Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree

The hotel has direct access to several zoos, which is super convenient. The room was cozy and comfortable, breakfast offered a wide variety of dishes, and the service was excellent. It felt like staying in a rainforest.

First off, this hotel is definitely not family-friendly. There's nowhere for kids to play. There's an indoor kids' area, but it costs 10 SGD per use. And it's tiny, you can see everything in one glance, with barely any facilities. The room is as pictured: the toilet is open-plan facing the bed. There's a hidden wooden sliding door, but if you close it, there's almost no aisle space. The bathroom's ventilation either doesn't exist or doesn't work well; you have to wait half an hour after someone uses the toilet before the next person can go in. Secondly, the hotel's service is terrible. I couldn't reach the front desk using the room phone, my mobile, or even Ctrip's VIP customer service. I requested an extra blanket, and it didn't arrive until noon the next day. 😂 The room decor is even more absurd. This has to be the worst Banyan Tree I've ever seen, without exception. There's no complimentary bottled water, and no potable tap water in the room, just an electric kettle. 😱 The breakfast selection is ridiculously sparse; it's the worst five-star hotel breakfast I've ever had. How to put it? I stayed two days, and because there was so little to eat, I never felt full. I originally chose this hotel because of its proximity to the zoo, but after staying here, I realized it's only suitable for animals to live in! Finally, the hotel environment: the pictures online only show the treehouses. The regular rooms have a very poor environment. They're set up in long rows, and the doors offer absolutely no soundproofing. I could clearly hear my neighbors speaking English. I knocked on the wall twice, and they finally quieted down. I have too many complaints to list; I'll stop here.

Overall: Loved it! I regretted not staying for two nights; that would have given me enough time to visit all the zones at the zoo. Location: It cost 125 RMB to take a taxi from the Pan Pacific in the city center. The hotel is very close to the zoo, within walking distance of the River Wonders and Night Safari. I didn't go to the Jurong Bird Park, but I think the hotel's shuttle can take you there. It was very convenient to get back to the hotel from the zoo at night. Service: The service was excellent! Staff helped with luggage when getting in and out of the car, and bags were delivered to the room. We checked in at 2 PM, and the gentleman at the front desk kindly upgraded our room for free. The lake view from the room was lovely; many thanks! Cleanliness: Clean, hygienic, and odor-free. Facilities: The room had a direct drinking water dispenser and was comfortable and spacious. Environment: It felt like being in a tropical rainforest. The lobby was very cool, and we even saw some wild animals pass by. The scenery was delightful, I personally really enjoyed it.

The room was clean and tidy, and the facilities were complete. The breakfast selection was decent, but the staff really need more training. A bunch of them were just chatting amongst themselves and didn't offer us any service. The front desk staff, especially "SPOHEN," were excellent – very warm and professional, a big thank you to her! I also tried the "SPA" but it wasn't worth it. The pool and gym were both good though.

This is the perfect choice for visiting the Wantai Wildlife Park. The hotel seamlessly blends into its rainforest surroundings and offers stunning lake views. The panoramic room boasts incredible lake vistas, complemented by clever green accents outside the windows – a really thoughtful touch! The service is also excellent, with staff making an effort to communicate in Mandarin to resolve any issues. Breakfast is plentiful. The only downside is the lack of a bathtub, which was a bit disappointing for the kids.

It has its pros and cons, but it won't exceed your expectations. The breakfast is great. It's very convenient for visiting major zoos, and there are many dining options nearby.