If you have a stopover in Singapore, arriving late or leaving early, Changi International Airport has a number of transit hotels. With a midnight arrival in Singapore, we chose to stay at the airport the first night after our 18-1/2 hour flight.
We discovered some transit hotels only allowed a 6-hour stay, and others charged a hefty fee for staying 12 hours. As a result, we picked the YOTELAIR Singapore Changi in The Jewel to sleep after our long-haul flight.
The hotel was convenient and provided a quick stay since we landed after midnight. In this review, discover what my wife Karen and I liked (and didn’t like) during our brief stay.
Getting To YOTELAIR Singapore Changi
The hotel is located across from Terminal 1 in The Jewel. As Singapore’s only international airport, Changi is world-famous and often rated as the #1 globally due to its design, style, and amenities.
The address of YOTELAIR Hotel is:
Jewel Changi, 78 Airport Blvd. #04-280 Singapore Changi Airport 819666
The Jewel complex is the large building across from Terminal 1 and is its own must-see destination when passing through Changi Airport. It is known for having the world’s largest indoor waterfall.
Our flight to Singapore started in Seattle, Washington, on Korean Airlines (KAL), with a brief stopover in Seoul, Korea. I dreaded the long international flight but felt pampered and reasonably refreshed once we arrived in Singapore.
Changi Airport is extensive, with four terminals. Our international flight arrived late at Terminal 4. After an 18 1/2-hour flight, we couldn’t wait to get to our hotel room to sleep off the jet lag.
However, since YOTELAIR Changi is on the fourth floor in a different terminal, we had to catch the shuttle bus from Terminal 4 to Terminal 1. We waited over a half hour to catch the next bus due to the time of day for our arrival.
The ride on the bus was over 20 minutes due to the massive size of the airport and stops at different airport terminals. In total, we took close to an hour after clearing customs at Changi Airport until we arrived at the hotel’s front desk.
Not quite the convenience we thought of booking a hotel in the airport! During daytime, the shuttle bus runs more frequently, and the wait would be much shorter.
YOTELAIR Singapore Changi is best suited to travelers with a long layover or transit passengers. If you’re cruising out Singapore’s cruise port, this hotel makes a good choice when arriving the night before.
Note that YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport is located before immigration and passport control. In transit, you must pass through immigration and passport control to access the hotel.
As Canadians, we do not require a Singaporean Visa, but you may need a visa depending on your nationality.
First Impressions
We thought the hotel was hard to find in the Jewel Changi Airport. Granted, we arrived late at night, and some areas of the airport were closed with the lights out. However, once we hit the 4th floor, we quickly spotted the entrance of the hotel.
The hotel reception was clean and contemporary. Guests can opt for a self check-in and out on the self-service kiosk just inside the entrance.
The premium queen room we booked was tiny (around 110 sq. ft.) but typical for such micro hotels. It was a step up from a “capsule or pod” hotel because we had our own bathroom, smart TV, etc.
The Yotel chain doesn’t offer many types of rooms, but you can book a family room if you’re traveling with more than two.
Yotelair Hotels have become increasingly popular since it opened Asia’s first Yotel on Orchard Road. You can find similar accommodations in London, Paris, Istanbul, and Amsterdam.
My wife Karen booked YOTELAIR because they allow you to book for a standard time (check-in at 6 pm, checkout time at 9 am). Other hotels in the airport cater to transit passengers with 6-hour time slots throughout the day.
Maybe we’re just getting older, but I prefer a flexible check-in time rather than a rigid slot. Also, since we didn’t check in until almost 2 am, it would have been challenging to check out at 6 am.
A Premium Queen Room
Our room had no outside windows, so it was completely dark when the lights were out! When sleeping, Karen is sensitive to light, so the blackout cabins are a bonus!
The queen bed is pushed into the corner, giving you access from one side of the bed. We could elevate the head, an upgrade compared to conventional hotel rooms. However, I realized later that if the bed is not elevated, the foot of the bed almost touches the wall.
As mentioned earlier, the room is VERY SMALL, so elevating the bed provides more room during the day. They have tried to maximize the available space.
This room had no closet or chest of drawers, only shelves near the bathroom door. As a transit hotel, they expect guests are only staying a few hours or the night.
There is a glass wall between the bathroom and the sleeping area. Fortunately, there is a curtain you can draw to provide some privacy when using the bathroom.
The room had typical conveniences like free wi-fi, hair dryers, a rain shower, a pull-out workstation, etc. It also featured wireless chargers built into the room. We received bottled water, travel toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
There were several lounge areas throughout the hotel with large stuffed seating. They were often in use by guests and looked quite comfy.
If you’re checking in later in the day, be sure to watch the light show directly outside the hotel.
Amenities At YOTELAIR Singapore Changi
This YOTELAIR Hotel has limited amenities. Since the hotel is attached to Terminal 1 and within The Jewel complex, no dining restaurants exist within the hotel.
However, a simple breakfast was included with minimal pastries, free coffee, etc. The breakfast room sits on the 4th floor across from the waterfall.
Unfortunately, there were no gluten-free options, so that didn’t work for Karen, who is Celiac. However, she found some other gluten-free foods in Singapore.
There is a reasonably equipped exercise room for guests who are renting rooms. This feature will let you get your workouts, which can be hard to do when traveling.
Similar to other Singapore hotels, service robots will deliver things to your room (e.g., extra towels, hangers, etc.) if you call the Front Desk. We made no special requests during our short stay but later utilized the robot service at the Ji Hotel Orchard.
Rentable Showers
If you have a layover at Changi Airport with a few hours to kill, you can freshen up by renting a private shower for SGD 25 (Singapore Dollars). The shower has soap, shampoo, towels, and a toilet.
This is ideal for transit passengers who don’t need to sleep or want the cost of a private room.
Jewel Changi Airport
The Jewel is a world-class destination within Changi Airport, and be sure to save at least a few hours to discover it if your schedule permits.
Jewel Changi Airport is not just a shopping center but a multi-faceted destination. Besides the Rain Vortex, Jewel houses the Shiseido Forest Valley, an indoor garden with walking trails.
The complex includes over 300 retail and dining outlets catering to various tastes and preferences. Jewel also features attractions like the Canopy Park, which provides bouncing nets, walking nets, and a hedge maze. For families, there’s a children’s play area with slides and interactive games.
Jewel Changi Airport has won several awards for its design and architecture, becoming a must-visit location for travelers and locals alike.
Flying into Changi Airport and need a hotel room?
Staying at YOTELAIR Singapore Changi is a great option for long layovers, early flights and those flying in late.
Book your room hereStoring Luggage At Yotel
Yotel offers bag storage facilities when checking into the hotel. However, they will not store your luggage on the day of checkout. They will direct you to the airport’s baggage check on the first level of Jewel.
We found this convenient as we wanted to enjoy Jewel a few hours before getting to our hotel in downtown Singapore.
Here are the rates for storage in 2024. For our two luggage, we paid SGD 32.
| LOOSE | Neck pillow, mobile phone, etc. | $6 |
| SMALL | Cabin-size bag, haversack, shopping bag, item below 10kg | $11 |
| BIG/ODD | Check-in luggage, backpack, Item more than 10kg | $16 |
| EXTRA BIG | Any item larger than 70cm (h) x 90cm (l), bicycle, golf bag, surfboard | $19 |
When leaving Singapore, the baggage storage also offers bag wrapping for those concerned about security. If you pay for suitcase storage, you can get a discount on bag wrapping.
Final Thoughts
After our overnight stay, I would give YOTELAIR Hotel an 8 out of 10 overall score. If we had flown into Terminal 1 instead of 4, getting to our entry-level room would have been quicker.
The room was functional, although it was one of the smallest we have ever stayed in. We traveled with two suitcases, so the room worked for us. If you’re flying with four suitcases or more, you’re better off with another choice.
Room rates vary, but plan on spending SGD 300 – 400 depending on room availability and time of year. In the future, we would consider taking a ride-share on Grab (Singapore’s popular version of Uber) to a downtown hotel instead.
We stayed at three different hotels during our one month stay in Singapore, with our favorite being the the Swissôtel The Stamford, with its amazing views. Granted, it was a lot more expensive, but well worth the cost for its great amenities and fantastic views of Marina Bay.
