I have given it a 4 star for the overall value and hospitality I recieved for the price paid as a self-reliant solo traveller. I wouldn’t recommend it to families with kids or elderly people. Here are the pros and cons from my experience.
Pros -
1. Its is located in the centre of chinatown with many eateries around, nearest bus stand is 160 meters away and newest MRT (outram) is 400 meters away.
2. The daytime Reception staff is professional, polite and courteous with a good understanding of english language, which is unusual to find at a budget hotel in Singapore.
3. I stayed in a deluxe queen room and it had tea/coffee arrangement along with a mini-fridge, hairdryer, disposal slippers and bathroom supplies.
4. Bed and bath linen was clean and fresh.
5. While most of the branded hotel charge additionally for breakfast, you will get it for free here. It is limited to bread/butter/jam, tea/coffee, cornflakes and one side like eggs or sausage, but its enough for a someone looking for a western breakfast. They also serve tea, coffee and cookies all day for new guests.
Cons -
1. The rooms are noisy. You can hear the noise from your upper floors as well as the neighbourhood. Airconditioner was noisy too.
2. The property is old and requires maintenance/refurbishment. The wooden flooring in my room looked shabby.
3. Bathroom is very small. The shower area was lesser than one meter square. I am a tall person and barely managed to shower without banging my arms on the sides.
4. Nights duty staff knows nothing and not capable to answer any questions, not even something simple as the options to get food at late night.
Hotel rooms were also small but that is common with most of the hotels in Singapore. Overall a value for money option for backpackers and solo travellers.