Orchard Hotel Singapore Staycation - Review

Baby André Aaron and me

It has been quite a while since we went on a holiday. Having a 2-month old baby makes it extremely tough to have a relaxing vacation. Going for a staycation is fantastic for a short getaway without having to travel overseas and go through the hassle of booking flights. 

Father and son bonding session

We were planning to bring our baby, André Aaron on a staycation, therefore I was delighted to win a night’s stay in a Deluxe Room at the Orchard Hotel Singapore at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel’s Dinner and Dance held on 22 September. 

We initially wanted to book the room on 11 November to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary, however, I realised that the voucher was only valid for weekends so we booked the room on 7 November instead.

When we arrived at the hotel, we were awed by the vibrancy of the lobby and the hospitable staff. The check-in was smooth and efficient and we were happy to be upgraded to the Premier Room located at the Claymore Wing.

Welcome message by the hotel

Upon entering the room, we were greeted by a 40-inch LED/ HD TV with comprehensive cable TV channels. The room is spacious, elegant and tastefully furnished. 

Writing desk

There is also a large writing desk, perfect for business travellers.

Bathroom

               

The bathroom is of a decent size with rain shower, separate bathtub and bath amenities.

Bath amenities

Orchard Café 

A staycation at Orchard Hotel Singapore is awesome as there are many dining choices available. After depositing our bags in the room, we decided to dine at Orchard Café at the lobby. 

The lunch buffet spread priced at $48++ is pretty extensive with a plethora of healthy salads, fresh seafood including prawns, scallops, mussels and clams, Indian creations such as butter chicken and curries, a Japanese station featuring assorted sushi and fresh sashimi and a noodle station where delicious laksa is prepared à la minute. My favourite is the Japanese station as the sashimi is sliced on the spot, tempting me to request for more.

Salad section

Fresh scallops and clams

Assorted sushi

Dory with miso cream sauce

Other perennial dishes include chicken rice, pork belly, dory with miso cream sauce, sayur lodeh and beef rendang.  The dory has a nice, smooth texture and the sauce is well balanced with sweet, savoury and creamy flavours without being overwhelmingly rich.

Chocolate fudge cake

There is something for everyone at the dessert station. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the chocolate fudge cake, rainbow cake, green tea and caramel pannacotta, berry cheesecake, apple strudel and kueh lapis.

Green Tea Pannacotta

Rainbow cake

Orchard Café is the perfect place to indulge in a wide variety of food and satiate your inner gourmand.
For reservations, please call 6739 6565 or email orchardcafe.ohs@millenniumhotels.com.

Fitness and Recreational Facilities

Orchard Hotel also offers fitness and recreational facilities for hotel guests to keep fit and unwind. Have a relaxing swim at the hotel’s 20-metre lap pool, soothe those tired muscles at the outdoor Jacuzzi or burn calories at the modern gym equipped with the latest exercise machines.

Ready for a swim

At the gym

Relaxing by the pool

If you are thirsty after a swim, you can also enjoy a cocktail or a juice at the poolside snack bar while basking in the sun.

Room Service 

Orchard Hotel Singapore also offers a decent room service menu with a selection of local, Western and Chinese favourites. Room service is great as it is impossible to enjoy a hearty meal at a restaurant when you have a restless baby with you.

Nasi goreng istimewa

Seafood hor fhun

We ordered the nasi goreng istimewa ($26) and the seafood hor fun ($24). The former was tasty and came with achar, sunny side up, satay and fried chicken while the latter was equally flavourful with generous servings of fish, prawn and squid in a rich egg sauce.

Other popular items include Hainanese chicken rice ($28), lobster laksa ($32), cod fish and chips ($30), prawns with wild mushrooms ($42) and chicken with spring onions ($28).

After a good night’s sleep, we had buffet breakfast at Orchard Café which was sumptuous with salads, assorted cold cuts, smoked salmon, breads and croissants, prawn noodles soup, muffins, pancakes, prata and fresh fruits.

Smoked salmon and assorted cold cuts

Prawn mee soup

Overall, the staycation at Orchard Hotel Singapore was a pleasant one and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We will definitely be back!

Orchard Hotel Singapore is located at 442 Orchard Road, Singapore, 238879.

To find out more about Orchard Hotel's room promotions, please view here

Burn Fats, Improve Your Stamina and Eliminate Toxins at Active Hive!

  Working out on the Minus Calories Machine at Active Hive

Many of my friends have wondered how I lost so much weight just a month after delivery. I put on a total of 10 kg during my pregnancy and I lost about 6 kg in a week and after about six weeks, I was back to my pre pregnancy weight.

Losing weight is not as difficult as it seems. It is about adopting the right approach. I went for a series of post-natal massages (I will elaborate more about the massages in another blog post), exercise classes and the 30 minutes Active Hive Minus Calories Workout. After delivery, it is vital to have a healthy and nutritious diet. I do not recommend going on diet or starving yourself as it causes extreme fatigue and is detrimental to your health. 

The Minus Calories Machine

When I was invited to try the Active Hive Minus Calories Workout, I accepted the invitation without hesitation as I was eager to shed the extra pounds I have gained so that I can go back to work looking fit and trim again. Active Hive Minus Calories Workout is a 30-minute workout which helps to burn calories faster and more efficiently than other exercise programmes and weight loss methods. In fact, you can burn over 500 calories in just 30 minutes! What is most amazing is that the Minus Calories Machine not only burns fats, it also uses infrared and ionised Air Technology to increase blood circulation, boost your metabolism, eliminate toxins, stimulate collagen production, shape the body and reduce pains and body aches due to rheumatism and arthritis.

Active Hive's 7Rs Approach

This machine is only available at Active Hive – a fitness and wellness centre that emphasies on a 7Rs approach which includes Responsible, Right Exercise, Right Consideration, Right Nutrition, Right Effort, Right Balance and Rest. Active Hive is not a commercialised fitness centre where you can go for cardio classes and gym workouts. It focuses on a personalised one-to-one approach where a special programme is customised to suit your needs.

I went for a total of five sessions and after every session, I felt energised and rejuvenated. During my first session, the staff, Nikki did a body composition analysis for me. She took my height and weight and my measurements and produced a printout indicating my body fat percentage, bone mass, muscle mass, metabolic age and visceral fat rating. After the body analysis, I was brought to a small room with the Minus Calories Machine. It resembles a step machine just that it emits warm, infrared light. Initially, I was a little sceptical as I was expecting to have an intensive cardio session. Nevertheless, I went ahead to try it. Before the start of each workout, Nikki would apply the Anti-cellulite and Body Sculpt cream to my arms, thighs, tummy and chin. The cream is supposed to help to accelerate the fat burning process. It left a tingling sensation on my skin.

During the workout, I could catch up on my favourite drama on the tablet provided and this helped to keep me entertained throughout the whole workout.

After about 10 minutes, I started to feel warm as the heat got more intense progressively. At the end of 32 minutes, I was perspiring profusely. I managed to burn over 600 calories during the first session. On the fifth session, my stamina increased and I burnt over 1000 calories. There is also a significant reduction in inches. 

Enjoying rejuvenating juice after the workout

Somehow, after the workout, my skin seemed more radiant probably also because I was treated to a glass of rejuvenating fruit juice after each session. I like the concoction with apple, orange, celery and other veggies. I am satisfied with the overall results after the five sessions. I have lost two inches on my hips, one inch on my right thigh and 1.8 inches on the left thigh and 0.5 inch on each arm.

Active Hive Minus Calories Workout is perfect for busy people who are looking for a personalised, customised programme and have no time to go for exercise classes or spend long hours in the gym. It is effective and you can see significant results after a few sessions. Active Hive also sells health products such as chia seeds, quinoa, truffle olive oil and more.

At the entrance of Active Hive

Active Hive is located at 65 Ubi Road 1, #02-88 Oxley Bizhub, Singapore 408729. For enquiries, please call 6384 2758. 

The fitness and wellness centre is also having a workshop 'Get the Right Balance' this coming Saturday, 7 November. To register, kindly call 9477 7838. 

Here's the programme:

3.30pm to 5.30pm ($5 per person)

- How to Balance Your Calories

- Understanding Your Body Composition and why High Fat % is risky

- Minus Calories complimentary 15 mins Trial

- Right eating habits

- Free healthy juices

- Free healthy salads

6pm - 8pm (free workshop)

- Healthy Cooking in less than 15mins for Right Nutrition

- Food tasting

1. Steam Quinoa with Brown Rice

2. Ma Po Toufu (Chicken)

3. Oil-free Honey Chicken

4. Healthy Stir fry Broccoli with carrots

5. Chocolate Almond Milk 

And now for a GIVEAWAY

I will be giving away Active Hive Minus Calories Workout to 3 male readers and 3 female readers. 

3 male readers will stand a chance to win the following

- 2 Free workouts

- 1 Body Composition Analysis

- 2 post workout juice.

Worth up to $178 (per male reader).

3 female readers will stand a chance to win the following: 

- 2 Free workouts (with Anti Cellulite & Body Sculpt cream)

- 1 Body Composition Analysis

- 2 post workout juice.

Worth up to $198 (per female reader).

Closing Date: 21 November 2015

How to win?

Here are the steps:

1. 'LIKE' and 'SHARE' Active Hive Facebook page

 https://www.facebook.com/activehivesg/?fref=ts

2.'LIKE' and 'SHARE' Journal of a Working Mum Facebook https://www.facebook.com/journalofaworkingmum/?fref=ts

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3.LIKE' and 'SHARE' Jennifer Yeo Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Yeo-1590089271218719/?fref=ts

4. Email your name, mobile, NRIC and fitness target to yeo.jen@gmail.com