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Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room Staycation : Right in the heart of Clarke Quay!
During our recent staycation, we visited the Swissotel Merchant Court at Clarke Quay and upgraded ourselves to the Executive Room! Initially, we booked a classic room through Agoda for $205 (without breakfast) and wanted to find our own meals around the vicinity. However, at the reception, we were offered an upgrade to the Executive Room for $100++ which included
– Upgrade from Classic to Executive Room with views over the Clarke Quay area
– Breakfast for 2
– Access to Swiss Executive Club with cocktail hours from 6pm to 8pm
– Complimentary Wifi
We could not resist this offer and took the upgrade at the reception!
Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room
Video tour of Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room
What we enjoyed about the Executive Room was its awesome views over Clarke Quay and Singapore River. In the day, we could see the beautiful Singapore skyline and in the evening, the life of the party at Clarke Quay. Even at 2am in the morning, there were still many people enjoying themselves and hanging out at Read Bridge (Malacca Bridge). Not to worry, the windows are sound proof so we were not disturbed by the crowds at all 😉
Having stayed at bathrooms with exceptionally huge bath tubs (see De Sarann Villa), we were not really used to the small in-room bath tub. Nonetheless, our room was at level 11 of the Swissotel Merchant Court which gives us easy access to the Swiss Executive Club!
Swissotel Merchant Court Swiss Executive Club
The Swiss Executive Club is located at level 11 (same floor as our room, yay!) of the Swissotel Merchant Court. We enjoyed the views that the executive club offers over Clarke Quay and the CBD area. Although the selection of food during cocktail hours was lacking in variety, the quality was not too bad. Satay, sushi and prawns were foods that made us come back for seconds. As for the drinks, both red and white wines tasted better than most house wines offered during cocktail hours. Worth the upgrade? A resounding YES!
Swissotel Merchant Court Facilities and Services
Swissotel Merchant Court offers the full suite of services expected of a 5 stars hotel. The swimming pool of Swissotel Merchant Court has slides for the kids, wading pool and also a jacuzzi pool. Surrounded by luscious greenery, the pool area is a sanctuary right in the heart of the city. At the same level, you can also access the gym. At the cardio station, you can have views over Clarke Quay as you work out the sweat – in preparation for the feasting at night! :O
The Ellenborough Market Cafe is also a famous joint for foodies, particularly for the nonya cuisine. We visited Ellenborough Market Cafe when it was having the crab buffet promotion and we also enjoyed its signature durian pengat during that visit. Yum!
Swissotel Merchant Court also offers full spa services at the Spa and Sports. Check out the menu above to see the prices and services that the Spa and Sports offers!
In and Around Swissotel Merchant Court Clarke Quay
Swissotel Merchant Court is located at 20 Merchant Road Singapore 058281 – right in the heart of the city. You can have easy access to the clubbing scene and night life at Clarke Quay and also feel the vibe of Chinatown, minutes away by foot. Shopping opportunities abound at Liang Court and Central Shopping Mall.
For a more relaxing time, Fort Canning Hill is just a stone’s throw away, offering you a perfect spot for picnics or that morning stroll with your loved ones. Don’t forget to hop on the swing swing like we did!
Breakfast at Swissotel Merchant Court Ellenborough Market Cafe
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the Swissotel Merchant Court and our stay at the Executive Room with access to the Swiss Executive Club!
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A Letter to Jen (Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Staycation)…
Dear Jen,
Thank you for hosting us at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, one of the many hotels that you own all over the world. We thoroughly enjoyed the staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway and we’re so glad that we got to experience, first hand, your hospitality over the weekend 🙂
What we enjoyed about Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
1. Relaxing in the comfort of your room
What we really love about your room is not only the view of the city (including Marina Bay Sands) but really the comfort within. Why didn’t you tell us that you had such a comfortable bed and a fantastic choice of channels on TV? We actually spent hours just lazing in bed, catching up on movies and watching “live” soccer…ah…
2. Great service from your staff
Jen Jen Jen, you have kept your “secret weapon” unknown to us haven’t you? We experienced great service all around the hotel! Upon arrival, we were promptly whisked away to our room by Kate and we were checked-in AT OUR ROOM! There were also all-round smiles everywhere we went. Looooved the great service from your staff at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway!
3. Breathtaking views from Rooftop Pool
Video of pool deck at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
When you showed us the pictures taken from your rooftop pool at Hotel Jen, we thought you had them photoshopped. Never did we realise that the views were really so awesome! Coupled with tropical drinks such as Sangria and Mojito, holidays had just begun!
4. Cute little surprise
Thanks for the cute little surprise arranged for us while Kate and I were soaking up the sun at the rooftop pool. We enjoyed the fruits before heading back up for chilling hours at the Club Lounge. Love your handwriting by the way 😉
5. Chilling hours at your Club Lounge
See the two ladies seated in the first photo? That is the best seat in the Club Lounge. That was also where we enjoyed chilling hours as well. Views were great and we especially enjoyed the generous servings of sashimi. But we would have loved to try your specialty cocktail Jen1509. Remember to serve it the next time during your chilling hours k?
6. Fresh Seafood Buffet at Makan@Jen
When you told us that you were taking us to a seafood buffet dinner, we thought that it would be an international buffet with some doses of seafood. WE WERE SO WRONG! Your seafood buffet was A SEAFOOD BUFFET with doses of other meats. At every turn, we saw seafood, seafood and more seafood! But what really impressed us was that they were all really fresh. When we peeled the shell off the snow crab, the meat all stayed together (unlike some famous international buffet) and revealed itself as one huge chunky piece! Moreover, the baked lobster? Mmmm….so so so succulent!
Thank you for having us seated right opposite the lobsters as well. We were always the first on scene when the batches of lobsters were served! A secret to be kept between us ;P
7. Pedestrian Night at Orchard Road
Jack and Rai performing “With A Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles
Did we mention that Hotel Jen Orchardgateway has an excellent location? It is right by Orchard Road, Singapore’s premier shopping belt! But the highlight during our staycation was being able to watch Jack and Rai perform “live”! You didn’t arrange this experience just for us did you?
8. Breakfast at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
We love that you start your breakfast early at 6:30am. Sunrise over breakfast is just magnifique! Do help us thank your awesome chefs for those beautifully poached eggs. Will eggs benedict be on the cards the next time we visit?
9. Free rental of bamboo bicycles
We love this nice little touch of extending free rental of these eco-friend bamboo bicycles for all guests. Using bicycles to navigate around the city is definitely a great touch. We love it especially that there’s no time restrictions. Jen, you’re so smart!
10. Hi-Tea at Lounge@Jen
Chilling at Lounge@Jen is a relaxing experience altogether. Classy yet casual. A perfect place for friends to chillax. You and I both know the secret location where the best views are…shh…let’s meet there some time ok?
How to get to Hotel Jen Orchardgateway
Yes, we remember that Hotel Jen Orchardgateway is located at 277 Orchard Rd, 238858. Thanks for providing us complimentary parking and reminding us to enter the hotel via Somerset Road (not Orchard Road). Of course we parked at level 8 as you have recommended because that lift has only 3 buttons – Level 1, 8 and 10.
We wanted to just take the MRT as well because it is just as convenient by alighting at Somerset MRT. Just a short walk from 313 Somerset.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
Jen,
Thanks for an awesome staycation at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway! So great to have a friend like you!
Be our BFF k?
XOXO!!
Tom and Kate,
2bearbear.com
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Oasia Hotel Staycation Review!
Oasia Hotel Staycation? Who would have thought that the Novena enclave offers an excellent Singapore Staycation option in Oasia Hotel? Over the weekend, we were hosted to a staycation here and were pleasantly delighted by this “hidden-gem-of-a-staycation”…check out this review to find out more!
Oasia Hotel Singapore Staycation
If you’re staying at the Club Room of Oasia Hotel, you’ll be whisked off to the club lounge, also known as the Living Room for a personalised check-in. We also had the refreshing peppermint welcome drink while Janice promptly checked us in – that is eventhough we were much earlier than the stipulated check in time 🙂
Guess who we brought for our Oasia Hotel staycation this time round? Our 2bearbears!
Video Tour of the Club Room at Oasia Hotel
There were several things we enjoyed about the Club Room of Oasia Hotel
1. Splendid views. Club rooms are located above level 22 (we stayed at level 24) and offers marvelous views in and around the Novena enclave. There are also 2 kinds of mechanically-operted blinds over 3 panels that blocks the “prying eyes” of the condominium opposite while still allowing you to enjoy the views!
2. Huge TV. The 46 inch TV does perk you up as you enjoy the staycation at Oasia. We caught “How to train your dragon” on Channel 5, a good recap after just watching D2 (D2 is our short form for “How to train your Dragon 2).
3. In-room spa?Remember we mentioned the rice grain soap bar? It actually has orange and tangerine essential oils infused into the soap bar! The smell was relaxing yet the rice grain softly exfoliates your skin…a great addition to the in-room amenities.
Oasia Hotel Facilities
Swimming Pool, Gym, Steam Room and Sauna at Level 8
There are 2 swimming pools at Oasia Hotel. 2 swimming pools!! The common swimming pool is located at level 8 along with the hotel’s gym, sauna and steam room. In addition, there’s also a chillax area on the same level that allows you to overlook views of the surrounding…
Club Lounge Swimming Pool at level 22
It was made known to us that Oasia Hotel’s Club Lounge (also known as the Living Room) has a little secret. It is the only hotel in Singapore which has its lounge next to its “Club Member’s Only” swimming pool!
Splendid views as seen from the pool deck of the Living Room at level 22
Did we mention that both swimming pools at level 22 and level 8 were surprisingly clean? At the level 8 swimming pool, due to a shallower portion next to the deck chairs, you can actually lie there (like a beached whale) and feel absolutely no grime whatsoever. Impressed.
As the swimming pool is just next to the Living Room, you can choose to have gourmet coffee (we had latte above) or refreshing Italian Sodas (try the peach flavour!) right by the pool! In the evenings, the cocktails happen from 6pm to 8pm daily, here’s what the lounge offers…
Club Lounge aka the Living Room
What we really enjoyed about the cocktail was the service, great selection of drinks, proximity to the pool and of course the surprisingly wonderful sunset! Give Oasia Bliss a try, a berry based cocktail, definitely a hit with the ladies. Alternatively, you can have a dip in the pool while having some drinks and finger foods by the pool side. Surely a relaxing way to end the evening…ah…
World Cup at Oasia Hotel Club Lounge
During this world cup season, the club lounge has kindly extended its opening hours to show all, ALL the world cup matches to allow the guests to enjoy as well! Juices and coffee (important!) were made available too!
Service was just as prompt during the wee hours of the morning with David asking us our choice of drinks as soon as we were seated. We were there from 1am to 5am catching the Argentina vs Iran and Germany vs Ghana matches. We interacted with an Argentinian and German guest from the hotel as well during the matches! Definitely a nice touch by Oasia Hotel to extend this service to the Club Room guests!
Massage Treatment at Enchanted Spa
Conveniently located next to Oasia Hotel, Enchanted Spa offers guests a relaxing option a stone’s throw away. Thanks to the awesome folks at Enchanted Spa, Kate was treated to a relaxing 60 minutes session of the customised massage treatment…according to Kate…SHIOK!
Breakfast at Zaffron Oasia Hotel
Breakfast at Zaffron was simple but has its bases covered. Whether you prefer cereals, breads or a small selection of asian fare, they are available. Taste wise, not fantastic but it does provide you the jolt for the day, especially after those world cup early mornings!
High Tea at Zaffron Oasia Hotel
If you’re staying at Oasia Hotel as part of its weekend getaway, you’ll also be receiving a complimentary high tea at Zaffron. Though the mains had nothing to shout about, the dessert and DIY-foods were pretty decent…
In and Around Oasia Hotel
Besides being located next to world class medical facilities, Oasia Hotel is located next to several shopping malls including Novena Square, Square 2, Velocity and United Square. In addition, there are great foods in the area such as Hong Kong food street and the Balestier food centre…
How to get to Oasia Hotel Singapore
Map of Oasia Hotel Singapore
If you are taking the MRT, alight at Novena MRT station on the North Line and follow the signs that leads you to Square 2. From there, there’s a underground link directly to Oasia Hotel!
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Oasia Hotel Staycation Weekend Getaway is a 4.25!
B – 1. There was a bath tub with the Rice Grain Soap Bar with Orange and Tangerine Essential Oils.
A – 0.75. It’s a split between Kate and I for ambience.
S – 1. Excellent service throughout the hotel at the reception,lounge and restaurant.
I – 1. 2 swimming pools! Plus, it’s the only hotel in Singapore with a pool at the lounge level!
C – 0.5. Bed was a tad too soft for our liking. Comfortable nonetheless.
All in all, we enjoyed the Oasia Hotel staycation, because of its location, its great service, cool swimming pools (with access to the club lounge), great views and of course a overall experience. The Oasia Weekend Getaway Package is definitely worth a stay! But remember…not for the food…
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Remember to leave your comments for 2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog in our comments section below!
Staying at Oasia Hotel? Click here to enjoy competitive rates and compare the prices of hotels in the vicinity!
**Special thanks to Mike, Germaine and Far East Hospitality for making our staycation at Oasia Hotel possible!
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Rendezvous Hotel Singapore : Staycation in the Heart of the Art District!
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore is located right in the heart of Singapore’s Art District, within walking distance to the National Museum and Singapore Art Museum (SAM). Thanks to the great folks at Rendezvous Hotel, we were invited for a staycation over the weekend at the newly renovated Club Room with access to the exclusive Club Rendezvous!
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Facilities
We arrived early at Rendezvous Hotel at the start of our staycation and our room was not yet ready then (we usually arrive earlier to check out the premise and its vicinity). Nonetheless, we were warmly welcomed by Sabrina and Rasheda who brought us up to Club Rendezvous for drinks while we were checked in. For guests staying at Club Rooms, instead of queuing in the lobby of Rendezvous Hotel, you can enjoy the privacy of checking in at level 11 where Club Rendezvous is located. You can also do likewise for checking out.
After having some orange juice at Rendezvous Club, we decided to check out the facilities available at Rendezvous Hotel…
Elsewhere at level 1, you will be able to find the famous Straits Cafe, Courtyard, Rendezvous Gallery as well as the Library – Rendezvous Hotel’s Lobby Bar
The Library has a modern and chic design which makes it a great place for pre-dinner or post-dinner drinks. Check out the contemporary looking sofas within. Definitely an excellent venue to gather with your friends and buddies!
At the Courtyard, there was also a flea market ongoing…
As it was a sunny day, we decided to take a dip in the pool before checking out our room…
It was simply shiok, lazing in the pool on a hot sunny afternoon. In the evenings, when its much cooler, you can also opt to laze in the jacuzzi next to the pool (warm/hot water to be expected and yes, it’s all about lazing in the pool these days :P). The gym also overlooks the pool area…
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Club Room
If you’re checking into the Club Room at Rendezvous Hotel, you’ll not only be able to enjoy welcome amenities and upgraded bathroom amenities, you’ll also be able to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 6pm to 8pm daily. In addition, you can enjoy your breakfast there and even light finger foods from 2pm to 5pm. In a sense, you can enjoy makan all day at Club Rendezvous!
Thanks to Rasheda, we were welcomed with the fruit basket and more importantly (for Kate) the tea selection of kueh lapis (yay!), chocolates (yay!) and macaroons (double yay!).
Video Tour of Club Room at Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Afternoon Tea
Included in your Weekend Getaway @ Rendezvous Hotel promotion is an afternoon tea worth $38++ per person. Initially, we thought it was just a high tea with cakes and coffee…we were wrong! IT WAS A FULL MEAL!!
Of course, the most popular dishes at Straits Cafe – the Laksa and Durian Pengat!
Somehow, we think that the pengat tastes much better than the puffs, cakes and crepes. If you think likewise, you can choose to do what we did – have a scoop of pengat with the puffs or crepes TOGETHER! Yum!
At the same time, Club Rendezvous offers a selection of dishes from 2pm to 5pm including mini burgers, egg and cheese prata, submarine roll and the bacon & egg focaccia.
Evening cocktails at Club Rendezvous
Just an hour after afternoon tea, we were back at Club Rendezvous for the evening cocktail (we were so stuffed!) and hors d’oeuvres!
Best part of dining at Club Rendezvous? The fantastic views you can enjoy!
Straits Cafe Sunday Brunch Buffet
On Sundays, you can also enjoy the Sunday Brunch Buffet at Straits Cafe. Although it’s not as “premium” as some of the Sunday Brunches that we have been to, but for $48++, the offerings were fairly decent. Our favourite? The ultra huge fresh oysters!
These are in addition to the famous laksa and durian pengat which are also available for Sunday Brunch. For more on what we ate, stay tune for our upcoming post covering Straits Cafe’s Sunday Brunch Buffet!
In and around Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Besides the offerings within Rendezvous Hotel itself, you will be delighted to know that your staycation at Rendezvous Hotel, gives you an excellent base to check out the free museums in the vicinity (for Singaporeans and PRs only), including the National Museum and the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). The civic district is a short walk away while Cathay Cineplex offers cinematic options as well!
How to get to Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Map of Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
The closest MRT station is Bras Basah MRT station while Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is also within a short walking distance.
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Rendezvous Hotel’s Weekend Getaway is a 3!
B – 0.5. Unfortunately, there’s no bath tub in the Club Room.
A – 0.5. Inviting room and general atmosphere at the hotel.
S – 0.5. Service was good but turn down service did not take place though.
I – 0.5. Great swimming pool coupled with a jacuzzi.
C – 1. Loooooved the bed! Supported our backs really well and it is slightly elevated.
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook or Buy Us a Coffee Today!
Remember to leave your comments for 2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog in our comments section below!
Staying at Rendezvous Singapore Hotel? Click here to enjoy competitive rates and compare the prices of hotels in the vicinity!
**Special thanks to Mike and Far East Hospitality for making our staycation at Rendezvous Hotel possible!
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Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation : Singapore’s ALL-IN Staycation!
Quincy Hotel’s Qool Weekend Staycation is back! Thanks to the folks at FEH and BM, we were hosted to a 1 night staycation at Quincy Hotel Singapore and just as it’s radio ads say, “It’s DIFFERENT!”. It certainly was!
Our stay at Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation could possibly be Singapore’s first ALL-INCLUSIVE Staycation!
Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation Singapore
At the reception, we were warmly welcomed by Madeleine and Zydney who promptly checked us in and served up our welcome drinks – ginger ale with fruit punch ice. Yes, fruit punch that was freezed and use as ice! :O
We were then introduced to the Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation benefits that we’d be enjoying during our stay…
– One night stay at The Quincy Hotel’s Studio Room (twin-sharing)
– All-day light refreshments by Dean & DeLuca and Modesto’s
– Unlimited Wi-Fi access
– Evening cocktails
– In-room mini-bar
– Late check-out till 3pm (subject to availability)
– Local calls
– PLUS one bottle of red wine
– Art Jamming (Saturdays) or Cupcake Baking (Sundays) at 3pm
– Saturday Night Movie Screening by the Pool at 9pm
What we really love about cruises is that programmes and food are planned for you. You just have to appear! It seems that Far East Hospitality has taken this concept and implemented it right here at Quincy Hotel, in the heart of Singapore’s Shopping Belt – Orchard Road!
Besides the welcome drinks, good service was also shown when Zydney personally showed us to our room – the Studio Room at Quincy Hotel…
Studio Room at Quincy’s Qool Weekend Staycation
From the video tour, you would have noticed the large window (which extends to the ceiling), offering a splendid view of the skyline around the hotel. In addition, the sexy glass window between the bedroom and the bathroom, allows you to enjoy the cable TV (mio stadium included!) while taking a relaxing bath in the bathtub!
The blinds of the window can be controlled by a press of a button and therefore you do not have to do “flag raising” at the sides. In addition, the other cool feature we noticed were the cable inlets just below the TV! No more turning and searching around the TV for the socket inlets!
Facilities @ Quincy Hotel’s Qool Weekend Staycation
Here’s a quick snapshot of the facilities that Quincy Hotel offers…
What we did at Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation
After briefly checking out the cable network, we headed first to the all day dining at the hotel’s in-house lobby restaurant, located at level 1…
At 3pm, we headed to level 12 for…you’ve guessed it…ART JAMMING SESSION!
Art Jamming Session
According to our instructor – Damien (holding the camera in the picture above), he says that everyone comes and says that they’re not artistically inclined. But after 2 minutes, everyone would just start drawing the picture that they have googled and colour it with the acrylic paint provided (no mixing with water required – just apply the thick layers of paint directly!). The same happened for us! We chose a picture from Romero Britto and started to work on it.
As the soothing lounge music played in the background, our hands got to work and soon, the “Surfer Dog” was completed! Not that soon actually, we started at about 3:10pm and ended at 4:30pm. But still, it was quite an accomplishment!
After you’re done, just leave it there to dry and the painting will be ready at the reception when you check out!
Totally enjoyed the art jamming session! Everyone should try it!
Evening Cocktails
After a quick energising nap, we headed back to the lobby restaurant for the cocktail at 6pm…(eat sleep eat!)
Although the variety of warm food was small, the quality more than made up for it! In fact, the fettuccine was so good that we had seconds and thirds! Rich and cheesy cream sauce with just the right texture for the fettuccine…yum!
Shopping at Orchard Road
After the cocktail session, we headed to Orchard Road and Far East Plaza to do some shopping! There’s actually a short cut from Quincy Hotel to Far East Plaza via York Hotel. What you will need to do is cross the road from Quincy Hotel and enter the lobby of York Hotel. Walk past it and exit from the open carpark area. Take a short walk down the slope and you will arrive at Goodwood Park Hotel on the right and Far East Plaza on the left.
From there, you’re open to a world of shopping at Orchard!
Saturday Night Movie by the Pool @ 9pm
Heading back to Quincy, you can enjoy movies by the pool on Saturday nights. This evening “Hercules” was screening. You can also opt to lie on one of the floats while watching the movie.
Breakfast at Lobby Restaurant
After a restful sleep in our room for the night, we had a light breakfast at Lobby Restaurant…
Cupcake Baking on Sundays
The cool thing about doing the Quincy Qool Staycation on a Saturday is that you’re able to enjoy both afternoon programmes offered by the hotel! After we checked out, we headed for the Sunday cupcake baking session! Do remember to put down your names in advance if you’re interested to join as there are limited slots for the sessions…
Now you know how much butter goes into your cupcakes… :O
Separately, we were given cupcakes to decorate and we drew sunflowers and the 2bearbears! There’s even a mini competition to see which cupcake was the best decorated one!
Map and Location of Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation
Quincy Hotel is located at 22 Mt Elizabeth Singapore 228517, next to the Elizabeth Hotel. In fact, they share the same parking facility (or rather Quincy uses Elizabeth Hotel’s parking for its guests). After parking at the Elizabeth Hotel, you can exit via its main entrance, take a left turn and enter into Quincy Hotel!
To sum up, we take a look at our BASIC FACTOR and the score for Quincy Hotel’s Qool Weekend Staycation is a qool 4!
B – 1. Bathroom comes equipped with a bathtub.
A – 0.5. Inviting room and general atmosphere at the hotel.
S – 1. Service was great at Quincy Hotel! Thanks Madeleine and Zydney for the hospitality!
I – 1. Cool infinity pool with great views of the skyline.
C – 0.5. Bed was comfortable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, here are 3 reasons why we thoroughly enjoyed our staycation at Quincy Hotel’s Qool Weekend
1. All-Inclusive Staycation. Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation could probably be the first all-inclusive staycation in Singapore. If you enjoy the programmes (and food) planned for you aboard cruise ships, you’d certainly enjoy the staycation at Quincy Hotel where food and programmes are planned out for you throughout the day (think art jamming, movies by the pool, cupcake baking, swimming, working out at the gym and all-day dining!)
2. Art Jamming. Before we did Art Jamming, it sounded more like an abstract kind of arty programme than an activity that we’d really enjoy. But after creating “Surfer Dog” (see above), it sought of rekindled our confidence in art and for those of you who have not tried it, you’d might be surprised at what you can do as well!
3. Good quality food. Eventhough the VARIETY was small, food QUALITY was actually quite good. During lunch hours, the chicken pho and curry noodle were really good as well. Not the kind that “clock” a noodle on a menu but was surprisingly tasty. The fettuccine? Guess we’ve said enough above (go for seconds and thirds!).
All in all, it was indeed a really Qool staycation at the Quincy Hotel!
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**Special thanks to Mike, Zydney and Madeleine for hosting us at the Quincy Hotel!
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AMOY Hotel Singapore : Why you should stay here during your next visit
AMOY Hotel Singapore is a newly refurbished boutique hotel launched by Far East Hospitality, right in the heart of the CBD area. We were invited by AMOY Hotel for a stay and this post will tell you why you should stay here during your next visit to Singapore!
Checking In at AMOY Hotel Singapore
Checking in was a breeze and we were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff of AMOY Hotel. While I was checking in, Kate took some shots of the lobby of AMOY hotel…
As we were checking in, we also received our welcome drinks which eased us into the vacation mood. But there was one other thing we noticed while we were checking in…
We saw someone actually painting the artwork on the furnishings of the hotel lobby! To add to the “wow factor”, we were told that this person, painting the artwork, is actually from the housekeeping department! We were told that the hotel has ideas that stems from artistic creativity, but seems like the idea has also permeated to staff of the hotel as well. Kudos to the management for allowing its staff to engage in these small improvements of the hotel!
Special mention must be made of Lina. Throughout our stay, she offered impeccable and personalised service that made our staycation that much more special. After our check-in, she showed us all the way to our Deluxe Double Room. Talk about personalised service! Along the way, we were also told that the 20 most common surname are sprinkled across the hallways of the hotel.
After showing us to our room, Lina also walked through some of the features of the room, which we will show you in the next section. Thanks Lina!
AMOY Hotel Singapore Deluxe Double Room
Our first impression of the room is its modern design which still intertwines with Chinese artistic flavours. The view of the open concept wardrobe shows what we mean…
There are a few things that we loved about the room. Firstly, the tea and coffee selection which offers yummy flavours like Oolong caramel tea and Kimono tea. Secondly, though the room is small (20 sqm), it has a rain shower facility!
Lastly, the modern yet warm design makes one feels welcome for a stay 🙂
Breakfast at AMOY Hotel Singapore
Although many have said that the breakfast at AMOY Hotel is not that fantastic, we actually think that it was adequate. The spread though small, meets the requirements of a continental breakfast of cereals, bread, cheese/ham and coffee!
We recommend that you go for 2 different toasts at breakfast (play with the cool toaster!). One with cheese and ham and the other with kaya and butter. Washed down with a cup of gourmet cappuccino! You can wrap up the meal with some fruits or yoghurt for a healthy touch 😉
Why you should stay at AMOY Hotel Singapore
Frankly speaking, the room is not the main draw of AMOY Hotel. “Then what is?” you may ask. It’s all about location, location, location! AMOY Hotel is so superbly located that you can walk by foot to the CBD area, Singapore River, Chinatown, Club Street and many famous hawker centres to try out local flavours! But before we go there, let’s talk about the heritage of the Far East Square area
1. Heritage. You’ll soon notice that in and around the hotel, there are many monuments, displays and signs that shows the historical heritage of Singapore. This is because Telok Ayer ran parallel to the original shoreline (hard to imagine right? so much land reclamation has been done!) and many immigrants used to land around this area. They set up living quarters and also temples and mosques to give thanks to their gods for the safe passage to Singapore.
(and no, the guy in the middle is not supposed to be wearing a shawl)
2. Excellent Location! From our hotel, we could walk to Chinatown, Singapore River, Club Street and more!
3. Food Food Food. If you’re a foodie like us, you will certainly enjoy your stay at AMOY Hotel. This is because, if you’d like to try some local food, AMOY Street Food Centre and Maxwell Food Center (famous for Wanton Mee and Hainanese Chicken Rice) are within walking distance. In and around Far East Square, you’ll find food establishments at Pekin and Nankin Street. For dim sum buffet, Ju Chun Yuan just downstairs offers a good selection at an affordable price. Of course, for more classy joints, Club Street & Boat Quay is just a stone’s throw away!
How to get to AMOY Hotel Singapore
Like many visitors before us, you’ll probably find it a little challenging to find the entrance to the hotel. So to make the process that much easier, here are 2 ways to locate AMOY Hotel at Far East Square.
Fuk Tak Chi Museum actually fronts the entrance of the hotel. If you’re walking along Telok Ayer Street (opposite downtown line’s Telok Ayer MRT Station), look out for the the facade of the Fuk Tak Chi Museum and bravely walk into it. You’ll notice a glass side door, enter it and you’ll arrive at the lobby of AMOY Hotel.
Alternatively,
If you are already in Far East Square, look for the above entrance opposite Mr Teh Tarik. This entrance is close to Ju Chun Yuan restaurant and next to Tung Lok Teahouse.
In Conclusion
The excellent service and great location is a huge draw to stay at the AMOY Hotel. At night, we were also given a good night note from the staff of AMOY Hotel…
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For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals at AMOY Hotel Singapore right here! Enjoy warm and friendly services while soaking in the sights and sounds from a centrally located hotel!
**Special thanks to Mike and Far East Hospitality for making our stay at Amoy Hotel possible!
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Uniquely Singapore Staycation at Village Hotel Katong!
Village Hotel Katong Staycation. Singapore Staycations have grown in popularity among Singaporeans in recent times and this can actually be proven by asking your friends a simple question – “Do you know what is a ‘staycation’?”. These days, they may just give you a wierd look and think to themselves “Where have you been man? Staycation is a word play of the words “vacation” and “stay” – meaning a holiday while staying in locally”. But if you posed the same question 5 years ago, you may still be greeted with a wierd look but a totally different thought of “Whaaaaat??”
Thanks to the great people at Far East Hospitality, we were invited to a staycation at the newly refurbished Village Hotel Katong (formerly known as East Village Hotel and Paramount Hotel before that). The best thing about staying in the Katong enclave is that there are so many things to do in Katong that are so easily within reach! All within walking distance from Village Hotel Katong!
For those who do not already know, the Katong/Joo Chiat area is an idyllic enclave in the eastern part of Singapore that is rich in colonial history and Peranakan culture and Village Hotel Katong is right in the middle of all of that, allowing you to indulge in a staycation while reveling in the history and culture of an Uniquely Singapore experience!
But first, let’s check out the club room that the hotel has kindly arranged for us…
Club Room with Peranakan Lounge Access at Village Hotel Katong
Let’s take a look at the video tour of the Club Room of Village Hotel Katong first shall we?
Video Tour of Club Room Village Hotel Katong
For us, one of the biggest draw of the room has got to be the Peranakan feel that the room exuberates. The hotel spares no effort in bringing out the rich heritage of Katong right in your own room…
The bathroom also comes with a standing rain shower. It really revitalised us after a day spent out exploring what Katong has to offer…
There’s also a balcony that gives you a view of the surroundings (as you’ve seen from the video). The thing that you will have to note is that because of the “Pyramid” shape of the hotel, the larger rooms are below (club rooms are at level 5 and 6) while the deluxe and superior rooms are located at the higher levels. But at higher levels, you may actually have views of the sea! That’s the trade-off that you will have to decide on…size or view, size or view??
Facilities at Village Hotel Katong
Located beneath the hotel is the Katong V retail mall. It’s quite small really but it is anchored by Fairprice Finest allowing you to get your necessities – a stone’s throw away.
As with all 4-stars hotel, Village Hotel Katong has facilities that include a swimming pool, gym, restaurant (Katong Kitchen) as well as a club lounge known as the Peranakan Lounge…
We thoroughly enjoyed our swim at Village Hotel Katong. It was a hot and sunny day and that gave us a good tan! Moreover, the depth of the pool varies (from 1.2m to 1.8m), allowing tall swimmers like us to enjoy a relaxing afternoon swim. There are also deck chairs for you to just laze and take things down a notch.
Katong Kitchen is the place where you’ll head to for breakfast. Surprisingly, the food was actually quite good for breakfast standards. Tasted much better than some 4 stars hotel breakfast that we’ve been to.
Breakfast at Village Hotel Katong
The breakfast at Village Hotel Katong was surprisingly good and the choice was quite extensive as well. Take a look!
If you only have room for 1 dish, you have got to try the Nasi Lemak. Rice was especially fragrant and we realised that it was cooked not only with pandan leaves but also lemon grass – giving it that unique taste. The condiments of ikan bilis,peanuts,belachan egg, chicken chunks (there was chicken wings as well) plus the nonya achar, made the dish all that special. There’s also a noodles station, porridge and dim sum (har gau / chicken pau) for those who yearns for alternatives.
All in all, Katong Kitchen’s breakfast offered great taste and an excellent variety of choices. Yum!
Peranakan Lounge Village Hotel Katong
To truly enjoy a staycation at Village Hotel Katong, you MUST opt for the Club Room with access to the Peranakan Lounge. Drinks (including soft drinks/coffee/tea) and snacks are served at the lounge throughout the day…
The REAL reason why the Peranakan Lounge access makes your staycation all that more wonderful is because of the evening cocktails from 6pm to 8pm! You’ll get free flow, FREE-FLOW of beers, liquors and wine and finger food to go along as well!
The other cool thing is that you’ll be served at the lounge! We just went in, sat down and were promptly served by the staff of the Peranakan Lounge. All you have to do is choose a comfortable spot. While you chill at the lounge, you can choose to watch some TV or read the newspapers (something that Tom enjoys) and magazines.
Why do a Singapore Staycation at Village Hotel Katong?
Besides enjoying a comfortable, relaxing and rejuvenating stay at the Village Hotel Katong, the main draw of the staycation here is the proximity to the attractions at the Katong enclave. The great people of Far East Hospitality has even done up a booklet that tells you the things to do in Katong while you’re staying at Village Hotel Katong…
There are really many things to do and attractions in Katong. You may also be wondering what are the things to eat in Katong? Well, we’ll talk more about that in our next post. But to be sure, there are tons of shopping options at I12 Katong (not 112), Parkway Parade Shopping Centre and Roxy Square. Food options abound at Marine Parade Food Centre and the famous joints (such as 328 Katong Laksa, Ampang Niang Tou Fu, Chin Mee Chin Confectionery and Yong’s Teochew Kueh).
How to get to Village Hotel Katong
Village Hotel Katong is located at 25 Marine Parade S449536. If you’re driving like us (parking is complimentary), you can enter into the carpark of Village Hotel Katong via Marine Parade or East Coast Road.
If you go by public transport, the buses 15,31,36,43,48,76,135,196,196e,197,853C and 966 stops opposite Parkway Parade Shopping Centre. Buses 10,10e,12,14,14e,32 and 40 stops at Roxy Square. Both bus stops are 2 minutes walk from Village Hotel Katong.
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For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deal at Village Hotel Katong right here!
We thoroughly enjoyed our staycation at Village Hotel Katong and we think that Far East Hospitality has got the Singapore Staycation formula right on. Just like our Village Hotel Changi staycation, both hotels offers an excellent base to rediscover the gems and unique attractions that Singapore offers. The formula is right in that staycations are no longer about luxuries of a hotel (that is a must-have) but also what one can discover around the precinct of the hotel.
*Special thanks once again to Far East Hospitality for inviting us for this staycation and kudos to the staff of Village Hotel Katong for excellent service rendered to us during our stay!
P.S. To Jennesa and Josephine, thanks for making our stay extra special by tending to our request and addressing our queries with such excellent service. Was particularly impressed with Josephine’s starting line of “Sorry to keep you waiting” eventhough we merely stood in line for 5 seconds. Great service overall, kudos to the team at VH Katong!
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InterContinental Hotel Warsaw : Best 5 Stars Hotel in Warsaw Poland!
InterContinental Warszawa (Warsaw) is arguably one of the best 5 stars Hotel in Warsaw Poland! Kate and I had the opportunity to enjoy a night at this marvelous hotel and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.
As always, we requested for a high floor at the Intercontinental Warsaw and we were met with this view when we first entered the room…
Spacious room with a view at Intercontinental Warsaw Hotel
Besides the amazing view, the room itself was spacious, comfortable and very well equipped…
But as avid readers of 2bearbear.com, you would have known by now that Kate and I dont easily get “wowed” unless it’s like Ritz Carlton Singapore or amazing views like this…
Panoramic Views of Warsaw from the 43/44 storey Wellness Centre of Intercontinental Warszawa
YES! One of the main selling points of the InterContinental Warsaw Hotel is the magnificent views of Warsaw from the Wellness Centre. You will be able to see the Palace of Culture and Science and of course the National Stadium Warsaw, Poland!
Did you know that the Palace of Culture and Science was a gift from Soviet Union to the people of Poland and even today, some still detest it because of its mark of Soviet domination. It also has a nick name – the Wedding Cake because of its design.
On a lighter note, the National Stadium was built in time for the Euro 2012! The opening match was played at this venue!
The highlight of the wellness centre is of course the gym and the pool!
You’ll be able to enjoy views of the Palace of Culture & Science as well the entire city of Warsaw right from the comforts of the swimming pool, hot tub or right at the gym!
The wellness centre is also open in the evenings and early mornings. At night, you can enjoy night views of the city…
There is a neat little elevation at the edge of the pool where you can stand on and have a better view. The other cool thing about visiting the wellness centre in the morning is that there is an excellent view of the sunrise each morning! We were chatting with the instructor at the gym and he showed us the photos he took that particular morning which was absolutely amazing! At the Riverview Wellness Centre, you can also enjoya sauna, steam bath and even massages! Do check it out!
Best Buffet Breakfast in Warsaw – Downtown Restaurant InterContinental Warsaw
Many have touted Downtown Restaurant at Intercontinental Hotel Warsaw to have the best buffet breakfast in Warsaw. We were impressed but whether it’s the best…well…take a look and you can decide
We were impressed by the ambience and class of Downtown Restaurant. It was spacious, sun-lit and elegantly decorated. The live music on the harp definitely added to the class. There’s even a view of the main street at the windows seats. There was also a good spread…
Truth be told, the spread was good but it was still classic European buffet breakfast, nothing really stood out from the spread.
Well, we cannot confirm plus chop, say that the Downtown Restaurant has the best buffet breakfast in all of Warsaw. However, the class, ambience and elegance of the restaurant does set it apart from its competitors. Tell us if you know better buffet breakfasts in Warsaw below in the comments section!
Map of InterContinental Warsaw Hotel Poland
Another great thing about the Intercontinental Warsaw Hotel is that it is a short walking distance from the Warsaw Central Railway Station. In addition, the Zlote Tarasy (Golden Terraces), a huge shopping mall is just a 5 minutes walk away!
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For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in Warsaw right here!
All in all, Intercontinental Warsaw is definitely one of the best 5 stars hotel in Warsaw Poland!
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National Day Staycation at the Regent Singapore – A Four Seasons Hotel!
Staycation or short overseas trip? That was the question for the Hari Raya / National Day long weekend last week. As it was also Kate’s birthday, we decided that a staycation at Regent Singapore at the Regent Club Deluxe Room was in order!
Staycation at the Regent Hotel Singapore!
The facade of the hotel didn’t seem much, a little oldish looking in fact. However, when we stepped into the hotel lobby, everything changed! A classy ambience and spacious lobby invitingly greeted us as we stepped in. The lounge piano music serenaded guests at this 5 star hotel. The lounge piano music was LIVE!
We were promptly greeted by Margaret as we arrived at the reception. She seemed very knowledgeable, giving us a quick run down of the facilities, breakfast timings and the all-important cocktails plus pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres @ the Regent Club from 5:30pm to 8:00pm daily! You’re wondering what is hor d’oeuvres now aren’t you? We’ll give you a tour of the Regent Club in a bit!
We also asked for our complimentary parking ticket, which Margaret promptly got from the concierge for us. After passing us the keys, she actually walked out of the reception and showed us ALL THE WAY TO THE LIFT LOBBY! That’s great service right there! Thanks Margaret!
We were filled with anticipation as we walked from the lift lobby to our room and we were pleasantly surprised…
Regent Singapore Club Deluxe Room Staycation
The Deluxe room boasted of a generous living space, a sofa for two as well as a comfortably inviting King-sized bed!
The room exuberated class and was equipped with an essential of staycations in Singapore – A bath tub!
After we checked in, we went for a swim at the pool and when we returned, there was a rostrum of treats waiting for us! The hotel knew about Kate’s birthday and made arrangements to send up these treats that included macaroon, cakes, creme brulee and fruity mousse shots. Thanks for the thoughtful gesture Regent!
Regent Singapore Staycation – The Facilities!
As we have mentioned in previous posts, the swimming pool of the hotel makes or breaks a staycation. Well, the swimming pool of Regent Hotel JUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUST made the mark. It was by 5 star standards, well, small. However, the deck chairs were well laid out and the service by the pool was prompt. Towels were laid for us while complimentary smoothies were dished out by the pool as well!
While we were relaxing by the pool, we also noticed that the staff was also kept really busy, serving drinks, clearing towels, setting deck chairs – all in a day’s work!
You can also access the other facilities such as the Jacuzzi, steam bath and sauna via the gym or through the washroom by the pool. We’ve got to say that the hotel has all the facilities ready for a staycation. The fitness centre also has 2 massage treatment rooms with soothing treatment options to ease you into your staycation!
The Regent Club – A Perfect Complement to the Regent Staycation
Soon it was time for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Regent Club located on the 11th floor of the Regent Singapore. The cocktail at Regent Club goes on from 5:30pm to 8pm daily!
Hors d’oeuvres actually mean appetizers in French. But do not be fooled, the spread at the Regent Club is REALLY A SPREAD…
As Kate would put it, “It really is a meal!”. The drinks which included a alcoholic selection, beers and wines (both red and white) made the cocktail a classy yet relaxed one.
As it was also National Day, we tuned in to Channel 5 to watch the National Day Parade. Sean who worked at the Regent Club this evening checked back with us from time to time asking us how the evening was and whether we needed to turn up the volume for the NDP. The remote was also passed to us so that we could hear the proceedings audibly! Thanks Sean, it’s small gestures like this that made our stay all that unique!
Breakfast at the Regent Singapore
The breakfast spread at Regent Singapore was the common international buffet…
The breakfast we’ve got to say was quite normal. Given that the usual price for the buffet (if you walk-in) is $40++ per person, one would have expected more. Perhaps a partial buffet and set menu with choices such as the egg benedict and turkey sandwich?
But, the service was still impeccable. Why?
1. We were greeted with the widest smile (always a great start to the morning), seated promptly and served with coffee and juice almost as soon as we were seated.
2. Tom dropped his tea spoon (not on purpose!!) and one of the staff saw it and IMMEDIATELY replaced his spoon! 😮
Again, small little gestures. But it shows that the hotel pays attention even to the smallest details. Kudos to that!
Why a Staycation at the Regent Hotel?
There are 3 reasons why we think that Regent makes a good staycation in Singapore.
1. Location. Located near the start of Orchard Road, Regent Hotel offers a great base to shopping and dining at Singapore’s premier shopping belt. Just a short walk away, we went for Ramen at Bari Uma
Kate thought the chef was cute – *sob sob*
We also headed to Orchard Road to do some shopping. Plus, Hard Rock Cafe is also a short walk away from the hotel’s premise.
2. Regent Club. We’ve been to a couple of cocktails at Club Lounges but the spread at Regent Club was really much better than the rest. A meal really. Drink selection was also excellent. If the beers had more than 2 selection, that would have been AWESOME!
3. Luxurious Rooms. A classy, luxurious, spacious and comfortable room. Need we say more?
A shout out to Irene, Sean and Margaret for making our stay all that unique!
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For your convenience, we have arranged for the best staycation deal at the Regent Singapore right here!
Happy Singapore Staycations everyone!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Regent Singapore & Four Seasons for making this staycation possible!
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The Ultimate Family Staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa!
Have you ever wanted a staycation where you and your family (including the kids) can really rejuvenate, relax and just have a great time? Look no further than a staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Singapore!
We have heard all about the family-oriented features and programmes at the Rasa Sentosa but this time, we finally got the opportunity to check it out for ourselves! After a smooth check-in, we were brought to our rooms by one of the receptionist and the room was just nothing short of amazing…check this out!
Family Staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort
The room was a sanctuary and gave us an excellent vibe to the start of a staycation. The room was spacious with a pastel coloured theme. You know we sometimes complain about bathrooms that DONT allow you to bathe while you watch TV? With the swivel TV and “windows” at the bathroom, you can relax and enjoy your bath while watching your favourite shows! The kids can also enjoy their bath while staying tuned to Cartoon Network! 🙂
The room is well-stocked and you have a small selection of teas and coffees. The hotel’s turndown service was also a thoughtful gesture whereby they re-arranged our rooms and brought in their nonya kueh kuehs while we were at the pool!
The kids can access stationery for their art and crafts if they need to!
Take a tour around our Deluxe Pool View Room at Rasa Sentosa Resort here…
Nope, we did not spot the monkeys. Beautiful peahens did make their appearance though.
From the lift buttons you can see that the gym is located at level 5 while the swimming pool and cool zone (for the kids) are at level 1. The restaurants and chill out bars are scattered throughout the premise.
Tom took a 5km run on the treadmill at the gym and lifted some weights using the various machines available. After the gym, it was time to hit the pools! (After a quick shower of course – dont EVER jump into the pool after a sweaty work out people!)
As we have mentioned many times, the swimming pool makes or breaks a staycation! The pool at Rasa Sentosa certainly made our staycation GRRRRRRREAT! (To the sound of Kellogg’s) We have been to Siloso Beach at Sentosa many times but we never realised that the pool of Rasa Sentosa Resort was actually HUGE!
Staycation for the Kids at Rasa Sentosa Resort Singapore
Plus, there are dedicated play areas for the kids! There are slides, splash areas just for the kids. What’s more, Toot’s Club (Kids club at Rasa Sentosa) actually plans programmes for the kids for the ENTIRE day! A typical day goes like this
9.30am : Welcome
10.00am : Cirque Du Rasa (A variety of Circus skills for the children to enjoy daily)
11.00am : Garden Games / Island Tour
1.00pm : Art and Craft
2.00pm : Fun at Siloso Beach (Beach Games)
3.00pm : Pool Games
4.00pm : Special Event of the Day
5.00pm : Shower Break
7.00pm : Evening at Cool Zone
9.00pm : See you Tomorrow!
While we were at the pool, we saw staff getting the kids to play games and they really listened attentively to the instructions! From the way they played, we could see that the kids were really enjoying themselves!
There’s even an advice that goes
“Adults are discouraged to stay with the children so as to allow direct interaction between the children and their new friends.”
HOW COOL IS THAT?! After leaving your kids in the good hands of the staff at Rasa Sentosa, it is now time for the “worn-out” parents to enjoy a great time at the jacuzzi of the pool, sweat it out at the gym or just relax at “Chi” – the Spa at Shangri-La…
Food Staycation at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa
If Spas are not your thing, food definitely is right? And there is a variety of options for your staycation at Shangri-La Sentosa!
Dine on 3 offers dining options at Barnacles Restaurant (which features delectable seafood and grill, Western and Asian cuisines for dinner), 8 Noodles (with its quality and affordable selection of Asian noodles specialities and roast meats), Casserole (for its international spread) and Bubble Bar (great for pre or post dinner drinks).
For exclusivity, we had the option of having our breakfast at the business lounge…
For lunch we had an out-door dining experience along Siloso Beach at Trapizza
Trapizza is famous for its wood-fired thin crust pizzas and pastas. We were served traditional Italian fare and we were pleasantly surprised by the simplicity and freshness of its ingredients. Prawns were especially succulent and fresh!
Great food , great views (overlooking the sea) and great service… makes us want to just say…mama mia!
In all of these, the kids are never left out! There’s a kids menu at Trapizza and even a scaled-to-height buffet area just for the kids at Silver Shell Cafe! How thoughtful!
After our staycation at Shangri La’s Rasa Sentosa, we were thoroughly rejuvenated! And while we were there, we decided to KPO (kay poh) a bit and had a sneak peak into the Deluxe Sea View Suite…
The suite just oozes class and luxury altogether. The next time you decide to pamper yourself with a Singapore Staycation, the Suites at Rasa Sentosa can be an option as well.
Why you should do a Rasa Sentosa Resort Family Staycation
There are certainly many reasons why you should do a family staycation at Rasa Sentosa. At Sentosa, you can enjoy all the attractions that the island has to offer. Universal Studios is always a hit with the kids.
However, the biggest draw for a family staycation here is definitely the programme, facilities and even food that revolves around the kids. In all our years of travelling and staying in hotels, we have never come across a hotel that has paid so much attention and detail to make sure that the kids are well taken care of.
And when the kids are well taken care of, the parents can finally enjoy their 2gether time! (time for 2 people if you didnt get the drift…)
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Remember to leave your comments for 2bearbear Singapore Travel Blog in our comments section below!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best staycation deal at Rasa Sentosa right here!
Happy Singapore Staycations everyone!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa for making this staycation possible!
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Village Hotel Changi Staycation : Rediscover the gems of Singapore!
Village Hotel Changi was our base from which we did our staycation and explored the various attractions in Changi! From here you will be able to explore the rural island of Pulau Ubin and its natural marine bio-diversity at Chek Jawa. Village Hotel Changi also allows you to check out the various attractions in Changi such as Changi Village, Changi Boardwalk, the Changi Museum, Changi Beach as well as the famous Changi Village Food Centre!
Village Hotel Changi itself provided rooms (with sea views!), great facilities and excellent service as well!
Before checking in, we decided to start the day early and have breakfast at Changi Village before heading to Pulau Ubin for our day trip…
Why do a Staycation at Village Hotel Changi?
1. Breakfast at Changi Village
There are several stalls that offer great breakfast options in Changi Village, just check out the size of that murtabak! We also caught a “live” match of the confederations cup between Nigeria and Uruguay. Goals with breakfast. Cool!
2. Day trip to Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa
Village Hotel Changi offers a great base for a day trip to Pulau Ubin because of its close proximity to the Changi Point Ferry Terminal (just a 3 minutes walk away). From there, you can take a ferry to Pulau Ubin at a cost of $2.5 per person per trip – only 10 minutes away from mainland Singapore.
At Pulau Ubin, we checked out the kampung community, trekked, explored Chek Jawa and even saw some native inhabitants of the island – monkeys, wild boars and monitor lizards! :p
3. Amenities at Village Hotel Changi
Check in time at Village Hotel Changi was 12pm. Though we were a little early, the staff at the reception quickly made arrangements to ensure that our room was ready. All the while maintaining professional service and smiles all round. We also got the coupon for our car. At the same time, we were specially reminded to place the ticket in before the cash card upon exit of the carpark. Special thanks to Zaw and Habibah for making our check-in a smooth and effortless one 🙂 As I was checking in, Kate went about the lobby of Village Hotel Changi to take some photos…
While you’re here at the Village Hotel Changi, we would advise you to upgrade to the Executive Club Room. This is because, you will be able to stay on the executive floor, enjoy food and drinks at the executive lounge (which we’ll talk about later) PLUS, rooms with an attached balcony, overlooking the sea! All day sea view!
Kate commented that the balcony & sea view resembled our cruises. If you lie down, seeing the sea, you’d have a feel as though you’re on a cruise! The other cool thing about the room is that there’s a glass window from the bathroom where you can have great sea views while enjoying the bath. Great for couples 🙂
A recommendation would be to add a mirror on top of the shower point so that when you lie down in the bath tub, you can still watch TV from the bathroom!
As it was Tom’s birthday, a cake was also specially delivered to our room after we checked out our room. A huge chocolate mousse cake. A nice gesture from the hotel! Needless to say, the bed was SUPER COMFY! After turning in, the next moment I opened my eyes, it was already morning! Greetings from the blue waters of the sea also made the rest in the room, extra special.
Privileges of the Executive Club Lounge of Village Hotel Changi
We were saying earlier that you will have to upgrade to the executive club room for a staycation at Village Hotel Changi. This is because, for most parts of the day, you will be able to enjoy drinks (orange,apple,guava,milk,soda,ginger beer,water,coffee and tea) as well as snacks (nuts,cookies,fruits). Free flow! Haha, the real Singaporean…
In addition, from 6pm to 8pm daily, there’s a cocktail session at the executive lounge!
At the cocktail, you will be able to enjoy beers (Tiger,VB,Foster’s), red wine, white wine and champagne. There are also classy tapas such as the seafood croquette, smoked salmon and a local delight – satay (barbecued meat on a stick). Yes, drinks are free-flow! (True Singaporean once again) So if you add the privileges, it is actually worth more than the price of upgrade ($50++). You can treat the cocktail as a meal, saving on a meal altogether. From our perspective, this is quite a good deal 🙂
For a staycation to be an excellent one, the swimming pool must come up tops! You wont believe this but THERE ARE 2 SWIMMING POOLS AT VILLAGE HOTEL CHANGI!
The first swimming pool is at level 1, beside the Saltwater Cafe. The cool thing about this pool is that it is like a fish tank! Plus, there’s a bar beside the pool for you to enjoy a drink immersing in the idyllic atmosphere. We were told that the swimming pool, located at level 8 is modelled after the infinity pool of Marina Bay Sands. There’s a jacuzzi at the infinity pool as well. The best part of the infinity pool is that you can lie on an elevated platform overlooking ocean views and Pulau Ubin! Kate said I looked like a beached whale…*sob sob* :p
Breakfast at Village Hotel Changi
The breakfast at Village Hotel Changi serves up a typical hotel buffet, serving cereals and breads as well as local delights such as nasi lemak and buns. Food was simple but the service was great! We were promptly seated down at a seat overlooking the pool and asked if we would like coffee or tea for our breakfast. We gently declined, preferring it at the end of our meal (so that it remained hot). Along the way, plates were cleared promptly with a huge smile. At the end of our breakfast, when we finally overturned our coffee cups, we were promptly served our coffee and tea! We then proceeded up to the executive lounge to continue with more gourmet coffee, waffles and my daily dosage of the newspapers. Sometimes, its really nice just to enjoy a cuppa, take in the morning sunlight with crisp morning papers in hand. Simple and nice. 🙂
4. Changi Village Food Centre
Changi Village Food Centre is just a stone’s throw away (almost literally!) from Village Hotel Changi! It is a famous spot for excellent local fare in Singapore. Check out our post about the nasi lemak, longan red tea pudding as well as the crispy chicken chop ipoh hor fun! Hungry already!
Staycation at the Village Hotel Changi Singapore
For a quick summary, here’s why we think you should try out a staycation at the Village Hotel Changi!
1. Enjoy Village Hotel Changi’s facilities and Club Lounge facilities. 2 swimming pools! Great for the kids and couples for a staycation.
2. Changi Village. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the board walk, go bar-hopping or try out the various eateries there.
3. Changi Village Food Centre. One of the best hawker joints in Singapore
4. Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa. Rediscover Singapore’s gem and its rural beauty!
There are also other attractions such as the Changi Museum and Changi Beach that you can check out as well! Having a staycation at the Village Hotel Changi, offers you a great place to start exploring our gems of the east!
How to get to Village Hotel Changi
Take the MRT to Tampines MRT station and take bus 29. The bus ride stops outside Village Hotel Changi. Alternatively, you can drive there as parking is complimentary.
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Enjoy your staycation at Village Hotel Changi and rediscover the idyllic gems of Singapore right here!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Far East Hospitality for making this staycation possible!
Click here for the best rates at Village Hotel Changi!
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Awesome Staycation at the Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore!
Grand Mercure Roxy has recently launched its “Explore Singapore with the Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel” promotion and we did not miss the opportunity to check out this awesome staycation!
Grand Mercure Roxy is an hotel that is ideal for a staycation because of its proximity to shopping areas such as the 112 Katong as well as the Parkway Parade Shopping Centre! To wind things down a little, you can also choose to visit the nearby Marine Parade Road Park or take a short walk to the East Coast Park where you can enjoy a wide array of activities such as cycling, BBQ, fishing, cable-skiing or simply chill by the sea side!
Staycation at the Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel Singapore
As we entered our room, we were pleasantly surprised by the relaxed ambience created by the pastel colours. Soon, the comfy bed was calling out to us… For couch potatoes, you’ll definitely enjoy the bed! While relaxing in bed, you’ll get to enjoy cable network as well!
The bathroom was spacious and there was a bathtub!! Woohoo!! We also noticed a peranakan feel to the decoration with the tea setting… We were wondering why and soon we found out that GMR has been lining up peranakan food and experiences throughout the hotel as well…
Besides the Peranakan storm whipped up by Mrs Jane Quek (a Peranakan herself), there are also cute and intricate Peranakan barang barang available for purchase!
Facilities at the Grand Mercure Roxy
The pool of a hotel usually make or break a staycation for us (and of course the weather – imagine a rainy staycation…*bleaH) and the pool at GMR was just excellent for soaking up the sun!
You can simply enjoy the sun (the dude’s really enjoying the sun isnt he?) or just chill at pool. Whichever, whenever, whatever. There’s even a bar right beside the pool for you to chillax with your mates! With the newly re-vamped GMR, there are also rooms right beside the pool. Pool at your doorstep…cool huh?
For the fitness junkies, you’ll be happy to find a gym available. Well, not so much for us lah…”Eat Sleep Play Repeat”, remember? Not “Eat Sleep Play Keep Fit Repeat”…for conferences and meetings, there are also meeting rooms available.
Explore Singapore with Grand Mercure Roxy Package
With the Explore Singapore package, guests will be given able to enjoy a hop-on, hop-off ride on the Fun-Vee Singapore Explorer!
We think that the package originally targets visitors to Singapore. With a stay, you’ll also be able to visit major attractions in Singapore. In fact, there are 3 routes to choose from. The Green Route – City Hopper, The Orange Route – Marina and Heritage Hopper and the Red Route – Sentosa Hopper.
However, we thought that as Singaporeans, a staycation can also be an awesome way to see what Singapore has to offer! Through the package, we were able to visit major attractions in Singapore!
For visitors, this is definitely a good deal! Covering all of Singapore’s attractions with a stay at the GMR. Not bad indeed.
Dinner Set Menu at the Breez Bistro.Bar
One of the highlights of our staycation (besides the pool and Singapore Explorer), was the dinner set menu at the Breez Bistro.Bar. One must be thinking, “How good can the food be at a Bistro/Bar?” With dinner set menu priced at $58 (not cheap hor), the visit seemed to be heading in a wrong direction…(yeah, the price usually sets the direction)
However, we were OH SO WRONG!
The menu consists of a 4 course meal, an appetizer, soup, mains and dessert. You can also have a choice of house wine, beer, mocktail or fruit juice. After deciding on our orders of the Grilled Rib Eye and Pan-seared Salmon, we were promptly served our starters…
The prawn was simply fresh and succulent! Together with the garden greens, it really worked up our appetite for the rest of the meal! The wild mushroom soup was also rich with subtle surprises with each mouth taken! The cool part about the entire meal is that each dish is served up so intricately arranged – talk about fine dining!
First off, the portions were huge! Great for big appetites like us! But the highlight was the taste. Tender and juicy, flavours flowed with each bite of the rib eye. From our “years of experience”, this could only be achieved by using the freshest ingredients with an absolute control of temperatures and timing. Likewise for the salmon, just sweet tasting good ol’ salmon. The red wine for the rib eye and white for the salmon was a great complement to the meal as well! For an exceptional meal, we just had to meet the man behind the absolutely satisfying meal! Great job Chef Eric!
Sometimes, we think that for the same price on a buffet, we may overeat and miss out on quality food. If you’re thinking likewise this day, do not miss the set menus at the Breez Bistro.Bar of Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore! Oh, do also check out the cool mocktails from the bar as well! The bartenders are really innovative, whipping up their own take on creative mocktails! Thanks for the mocktail demonstration Eddy!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deal at Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel Singapore right here!
Best Hotel Deals at Grand Mercure Roxy!
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With the good food, excellent pool, great staycation package that includes a tour of Singapore, we definitely had a great staycation at Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Grand Mercure Roxy for making this staycation possible!
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Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Staycation!
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Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation : Singapore’s ALL-IN Staycation!
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Awesome Staycation at the Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore!
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Raffles Hotel Staycation Singapore : Relax & Rejuvenate!
Raffles Hotel has finally launched its Summer Staycation Package 2013! If it’s history, luxury and impeccable service you’re looking for, Raffles Hotel is definitely the place to enjoy a Singapore staycation!
The Raffles Hotel is really an exclusive hotel! Guests are known as “Residents” at the hotel and every person that passes through the main lobby will be screened. Non-residents can only view the classy lobby from the doors of the hotel…
Here’s a low down of our itinerary for the staycation at Raffles Hotel
Day 1
– Check-in (Relax and enjoy the facilities of the hotel)
– Dinner at Raffles Courtyard with its newly revamped Italian menu
– Drinks at Long Bar (with Singapore Sling demonstration)
Day 2
– Breakfast @ Tiffin Room
– Tour of the hotel by Resident Historian Mr Leslie Danker
(Inspired us to write the post about “10 Interesting facts You never knew about Raffles Hotel“)
– Famous Northern Indian Curry Buffet @ Tiffin Room
– Raffles Spa Experience
– Dinner at the Empire Cafe
Day 3
– Sunday Brunch @ Bar and Billiard Room
– Relax and late check-out @ 6pm!
Rich History combined with colonial luxury at the Raffles Hotel Singapore
Courtyard Suite of the Raffles Hotel
For our readers who are still not aware, Raffles Hotel only has suites! There are 103 suites including Courtyard Suites, Palmcourt Suites, Personality Suites, Grand Hotel Suites and the Presidential Suites. Suites starts at about $700 per night to as much as $10,000 per night for the Presidential Suite (floor area of 280 square meters)!
We were pleasantly surprised by our Courtyard Suite. It had a dining space, a living area, the huge room and an even more surprisingly big bathroom! All with a high ceiling and colonial style decorations!
Tour of the Courtyard Suite of the Raffles Hotel
The entire suite exudes charm and class. The attention to details can be seen from the porcelain lamp stands, porcelain elephant in the bathroom, colonial era cabinets and of course the signature 14 foot high ceilings. There were actually 2 televisions in the room. The only comment is that the TVs are granny TVs. We found out from our hosts that the TVs were actually the top of the line in 1991. The cabinets were also custom made to fit the TVs. If you notice, the TVs are actually flat screens as well. We’ll be sure to look out for the upgrade during the next renovation!
Beside our suite is the hall of fame…
Celebrities and foreign dignitaries often check in with the Raffles Hotel. These famous people include the Queen of England, Netherlands, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Michael Jackson, Sting, Michael Bolton, Karen Mok, Maggie Cheung and Jackie Chan!
Staycation for the Kids @ Raffles Hotel Singapore
If you’re wondering what will the kids be doing during their staycation at the Raffles Hotel, fret not! There is a suite of activities inside the “My Adventure Passport”, specially created to keep the kids entertained!
Kids will be on mini quests whereby there will accomplish missions such as taking a photo with the doorman of the Raffles Hotel. For each mission completed, a stamp is given and upon completion of a number of missions, they will be rewarded with ice creams, pizza making sessions and more!
Facilities of the Raffles Hotel Singapore
The Raffles Hotel is huge! 300,000 square feet in land area and 25% of it is dedicated to its lush greeneries
It is actually very possible to get lost. Or to take a long time to find your way around. For instance, Kate and I actually got lost when we tried to locate restaurants of the hotel! Whenever, we wanted to find the Lawn, it almost always seemed illusive. Maybe we’re just blind – directionally.
The Raffles Hotel has all the facilities you’d expect of a luxury class hotel that includes a beautiful swimming pool, a gym, sauna, steam bath and also a in house spa known as Raffles Amrita Spa.
Swimming Pool of Raffles hotel Singapore
Dinner at Raffles Courtyard
After a relaxing check-in, we headed to the Raffles Courtyard to check out the new Italian menu.
In addition to our previous trip to Raffles Courtyard, we would like to highlight the carpaccio, lasagna as well as the vanilla ice cream!
The beef carpaccio tasted really refreshing! Although it was our second time trying it, the fresh taste of the herbs, lime and beef once again caught our attention. The lasagna was strongly recommended by our host and it did not disappoint. The rich flavours of the marinated beef together with the cheese complemented the fresh pasta to give us that “Oh” reaction. (“Oh” means “Oh, this is quite good!”). Last but not least, the vanilla is the real deal. Try it and you may just get addicted to it. Maybe the next time you walk past Raffles Courtyard, you’ll be tempted to take away a scoop of the vanilla ice cream…beware of its charms…
Cocktails and Singapore Sling at the Long Bar Raffles Hotel
Long Bar is home to the original Singapore Sling. Created around 1915 by Mr Ngiam Tong Boon, the drink was created to allow ladies of that time to have a drink under the disguise of a fancy coloured cocktail.
There was also a demonstration set up just for us to show the concoction of drinks named after the countries where Raffles Hotels are…
How to make the Original Singapore Sling
Our favourite was Seychelles and the Singapore Sling. You must try the Singapore Sling! Frankly speaking, we have not tried anything like it. All the other “Singapore Slings” that we have ever tried, does not even come close to the original one!
Breakfast and Lunch at the Tiffin Room
Tiffin Room is a classy restaurant (dress code to go along) that offers good food with exceptional service. I mean, our waiter actually remembered what we ordered the day before! 😮
The breakfast at Tiffin room is a semi-buffet where you can order some main courses from the menu and enjoy the rest of the buffet from the spread…
Our favourite has got to be the egg benedict. Really makes us wonder how the chef can create such a complex dish from such a humble ingredient. Firm on the outside but runny on the inside (the yolk literally exploded when we went in). Remarkable control of the temperatures!
The Northern Indian Curry Buffet from the Tiffin Room is also a famous main stay of the Raffles Hotel.
The curries, sweets and desserts have made a name for themselves. Our favourite was the raisin ice cream (aka raisin kulfi)
The tea after lunch served up in colonial era tea pot added a touch to the stylish buffet lunch!
Tour around Raffles Hotel
Mr Leslie Danker, the resident historian with more than 40 years of experience took us on a tour around Raffles Hotel.
The Raffles Grill was redecorated to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. The cabinet (at the end of the Grill) as well as the design was done to celebrate the event. In the Grill, there is also a story about the Silver Wagon which was buried during WW2 to prevent it from being taken by the Japanese. It was then re-discovered and now displayed prominently in its former glory, in the Grill.
The famous story of a tiger shot dead under the Bar & Billiard Room of the Raffles Hotel is TRUE! In 1902, there was a travelling circus near beach road. In those days, beach road was really close to the beach and a tiger escaped from the circus and went for a dip.
After the dip, the tiger rested BENEATH the Bar and Billiard Room of the Raffles Hotel. One of the hotel staff saw the tiger and went to a school opposite to ask the principal (Mr Charles Phillips) to help kill the tiger. Charles also happened to be a hunter.
Initially, Charles declined because he attended a function that evening and got a bit tipsy. But since it was a matter of life and death, he agreed and went over, still in his pyjamas. On his first attempt, he took 3 shots and COMPLETELY MISSED THE TIGER! Well, partially due to the alcohol and also that it was quite dark.
Then the tiger turned over. With its eyes gleaming in the dark, Charles took another shot and this time it went right between its eyes. This news was true and was featured in the local newspapers in 1902.
But people often mistaken this story to have taken place beneath the billiard table in the Bar and Billiard Room. (The tiger was shot beneath the room, not the table) Today, you may still find many visitors peering beneath the billiard tables, trying to find out the truth to this story…
Thanks to Mr Danker and his tour, it inspired us to write about the 10 Interesting facts You never knew about Raffles Hotel.
Presidential Suite of the Raffles Hotel Singapore
As part of the tour, we were shown the Presidential Suite (also known as Sir Stamford Raffles Suite) of the Raffles Hotel! All the bloggers went trigger crazy!
Tour of the Raffles Hotel Presidential Suite
The Presidential Suite was simply luxurious! Now we know how the rich and famous really live it up in style and class! :p
Dinner at the Empire Cafe Raffles Hotel
The Empire Cafe is famed for its local delights. We were introduced to the dim sum, curry as well as its famed laksa that even Jackie Chan craves for!
Of the dim sums, we really enjoyed the siew mai and the seafood spring roll. The siew mai had an additional seasoning that made the overall taste that much sweeter. The seafood spring roll was fresh on the inside and crispy on the outside. Not oily at all.
The chicken curry was not as rich as we expected. However, it was also adequately salted unlike many curries that would be too salty. As with most curries, the gravy went well with the rice that was served. The laksa had another story to it…
According to our host (Kenny), the laksa at Empire Cafe is Jackie Chan’s favourite. When Jackie Chan enters Empire Cafe, his colleauges would tell him “Your Mr Chan is here…”
Jackie Chan would then proceed to consume his laksa and even go for seconds with just the gravy and tau pok. With the fresh ingredients, the laksa was good. But we prefer the rich tasting ones, think Katong…
The important thing about this dish is ability of the sago to retain its small granular texture. This sago did. After taking the advice from Kenny to mix all the coconut and gula melaka in, the sago did taste quite good. Not the best we’ve had but good nonetheless.
Sunday Brunch @ Bar and Billiard Room Raffles Hotel
On our 3rd day, we went for the highlight of our staycation – the Sunday Champagne Brunch @ the Bar and Billiard Room.
To us, this was definitely the Best Sunday Brunch Champagne Buffet in Singapore. Here’s why…
1. Variety. It is quite impossible to try all the foods at this Sunday Brunch. It boasts of a huge selection of foods from appetizers to carvings to pastries to mains to sea food and even a huge dessert buffet! If you ever get to try all the dish from this buffet – Respect man.
2. Quality. Having tasted many cuisines worldwide, it is not easy to “wow” us and at this buffet, we were “wowed” several times! The lamb, pork, oyster, foie gras, ravioli and dessert spread were some of the food that caught our attention.
3. Bubbly. Since we are on words that end with “y”…The Champagne added a touch of class to this Sunday Brunch. It is no ordinary champagne but the Billecart-Salmon Champagne. This champagne has a rich history that complements the rich history of the Raffles Hotel and the class of the Bar and Billiard Room.
4. Classy. The colonial decoration, excellent quality of food and personalised service really made this Sunday Brunch stand out from its competitors. A class above.
Raffles Hotel Summer Staycation Package 2013!
If you’re thinking that you may be priced out to enjoy a staycation at Raffles Hotel, here’s great news for you! The newly launched summer staycation package costs only $550++ (per suite per night) and includes the following
– Children below the age of 12 stay (using existing beddings) and dine for free with their parents at Hotel-operated restaurants (adults must dine at the restaurant)
– Welcome Singapore Slings and fruit upon arrival, while children will enjoy fruit smoothies and cookies
– Complimentary breakfast at Tiffin Room on the first morning
– Complimentary Buffet Dinner at Bar & Billiard Room or Tiffin Room (once during the stay)
– Complimentary in-suite internet access
– 24-hour Butler Service
– Complimentary S$500 Raffles Hotel Arcade Shopping Discount Vouchers
– Complimentary late check-out until 6pm
– Complimentary parking
The special rate is extended to residents in Singapore, including Singapore Citizens, PRs, and work pass holders. The Suite Package will be valid only during the Weekends from 1 September 2013 onwards.
After calculation, it is actually quite hua (worth it) to enjoy the staycation package at the Raffles Hotel. The welcome drinks and smoothies will cost about $100 (for a family of 5 inclusive of 3 kids / Singapore Sling costs $26++). Breakfast at Tiffin is usually $45++ per person. While dinner at B&B is $75++ per person.
Conclusion : If you include the meals of a family of 5, the suite is practically free! 😮
What are you waiting for? For enquiries or reservations on the Staycation Package, please contact the Reservations Department at (65) 6412 1244 or email roomreservation@raffles.com.
You have just read a post from the complete coverage of our staycation at the Raffles Hotel. You can find the rest of the posts here…
Raffles Hotel Staycation (Main Post)
10 Interesting Facts You Never Knew About Raffles Hotel
Tiffin Room @ Raffles Hotel : The Oldest Restaurant in Singapore
Best Sunday Brunch in Singapore : Bar and Billiard Room @ Raffles Hotel
The Original Singapore Sling from Long Bar Raffles Hotel
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deal at Raffles Hotel Singapore right here!
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
So go on. Pamper yourself to a relaxed staycation at the Raffles Hotel and tell us what you think about this Grande Dame of Singapore!
**Special thanks to the great people @ Raffles Hotel for making this staycation possible!
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Ritz Carlton Singapore Staycation: Simply Shiok!
Our recent staycation at Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore was easily the best hotel stay in our all travels! And no, this post is NOT sponsored and we speak nothing but the truth! The entire staycation was filled with “Wah!” , “Wow!”, “Ah…” and “Shiok!” Kudos to the team at Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore!
The magic started right here at the reception of Ritz Carlton. This was roughly the conversation we had at the reception
Us : Hi, we would like to check in
Receptionist : Certainly! (as she took in our check in slip)
After checking the system…
Receptionist : We noted your request for non-smoking and high floor with an additional bed. We have arranged for your room on the 28th floor
Us : (“Wow” in our minds) Thank you. Could we also check if we can have a late check out?
Receptionist : Certainly! Let me do a check for you (Notice that she replied “Certainly!” first – makes you feel shiok, before she did the check)
After checking through…
Receptionist : Certainly! We will honour your late check out at 4pm!
Us : Thanks! Can we also have a parking coupon?
Receptionist : Certainly! You can receive your complimentary parking from the concierge
Us : Thank you!
Not only was the service professional (it was the first time we heard the word “certainly” so many times over!), it was topped with the following act – The receptionist actually stepped out of the reception booth (by walking 10 metres), came over the counter and personally handed our room keys to us! 😮 We were pleasantly surprised by this gesture and personal touch!
Premier Room at Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore
Our stay on the 28th floor of Ritz Carlton Singapore was at the Premier Room with views of the city. Although it was not the Marina Bay View, we still said “Wah!” when we entered the room. It was because this view greeted us as we entered…(isnt always a surprise to enter the hotel room for the first time?)
The windows were huge and surprisingly clear both on the inside and outside, giving occupants a splendid view of the City & Kallang area!
After walking past the bed and the TV, Kate let out another “Wah!” at the bathroom…
The bath tub had a window view of the city and kallang area as well! The blinds were also automated which means you dont have to struggle with pulling the blinds open and close by yourself! There’s a knob beside the switch for the blinds that adjusts the volume of the TV in the bathroom! Resting in this bath tub with the view was simply “Ah…” There’s also a huge dressing table and mirror in the bathroom, complete with a rain shower bathing area!
The room itself was spacious and had class written all over it…
The king size bed was fluffy, luxurious and was irresistibly comfortable! If you take a look carefully at the wall of the bedroom, it is actually shining and glossy!
The Samsung TV was huge and the sound system of the TV is connected to the bathroom as well! The cabinet below was also well equipped with complimentary coffee/tea, refrigerator (have to pay for snacks and drinks), an ice cooler as well as a kettle!
There’s also a little wardrobe beside your bed with bathrobes, safe and ironing facilities. Note that the lights of the wardroom is activated when the door is open. Just close the door to switch off the lights.
There are also other neat little gadgets around the room (playing “hide and seek” with you). Find them!
Swimming Pool at Ritz Carlton Singapore
The swimming pool at Ritz Carlton is located at the first floor. To get there, you can either walk down the stairs from the main lobby or take the lift to the first floor and walk past the gym. You will be given a bottle of water if you take the route past the gym.
The excellent service extends even to the pool area! After getting the bottle of water (which the receptionist said “enjoy your swim!”), you will be led to a deck chair by the pool by an assistant. The assistant will then lay a towel over your choice of deck chair (so that you can lie on the towel) and place the other towel on the deck chair for you to use!
There are steps on both sides of the pool so people can just lie beside the pool to get a tan if they want to. The pool is also not deep so kids can enjoy a splash, under supervision that is. There is also a jacuzzi by the side of the pool…
The jacuzzi is not the special bit but if you notice, there’s a smaller circular dip beside the jacuzzi. It is a cold bath! We entered and it seemed to be at about 15 degrees celsius or so. Cold baths are said to be able to help in muscle recovery. True? Not sure, but it is quite shiok to enter the cold bath first before a swim in the pool. This makes the pool relatively warm to your cooled skin.
Then the magic happened again. It started to drizzle by the pool and guess what? The assistants started to appear with umbrellas each in their hands. As you signal to them, they will shelter you personally back to the gym area! 😮 Talk about excellent service…
Back at the gym, the changing rooms have a steam bath as well as a sauna. The sauna is the traditional kind where you can increase the temperature by scooping water over heated stones!
Views of the Marina Bay
Although our room did not have views of the Marina Bay, we could see the same view from the lift lobby!
Buffet Breakfast at Ritz Carlton Singapore
Walking past the lobby, you will find the Greenhouse restaurant. This is where the buffet breakfast is served from 630 to 1030 daily.
The breakfast spread was quite common with a choice of asian – fried noodles, dim sum, english – muffins, cereals & western – sausage, omelettes and bacon.
We took some of the pastries as well as the char siew bao. It is recommended that you furiously attack the char siew bao because it is fluffy on the outside and mildly sweet and savoury on the inside. Yum! Besides the Yakult, there’s nothing else that really stands out at the buffet. Oh, do give the pancakes a try as well. They actually have different berries to go along with the pancakes.
How to get to Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore
Ritz Carlton Singapore is located at 7 Raffles Avenue. You can of course drive there as parking is complimentary. However, we recommend that you take the MRT to Promenade (closest MRT station) on the circle line OR take a short walk from City Hall via Marina Square. There is a side entrance from Marina Square to Singapore’s Ritz Carlton.
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deal at Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore right here!
If you enjoyed our content, “Like” us on Facebook Today!
So if you want a well deserved staycation in Singapore with impeccable service, the Ritz Carlton Singapore is where you want to be!
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Raffles Hotel Staycation Singapore : Relax & Rejuvenate!
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Mandarin Orchard Singapore Staycation Review: Best Views From “Top Of The M” Meritus Club Lounge!
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Staycation: A Post-COVID Review
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A Letter To Jen (Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Staycation)…
Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation : Singapore’s ALL-IN Staycation!
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The Clan Hotel Staycation Review: Sky Gym and Sky Pool Views That Mesmerise!
AMOY Hotel Singapore : Why You Should Stay Here During Your Next Visit
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The Fullerton Hotel Singapore Staycation: The Complete Review
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Ritz Carlton Singapore Staycation: Simply Shiok!
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Mercure Singapore Bugis Staycation: Executive Loft Room Review!
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Lotus Desaru Beach Resort Staycation : Great place to unwind at a great price!
Lotus Desaru Beach Resort was our choice of stay when Kate and I wanted to enjoy a staycation in Malaysia. We stumbled upon Lotus Desaru Beach Resort while doing our research and the price was really affordable at only $77 per night (inclusive of taxes) for a one room suite!
(*Find out the hottest hotel deals in Desaru Malaysia here!)
How to get to Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
From Singapore, there is now a quicker way to travel to Desaru via the Senai Desaru Expressway!
The drive time from Singapore to Desaru has been greatly reduced with the completion of the Senai Desaru Expressway. No longer do you need to make a trip north to Kota Tinggi then south back to Desaru. With the Senai Desaru Expressway, the drive time is cut to about 45 minutes (this excludes the waiting time at the causeway jam!)
The price of the toll from Singapore to Desaru via the Senai Desaru Expressway costs RM8.20!
After about a 45 minutes drive, we finally reached Lotus Desaru Beach Resort, Desaru Malaysia!
Lotus Desaru Beach Resort Desaru Malaysia
Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is designed to resemble that of medieval towers. On top of each tower, there is a flag that seems to be flying (but is actually fixed at that position)
This map shows the various facilities and layout of the entire resort.
Facilities of Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
There are many facilities at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort. This is a quick run down of the facilities here…
There are actually 3 main swimming areas. It includes the above swimming pool at the clubhouse (right in front of the gym), a smaller swimming pool that resides with a block of towers and of course the main attraction here, the WATER PARK!
The water park at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is really nothing much to shout about. However, if you enjoy water slides, there is a really long water slide (the main and only attraction of the water park) that serves this water park.
The entry to the water park is of course complimentary with stays at the hotel. You will need to wear a wrist band when you use any of the 3 pool facilities though. You can remove the wrist band after each usage. Once removed, bring back the wrist band to the receptionist at the clubhouse and they will replace it for you.
One word of caution though. DO NOT USE THE FLOAT AT THE SLIDE!! Although it was relatively cheap (RM7), Kate and I fell over and landed on our heads TWICE at the slides! We thus concluded it was too dangerous to go on the slide with floats. On the other hand, it was really fun just sliding down the slides! Even the super man style (belly down with hands forwards) was shiok!
Kate enjoyed a Ayurvedic spa (something like a full body oil massage) at RM115++ while I enjoyed the face spa for RM50++ The masseuse who did my spa had more than 10 years of experience from India and he was so professional at the facial massage, relaxing the various facial muscles with strong, firm and skillful strokes. In addition, there was also a facial of various cleansing, moisturising and revitalising creams/oils that left my face bouncy and refreshed! It was really well worth it. Kate thoroughly enjoyed her body massage as well!
The Teratai restaurant at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is where breakfast is served daily. On our first day, there was also a buffet lunch at only RM25++! We ate…
As this was a staycation (really just to chill and relax -> Chillax), we had all our meals at the hotel. Dinner was at the cafe/pub near the beach…
We also had pizza which was a deal that came with 2 drinks. It was quite chill to dine beside the ocean front and listen to the waves (and of course the songs that kept repeating itself – only like 7 songs on the CD!)…
One Bedroom Suite at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort
Although the room was relatively cheap, we must say that it was quite decent and different from what we had experienced previously. It was a loft unit with the bed and toilet (with bathtub) on the second floor.
For dinner on the last night, we had a club sandwich and indian set meal. It was the first time that we ordered room service and it was still relatively affordable for room service standards…
We also witnessed MAN CITY TAKING THE BPL CHAMPIONSHIP with 2 last minute goals (think it was 91st and 93rd minutes)! It was exhilarating just to watch the match! Although Man U also won their last game, the 2 last minute goals reversed a defeat into a victory and Man City clinched the title for the 2011/2012 BPL league, wrestling it away from Man U! History made and we witnessed it!
For your convenience, you can check out the hotel deals at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort right here!
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All in all, it was a really great staycation here in Desaru Malaysia. In fact, we thought that this stay was much better than Pulai Springs nearby. Well, our opinion is very much price driven in this case. We hope you’ll enjoy your next stay at Desaru Malaysia and do check out our other post about the things to do in Desaru Malaysia as well! Lotus Desaru Beach Resort is indeed an excellent place for staycation!
Weekend Getaway and Staycation @ Philea Resort Melaka (Malacca)
deal.com.sg, goCrazy.com.sg, gobbler.com.sg, groupon.com.sg etc etc etc…there are so many online discount coupon/vouchers sites these days! Initially Tom and I were skeptical about these so-called “good deals” and we were worried about pushy sales people, so we let these deals slipped by. But one night as I was bored and surfing the internet to pass time, I came across this “$199 2D1N Philea Resort” deal. The photos of the resort look really inviting and I decided to check out the resort’s official website. Philea Resort was completed and officially opened in August 2010. Since it is still fairly new (it was Feb 2011 when we checked out the resort), we decided to book a weekend trip to Philea Resort Malacca in May 2011.
Our experience was marred by a 2 hour traffic jam at the Malaysia customs, and we arrived at the resort at about 3pm instead of the scheduled time of 1pm. We were hot and tired after the long bus ride but thankfully the check-in was smooth and there were welcome drinks and cold towels that quenched our thirst and refreshed us.
The hotel staff then helped us put our bags onto a buggy (is it pronounced as “Bud-gy” or “Buggie”?) and drove us to our room. On our way up, we could see the landscape of the resort, the tranquil swimming pool, and the spa facilities. We quickly settled into our room, checked out the amenities in the room (free pretty slippers!), and head down to the pool for a swim.
As it was a Saturday night, there was a seafood buffet dinner deal! Only RM69++ (approx $33SGD) per pax! The spread was awesome (esp the desserts for me, and the seafood for Tom), and we ate so much that we could hardly move. We even able to eat 2 whole snappers by ourselves and it was fresh and tasty! The BBQ corner also included other seafood such as prawn and crayfish. Yum! The quiet stroll back to our room on a cool night aided with the digestion, and we enjoyed the peaceful evening away from the crowded city life.
The next morning, we woke up early to walk around the resort and take in the fresh air. Soon we were hungry and we made our way to the restaurant where the breakfast buffet (included in the package) is served. Once again, the variety of food made us happy. With chefs at the different stations to cook roti prata, waffles and pancakes on the spot, and the spread from an international buffet, we were really spoiled for choice 🙂
After breakfast, we lazed by the pool and got a nice tan. It was a relaxing weekend, and we were all ready to conquer another week at work! 🙂
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals @ Philea Resort right here!
Related posts
This post is part of our 3D2N travels in Malacca. Below, you can find other relevant posts covered during this trip!
Top 3 Things to do at Jonker Street aka Jonker Walk
Jonker 88 @ Jonker Street
Stadhuys Melaka aka Red Square or Dutch square
Best 5 stars hotel in Melaka : Hotel Equatorial Melaka
Battle of the Malacca (Melaka) Jonker Street Chicken Rice Balls : Which is better? Chung Wah Chicken Rice or Hoe Kee Chicken Rice?
Weekend Getaway and Staycation @ Philea Resort Melaka (Malacca)
Top Attractions and Things to do in Melaka : World Heritage City
A Leisure Stroll along the Melaka River
Trishaw Rides in Melaka : A Must-Do Activity!
Traffic Jams in Melaka : How bad is it really?
Restoran Ole Sayang – One of the most reputable Peranakan Restaurant in Malacca
Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum – Built without nails!
Melaka Maritime Museum – Museum within a Ship
A Famosa aka Porta De Santiago
St. Paul’s Church
P.S Go visit Philea while it is still rather new and clean!
P.P.S Remember to plan activities for the bus trip eg card games or dvd to watch in case you get stuck in a unexpected traffic jam.
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Amara Sanctuary Resort Staycation Singapore Sentosa 2 Bedroom (BR) Villa with plunge (private) pool
Over the long weekend, Kate and I were invited to be at the Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa for a staycation. The exciting thing was that the resort is a 5 star hotel and we’re staying at the most expensive place in the hotel, the 2 bedroom villa! It has 2 rooms, an open air bathtub and a private plunge pool!
As the villa was not ready when we arrived, we went to the sky pool to enjoy an afternoon swim. The sky pool had an excellent pool overlooking the ocean…
We took a look at the menu and there’s a fried hokkien mee that costs $34!! Of course there’s a reason why. It is served with abalone, lobster as well as roast pork. Yum. There’s even a jacuzzi at the sky pool!
After the swim, we were pleasantly surprised by the amenities in the room. The private plunge pool didnt disappoint. It even comes with its own water jets to do provide for some water massaging!
Next was the master room with an outdoor bathtub, shower points and 2 individual sinks.
The 2 rooms are connected at the back via the tatami mat area as well….
The 2nd bedroom had 2 super singles and an attached bathroom.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the 2 bedroom villa. The rooms had sliding doors that could open up such that we could watch TV from the plunge pool! The rooms were also stocked with different kinds of tea as well as a Nespresso machine with coffee capsules. The only thing was that there were quite alot of mosquitos. Which is why the hotel provides unlimited mosquito coils which we put to good use at the various corners of the villas. That also pretty much explains the mosquito nets.
Although we didnt ask the price, from the internet, we saw that the 2 bedroom villa costs about $2000 per night! It was a good experience and we thoroughly enjoyed the pools (both sky pool and private plunge pool) at the Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa!
For your convenience, you can now check out the best hotel deals at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa here!
If you like our content, do click below to “Like” us on Facebook Today!
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Check out some of the other Singapore Staycations that we’ve done!
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Rendezvous Hotel Singapore : Staycation In The Heart Of The Art District!
Raffles Hotel Staycation Singapore : Relax & Rejuvenate!
Orchard Road
Mandarin Orchard Singapore Staycation Review: Best Views From “Top Of The M” Meritus Club Lounge!
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Staycation: A Post-COVID Review
Novotel Singapore On Stevens Staycation: An Urban Oasis
A Letter To Jen (Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Staycation)…
Quincy Hotel Qool Weekend Staycation : Singapore’s ALL-IN Staycation!
National Day Staycation At The Regent Singapore – A Four Seasons Hotel!
Chinatown
The Clan Hotel Staycation Review: Sky Gym and Sky Pool Views That Mesmerise!
AMOY Hotel Singapore : Why You Should Stay Here During Your Next Visit
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The Fullerton Hotel Singapore Staycation: The Complete Review
Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel Harbour Studio Staycation!
Ritz Carlton Singapore Staycation: Simply Shiok!
Clarke Quay
Swissotel Merchant Court Executive Room Staycation : Right In The Heart Of Clarke Quay!
Bugis
Mercure Singapore Bugis Staycation: Executive Loft Room Review!
Novena
Oasia Hotel Staycation Review!
Katong
Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore Staycation : The Studio Suite!
Uniquely Singapore Staycation At Village Hotel Katong!
Downtown East
D’Resort @ Downtown East : A Perfect Staycation For The Entire Family!
Changi
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Sentosa
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Staycation / Holiday / Vacation at Sentosa Singapore – Things to do and attractions at Sentosa Island Singapore
Nowadays, “staycation” (the combination of stay and vacation – meaning to stay in one’s country to have a vacation) is very popular in Singapore, given the rising number of chic hotels and new establishments sprouting in many corners all over Singapore.
So Kate and I decided to do so as well. We took our pick to stay at the newly constructed Hard Rock Hotel at Sentosa (Resorts World Sentosa, RWS). There are several hotels now in Resorts World Sentosa, namely, Festive Hotel, Hotel Michael, Crockfords Tower (by invitation only) as well as Hard Rock Hotel.
Introduction about Sentosa
Sentosa was formerly known as Pulau Blakang Mati which translates directly as Island, Behind, Dead otherwise known as the Island of the dead. However, in 1972, Sentosa was mooted to become a popular tourist destination and was renamed Sentosa, meaning, “Peace and Tranquility”.
The island is just located 0.5km south of the main island and is now connected via cable car, a link bridge as well as Sentosa pedestrian board walk.
The Sentosa board walk has now several ‘hang out’ places like the Queens (with happy hour drinks and cakes), Venezia (Italian ice cream), Wine Company and a crepes shop. Also you can shop at the Frangipani Creations (theme of frangipani for bags, hair pins, paintings) and a Sentosa souvenir shop.
Admission to Sentosa Island
If you are staying at one of the hotels at Sentosa, admission is usually complimentary. What you would need to do is to check with your hotel on how to gain complimentary entry into the island. This differs slightly from hotels on the island itself and hotels in RWS (Resorts World Sentosa).
By Foot/Walking ($1)
To gain entry via the new boardwalk, it is only $1 per person to enter and you get to enjoy a nice little walk, about 5-7 minutes along the newly constructed boardwalk.
By Sentosa Express ($3)
The Sentosa express is the new monorail that transits all across the island of Sentosa and back to the main island at Vivocity (a shopping mall). This ride costs $3.
By Car
The rates for entry can be found on the website of Sentosa and it is usually cheaper to car pool and go into the island as a group. If you are driving into RWS like we did, remember to keep left as you enter the roads to Sentosa. If you are driving into Hard Rock (near the convention centre), keep left again.
Once you are on the island, all buses and monorail rides are free. Yup, even if you paid only $1 to enter via the boardwalk!
Hard Rock Hotel Sentosa
We first checked into our room at Hard Rock Sentosa. It was located on the top floor, overlooking the entire pool area.
The pool is one of the best things about Hard Rock Hotels. It is always a surprise for me to see how chill the Hard Rock Pool is and this pool didn’t disappoint. Check out this video of the pool!
The pool at the Hard Rock Hotel consists of so many segments. From my memory, I can recall an infinity pool (or lap pool), a children’s play area (complete with water guns, fountains and a slide), a jacuzzi, a lazy pool, a pool by the bar, as well as, you’ve guessed it, the beach pool complete with soft white Australian-imported sand!
Resorts World Sentosa
After lazying in the pool for a while, we decided to grab some dinner at Vivocity. Each room at the Hard Rock is entitled to 2 parking tickets as well as monorail tickets on the Sentosa Express (unlimited rides from Sentosa to Vivo for 3 consecutive days once activated). As we ventured out, we took some of these pictures.
After dinner, we decided to chill out at one of the new restaurants along the boardwalk. We had some wine and shared a strawberry tiramisu. The food was ok, but the nice laidback music accompanied by views of RWS more than made up for it. We wanted to catch the animatronics Crane Dance show (9pm), but to our horror, it was under repairs! So we headed for the 9:30pm fountain show at the Lake of Dreams.
We did catch the crane dance animatronics some time before and here it is
There is nothing much to say about the show except, DO NOT GO! Please view our video that we painstakingly recorded for you (for you to fast forward) so that you can save 15 minutes of your precious time. Towards the end of the show, many people started to walk away (hence you see many movements in the video at the end). The show ended without a finale or whatsover. It just faded out…it has to be one of the worst fountain shows ever.
Sentosa Day Play Pass
On the second day, we decided to go for the day play pass and it was a fruitful 10 hours. The day play pass is a packaged deal where you pay $63.90/Adult , $47.90/Child (Weekdays) and $69.90/Adult, $51.90/child (Weekends) to enjoy 13 attractions from 9am to 7pm. It is really worth it because you get to cover:
1. Fort Siloso
2. Bi-Pedal Bicyle (1 hr)
3. Segway Fun Ride (Beginner’s practice and trail)
4. The Flying Trapeze
5. Skyline Luge (with 1 skyride) OR Unlimited Skyrides
6. Images of Singapore
7. Sentosa 4D Magix
8. Sentosa Nature Discovery
9. Sentosa Cineblast
10. Desperados
11. Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom
12. Tiger Sky Tower
13. The Merlion
But to complete all the attractions (which we almost did), you have to plan your time properly to avoid the crowd. So we suggest you cover like we did!
Images of Singapore
Initially, we wanted to start off our day at the 4D magix, Cineblast as well as Desperados. However, on the way up, we realised that Images of Singapore was already opened. So the first stop was here
It was a pleasant surprise because we really didn’t think the Images of Singapore would be such a huge place. It will probably take perhaps 1-2 hours if you read all the information. The whole museum is full of figurines, statues and displays. It depicts how Singapore came about (with the discovery of Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles – Nowadays the brand Raffles is associated with everything high class or “Atas” as we would say) and how we thrived from a small fishing village to the cosmopolitan city we are today. Certainly worth visiting.
Cineblast (Extreme Log Ride) / 4D Magix (Pirates) / Desperados
It is good to start off the day at the rides and movies because the queues would usually pick up and you will be wasting precious time queuing. When we reached there, we were first for all the rides and shows! Yay!
Cineblast
We first went for the Extreme Log Ride. It was very realistic! One of the best 3D rides I have been on. It brings you through Himalaymazon. You’ve heard me right! Not the Himalayas nor the Amazon. Haha…not for the faint-hearted though.
Desperados
Desperados is a 3D shooting game whereby you are an assistant to the Sheriff and to take out the bad guys. You are seated on a saddle that moves according to the game. Holding on to the pistol with one hand and the saddle with the other, you have 2 rounds of trying to top the score. Enjoyed this one as well. Try to shoot well, else your face would be flashed across the screen as a bobo shooter…
4D Magix – Pirates
Kate and I have been to 4D shows previously and this was nothing new. Basically a 15 minutes show with 4D effects like wind blown by your ears, water sprinkling at you, in your face bees and insects crawling from under your seats. Yup, all the effects accompanied by the 3D movie. Enjoy!
Skyline Luge (with 1 skyride) OR Unlimited Skyrides
Next, we went for the Luge. We didnt know at first that the Luge Ride came with 1 skyride. Still, we chose the Luge. So from Imbiah, we Luged down to the beach. The new trail, Dragon Trail just completed construction not long ago and it was an exciting, winding ride. The slogan is true : Once is never enough. But we had another attractions to enjoy.
We were there shortly after lunch, so we beat the crowd and waited only about 5 minutes. Lunch was cheap (@Olio Bites considering prices at Sentosa) and good. We had spaghetti and Fish & Chips. Yum. Enjoy the thrilling Luge!
Segway Fun Ride
After the Luge, we wanted to rent the bicycle and ride into Fort Siloso. However, we were dismayed to find that we couldn’t and we were stopped at the tram station at the entrance of Fort Siloso. So we had to cycle back to return our bikes and head back to Fort Siloso. There were 2 guided tours that day (12.30pm and 3.30pm) but when we finally got back to Fort Siloso, we realised that we just missed the first guided tour! So we were advised by the friendly staff of Sentosa to complete Segway first, which we did.
We waited a short while before it was our turn. As with the Luge, you would have to don the helmet provided. The first practice session was basically to familiarise yourself with the Segway. The instructor would tell you how to move ahead, backwards and left/right by leaning your body (forwards/backwards) and tilting the handles to the desired direction. It was quite easy actually. But you would be envious when you see the instructors being able to move fast and drift! They would then ask you to ride towards a tree, go round it, and return back to the instructor.
The trail is much like a garden walk. On the Segway, it was over in 5 minutes. But it was still fun to go at a leisure speed and try to traverse small humps and engage slopes upwards and downwards. Overall, it was a nice refreshing albeit “risky” experience.
Sentosa Nature Discovery
We also attended the guided tour here. This area is basically free but with the guided tour, it makes the visit extra educational. The tour covered the types of trees and animals/birds that may be encountered and includes a short treetop/canopy walk. Nature lovers would enjoy this one.
Fort Siloso
Fort Siloso is a museum at Sentosa that covers the defence of Singapore during the colonial and WW2 era. It was really worthwhile to hear the stories that the guide had, and to learn about how it was like during the pre-war and war era.
The tour covered the guns, surrender chambers, life during WW2 under Japanese occupation and the surrender of Japanese back to the allied forces.
This is a really good tour (about an hour or so) for those who are interested in history and WW2. You can board the bus for the tour either at Imbiah or at the entrance of Fort Siloso. It departs slightly earlier, do check with the friendly staff for the exact timings.
The Merlion
As we entered, we were given a token at the entrance. It was a gold coin. We were then ushered into a small theatre to watch a short clip of how the “Merlion” came about. After the movie, we dropped our coin into one of the many merlions at the entrance of the lift and exchanged for a gift card. You can then claim your gift at the souvenier shop as you exit the Merlion.
We went to level 10 where the teeth of the Merlion was. We caught several shots here.
There was also a staff there ready to take a picture for you. After that, we went to the top of the Merlion. The view was spectacular. It covered the whole of Sentosa, including the rides and castle at the Universal Studios, the hotels at Resorts World, a golf course, the cable car ride, the sky tower. Over the distance, we could see our Central Business District (the CBD) as well as views of the ocean and our world famous sea port. Take a look at this video!
We took the lift and exited the Merlion. We were directed to exchange our gift cards for a souvenir and we got 2 hand held fans with Merlion imprinted on it.
Tiger Sky Tower
Our last stop was the Tiger Sky Tower. It wasn’t our first time but we still enjoyed the spectacular views that it offered. Enjoy these pictures!
Dinner @ Ramenplay
We went back to the hotel and lazed in the pool again before heading out for dinner. We wanted to catch the butterfly park but missed it as it was closed at 6:30pm. We had visited the one in Cameron Highlands before, so not much regrets there. We missed the trapeze because we aren’t that adventurous. For those who have tried it, do leave a comment on how it went!
We decided to stay in Sentosa for dinner and we ate at Ramenplay. There was a deal with DBS cards. If you order 2 mains, you’d receive a plate of 2 fried meat balls (Dango). The ramen was good. Remember to order the one that comes with the pork broth because it is simmered for a long time to achieve that taste. The meat was generous and the ramen was Q (also known as springy). The Unagi hot pot was not fantastic, but the unagi itself was delicious. Though a little bit on the expensive side, the meal was thoroughly satisfying. We also ordered the bamboo chicken and Chicken/Leek Yakitori to complete the meal. Yum.
Overall, it was an excellent staycation and we enjoyed all the attractions that Sentosa has to offer with the Day Play Pass. Go stay in the hotels at Resorts World Sentosa while they are still new and nice!
For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deals in and around Sentosa right here!
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