 7th and 4th floor and had no issues with the aircon but this time, the aircon in my room keep automatically resetting to 23 degrees. I didn't notice the auto reset until the 2nd day when I stayed in and realised that even after setting the aircon to 25 degrees, it would suddenly get colder after awhile and when I checked the thermostat, it was 23 degrees! This happened again and again while I was inside my room.

On my last night, I woke up suddenly feeling warm and realised the aircon had turned off- I'd gone to bed with the aircon on...

On the 2nd day, I returned to my room after lunch to find a worm/ millipede on the floor near my bed (see photos). It could not have come from my lunch trip as I saw it inside my room the moment I opened the door. I'm not sure how it got in (main door or toilet drain?) But it was really gross. I'm glad I didn't put my bag on the floor and that I'd asked for bedroom slippers to wear.  Imagine stepping on the bug barefoot..

Flooded shower: On my last night, the shower floor flooded badly and took a long time to drain while I was showering. I was washing shampoo off when I realised I was standing in a deep puddle of water that didn't subside until quite awhile later. Thankfully it didn't flood into the room...

If the hotel's reply is to suggest i inform reception during my stay, my reply would be that these things didn't happen immediately after check in. If they did, I would've informed reception to change rooms/ fix shower. But they happened only on the 2nd day and last night- by then I was tired of packing/unpacking to change rooms and not ok to have a stranger enter my room to fix the shower when it was late.

It would be way better to have an unclogged shower, working aircon and pest free room to begin with. My room was also abit dusty and had some brown floor stains near the bin.

On check out, I highlighted my issues to reception and they apologised and said they'll look into them.

Another thing I noticed from my 3 stays- the trash bins on each floor tend to get full very fast in the day. It'd be good for the hotel to check often and empty the full bins to prevent spread of...

This is my second stay here.

I had a room on a higher floor for my first stay, and was given a room on the second floor this time round.

Although the view was pretty from my second floor room, I had to keep my blinds drawn for privacy. I was also unable to adjust the extent to which they blinds can be drawn (so it was either fully up or down).

THINGS TO NOTE:

Bring your own in-room slippers and toothbrush, toothpaste and floss. The hotel does provide bath soap, shampoo, conditioner and handwash, as well as towels.

WHAT I LIKE:

Location!

Easy access by train from Singapore Changi Airport (change at Paya Lebar for Circle Line and alight at One North) - upon exiting turnstiles, head left for the Portadown Road exit B. Hotel is right across the road from the One North MRT Station (station has a lift to save carrying luggage up and down stairs) Fusionpolis is connected to the station and has a supermarket (Cold Storage) as well as a good food court and plenty of other eating places

Shared facilities:

Coin laundry and dryers are available at the hotel. The absence of an in-room fridge is made up for by a shared fridge and microwave oven on every floor, plus a dedicated shared kitchen for guest use, which is something not many other hotels provide. Work spaces conveniently located near the hotel reception area. Luggage storage facilities provided pre- check in and post check out. I really like the seating areas outside of Bond, the shared kitchen area on level 2.

The room itself:

Plenty of spots to hang clothes in room (5 clothes hangers provided) In-room USB C charging (bring your own cable). I also found 3 wall sockets (1 near the sink, and the other 2 on either side of the bed). There is a kettle, 2 mugs and 2 cups provided in room. There isv also an in-room safe Love the little hose/bidet by the toilet bowl - what a lovely touch!

The Staff

Last and most importantly, the staff are friendly, patient and helpful!

SPECIAL MENTION

I had to replace my suitcase during my stay, and their Lyf Guard team very kindly helped me liaise with their housekeeping team to dispose of my broken suitcase.

Thank you for a comfortable stay, Lyf Team (and sorry for the...