In a Different form

As early as last Aug, we bought our 2nd Anniversary presents :)

Ain't the conventional exchange of gifts this time round. But rather, it’s something we share that lasts for a year. A Raffles dining membership.

I used to purchase similar yearly membership from Oriental (2 years), Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa (2 years), Pan Pacific, Marina Mandarin & Le Meridien. Since few years ago, I stopped pursuing this interest. My boyfriend strongly felt that the $$ spent was somewhat uncalled for (& yes, the boyfriend is now my hubby dearest). I had to agree with him, much as I was reluctant to. After offsetting the main draw, the complimentary 1 night's stay that is, the remaining amount paid would have to be justified by a certain number of visits to at least breakeven. Meanwhile, we still gotta pay 50% of the meals (that’s if only 2 of us dine in). And when we patronised another restaurant (say another hotel’s), we would feel a lil guilty for not making use of our membership. But let's be frank... how many times can we visit the 3 or 4 restaurants in the same hotel within a year before 'diminishing marginal utility' sets in?

Back to the topic, I’d been approached early this year to join this membership for umpteenth times. Though I found it very attractive, I rejected firmly. The price initially shocked me too... it's 50% more (no less) than what I used to pay. Yet I found myself pondering over the dining benefits almost unceasingly. Finally after a few months of consideration, I proposed to hubby the anniversary thingy as I thought it’s not bad an idea at all. We would be planning for a hotel stay & a dinner anyway.

So what’s in the package that makes it so tempting?

1) A complimentary room night that worth about S$350
2) Complimentary dining vouchers for 2pax in these restaurants:
- Raffles Hotel’s Bar & Billiard Room. Dinner buffet.
- Raffles The Plaza's Plaza Market Cafe. Dinner buffet.
- Equinox Restaurant. Hi-tea.
- Swissotel Merchant Court's Ellenborough Market Cafe. Lunch buffet.
- Swissotel The Stamford's Cafe Swiss. 2-course meal.
3) A bottle of wine + a cake for anniversary & birthday (the usual benefit). Or the choice of 2 bottles of wine.
4) 50% on dining (for 2pax) in a total of 22 restaurants, if I don't remember wrongly.
Plus some other miscellaneous vouchers like 50% discount for group dining, special room rates in participating hotels & benefits like discounts in bars.

Just items (1) + (2) have already well exceeded the sum we paid.

So this year, we will be celebrating in Raffles The Plaza's Premier Room & dining in Raffles Hotel. ;)