Hotel is in a great central location with many shops and restaurants easily accessible within a few minutes’ walk, especially the huge variety available within Tangs, Ion Orchard and Ngee Ann City. The Orchard MRT station is across the street and accessible by the underpass.
Check-in took a while cos there was quite a few waiting to be served but also because there were no clear signages/directions resulting in people cutting in to whichever queue was shorter. However, we were served by Mr Chi Hou and it worth the wait. Not only did this friendly and warm guy check us in quickly, he also got us the reservations we wanted at Wan Hao and Lobby Lounge for dinner and high-tea respectively. When he heard that we were having this staycation with a couple who hadn’t had a break in 5 years, he arranged for an upgrade of their room at no charge (wish he did the same for ours…heehee). Subsequently, our friends were also pleasantly surprised when they received red wine and pralines arranged by Ms Izzaty.
Even though the hotel has been around for a while, the room on the 29th floor was modernly furnished, spacious and clean. Room was quiet despite the hustle and bustle of heavy traffic on Scotts and Orchard Road. It was a regular bathroom with the usual amenities but it was great having the larger than usual bathtub to soak away our tired and achy muscles after a day of activity. Had to make a call to house-keeping for a change to the square-shaped make-up mirror with very sharp corners and they replaced it with a round one. The pillows were too soft for us and we regretted not asking for firmer ones till our third night there. Glad hotel has a nice pool and quite a well-equipped gym, and not crowded surprisingly.
Dinner at Wan Hao was a gastronomical delight and they had the 4 of us in a private little booth! The set dinner was served individually and had good-sized portions. The first 4 dishes were served in succession too quicky and only slowed when we pointed it out. Very glad that there was no corkage charged for the red wine we brought along. Will be back!
However, we were very disappointed with the high tea. While the bite-sized cakes and finger sandwiches looked nice and appetizing on the tiered trays, they lacked the finesse and taste that we were expecting from a 5-star hotel like Marriot. The cakes, quiche and bread were dry, sandwiches had slivers of cucumber and barely any spread. Even though we were dining indoors, we had to keep swatting away tiny flies and a larger one that kept buzzing around, landing occasionally on the tray when we weren’t as watchful! The only saving grace was the TWG teas that came with it.
Despite the hiccup, we enjoyed our time at the Marriot. Thank you!

At about 3pm yesterday, i went to Marriott Tang Plaza with my friend to have lunch.

When we reached, the cafe near the lobby on the ground floor was packed with people eating, drinking and getting merry since it was Christmas week.

It was hard to find a table next to the magnificent Christmas tree so i went to the crossroads cafe counter to ask if they could make a table for us next to a single girl by separating it.

A Chinese man wearing a suit and tie insisted we had to eat at a small corner behind the Java+ cafe counter, where plenty of people were crammed in.

As there were no seats outside and next to the tree, I grudgingly obliged. When I went over to get my friend to come over, coincidentally a table of patrons left.

I was happy and called my friend over to the table. When I went to the crossroads counter again, there was Mr Sinnasamy at the counter instead.

When I told Mr Sinnasamy that I found an empty table and would like to have my lunch there. He refused and said i can only dine at the same area where his Chinese colleague had pointed out earlier.

When I told him there were people there eating and had finished eating, he said I could only order drinks there. I said, "Fine."

When I went over to the table my friend was sitting at, I was very unhappy as the more I thought about what the Marriott staff said did not make any sense at all as people all around me were enjoying their meals and drinks.

I asked my friend who was Caucasian to order food and drinks. Lo and behold, he came back shortly and was able to order food and drinks easily without any unnecessary confrontation with the staff.

Shortly after, Mr Sinnasamy came over to clear the table full of dishes of food and drink leftover by the previous patrons.

At that moment, I was furious with Marriott hotel staff's "special treatment" towards me and hypocrisy towards other guests, my friend who is another race and male, versus me a Chinese female.

My heart was racing and I found it difficult to breathe as anger took over me.

The staff who served my friend Misty, a Filipina came over and asked me to put on my mask which I had briefly took off.

I said I will put it back on after I have a conversation with her colleague Mr Sinnasamy who promptly ran away from the table with the dishes.

I questioned Misty about her unfair biased treatment towards other guests in contrast to me which made her look clearly racist since she chose to serve food to my friend who is male and Caucasian and not me because I am Chinese and female.

She started getting overly defensive and claimed I didn't let her speak. When I let her speak, she had nothing much to say. She changed her tune and instead of saying we couldn't dine in, they practiced "cash and carry". "Cash and carry" sounded ridiculous. Is Marriott a thrift shop selling second-hand goods?

She said we had to pay in advance before our meals were served.

This is utterly hostile and disgusting service for a renowned international, hotel chain where the staff behave completely un-American.

Later on, I found out that Marriott Tang Plaza's ownership was one of the main reasons why it was un-American - people judge you for you race, religion or beliefs.

The staff at Marriott Tang Plaza abuse the powers they have and run the hotel's food and beverage outlet at their own whim and fancy, choosing who to ostracize, bully and take advantage off as well as who to begrudgingly serve.

As a self-respecting individual, there is only one thing to do - exercise my right and freedom to take my money elsewhere where hardworking and responsible people are.