I Stay at Singapore’s Most Shocking Hotel ($472/night trapped in a bus!)

Summary

In this intriguing review, the viewer experiences a stay at Singapore's newly opened, unconventional bus Collective luxury hotel, where retired buses are repurposed into accommodations. Despite costing more than a night at Shangri-La, the hotel offers unique features like driver's seats and barbecue pits. However, the high price is met with mixed feelings due to cleanliness issues and questionable luxury amenities. The peaceful location in Changi Village, away from the city center, makes it a potential haven for staycations, not tourists. The review captures the essence of this one-of-a-kind lodging, highlighting both its charm and drawbacks.

Takeaways

• 🏨 The Bus Collective is a luxury hotel in Singapore that repurposes retired buses into unique accommodation units.
• 💸 The cost of staying at the Bus Collective is higher than a traditional luxury hotel like Shangrila, with the reviewer paying $472 including breakfast per night.
• 📍 The hotel is located in Changi Village, which is a beautiful area with a beach but quite far from the city center, making it more suitable for staycations rather than tourist accommodations.
• 🛏️ Some rooms at the Bus Collective feature original bus driver seats, adding to the unique experience of staying in a repurposed bus.
• 🍽️ The hotel initially included breakfast in the price, but due to recent opening, the breakfast service was not ready during the reviewer's stay, reducing the room rate to $449 without breakfast.
• 🛋️ The rooms are designed to feel like tiny houses, with a living room area, a bedroom, and a mini-bar stocked with complimentary items.
• 🚌 The original bus number plate, SBS 8049J, is kept, adding an authentic touch to the room's history.
• 🛁 The bathroom is well-designed with a separate toilet and shower, and the shower area features a rain shower and normal shower options.
• 🛌 The bedroom is elevated with stairs leading up to it, and the bed is large enough for two people, with a view of the river outside.
• 🍽️ The reviewer had to get their dinner from a nearby hawker center due to the lack of room service and barbecue facilities at the hotel.
• 😴 The reviewer experienced an uncomfortable sleep due to an unusual mattress design and the proximity of the hotel to the airport, which caused planes to fly overhead.

Q & A

What is the concept of the bus Collective hotel in Singapore?

The bus Collective is a luxury hotel that repurposes retired buses into hotel rooms, offering a unique staycation experience.

How much did the reviewer pay for a night's stay at the bus Collective?

The reviewer paid $472 including breakfast for one night's stay, which later became $449 without breakfast due to the breakfast service not being ready.

Is the bus Collective hotel more expensive than traditional hotels in Singapore?

Yes, the bus Collective is more expensive than the Shangri-La, Sentosa, where a night's stay costs $446 including breakfast.

Where is the bus Collective hotel located?

The bus Collective is located in Changi Village, a beautiful place with a nice beach but quite far from the city center.

What unique features does the bus Collective offer in its rooms?

Some rooms at the bus Collective have driver seats from the original buses, and each bus hotel has its own number, slightly different designs, and colors.

What amenities were found in the room during the reviewer's stay?

The room had a mini-bar with free snacks, complimentary drinking water, tea and coffee, a sofa bed, extra pillows, an umbrella, a TV, a fridge with complimentary beverages, and a bus driver's seat kept in its original condition.

What were some of the cleanliness issues the reviewer noticed?

The reviewer noticed some dirty areas on the sofa bed, random threads, and multiple random stains on the bed sheet, which looked like a lipstick stain.

What was the reviewer's experience with the mattress in the room?

The reviewer found the mattress uncomfortable due to its wavy form, which caused discomfort when trying to sleep on the bottom part of the wave.

What issues did the reviewer have with the hotel's branding as a luxury hotel?

The reviewer felt the price was steep for what was offered, and certain amenities did not seem luxurious, such as the reused sandals and the non-branded fridge.

What was the reviewer's experience with the hotel's surrounding area?

The reviewer enjoyed the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of Changi Village, which felt like a village and not like Singapore, with low buildings and a lack of high-rise structures.

What was the reviewer's final thought on whether the bus Collective is worth the money?

The reviewer found the concept cool but felt the price was quite steep considering the small flaws and the fact that not all amenities lived up to the luxury branding.

Outlines

00:00

🏨 Unique Stay at Singapore's Bus Collective Luxury Hotel

The script introduces the viewer to the Bus Collective, a novel luxury hotel in Singapore where retired buses have been repurposed into accommodations. The narrator paid a premium of $472 per night, which is more expensive than a stay at the renowned Shangri-La, Sentosa. Despite its high cost, the hotel is located away from the city center in Changi Village, targeting residents seeking unique staycations rather than tourists. The experience includes a check-in process with a welcome drink, a tour of the bus-turned-hotel room, and amenities like a mini-bar with free snacks and beverages. The narrator also mentions the historical charm of the bus, including its original license plate and wear marks, and the peculiarity of entering the hotel through the bus's exit door.

05:05

🚌 Exploring the Interior of a Converted Bus Hotel Room

The narrator provides an in-depth tour of the bus hotel room, highlighting its unique features such as the preserved bus driver's seat, a mini-table and barbecue pit outside, and the compact living room area with a sofa bed. The room is equipped with a mini-bar, complimentary drinks, and snacks, including exclusive sake from an online shop opened by the narrator. The bathroom and shower are separate, and while the toilet lacks soap, the shower boasts a high-end design with quality shampoo and body wash. The bedroom, elevated and accessed by stairs, features a queen bed, a view of the river, and a bathtub placed in front of the bed for a shared TV experience. The narrator also points out some cleanliness issues and the absence of certain expected luxury amenities.

10:07

🌳 Discovering the Surroundings and Facilities of the Bus Hotel

The script continues with the narrator exploring the hotel's surroundings and facilities. The hotel offers three side exits leading to a river, a park, and a hawker center, providing convenient access to local attractions. The narrator notes the presence of numerous bus hotels and the challenges of navigating the pebbled area with luggage. The lack of a gym and pool is mentioned, as well as the absence of room service and the issue of ants in the rooms, which is a common concern according to online reviews. The staff's habit of looking inside the buses is also highlighted as a privacy concern. Despite these drawbacks, the narrator seems to enjoy the overall experience, appreciating the hotel's unique concept and location.

15:12

🍽 Dining and Overnight Experience at the Bus Hotel

The narrator shares their dining experience, which includes a visit to the Changi Village Hawker Center for dinner, where they enjoyed barbecue chicken wings and other local foods. They also mention the lack of cutlery and room service, which forced them to eat in their room. The overnight experience was mixed, with the narrator noting an uncomfortable mattress and the noise of planes flying overhead due to the hotel's proximity to Changi Airport. However, they also enjoyed waking up in the bus hotel, appreciating the peaceful and village-like atmosphere of Changi Village. The script concludes with the narrator's breakfast at a local food court, reminiscing about their past experiences in Singapore and reflecting on the overall value and appeal of the bus hotel stay.

Keywords

💡Bus Collective

The 'Bus Collective' is the name of a unique luxury hotel in Singapore that has been created by repurposing retired buses. It is central to the video's theme as the main subject of the review. The hotel is described as 'bizarre' and 'luxury,' with a price point higher than traditional hotels like Shangri-La, which is unusual for a concept hotel.

💡Staycation

A 'staycation' refers to a vacation spent in one's home country or locality, often choosing to stay in a hotel or other accommodation for a short break. In the context of the video, the Bus Collective is positioned as an option for residents seeking a unique staycation experience, rather than targeting tourists.

💡Changi Village

Changi Village is the location of the Bus Collective hotel. It is described as a beautiful place with a nice beach, but it is quite far from the city center. This setting is important as it influences the type of guests the hotel attracts and the overall experience, emphasizing the hotel's seclusion and local charm.

💡Concept Hotel

A 'concept hotel' is a type of accommodation that is built around a specific theme or unique selling proposition. The Bus Collective is an example of a concept hotel, with its theme being the transformation of old buses into hotel rooms. This concept is what makes the hotel stand out and is a significant part of the video's exploration.

💡Luxury

The term 'luxury' is used to describe a level of quality and comfort that is above the ordinary, often associated with high prices and exclusive services. The video discusses the hotel's claim to luxury, comparing its price to other high-end hotels and evaluating whether the experience justifies the label, noting some discrepancies in the amenities and cleanliness.

💡Repurpose

To 'repurpose' means to use something again for a different purpose than it was originally intended. The video's main theme revolves around the repurposing of retired buses into hotel rooms, which is an innovative and environmentally friendly approach to hospitality.

💡Hawker Center

A 'Hawker Center' in Singapore refers to a food center containing many stalls offering a variety of local food. The video mentions the Changi Village Hawker Center as a nearby point of interest, highlighting the local food culture and its accessibility from the hotel.

💡Room Tour

A 'room tour' is a walkthrough of a hotel room or other accommodation, typically filmed or described to give potential guests an idea of what to expect. The video includes a detailed room tour of the Bus Collective, showcasing the unique features and layout of the bus-turned-hotel room.

💡Amenities

Amenities refer to the services and facilities provided for the comfort and convenience of guests. The video discusses the amenities offered by the Bus Collective, such as a minibar, complimentary drinks, and a barbecue pit, evaluating whether they meet the expectations for a luxury hotel stay.

💡Anomaly

An 'anomaly' is something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. The video describes the experience at the Bus Collective as 'surreal' and 'weird,' using the term anomaly to emphasize the unusual nature of staying in a hotel room that was once a bus.

💡Value

The term 'value' in the context of the video refers to the perceived worth or quality of the experience relative to the cost. The reviewer contemplates whether the price paid for the stay at the Bus Collective offers good value, considering the unique concept, location, and the issues noted during the stay.

Highlights

The Bus Collective in Singapore is a luxury hotel made from repurposed retired buses.

The hotel is more expensive than the Shangri-La, Sentosa, with a price tag of $472 including breakfast per night.

Located in Changi Village, the hotel is far from the city center and targets residents looking for unique staycations rather than tourists.

Some rooms feature driver seats as part of their unique design.

Check-in experience includes a welcome drink.

Each bus hotel has unique designs and colors.

Breakfast service was not ready during the stay due to the hotel's recent opening.

The room includes a mini-bar with complimentary snacks and drinks, including exclusive sake.

The original bus driver's seat is preserved in the room, providing a unique experience.

The toilet and shower are separated for a well-designed bathroom experience.

The bedroom features an elevated floor, stairs, and a queen-sized bed.

The room offers a river view and a unique bathtub placement in front of the bed.

Ants are a common issue in the rooms, as noted in Google reviews.

The hotel's staff may look inside the bus, which could be a privacy concern for guests.

The hotel's location near nature provides a peaceful and quiet environment, reminiscent of a village.

The mattress in the room has an uncomfortable wavy form, affecting the guest's sleep quality.

The hotel does not provide room service or cutlery, and guests need to find their own dining utensils.

The hotel's concept is unique and exciting, but the price may be too high for the experience offered.

Transcripts

I paid $472 to stay at Singapore's most bizarre  luxury hotel, the bus Collective. it just opened  

this December and the concept is repurposing  retired buses into hotels but it's not cheap  

again, I paid $472 including breakfast per night  and for your reference you can stay at shangrila  

sentosa for $446 including breakfast so this bus  hotel is actually more expensive than shangrila. the  

bus Collective is located at an interesting  location. it's located here at Changi Village  

it's a beautiful place with nice Beach but  quite far from the city center so clearly  

the hotel is not really targeting tourists. it's  more for residents looking for Unique staycations. so  

what's cool is that some rooms have driver seats  but again with the high price I'm not sure if  

it's worth it let's find [Music] out all right I  think we're here so it's right next to the Changi  

Village Hawker Center I'm not sure if this is  the entrance. it doesn't feel like one. ah it is it  

is. I see the logo there. looks quite expensive. so I'm  guessing that's the reception. Hello, is this the  

reception? yeah correct. all right check-in was smooth  it came with a welcome drink which was quite  

nice check this out wow this feels surreal so we  are right now surrounded by the bus hotels each  

of them have their own numbers slightly different  designs of the birds and different colors as well  

so unfortunately they said the breakfast service  is not ready yet because they just opened so the  

room rate became $449 Singapore dollars without  the breakfast so that's a bummer but I think our  

bus is right there yeah I see it check it out 208  Wow it feels really weird right so um obviously they  

redesigned all the buses but I wonder if the  car plate is the original. SBS 8049J. it's  

amazing to imagine how many years this bus served us. oh this is pretty cool we have a mini table  

outside and even a barbecue pit so um I heard  about this so I prepared some barbecue food to  

enjoy for our dinner I don't think we can enter  from here so the actual entrance of the bus hotel  

is there where you normally exit the bus I almost  tried to go inside here un which unfortunately you  

cannot but check out the wears and tears here you  can tell it used to be an operating bus it's  

pretty cool being able to see these actual  traces of history. unfortunately the card is not  

so aesthetic but are you guys ready for the room  tour? let's check it out Singapore's very first bus  

Hotel oh wow wow it feels so surreal so the left  side is I guess the living room area with the bus  

driver's seat and on the right is the bedroom all  right let's start with this [Music] area.

I always want to experience van life so this is like the  closest we can get to try it but guess what it's  

not van life it's bus life. so on the left this is  where you can put your things we got some storage  

quite a lot honestly I don't think anybody will  even need so much but I guess better than nothing  

and good news mini-bar is free so these snacks  are free black truffle Wow looks good tastes luxurious.

and four complimentary drinking water even the  teacup transparent and fancy here we got some tea  

unfortunately not TWG but we also have coffee  so this is the sofa as you can see it's quite  

small it's very difficult for someone to pass by  when I'm working here but I think that's the charm  

of this hotel right it's supposed to feel like a  tiny house. this a sofa bed. oh it's a sofa bed? yeah  

yeah this is a sofa bed unfortunately I do see  some - I don't know - some dirty areas spotted already  

and it just opened but um so far it's pretty cool  actually and here we have extra pillows a even an  

umbrella wow oh it's nice it's their original and  the plugs are actually hidden here and here we  

have the TV and below it is the fridge. again, these  are complimentary. even got some Tiger Beer and some  

soft drinks and chocolate as well. why not we do a toast?

wow, they even have sake! wow and this sake  

it's called Dainagawa and it's only exclusively  available at Sake Ichiba which recently opened  

Cheers. ah so smooth. it's an online shop opened by me  we have a 20% off launch sale going on it's almost  

ending so definitely check it out before it's over  and this is probably the most exciting part of the Hotel

So the bus driver's seat is actually  kept at its original condition this is so  

cool right I'm not even sure if I can enter  can? can meh? oh can. wow this is so cool wow  

let's go inside wow this is the second time  um I did a day in the life of a bus driver  

in that video I was able to sit at the bus  cockpit but wow it's my second time this is  

so fun wow kids will love this. can you press the  buttons? yeah yeah yeah okay my wife is telling  

me to move the bus okay let's try it out. okay  this is accel. ready 3 2 1. something turned on

though didn't something turn on first  because that's maybe this is not the  

Axel anymore it's probably like turn on the  airon or something and and the brake is here

yeah so none of the function is working but this  is really really cool what works is this what a  

cool experience I don't know if this part opens  it does can even get fresh air here and let all  

the mosquitoes in know I don't want to do that  if you have kids they will go crazy over this  

but again according to an article I read um not  all rooms come with a Driver's Seat but the room  

uh we booked Kings George this one uh should have  but please um if you're worried you should ask the  

hotel moving on and I'm guessing this is either  the toilet or the shower want to check it out 3  

2 1 oh it's the toilet so I guess the toilet  is toilet and shower is separated let's do a  

toilet test okay how nice M but I must say it  feels odd beinging inside a bus but very welld  

designed right but I did notice that that there  are no soaps this is a hand and body lotion uh  

they do have these basic amenities like dental  kit and stuff but no soap but overall a solid  

toilet experience and moving on I think this  is the shower oh wow I love how the door opens  

I feel so a the design of the walls the cool  curves and things the rain shower the normal  

shower the shampoo and body wash also looks  quite expensive it's from Ink and water and  

finally the bedroom so it's a little elevated so  we have some stairs here but wow check it out I  

still cannot believe we're inside a bus so I  said that we are celebrating our anniversary  

so they kind of provided us this lovely Dove  design and I believe we can take this home  

right their original teddy bear that's that's  quite nice but too bad the rose petals are fake  

these are plastic I'm guessing it's a queen bed  yeah yeah I think it's a queen bed but it should  

be enough for me and my wife but wow this is  so so cool of course we have windows at both  

sides because it's a bus we actually do have the  River View which is uh pretty cool this is the  

view I have and yes we do have a bathtub it is  a unique placement right in front of the master  

bed but nowhere else to put it I guess I can tell  it's quite spacious and it's situated so that you  

can watch TV together with with your wife or  husband who's hanging out at the bed so that  

was the room tour initially to be honest when I  heard about this hotel I thought it's going to  

be much worse but I think it's pretty well done  and just looking at the bus driver's seat how  

welld designed this is I do actually feel quite  excited staying here tonight but here are the  

cons we noticed the sandals look like they are  reused I wish they provided a new one and I did  

touch on this topic already but it's kind of yeah  some places it can be cleaner some random threads

fridge is from media have you heard of media yeah  but it's not at Brand I know media but media I  

don't know and the toilet Magnum magum ice cream  and we also notice that there are multiple random  

stains at our bed sheet here also I think it looks  like a lipstick stain maybe no big problem because  

we can just get it changed but again considering  the price and we are I don't want to complain too  

much but I think I have to comment it to make  it a fair review the hotel Market themselves as  

a luxury hotel so maybe it was better to have  cleaner sheets but no big problem a few inches  

later we also noticed the pillow sheet does not  fit the pillow look at what this what are they  

a bit a bit ly jum baby I think the the people  still growing it now it's okay okay I don't want  

to complain too much I my my channel is not  about complaining but I think it's important  

to note okay this we have to get changed and  another thing I noticed is that um there are  

a few ants in this room already and I did check  out the Google reviews and some already pointed  

that out you must be ready to have ants in your  rooms but I don't know how they can improve on  

that when the bus hotel is so nearby nature I I  like to keep the curtains open normally but then  

like I think the staffs here like to they tend  to look inside the bus so feel very P say like  

should I SM and then I pre I prer they don't  look inside then why have some couple kissing  

all that b maybe they can train the staff not to  stare at people inside the buses so yeah I mean  

I would personally like to have it open but yeah  and again because the other buses are so nearby  

if the rooms are full yeah I think people will  just close like this but again overall we are  

enjoying it so far all right let's check out  the other facilities so there are three side  

exits in this hotel so I just have to press so  that's pretty convenient so this leads to the  

river and a Changi park over there and I believe  there's another one that lets you out to this  

Hawker Center which is very convenient I'm also  quite surprised that they have a lot of buses I  

think around 15 to 20 uh bus hotels here thank  you for giving way they kept it another thing  

I noticed um because of the Pebbles if you're  traveling with a luggage it might be difficult  

to roll it I mean it's does look nice but  it's not really practical I guess and this

exit takes you directly to Little Island  Brewery this is a nice part where you can  

enjoy local craft beers I love coming here  their food is nice their craft beer nice  

highly recommended and it's so nice that you get  a direct access so that was the facility tour um  

not much no gym no pool I thought it would be  cool they have like one bus and that's the gym  

you know having lots of gym equipment but um no  [Music] but before taking out the surrounding  

and looking for dinner I wanted to jog around  this area look at how beautiful changy Village

is and those fairies go to Pula ubin  which is a beautiful it I did a video  

so check it out for the link over  here oh my gosh look at all the  

horn bills oh my gosh that's a lot  see Changi Village is amazing right

[Music] all right that was a nice shower  dinner time by the way my bus looks quite  

nice at night all right so this exit gets me to  the Haw Center all right so this is the Village  

Center of Changi Village and I think for dinner  I just grabbed something from the hacky Center  

and eat it at our room it would have been really  nice to do barbecue but I don't think there are  

proper supermarkets around this area so it  will be very challenging to to do your own  

barbecue especially if you're a tourist and  not a local who can bring their ingredients  

from home plus at this moment the hotel does  not provide uh charcoal so um yeah it's kind

of but man this Haw looks amazing let's  check out the [Music] food we're going to  

have to get some barbecue chicken wings all  right party time another thing to not so we  

were looking for like cutleries to enjoy her  food but um it seems like they don't have it  

and naturally I wanted to call for room  service but there's no phone so I guess  

no room service maybe if you WhatsApp them or  something they will bring it to you I'm not  

sure but I'm too lazy so this is our favorite  activity to do at a hotel eating nice food on  

the bed of course we'll be very careful we're  not going to spill anything but wow I got this  

chicken wing from a famous star 511 bit do  looks very promising and I love chicken wing  

Wings we also got some sauté and some dumpling  soup you excited wifey [Music] Yes W check out

the it's good bringing it with my din my

G good match nice oh it's so good amazing dinner  I'm enjoying it all right I think it's about  

time to sleep will I get a good sleep or not I'll  talk about my experience tomorrow good night guys

good morning from my bus so um I didn't have the  best sleep I think it's the mattress uh it has  

this wavy forms I try really hard to sleep on  the bottom part of the the wave where there's  

a ditch but then my arms are at like the top of  the wave and it was kind of uncomfortable yeah  

it's the first time encountering a mattress  like that and it's not that big of a deal but  

it's important to note that a lot of PL planes  will hover above you it's due to the location  

it's very nearby cheni airport but it's not  that noisy but it's something important to  

note but it does feel amazing just waking up  and sitting here at this table right next to  

my bus and enjoying the breeze just so beautiful  here so unfortunately the hotels are not ready  

to serve breakfast yet because they just opened  in December so I came out to the Changi Village  

to find find something that's the Hawker  Center I think I want to try avoiding it  

so I can find something new yeah I do you see  some restaurants look at where are you off to  

I Really Love Changi Village because it doesn't  feel like I'm in Singapore it really feels like  

a village which does not really exist in  Singapore probably because there are no  

high buildings everything low not many households  I believe so the population is not too big that's  

why it's very peaceful very quiet really like a  village almost feels like Malaysia okay I found  

a food court with Locos maybe I can get my Copo  here oh sorry it's not a it's not a food court  

it's it's a DM some place looks good but I don't  think I want to pair my copio with dmum so let's  

get some Indian food instead [Music] cheers so  I got kopio which is black coffee and tosa this  

is like one of my favorite fruit yeah initial  Foods I had in Singapore with the in the curry  

still going to be the total of this is $4.3  Singapore dollars amazing amazing amazing value

[Music] having this in the morning really reminds  me of my um initial backpacking days in Singapore  

I used to stay at this hostel in kalang and  nearby the hostel there was this amazing Indian  

restaurant and I had Tulsa every single day  because I just loved it so much 5 years later  

I'm doing the same thing I feel blessed being  able to do the same thing it's just so simple  

but makes me happy um life is great all right so  I'm on my way back to my bus hotel and I think  

this area is like the restaurant area where you  get your breakfast they're just not ready there's  

a stage here and maybe a counter for the staff  all right so final thought is Singapore's very  

first bus Hotel worth the money again I paid  $440 per night without breakfast and this is  

a launch deal so a few months later they will  end the deal and it will become more expensive  

so considering that obviously pros and cons  um I thought the concept was very cool uh  

repurposing these retired buses into hotels  and to be honest I really got excited looking  

at this the driver's seat initially yeah it's  a cool idea for sure but a lot of small flaws  

I would say like the ants the cleanliness how  they brand themselves luxury but a lot of the  

amenities don't seem luxury the barbecue pit is  very cool but I don't know if it's necessary it  

seems like all the buses come with it but I I  see nobody using it and the price I feel like  

is quite steep for what you're getting I mean  again it's very cool it's a very cool concept  

no other hotel in Singapore provides something  like this but the price again is like near $500  

so that was our review of Singapore's newest  bus Hotel uh let me know your thoughts thank  

you so much for watching I hope to see you in  the next video you don't have to film this way