Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa

Escaping the confines of her home office and lack of overseas vacations, Karen Yue slips into the French-inspired luxury resort on Sentosa for a workation, and realises that a tropical paradise has always been within reach

Wide open spaces, manicured lawns and soothing water features are a welcome change from home offices

Rooms
The sprawling resorts offers 215 keys across seven room and suite categories, leading in with the 36m2 Luxury Room and topping the range with four exclusive Villa du Jardin suites, each taking in a private pool, spacious open deck, separate living space and two bedrooms.

My three-day workation here featured restful nights in the Prestige Family Suite. My unit was on the second floor of the Tranquillity Wing, granting me views of one of the resort’s many manicured lawns.

As its name suggests, this room type is built with families in mind. The space is telling – both the sleeping and living quarters are cavernous. The bedroom comes with a king-size bed, with enough space to fit an adorable Farmhouse-themed tent – complete with animal plushies and miniature farmland figurines – for a glampcation that little ones will appreciate. Part of any holiday fun comes from the planning process, and I had plenty of chuckles picking out the glampcation theme for my boys, with options ranging from Under the Sea to Le Petit Guardian of the Galaxy.

The Prestige Family Suite is ideal for work too, as the living quarters are separated from the bedroom by two sets of doors, providing decent soundproofing. The desk is generous, but one can also work on the comfortable sofa bed.

The resort pool was revamped and relaunched on August 11, 2021

Workation facilities
I love that the entire resort is at the disposal of workationing guests. Guests can pick their favourite location of the moment, be it by the pool on a lounger, on the lawn by the fountain, or on the patio of The Cliff restaurant with the sea spilling out before them, and get right to work. Wi-Fi is accessible across the resort, and no troublesome passwords are needed.

My favourite spot to write is at LeBar, on any of the twin seats that are set along a water feature and positioned to take in views of the glimmering swimming pool. The melody of swirling water is soothing, and cocktails are within easy reach. The citrusy Mezcaleria, a concoction of Salamanis Machetazo Mezcal, Cointreau, yuzu and grape juice, is addictive and sets the tropical paradise mood.

When I am done writing drunk and need to sober up for editing work, a dip in the newly-renovated 33m long black pearlescent tiled pool is the perfect remedy. The black beauty made its debut on August 11, along with a refreshed poolside which now comes with ample cushioned loungers and cabanas. The pool has been made children-friendly, with a section going just 1.4m deep and with steps by the side for toddlers to sit on and splash around in.

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa makes its easy for guests to build their desired workation experience through a highly customisable Dream B-Leisure Lifestyle package, which comes with more than 10 complimentary amenities, such as full-day parking, use of resort bicycles, and pool and gym access (advanced bookings and limited time usage per day due to safe distancing regulations). The package is offered as a DayDream Pass (S$48++; US$35.55) which comes without a guestroom and the DayLifestyle Pass (S$190++ per room per guest) which comes with an overnight stay. Numerous add-ons are available, such as free-flow alcoholic beverages for S$68++, a three-course meal for S$48++, spa access for S$40++, and an hour-long yoga session for S$30++.

That said, the resort has many other attractive deals that workation guests can take, such as the Infinite Family Experiences package (from $458++ per night) that comes with full board, bicycle usage and 45 minutes of activities at Villa des Enfants kids club, or the FurKid Retreat, which throws in a pet amenity basket and pet-friendly inflatable pool upon request. Work conveniences, such as access to co-working spaces and printing facilities, can then be added through the DayDream Pass.

The pavilion-styled LeBar serves afternoon high tea and provides a conducive space for creative thinking

Other facilities
Great dining experiences are a must for any quality vacation, and the resort does not disappoint with The Cliff. Chef Jeremy carries his life in Los Angeles and his Mexican heritage into The Cliff’s Italian menu. Selection is extensive, and the pizzas are especially memorable. I have gathered several favourites across my stay, and am determined to return in the near future to try so many other dishes I never got around to.

On Friday and Saturday evenings, all-day dining Kwee Zeen comes alive with Magnifique Hawker Nights, a themed buffet that features some of Singapore’s most loved casual dishes, such as satay, popiah, bak kut teh, and beef rendang. Iced bandung and chin-chow provide the perfect beverage complement.

Kwee Zeen, which provides the resort’s daily breakfast service, turns out an indulgent brunch every Sunday. The signature Sofitel Sentosa Sunday Brunch serves up over 20 different fresh seafood items as well as hot dishes from 15 live stations including a foie gras station and a carving station.

Other dining establishments include LeBar, where high tea is offered every afternoon alongside artisanal cocktails and a selection of wines and spirits.

One does not have to give up on daily wellness pursuits while on workation. Sofitel Spa offers various rejuvenating treatments and a chance to soak in a private pool loved by regulars for its therapeutic waterfall. The resort also conducts wellness programmes, such as yoga sessions and power workouts with a professional trainer.

For children, interactive activities like storytelling, crafts and games are offered at Villa des Enfants. An indoor playground is available within for smaller children that come accompanied by a guardian. While I had my firstborn booked for an arts and craft class, he skipped out at the last minute in favour of the swimming pool.

Service
Service was never intrusive and help was always at hand when it was needed.

Verdict
The tropical resort setting was a welcome change of environment during my prolonged remote work arrangement and lack of overseas breaks. The relaxing environment recharges the spirit and sparked content ideas, while recreational facilities allowed me to reconnect with my boys. Bonus points for dining conveniences and not having to do the dishes after! I would gladly do this again in a heartbeat.

No. of rooms 215
Contact details
h9474@sofitel.com
www.sofitel-singapore-sentosa.com

 

Karen Yue checks out the workation trend and finds out what it means for Asia’s hotels and resorts in TTGmice Sep-Oct 2021 issue’s cover feature. Watch for it!

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