The Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore

I have recently been trying to make reservations for friends from overseas who had difficulty booking a hotel in Singapore due to CommunicAsia. And boy, does it reveal the ugliness of some hotels in Sinagpore.

Let me begin with the first one here .. The Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore -- A Beaufort Hotel (2 Bukit Manis Road, Sentosa, Singapore 099891).

I called the hotel up on the evening of 8 June 2005 at about 8pm. I asked the availability of the rooms on 15 June. Was told that all their Delux Rooms and Junior Suites were full, but the Executive Suites were available. I wanted to make a reservation but was told that the reservations department was closed and I had to call back tomorrow. Knowing the hotel situation in Singapore is going to get worse, I told the hotel I wanted to make the booking there and then, and provided them with my name. They accepted saying that someone from the reservations department will call me back the day after to confirm.

I received no calls from the hotel the next day. On 10 June 2005, I called the hotel only to hear that they had no record of my reservation, and no record of any instruction to call me back. I was furious and spoke to the General Manager, only to hear from him that his counter staff were supposed to take reservations even when the reservations department was closed. He apologized and said he would investigate into the matter. But I had already lose my reservation and had to hunt a room elsewhere!