We compared staying at the worst-rated hotels in New York City and Singapore. Neither felt like a good value at $95 a night.

Marielle Descalsota,Laura CasadoMar 12, 2023, 16:53 IST

The room at Hotel Calmo Chinatown in Singapore, left, and the room at Bowery Grand Hotel in New York City, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Two Insider reporters stayed at the worst-rated hotels in Singapore and New York City.
Both budget hotels had a comparable cost for one night, at $95 in New York and $96 in Singapore.

Insider's reporters stayed at two of the worst-rated hotels in Singapore and New York City to see if they were worth it.

Marielle Descalsota, left, is based in Singapore, and Laura Casado, right, is based in New York.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Hotel Calmo Chinatown was near Singapore's top hawker centers. The Bowery Grand Hotel in New York was walking distance to Chinatown and Little Italy.

Hotel Calmo Chinatown in Singapore, left, and Bowery Grand Hotel in New York City, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Marielle thought the entrance to the Singapore hotel looked unexpectedly luxe, while Laura thought the entrance to the hotel in New York was confusing to find.

The entrance to the hotel in Singapore, left, and in New York, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Inside, the Singapore hotel had escalators while the New York hotel had two flights of stairs leading up to the lobby.

The escalators in the Singapore hotel, left, and the staircase leading up to the lobby in the New York hotel, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

In Singapore, the check-in counter was small and disorganized. Similarly, Laura thought her New York Hotel's lobby left a lot to be desired.

The front desk at the hotel in Singapore, left, and the front desk at the hotel in New York, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The room in the Singapore hotel was much larger than in the New York hotel.

The rooms in Singapore, left, and New York, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The room in the Singapore hotel had an electric kettle and television, while the New York hotel only had a bed and a small side table.

The Singapore room, left, and New York room, right.Marielle Descalsota/Laura Casado/Insider

The Singapore hotel had windows that opened to a stunning view of colorful shophouses while the New York hotel room didn't have windows.

The Singapore room had windows, left, the New York room did not, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The Singapore hotel provided a dental kit, in addition to shampoo and body soap. The New York hotel provided Insider's reporter with a free travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand soap.

The Singapore room had a hair dryer, the New York room had a small toothbrush and bar of soap.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The Singapore hotel provided a dental kit, in addition to shampoo and body soap. The New York hotel provided Insider's reporter with a free travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand soap.

In Singapore, Marielle had an ensuite bathroom. In New York, Laura used a shared bathroom down the hallway at her hotel.

Singapore's in-room bathroom, left, and New York's shared bathrooms in the hallway, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Inside

Marielle felt the bathroom in Singapore was clean, but poorly designed. Laura saw dirt, grime, and dust in the shared bathrooms at the Bowery Grand.

The Singapore bathroom, left, and the New York bathroom, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The Singapore hotel was a noise fest — partygoers, street vendors, and tourists roused late into the night. The New York hotel was more quiet than Laura expected, but she didn't get the most relaxing sleep.

The view from the Singapore room, left, and the New York room without windows, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

The Singapore hotel was a noise fest — partygoers, street vendors, and tourists roused late into the night. The New York hotel was more quiet than Laura expected, but she didn't get the most relaxing sleep.

Overall, the Singapore hotel wasn't as bad as the reviews said, but there are many other great options in the city-state at a similar price point. The New York Hotel wasn't up to Laura's expectations, so she wouldn't stay there again.

Marielle in the Singapore room, left, and Laura in the New York room, right.Marielle Descalsota/Insider, Laura Casado/Insider

Overall, the Singapore hotel wasn't as bad as the reviews said, but there are many other great options in the city-state at a similar price point. The New York Hotel wasn't up to Laura's expectations, so she wouldn't stay there again.

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We compared staying at the worst-rated hotels in New York City and Singapore. Neither felt like a good value at $95 a night.

Insider's reporters stayed at two of the worst-rated hotels in Singapore and New York City to see if they were worth it.

Hotel Calmo Chinatown was near Singapore's top hawker centers. The Bowery Grand Hotel in New York was walking distance to Chinatown and Little Italy.

Marielle thought the entrance to the Singapore hotel looked unexpectedly luxe, while Laura thought the entrance to the hotel in New York was confusing to find.

Inside, the Singapore hotel had escalators while the New York hotel had two flights of stairs leading up to the lobby.

In Singapore, the check-in counter was small and disorganized. Similarly, Laura thought her New York Hotel's lobby left a lot to be desired.

The room in the Singapore hotel was much larger than in the New York hotel.

The room in the Singapore hotel had an electric kettle and television, while the New York hotel only had a bed and a small side table.

The Singapore hotel had windows that opened to a stunning view of colorful shophouses while the New York hotel room didn't have windows.

The Singapore hotel provided a dental kit, in addition to shampoo and body soap. The New York hotel provided Insider's reporter with a free travel-sized toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand soap.

In Singapore, Marielle had an ensuite bathroom. In New York, Laura used a shared bathroom down the hallway at her hotel.

Marielle felt the bathroom in Singapore was clean, but poorly designed. Laura saw dirt, grime, and dust in the shared bathrooms at the Bowery Grand.

The Singapore hotel was a noise fest — partygoers, street vendors, and tourists roused late into the night. The New York hotel was more quiet than Laura expected, but she didn't get the most relaxing sleep.

Overall, the Singapore hotel wasn't as bad as the reviews said, but there are many other great options in the city-state at a similar price point. The New York Hotel wasn't up to Laura's expectations, so she wouldn't stay there again.