Yotel Singapore Orchard Road was our next venue for staycation and you might be wondering why we’re checking out Yotel instead of the usual brand …
staycation review
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!
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So if you want a well deserved staycation in Singapore with impeccable service, the Ritz Carlton Singapore is where you want to be!
Related Posts
Check out some of the other Singapore Staycations that we’ve done!
City
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
Marina Bay
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
Village Hotel Changi Staycation : Rediscover The Gems Of Singapore!
Sentosa
The Ultimate Family Staycation At Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa!
Amara Sanctuary Resort Staycation Singapore Sentosa 2 Bedroom (BR) Villa With Plunge (Private) Pool
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!
Related Posts
Check out some of the other Singapore Staycations that we’ve done!
City
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
Marina Bay
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
Village Hotel Changi Staycation : Rediscover The Gems Of Singapore!
Sentosa
The Ultimate Family Staycation At Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa!
Amara Sanctuary Resort Staycation Singapore Sentosa 2 Bedroom (BR) Villa With Plunge (Private) Pool
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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