Ultimate relaxation: 4 of the finest hotels in Singapore for a spa staycation
A selection of Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Singapore have revamped their spa menus. Pencil them in for a much-needed day of rest and rejuvenation.
The couple suite at the St Regis Spa. (Photo: St Regis Spa)
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It’s a fundamental truth that everyone loves a vacation. It’s also a fundamental truth that sometimes, going on a vacation is a real chore. Just the idea of the airport alone – with all those crowds, endless waiting to check in, and security checks – is enough to make you want to put your passport back into the drawer.
In other words, there’s a lot to be said for a relaxing staycation in your own backyard, especially if all you want is a quick break but without all the exhausting hassle of a weekend getaway to Bali or Perth.
Happily, a clutch of Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Singapore have been busy dreaming up new ways to entice locals to drop by for a few days, or maybe even an afternoon, of much needed rest and recreation. We’re talking not just revamped spa menus but also, in the case of the Westin, a brand new bed.
1. THE ST REGIS SINGAPORE
The venerable St Regis has always had a spa, though it was one partnered with luxury skincare brand, Remede. Late last year, the hotel debuted its St Regis Spa alongside a slick new menu and a gorgeous makeover. The previous space was no slouch by any means, but the revamped space is a class apart with its palette of cream and ivory hues, touches of bronze and Italian marble, wallpaper sheathed with botanical motifs, and swathes of warm timber.
It’s the sort of space that makes you want to move in and live here – each day, drifting from the eucalyptus-scented steam room to a mood-lit treatment room for facials infused with floral oil, cinnamon and cedar, or powered with pure hyaluronic acid and hyperbaric oxygen; shea butter, cherry blossom and lotus oil massages; and luxurious manicures and pedicures by cult British podiatrist, Margaret Dabbs.
Me, I would show up just for the sparkling brew of sencha and citrus, petit sandwiches, and tartlets the spa plies you with on arrival.
2. THE RITZ-CARLTON, MILLENIA SINGAPORE
It wasn’t so long ago that if you brought your kids on vacation with you, you basically had to keep an eye on them the entire time. It was just as if you had never left your home at all. The introduction of kids clubs has since saved the sanity of many a harried parent on holiday, but leave it to The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore to lift the bar a little higher when it comes to keeping the kids entertained.
Designed for younglings aged four to 12, the hotel’s Ritz Kids programme is designed to channel restless energies towards nature, exploration, responsibility and culture – a not always easy task that begins at check-in with activity and colouring books, and a Discovery Map around the hotel and its grounds.
Even more entertaining is a Night Safari sleeping tent pitched in the middle of the room that’s stocked with edible turn-down amenity, night lamp, and a beanie of the hotel’s mascot, Leo the Lion.
Of course, none of this guarantees parents will get much of a rest, but it’s a promising start.
www.ritzcarlton.com/en/services-amenities/ritz-kids
3. W SINGAPORE - SENTOSA COVE
Even if you’re just here for a day trip, just the very name of the W Singapore -Sentosa Cove’s Away Spa is enough to conjure the idea of an idyllic island escape. It certainly helps that the spa menu was recently refreshed, with Italian skincare brand Comfort Zone now headlining the treatments.
For a quick pick-me-up, the spa’s new Performance Massage hits all the right spots, not least because it incorporates lemon, orange and peppermint essential oils blended with ivy extracts to improve circulation, green walnut extract for antioxidant protection, and sweet almond and jojoba oil to nourish.
And with all your rough edges smoothened, adjourn to the WET Deck, the hotel’s all-day retreat, so perfect for day-trippers taking time off from their WFH routine. If the private cabanas and seafood snacks served poolside don’t please, then, perhaps the live DJ performances, ocean views, and chilled cocktails just might take your mind off your bulging email inbox and looming Zoom calls.
https://ap.spatime.com/sinwh/3972035/home
4. THE WESTIN SINGAPORE
Any product that describes itself as ‘heavenly’ is usually just asking to be trolled, but as a generation of Westin Singapore guests will tell you, its Heavenly Bed lives up to its reputation. I mean, how could you go wrong with ten layers of 300-thread-count cotton sheets, duvets and fluffy mattress pads? Sure, the whole thing may strike some as completely OTT in a country where the average ambient temperature is in the low 30s, but isn’t that the whole point about a fantasy getaway?
Completely undaunted, the Westin has just rolled out the grandly named The Next Generation Heavenly Bed. The base features a silver fibre weave cover and temperature-control gel-infused foam that pulls heat away from the body while protecting you from microbes and bacteria. Layer that with soft cotton sheets, cool grey blanket and vast pillow cases piped with grey, and you have all the makings – one hopes – of a sleep even angels and innocent babies would envy. Side-bar: both the bed and linen, and a dog’s version (yes, really) can be purchased online.
And if sleep is still elusive, perhaps make a detour before the next evening’s slumber to the Heavenly Spa where nearly three-quarters of the menu has been revamped – including the two-hour Royal Ceremony Treatment that begins with a 30-minute tea and chia seed powder scrub, and ends with a cranberry tea body wrap, and massage.
