Reasonably priced hotels during the Singapore Grand Prix? (merged)

[SQflyergirl]

I plan to arrive in Singapore the night before the race, and plan to depart the next morning (before the race) , but unfortunately, there are some ridiculously high prices throughout Singapore during that time frame.

Anyone know of a better way to get something reasonably priced (I'm sure I'll pay a premium, but those rates on the net are eye-popping)?

[jhm]

Can you force availability on any of your hotel programmes ? The rack rate at one of the lowest category properties may be bearable. (I had the same problem trying to book a few weeks prior to New Year's Eve last year in HKG and ended up with the rack rate somewhere for a price which wasn't as eye watering as I thought it would be.)

A friend's spare bedroom perhaps or even a hotel in JB ?

Availability may free up nearer the time ?

I don't supose there are any Malaysian travel agents offering packages of travel and a hotel for the Singapore Grand Prix ? Get one of those and ditch the travel.

[SQ LPP]

When is the Grand Prix?

[jhm]

I think SQfg is looking at the night of 27 Sept.

[SQ LPP]

I think SQfg is looking at the night of 27 Sept.

Oh thank you. Will not be in that part of the world end of September.

[SQflyergirl]

or even a hotel in JB ?

If I make it that far, I really just ought to go straight on home. I'm only stuck because of the late arrival of my flight into SIN and no possible connections home

[SINFJ]

If I make it that far, I really just ought to go straight on home. I'm only stuck because of the late arrival of my flight into SIN and no possible connections home

sleep in the F lounge? or get one of the SQtalkers to bump in in for a night

[kevino]

Good idea!

[kkjay77]

Hotels for Singapore Grand Prix

I'm planning on going to Singapore Grand Prix at the end of September.
I've been trying to secure a hotel, but I just can't seem to find any availability.

As I'm IC Royal Ambassador, I can force a reservation at SGD1,800++ for club room.
This really seems too high (but then, I'll be using BOGO cert, so it's actually going to be SGD900++ / day).

Is there any other way to book a room at good hotels for around SGD$1,000?
By good hotels, I don't mean Raffles or Fullerton, but something like Conrad or Grand Hyatt?

[Dent@SUB]

I'm planning on going to Singapore Grand Prix at the end of September.
I've been trying to secure a hotel, but I just can't seem to find any availability.

As I'm IC Royal Ambassador, I can force a reservation at SGD1,800++ for club room.
This really seems too high (but then, I'll be using BOGO cert, so it's actually going to be SGD900++ / day).

Is there any other way to book a room at good hotels for around SGD$1,000?
By good hotels, I don't mean Raffles or Fullerton, but something like Conrad or Grand Hyatt?

Maybe Accorr properties just below your expectation.
But they still have room for 26-29 Sept.
Grand Mercure at rate SGD491
Novotel Clark Quay at rate SGD816
All are Accor Advantage Plus member's rate.
Just for a second thought....

[MAN Flyer]

I stay at the Conrad a lot and know them well, but they quoted me something like SGD 1010 per night, and minimum 3 or 4 night stay for the Grand Prix. Add the ridiculous 30% 'F1 tax' as well and they can Foxtrot Oscar . I'll watch it on TV instead.

I was delighted to read this week that as a result of this greedy tripling and quadrupling of prices, most Hotels are nowhere near fully booked. Some are only 50% full and some as low as 20%. Good. I hope it stays that way and they have to come back down to planet earth. Maybe they'll learn that instead of using this as a wonderful opportunity to showcase Singapore, they have arrogantly just used it as on opportunity to rip people off, and this had definitely caused a fair deal of resentment.

I spoke to an Aussie guy I know in Saigon this week. He takes his wife and two kids to Singapore every 3 months or so for a long weekend, and he is an avid F1 fan. He was made up when the GP was announced but is absolutely livid at the prices they want for Hotels. As a result he is refusing to go and is that annoyed he has booked his next two long weekends to KL and Bangkok instead of Singapore.

A Brit here is going with a group of 10 but they are staying in Malaysia and will drive over for the GP and straight back, again fuming at the prices as they were looking forward to a few days in Singapore. Now he says they won't spend a minute or a penny more than they have to in Singapore. I also believe the press and corporates have complained about the prices, for the first time ever !!.

Way to go....

[HUGE AL]

I Thought There Was Another Similar Thread...

http://www.sqtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4078

(took me a while to find it, though...do quotes not work in the search phrases?)

[taipeiflyer]

reminds me of when i went to Turin for the olympics. 2500 euro for a 1-br apt for 5 days. but i had an amazing time, so it made up for it.

[SQflyergirl]

It all sounds to me like a bit of greed.

I've been fortunate enough over the years to time my work trips with some major sporting or cultural events - a few Aussie Tennis Open, F1 GP's come to mind, and I've never had to pay triple or quadruple prices. Granted, I paid more, and that's to be expected, but not by the quantum those singapore hotels want.

Even during Formula 1 in Malaysia you don't have prices going up like that.

[Javaman]

I've beent rying to get flights via a family contact who's in the travel business.
They've pulled out all the stops and the best they can do for me is a 3* hotel on the outskirts of the centre at a rate of almost £1200 (GBP) for four nights.
My agent tells me the buzz in the trade is that one of the F1 drivers has had to fork out £17,000 for a five night stay at one of the good hotels near the track. Now that's really

Compared to the last time I stayed in Singapore (2005) when I was put up at the Ritz Carlton Millenia for £120 per night......

Rampant profiteering - while it is to be expected when a big sporting event comes to town, a 300%-400% increase in rates across the board is extortion.
AS it stands, my accomodation choices are:
1. Park Bench near City Hall.....with subsequent free board (and possible flogging/criminal record)

2. Sleep on the floor at someone's house. Any volunteers?

3. Flush my plane tickets down the loo and watch the race on TV back home in Blightly.....