Singapore flag.
I have a hard job trying to persuade my family to set foot inside the Sheraton Towers Hotel in Singapore. One of my family members used to work for a company which had a branch in the office block nearly next door. So, a couple of colleagues popped into the nearby Sheraton for a couple of coffees. Very elegant surroundings.
Sheraton Towers Hotel from the upstairs, second level gallery.
However, the colleagues were shocked when they were presented with a bill for 25 Sing dollars.
Every time I mention the Sheraton Towers Hotel, my relative regales me with the same story. "They charged us for two coffees when I ordered a double espresso, instead of the usual thirty percent extra. Although the coffees came with a small biscuit, 25 dollars for coffee for two people seemed to me excessive."
I would have gone without the coffee and just had a cake for under ten dollars - or is that the take away price. Add 'plus plus', meaning tax and service, at about 17 %. You are back to nearly 25 dollars. But you have eaten cake.
The same applies in many places. The price of a cup of coffee seems excessive compared to the price of a seat meal including coffee.
Buffet Meal
What if you want to eat a proper meal? The buffet is open every night, yes, seven nights a week.
Discounts For Hotel Guests
Hotel guests get a discount.
Discount For Visitors
I was attracted by the sign of a discount, and it turned it out there was yet another discount. Wednesday is 'ladies night' when females are given a fifty per cent reduction. So, if I and a male partner, husband, son or colleague, came together, I would get a fifty percent reduction, although the mean would be paying full price.
I suppose it is to fill up the restaurant midweek, when it is maybe filled with businessmen. Anybody want a lady for a cheap date?
It is not that cheap. Add plus plus and you are in for nearly 100 dollars.
Toastmasters International Meetings
However, I have news of a bargain for you. The buffet price makes twenty dollars look a bargain, coffee plus savoury and sweet snack and entertainment. Yes, attend a Toastmasters Club of Singapore meeting on one of the first three Monday evenings in the month.
Arrive early, at or after 6 pm, to queue (line up as the Americans say), register, write your name and phone number and email, Toastmasters club if any, pay, get a receipt and a badge. Then help yourself to some savoury, a couple of pieces of chopped fruit, and coffee or hot or cold water with help yourself to thinly sliced lemon.
You can chat and network with members of the club (mostly Chinese, Indian, Asian and Eurasian), as well as visitors from all over Asia, China, Vietnam, and Europe, the UK, Belgium or France, and many other countries.
In the meeting interval the staff bring out the leftover savouries, and fruit. You have to be quick to get the fruit - it soon goes. You could miss out.
At least you can get more coffee or water. But the staff start clearing away at the end of the interval and the coffee and water are gone after the meeting. So if you want a glass of water to sip through the meeting, or before setting off home, keep hold of it.
In the evening you are likely to hear piano music from the grand piano as a background. Toastmasters clubs like you to tell them in advance if you will be attending, so they can be sure of providing enough food for you.
Useful Websites
Singapore Airlines
singaporeair.com
visitsingapore.com
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sinsi-sheraton-towers-singapore/
Author
Angela Lansbury, ACG, ALB, member of two Singapore Toastmasters Clubs, Braddell Heights Advanced and Tampines Changkat Advanced.
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