Singapore is converting old buses into stylish hotel rooms

If you’ve been to Singapore you may have discovered the Changi Chapel and Museum near the airport, with its poignant exploration of Singapore’s fall to the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. It reopened in 2021 after a major redevelopment.

The Bus Collective comprises 20 Scania buses previously operated by local public transport operator SBS Transit.

But many visitors might not know Changi Village, which is also near the airport. This is largely a weekend recreational spot, with a few unremarkable hotels, a coastal boardwalk, a popular hawker centre and some nearby military bases.

But now there’s a new reason to head to this area in the east of Singapore.

The Bus Collective is a unique stay in the heart of Changi Village right next to the hawker centre. Bookings are now open and guests can stay from December 1. The Bus Collective comprises 20 Scania buses previously operated by local public transport operator SBS Transit.

There are various bed configurations available.

It’s a labour of love for Micker Sia, managing director of WTS Travel, who began his 34-year career in the travel industry as a bus driver. During Singapore’s lockdown he found himself contemplating the fate of old public buses, and after coming up with the idea of The Bus Collective, he forged a partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Singapore Land Authority to make it a reality.

In the driver’s seat at the Bus Collective.

The Bus Collective is now a key asset in the government’s East Coast Plan, designed to optimise the underutilised area.

The buses are spaces of comfort and sophistication, featuring marble countertops, rain showers, sumptuous beds and full-sized bathtubs amid muted-toned decor. There are various bed configurations available and each has a private deck.

The buses are spaces of comfort and sophistication, featuring marble countertops, rain showers, sumptuous beds and full-sized bathtubs amid muted-toned decor.

But the buses are still very, well, bussy. The driver’s seat and dash remain in situ.

There are no associated restaurants – that hawker hall is next door, after all. But a stay includes breakfast.

Beyond that, guests are encouraged to connect to the myriad attractions of Changi Village and Singapore more widely via an “Experiences Centre”, where staff organise activities and tours exploring the area’s history and geography.

In support of the launch, WTS has introduced 20 new coaches for guests travelling to attractions, as well as to and from nearby Malaysia – whether en route to The Bus Collective or elsewhere in Singapore.

From $SG398 ($425) a night. See thebuscollective.com