I booked a hotel room for a “work-cation” and here’s why I’ll do it again

Like many in Singapore, I’ve been working from home for most of the last two years. At first, being able to work from home felt like a luxury. Waking up later, not needing to dress up for work, and avoiding the rush hour traffic were perks.

And then I started feeling burnt out.

I used to perceive my home as the place where I get to “switch off” from work but now the space is also associated with work. At the same time, working from home meant that I was always in the same environment, which began to feel stuffy after a while.

This was when I thought a “work-from-hotel” or “work-cation” may be the refreshing change that I needed.

And I wasn’t not the only one who was feeling this way.

Dayuse Founder and CEO David Lebée told AVENUE ONE that there is an upward trend for “work-cations” both globally and locally.

Dayuse is a platform where you can make daytime reservations for rooms and services, as opposed to booking “per night” rooms through conventional platforms and directly from the hotels. The prices are lower than if you had booked an overnight room too, yet you’re still able to enjoy hotel amenities.

“6 out of 10 Dayuse guests in Singapore just want a quiet place to be productive, while 7 in 10 guests make a Dayuse booking just for work at least once a month, signalling a burgeoning trend” Lebée shares.

To understand the lure of a work-cation, I booked for one through Dayuse, and checked into InterContinental Robertson Quay on a Tuesday morning. My room was available from 8am to 6pm, which worked out to a generous 10 hours.

Perhaps it was the idea of a “work-cation” that helped set my mind on having a bit of a respite while not missing a day of work, I decided to start the day with a good breakfast before I checked in. This already put me in a good mood.

The Classic Room that I booked wasn’t big but it had everything I needed: a work space, a bed, and a bathroom. It’s also equipped with a coffee machine and premium tea bags for easy refreshments in the room.

The work space was right next to a huge window, and the fact that it offered a view that was different from my home’s helped lift my mood at work already. The change of environment, quieter surrounding that’s free from construction and traffic noise that I often get in my neighbourhood, as well as relaxing ambience that hotel rooms tend to have also helped me be more productive.

I booked a slot for the hotel’s pool, which looked very inviting, to go for a quick swim just before lunch. Unfortunately, it rained, so I decided to take a short nap on the super comfortable bed before lunch instead.

After a power nap, I felt refreshed – and hungry.

On work from home days, I typically choose between food delivery or heading to the closest coffee shop for lunch – both options were so overdone, I was incredibly glad I had other options this time.

There were plenty of food options around Robertson Quay area, but I settled for a restaurant at the hotel: Publico Ristorante, a charming Italian restaurant that serves authentic Italian fare.

Publico Ristorante offers set lunch menus from S$23 for two courses, which is super affordable. Food was delicious and service was impeccable.

Now fuelled up, I was ready to head back to the room for work. I finished at 6pm – no chance to give in to the “temptation” to “reply another email” or “finish up one more thing” because I had to check out, which was perfect.

I didn’t realise how powerful a change of environment can be for productivity and overall mental wellness. I felt a sense of achievement that day because I was able to complete the tasks in my to-do list while also feeling like I’ve taken a break. All these without having to take a day off work or leave my children by themselves – I could still pick them up as with any other day and get back to my regular routine with them at night.

Besides “work-cations”, Dayuse’s Lebée says Singaporeans mainly book with Dayuse to enjoy a dayscape, to “escape from the

daily grind or spend some time with their partner while enjoying the luxurious amenities, F&B offerings, and room service.”

“More than 90% of guests are residents who are rediscovering their cities and hotels in new neighbourhoods where they have access to the rooms and amenities which are traditionally reserved for overnight guests,” he says.

The price for booking a room on Dayuse for InterContinental Robertson Quay is S$188 (as opposed to S$320 if you book an overnight room). If you go with someone, that would work out to just S$94 per person – not too expensive for a mental wellness day. If you ask me, I would certainly consider going for another “daycation”, the next time I’m feeling a little burnt out. And perhaps the next time, I’ll just go for a complete dayscape with my husband, without bringing my work along.

Besides InterContinental Robertson Quay, Dayuse’s portfolio of hotel partners also include The Fullerton Hotel, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, The Scarlett Singapore, Naumi Hotel Singapore, and Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa. You can make a booking through the Dayuse website.