Lloyd's Inn

Lloyd's Inn Singapore, a Michelin Key Selected property, is often celebrated for its distinctive minimalist design, tranquil ambiance, and prime location near Orchard Road. While generally well-regarded, guest experiences highlight both its unique charm and certain limitations.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Lloyd's Inn generally garners positive feedback, boasting an overall rating of 8.2 from guests, who frequently praise its value, cleanliness, location, comfort, and staff performance. It is often described as a "beautifully designed hotel" and a "solid choice" for travelers seeking a quiet, boutique stay. The recent Michelin Key selection further underscores its excellence in architecture, interior design, service consistency, personality, value for money, and contribution to the neighborhood. However, some past reviews, particularly from 2021, have expressed being "severely underwhelming," finding it "full of style but no substance" with perceived cleanliness issues.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love the serene and peaceful atmosphere the inn provides, often noting its lush greenery and quiet residential setting. The hotel's outstanding and unique design, blending minimalist and "brutalist" styles with natural elements, is a major draw for many, including designers and photographers. The helpful and friendly staff, along with comfortable beds, are also frequently cited as key positives. The outdoor shower and bathtub features in some rooms are a distinctive and popular highlight. The presence of an outdoor swimming pool, roof terrace, and garden deck with sunbeds adds to the relaxing experience.

3. Room Quality

Lloyd's Inn offers 34 rooms across eight types, including The Business, The Garden, The Reading, and The Standard, ranging from 16 to 28 square meters. Rooms are characterized by their clean and minimalist design, often with white interiors and an emphasis on natural light. Standard amenities include a flat-screen TV, safe, desk, hairdryer, and free toiletries. A unique aspect of many rooms is the partially open-concept bathroom, with some featuring outdoor showers or bathtubs, often incorporating potted plants to create a zen effect. However, some guests have reported that certain room types, such as the Standard Room, can feel cramped. There have also been instances where room features, like an armchair in the Reading Room, did not match online advertisements. Furthermore, some reviewers noted that the walls in certain rooms might not be entirely soundproof.

4. Dining Experience

Lloyd's Inn does not have an on-site restaurant. Instead, complimentary breakfast is provided via vouchers for local eateries just a short 4 to 5-minute walk away, such as Killiney Kopitiam and Bread, Beer & Brez'n. This typically includes an authentic Singaporean breakfast, or a continental option, often consisting of a hot drink and one pastry. While some guests found the breakfast satisfactory, it's important to note it's not a full hotel buffet experience. The hotel does offer an outdoor communal pantry with a microwave, water/ice dispenser, and coffee machine for guest use.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Lloyd's Inn generally receive high praise for being excellent, helpful, friendly, and welcoming. Guests appreciate the 24-hour front desk, noting staff readiness to assist with taxis even during early departures. There have been instances where guests received free room upgrades, further highlighting the hotel's commitment to service. However, a few guests have described some reception staff as "harried," creating an impression of being bothered by questions.

6. Location & Accessibility

Lloyd's Inn boasts an excellent location in a quiet residential area off Killiney Road. It is incredibly accessible, being just a 5 to 10-minute walk from the bustling Orchard Road shopping district and Somerset MRT Station, providing easy access to various attractions, shopping malls like 313@Somerset, Orchard Gateway, and dining options. Travel from Changi Airport typically takes about 20-24 minutes by taxi. While the main entrance is wheelchair accessible via a ramp, access to some ground floor areas and common facilities like the pools and gardens might involve stairs, as elevators are not explicitly mentioned in all reviews.

7. Value & Pricing

The average price for a room at Lloyd's Inn is around $206, with rates starting from approximately $143.49. Many guests consider it to offer good value for its unique design and prime location in Singapore. Booking directly through the hotel's website can offer a 5% discount. However, at least one older review suggested that for a price point around $130 a night, the experience fell short, recommending other hotels for better facilities and larger rooms.

8. Common Complaints

Recurring issues and criticisms mentioned by guests include:

• Poor Wi-Fi Connectivity: Frequent signal loss and slow loading times have been a significant frustration for some guests.
• Lack of On-site Laundry Service: The absence of in-house laundry and the high cost and long turnaround time of recommended external services have been points of contention.
• Cramped Standard Rooms: Some guests found the smaller room categories to be too confined.
• Cleanliness Lapses/Pests: A review from 2021 specifically mentioned cleanliness issues, including the presence of pests.
• Shallow Pool: The outdoor pool is often described as a "dipping pool" or a "photo prop" rather than suitable for serious swimming or laps due to its size and depth.
• Misleading Room Descriptions: Discrepancies between advertised room features (e.g., furniture in the "Reading Room") and the actual room have been reported.
• Noise Issues: Some light sleepers have reported being woken by noise from neighboring rooms, suggesting less-than-perfect soundproofing.
• Not a Full-Service Hotel: Guests are advised to manage expectations, as it is a boutique hotel that does not offer the extensive facilities and services of a larger, full-service establishment.

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