Singapore fling: Staying at the iconic Raffles that started it all

Only a handful of hotels have a whole chain named after them. St. Regis. Peninsula. Fairmont. And then there's the Raffles.Although there are now around two dozen Raffles hotels and resorts around the world, they all trace their lineage back to the original Raffles Singapore, which has become one of the most famous hotels in the world since it began welcoming guests back in 1887.ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYThe grande dame of today probably bears little resemblance to the humble 10-room hotel opened by the Sarkies brothers nearly 140 years ago — in part thanks to a lavish and painstaking renovation under the aegis of design star Alexandra Champalimaud from 2017 through 2019 — but there are still hallmarks of that history throughout its hushed halls and lush gardens.ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYAn ancient piano whose keys were once tickled by Noel Coward. Unobtrusive plaques placed next to rooms that were favorites of bestselling authors and other celebrities (the hotel has hosted its fair share). The crunch of tires along the circular gravel driveway — a sound that has accompanied arriving guests for over a century. Perhaps most iconic of all, the nattily uniformed Sikh doormen standing at...