I wonder if, in 100 years time people will talk of a hotel where Philip Roth, Madonna and George Clooney were regular guests. I wonder if at the hotel bar they will still be mixing a cocktail so synonymous with a time and a place that it will be famous the world over. I wonder if the barman will be telling stories of the intrigue and derring-do that has gone on between the hotel's four walls, not to mention the tiger hiding under the billiards table.

Somehow I doubt it, which is what makes Raffles Hotel, Singapore so unique. Few hotels in the world can lay claim to such a rich and varied history making any stay here all the more special. In addition to keeping the history buffs happy, the hotel does a rather good job of satisfying the every need of its luxury clientele. Raffles offers it's own very distinctive blend of discreet, yet charming five-star service in a setting that harks back to a more genteel, elegant era. From the 103 suites, to the RafflesAmrita spa and Doc Cheng's restaurant, modern day guests are just as well looked after as their forbearers.

The Raffles legend began on the 1st December 1887 when the Sarkies Brothers, then proprietors of the Eastern and Oriental Hotel in Penang, opened their doors to the Raffles Hotel, named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. By 1899, the hotel had grown rapidly from a modest 10-room bungalow to the elegant neo-Renaissance building that now serves as the main hotel building. The hotel, like the city surrounding it, has changed much over the years but following a substantial restoration completed in 1991, Raffles has been returned to its early 20th century heyday. Guests likewise are transported back in time and it feels entirely appropriate to spend days having leisurely breakfasts, lounging by the pool before afternoons of late lunches and early teas whilst enjoying the best of entertainment provided in the hotel. For a city hotel, this is as relaxing as it gets.

Like many aspects of the hotel, the design and layout of the suites (Raffles is an all-suite hotel) gets it just right with a mix of luxury and colonial comfort. Our Palm Court suite is accessed by strolling down one of the wide, teak-floored verandahs that line each wing of the hotel. Guests will be glad of the tropical breeze rustling the traveller's palms that flank the gardens below. The grounds are so lush and tropical that guests would hardly believe they're in the middle of bustling Singapore.

Entrance to the suites is via the parlour, perfect for grabbing a bite to eat or relaxing with a book or copy of the Straits Times. High-speed Internet connections are also available in the room for those who have to work.

Passing through a curtained arch, the main room feels luxurious and spacious with high ceilings, colonial-style furniture, antique rugs and large, comfortable beds, perfect for sleeping off any adverse affects of a visit to the Long Bar. Bathrooms are also large, if a little dated.

For those wishing to get a little closer to some of the hotel's more esteemed guests of yesteryear, there are a number of “Personality Suites” featuring specially sourced memorabilia. So if you're a fan of Somerset Maugham, Charlie Chaplin or Ava Gardner here's your chance.

Breakfast is served in the Tiffin Room or by the pool if you can face the Singaporean humidity. The Tiffin Room, as the name suggests, is also famous for its North Indian curry buffets and is just one of 18 restaurants and bars in the hotel. Formal dining takes place in the restored dining room at Raffles Grill. The cuisine, like the windows, is French, continuing the hotel's tradition of employing the services of top French chefs.

And if that isn't enough to keep you entertained, Raffles also features a luxury-shopping arcade that unlike many hotels, actually has boutiques you want to shop in. Also worth stopping by is the Raffles Hotel museum, well worth a visit for a look at the hotel through the ages, as well as to find out the story behind the runaway tiger.

The hotel's central location means it's also easy to experience everything else that this modern, efficient metropolis has to offer. As one of the East's great melting pot cities, be sure to check out Chinatown, Arab Street and Little India as well as the diverse range of malls starting across the street in Raffles Plaza or on the renowned Orchard Road. Shopping rarely comes this easy, or air-conditioned for that matter.

Whilst days in Singapore could hardly be considered stressful, returning to Raffles still manages to provide a feeling of welcome sanctuary for guests. If you want to try a Singapore Sling, invented here sometime before 1910, head to the Long Bar after 9pm when the tourists tend to have disappeared. Even if you're not interested in the drink it is worth a visit just to be able to throw empty peanut shells on the floor, a Malay tradition apparently. For something a little more civilised try the Courtyard and Gazebo Bar where you can enjoy an evening meal of freshly steamed seafood accompanied by a side of Frank Sinatra or Bobby Darin.

Singapore is a place that prides itself on civility and efficiency and it is perhaps the fact that Raffles manages to outdo it's host city on both measures that provides an insight into why this feels like no other hotel experience. Couple this with an extensive range of dining options, shopping and a museum highlighting the best of this national monument and you can perhaps see why someone once said, "When staying at Raffles, also consider visiting Singapore".

Rates start at S$750.

Raffles Hotel, Singapore
1 Beach Road,
Singapore 189673

Tel: (65) 6337 1886

www.raffleshotel.com

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