Singapore
SINGAPORE — Some Singaporeans are finding the proposed accommodation rates of a newly announced resort to be built at Changi Village to be exorbitant and have written off staying there.
An artist's impression of The Bus Resort in Changi Village.
SINGAPORE — Some Singaporeans are finding the proposed accommodation rates of a newly announced resort to be built at Changi Village to be exorbitant and have written off staying there.
They were responding to news that the resort, to be completed in April next year, will feature public buses from transport operator SBS Transit that will be turned into hotel rooms. Each room is expected to be priced at around S$300 to S$400 a night.
Many readers commented on TODAY’s Facebook page that they would not pay so much to “sleep in a bus” after the price was revealed by WTS Travel on Sunday (Aug 28).
Tentatively named “The Bus Resort”, the project is a joint initiative between travel company WTS Travel, real estate management service provider LHN Group and investments holding group Sky Win Holding.
The guest rooms will be constructed from 20 decommissioned public buses and occupy more than 8,600 sqm of land next to Changi Village Hawker Centre.
Social media users in general seemed neither impressed nor enthused over the upcoming resort.
Many were put off by the room cost, deeming it “too expensive” and saying that they would prefer to stay in “proper” hotels or travel to neighbouring countries for the amount.
One user wrote: “With that price, sorry! I would rather stay in a hotel around Sentosa. It (is) supposed to be cheaper (than a) hotel.”
Another remarked: “This amount can get you a two-night stay in a five-star boutique hotel in Asean countries easily.”
One user quipped that he will stick to sleeping in the bus on the way home.
Some people called the concept a “gimmick” and likened it to a trailer park, while other doomsayers predicted that the novelty of staying at a bus resort will wear off quickly.
One TODAY reader wrote: “You might get some curious (people) for a start but soon, all will come to realise that realistically, the same amount or lower can provide them with more perks and facilities in either local hotels or hotels in neighbouring countries. And location (is) probably another consideration.”
Not all is doom and gloom, though.
Riding on the bus theme, some Facebook users jokingly asked if they may use EZ-link stored-value fare cards or bus stamps to pay for their stay.
Others praised the bus resort’s eco-friendly concept of upcycling old buses and said that it would provide a new alternative to older chalets in the Changi area that always seem to be fully booked.
One Facebook user wrote that it would be a good location for tourists to enjoy local food at the hawker centre nearby, explore Changi beach or go on a boat ride to offshore island Pulau Ubin.
Another user claimed that the concept had proven successful for a Malaysian couple that converted an abandoned bus into homestay accommodation on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
Good idea or not? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
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