On invitation to cover a top-end hotel investment event in Singapore, I decided to use this opportunity to include Sentosa in my schedule. While Concorde Hotel was kind enough to host us in Singapore, I coordinated with Jacqueline Low, Director of Sales, Business, and Channels Development, and Kelvin Pang, Manager of Strategic Communications & PR, from Sentosa Development Corporation for the Sentosa visit. Kelvin Pang put up a packed 2-day itinerary for me and my family.
Just a short taxi ride from the city center (15-20 minute drive), the 500-hectare Sentosa resort island provides guests a true island life filled with lush greenery, rainforests, rich biodiversity, home to an exciting array of wildlife including marine life, animal habitats, and nocturnal creatures. It boasts golden sandy beaches, tropical landscapes, world-renowned golf courses, a deep-water yachting marina, themed and thrilling attractions, along with numerous luxurious hotels, resorts, and spa retreats to relax and rejuvenate.
Shangri-La Sentosa
Arriving at Sentosa, we reached Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa (SRS), Singapore. What a wonderful property it is. With an inventory of 450+ rooms and suites with private balconies that provide guests with expansive views of the sea, multiple pools, and landscaped gardens.
Being a family-friendly resort, it can be a major attraction for Indians who love to travel with families. Moreover, SRS is the only beachfront resort in Singapore, with direct access to a beach. SRS offers a range of activities including natural water swimming pools, sea sports at its private beach, daily pool games, kids club, a children’s pool complete with waterslides and splash pads, Nestopia, an open-air play space with the longest slides on Sentosa, and Chi, The
Indians have always been attracted to Singapore, and recently, India became the second-largest contributor to Singapore’s tourist count, with almost 612,300 visitors from India. They also stay the longest, with an average length of stay of 8.61 days compared to an average of 5.19 days for other tourists.
Spa. On the beach, equipment is available for land and sea sport activities – badminton, soccer, and volleyball on land, and kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and paddleboats on the sea.
The resort offers multiple dining options – buffets, à la carte, beachfront dining, etc. We chose Alfresco dining for breakfast (an enormous and well-laid buffet breakfast) and it turned out to be a good choice too as we had peacocks strutting past us and trying to nibble on leftovers on the ground. We also had Indian food at the famous Casserole restaurant.
SRS would also be a perfect MICE venue with more than 6,000 sqm of dedicated space and a wide selection of venue options, especially the unique beachfront spaces that can be curated for themed outdoor experiences. They also have 10 function rooms with natural daylight.
To enjoy Sentosa’s attractions, the Sentosa Cable Car and the Sentosa A bus stop are just outside the hotel. In fact, from the hotel, we just walked over to Siloso Point to take the Singapore Cable Car to Merlion Station. The cable car is a wonderful experience providing a bird’s eye view of the island – a 360º panoramic views. Exiting Merlion Station, we had a short walk to Royal Taj for lunch. Located in a restored colonial building, this Indian restaurant provides Indian cuisines with a modern twist. It also offers a selection of vegetarian & international dishes in its all-day dining menu. Along with lunch, we enjoyed the pani puri shots the most.
We walked back to Merlion Station to take the Singapore Cable Car to Imbiah Lookout Station to reach Madame Tussauds Singapore, the famous wax museum, the seventh Asian branch of the Madame Tussauds chain of wax attractions worldwide.
It’s Not Just A Hotel, It’s An Experience.
From the moment you set foot in the hotel, you are taking the first step to a truly Concorde Experience. Slip into pleasure as you find your grand escape with Concorde Hotel Singapore. Where luxury is in its simplest form, feel like royalty with exquisite comfort and unparalleled hospitality. Concorde offers a sanctuary from the bustling city, but too far off from the effervescene of Singapore. Indulge Inside and Out. Always At Concorde.
Madame Tussauds Singapore features more than 80 unique celebrity wax figures from Asia, Hollywood, Bollywood, Tollywood (including many Indian actors), and other celebrities. Madame Tussauds’ first-ever boat ride, called the ‘Spirit of Singapore,’ offers a great experience. It takes you through a fantasy tropical jungle, gardens, chirping bird sounds, and sights with spectacular colors. The Marvel Universe 4D cinema experience includes special effects of wind and water as you witness the battle between Captain Marvel, Thor, Black Panther, Rocket, Spider-Man, Ant-Man vs. Loki in a bid to save the world. Guests can also star in immersive experiences and enjoy plenty of interactive activities.
Feeling tired, we decided to skip Fort Siloso Night Adventure, which is Singapore’s only preserved coastal fort with an extensive collection of World War II memorabilia. After a relaxing morning, we had lunch at Trapizza (close to SRS) – some of the best pizzas were presented. After lunch, we boarded Bus A towards Resorts World Sentosa. Due to time constraints, we had to choose between Universal Studios and S.E.A. Aquarium, and we opted to visit S.E.A. Aquarium – certainly one of the world’s biggest oceanariums. It has more than 100,000 sea creatures and over 800 different species living together in 45 million liters of water. The aquarium comprises 10 zones with 49 habitats, each boosted with refreshed educational content, interactive and immersive experiences, up-close animal encounters, and more. It also has one of the world’s largest viewing panels, 36 meters (118 ft) wide and 8.3 meters (27 ft) tall.
Visitors can spend hours sitting and gazing at the sweeping ocean scenery beyond the spotless glass panels, and marine enthusiasts can find the massive glass panel at the Open Ocean habitat particularly fascinating, weighing more than 250,000 kilograms. From dangerous sharks to endangered species, the SEA Aquarium in Singapore offers an enthralling experience.
After spending a couple of hours at S.E.A. Aquarium, we headed to board Sentosa Bus C towards Imbiah Lookout to reach SkyHelix Sentosa. There was a queue as only a limited number of people can sit at a time.
Named after its distinct vertical helix-like structure, SkyHelix Sentosa is Singapore’s highest open-air panoramic ride at 79 meters above sea level. As you rise up the open-air gondola dangling your feet in the air, you get to admire exquisite 360-degree views from Sentosa to the Keppel Bay area and the Southern Islands, making your experience all the more memorable. After sunset, the attraction gets lit up with bright LED lights, adding a whole new glowing dimension to the experience.
After SkyHelix, we boarded Sentosa Bus C towards Beach Station to reach Central Beach Bazaar – a central station to take buses to Singapore. It is a new attraction that offers a day-to-night carnival beach experience, featuring the return of the iconic Sentosa Musical Fountain, augmented by the tallest fountain in Southeast Asia, the Sentosa SkyJet.
At 80 meters tall, equivalent to a 24-storey building, Sentosa SkyJet is the tallest fountain in Southeast Asia. With vibrant street food concepts and international flavors, it’s truly a one-stop family-friendly beach destination. Later in the evening, we boarded Sentosa Bus A towards Siloso Point to return to Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa.
Museum of ice cream – Singapor
As a profound lover of ice creams, I made it a point to visit the Museum of Ice Cream in Singapore. This pink paradise brings the love of ice cream to life and offers a unique experience – a chance to connect with your sweeter side while gaining knowledge about the history of ice creams.
As you pass through the pink-decked rooms, you can try unlimited ice creams with delicious flavors and sprinkles. The ice cream options range from creamy, crunchy, fruity, or spicy. They also have non-dairy alternatives for lactose intolerant and vegan people. Additionally, you receive a small goodie bag that you can fill up with their special collection of sweet treats and chocolates. The museum offers multiple interactive activities for kids and adults, such as bungee jumping, a disco room, banana swings, basketball, a unicorn playground, and the world’s largest sprinkle pool to jump into. Their themes change every month according to occasions such as Halloween, Valentines, Christmas, etc. So, grab yourself a scoop and enjoy the sweet experience!
– Pooja Amritkar
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