Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree

We visited Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree over the weekend with my family. Since the resort is quite new, the facilities were very clean and well-maintained. Although I’ve been to Mandai many times to visit the Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise, this was my first time coming to the resort area. We arrived by taxi, and check-in was not the smoothest experience. The kiosk wasn’t functioning properly, and since the lobby is an open-air space, my 3-year-old son had a hard time waiting. Thankfully, the staff were very kind and assisted us through the process, which helped a lot. In the afternoon, we tried the swimming pool. It wasn’t particularly special — the pool was smaller than expected, and there weren’t many sunbeds, so it could get uncomfortable when more guests arrived. Still, swimming while overlooking the rainforest was a unique and refreshing experience. The room itself wasn’t extraordinary, though I appreciated the sustainability efforts, such as limiting the temperature control to not go below 24°C. We completely understood the intent, but the touchscreen control panel kept malfunctioning, which made things a bit inconvenient. For dinner and breakfast, we had the buffet at the same venue. The food was not bad at all, though the variety was limited, and the wine selection felt a bit lacking. On the positive side, the portions were generous, which we appreciated. Overall, it was an interesting experience, but I’m not sure if we’ll return. With so many excellent hotels in the city and better options in nearby countries at a similar price point, it may not be our first choice next time.

We stayed during the National Day weekend. We visited as a group of 12 adults. We got Double Double rooms. The hotel is beautifully designed. I must say I saw the staff try very hard. It was positioned as a 5 star resort, but it didn’t feel 5 star. Few suggestions: 1. Lack of entertainment options other than the zoo. I wish there were more breakaway niches with seating that allow groups to gather for board games or communal activities. There were such spaces we saw, but there wasn’t enough seats or tables for communal activities. We knew it would be a crowded time to visit, and but everywhere we went, we saw running kids and were reminded of crowds in public spaces. This made it feel like a tourist-class hotel and didn’t feel exclusive or restful. If the hotel wants to operate as a 5 star, it needs to carry the beautiful rainforest surroundings from the visual into a more all-encompassing multi- sensorial experience : scent, tranquility, sound, less people, more nature. It should have been a more restful experience. 2. Check-in lobby was crowded and unfortunately, it marred the experience of the resort. We are frequent visitors of 5 star hotels. Check-in should already be a well-oiled machine having guests fill out advanced check in requests. 3. The rooms were decent and clean. Some of us got rooms without view and didn’t mind it; but calling a run-of-house room double double can be misleading as it builds expectations. 4. We ate at Forage and the service was impeccable. If we wanted crowds, we could have spent the money on hotels in a more central urban location with better entertainment and food options. It would be much cheaper too.

​My family and I just finished our second stay at this resort. We love it because it’s so peaceful and quiet, and the kids always have a great time. The staff are friendly, and the food at both dinner and breakfast is pretty good. ​However, the service really doesn't live up to the Banyan Tree name. It was quite disappointing. ​When we first got to our room, there were no toiletries. I called reception, and about 15 minutes later, a staff member came up with a handful of them. I didn't want to make a fuss, so I just took them. But when I looked at the packages, I realized a few of them had already been opened and were empty. ​It seems like they're recycling items, which is fine—we should all be trying to save the planet. But they really need to check these items before giving them to a new guest. They shouldn't be giving out used or dirty products. ​I truly hope the service improves before our next visit.