Hotel Staycation Review: Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

Tucked away in a quiet and lush corner of Sentosa, the tranquil Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa offers a rare respite from the urbanity of a dense city such as Singapore. The resort opened in late-2015, having replaced what was once The Sentosa, a Beaufort resort. Today, the Accor property boasts of 211 rooms and suites, 4 villas and the world’s largest So Spa. I also counted no less than 4 F&B options – the most of any Accor property in Singapore.

One minor annoyance about staying in Sentosa is transport but this property seems to get it right. Having stayed in other hotels in the island previously, I noted how the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort has what is probably the most frequent complimentary shuttle service schedule – half hour intervals between the hotel and Vivocity starting at 7:30am and ending at 11:30pm (around 2 or 3 hours later than other properties) with no lunch break. There is also a complimentary shuttle service between the hotel and Paragon in Orchard – at two hour intervals starting at 10am and ending at 10:30pm.

lobby

I was immediately greeted with a foreign air as soon as I arrived at the property. The elegant open-air lobby with bold furnishings was my first sign that this is a resort more in keeping with traditional Southeast Asian resort islands rather than one in a space-deprived city.

le bar

I had arrived earlier than the standard check-in time and my room was not ready yet. To keep me occupied while waiting for my room, reception handed me my complimentary welcome drink vouchers for redemption at the Le Bar – a standard inclusion for Accor Le Club members who are silver and above.

By 3pm, my room was ready and I made my way to the Peace Wing to check it out for the first time. The pathway from the lobby leading to the rooms offered a wonderful glimpse of the expanse of the property. Whitewashed columns gave off a cooling effect while fountains and peacocks graced the well-manicured lawns. Even though I was there on a weekend – a typically busy time for any destination in Sentosa, I could still find plenty of quiet spots around the resort that made for ideal venues for lazing around.

One special facility here (which I’ve not seen anywhere else) is the fish spa where you can just soak your feet on a shallow pool while dozens of doctor fish exfoliate your skin.

Junior Suite

junior suite living room sofitel singapore sentosa resort and spa

My room for this particular stay at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort was a Junior Suite, a lavish 55 square meter space with subtle French touches. Bold colors (think: purple and pink) interspersed with understated wooden panels and gray furnishings.

junior suite at sofitel singapore sentosa resort and spa

The living area is separated from the bedroom through a partitioning wall that is semi-open, with the centerpiece of this wall being the 47″ television that comes as a pair – one facing the living room and the other facing the bedroom.

coffee machine

One of the highlights in the living area is the space-age looking minibar cum coffee machine. Coffee’s from Illy Coffee while tea bags were from TWG with flavors such as Sencha and Earl Grey. The coffee was so aromatic and inviting, I couldn’t resist having a cup even though I typically avoid caffeine at night.

Understandably, there is a lot more space allocated to the living areas and the bedroom in this case is meant for sleeping. That being said, there is enough space for bag storage, cabinets at either end of the room and nightstands. The semi-open layout (plus the usage of mirrors) creates a good sense of space within the sleeping quarters.

If like me, you mysteriously have a tendency to iron your clothes when staying in a hotel, do take note that the iron is already plugged in an outlet located inside one of the cabinets. To iron your clothes, you need to situate the ironing board near the space between the partitioned walls.

Alternating dark wooden panels and mirrors fill the bathroom of the Junior Suite, giving off a subtle Southeast Asian look. It is graced by a bigger-than-average bathtub. The toilet area is in its own enclosure while a spacious rain-shower is in another. I like the messages embossed on the glass. My room came with the message “Singin’ in the rain,” as if inviting guests to belt out a tune or two while going through their morning shower. I gladly obliged.

Toiletries came from Lanvin, in generous 100ml sizes. I like how housekeeping thoughtfully put in a loofah and some bath salts by the tub for use. Elsewhere, I would have had to make a special request.

Swimming Pool

The pool area of the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort follows the well-manicured and tranquil theme permeating the rest of the property. The swimming pool itself measures 33 meters and is surrounded by plenty of trees, cabanas and attractive lounge chairs. It is easy to get carried away here just spending an entire afternoon chilling by the pool.

At night, it is even more attractive in my opinion with brilliant illumination over the pool. If you are looking for a more natural swimming spot, Tanjong Beach is just a 132-step downhill walk away.

the cliff | sofitel singapore sentosa resort and spa

the cliff | sofitel sentosa resort and spa

I did not manage to eat at the resort’s Italian restaurant, The Cliff, but the elegant decor caught my eye. I can’t comment about the food but the setting, overlooking the sea, makes for a wonderful date venue.

Breakfast at Kwee Zeen

Breakfast is served at the resort’s all-day dining restaurant, Kwee Zeen. There is a wonderful array of local and international fare on offer for the morning meal. The cheese section is notable, as is the generous dessert station – lots of sweet treats even in the morning!

I also came by Kwee Zeen for their Sunday brunch and while I don’t recommend sitting at the outdoor area at noon, it is actually an excellent idea to grab one of the outdoor tables for your morning meal. You can take your pick with the views. One side faces the pool while another section faces the sea. You won’t go wrong with either.

Tips for Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort

• This is a family-oriented resort with plenty of bells and whistles for the little ones. There’s a kids room where children can play and even a suite tailor-made for families. In-room babysitting is also available
• That being said, I never found the place noisy while I was there nor did I find children running around the resort even though there were obviously families staying. The kids areas are in distinct sections of the property so couples staying here for a romantic retreat for instance won’t be too bothered
• For a 5-star resort, the property offers good value with rates (inclusive of breakfast) starting from SGD 300++ for the basic rooms and just under SGD 500++ for a suite. Other luxury properties in Sentosa charge nearly double that at the very least
• As with any hotel in Sentosa, stay here during weekdays and you may amazingly find huge stretches of the resort all to yourself

Booking It

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa currently has a staycation package with a 1 night stay and breakfast, lunch and dinner for S$456.69. You can book this package here.

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa
2 Bukit Manis Road
Sentosa 099891
Singapore

Bino

Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook, Telegram, or Instagram. Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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