SINGAPORE
If you are wanting to find the ultimate five star Eco Hotel and Resort in Singapore, we recommend that you consider visiting the Rasa Sentosa Resort. It is the ideal tropical getaway for romantic couples or those that want to bring their families or friends.
Not only is the Rasa Sentosa Eco Hotel and Resort located in picturesque surroundings, 15 minutes drive away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Singapore, but they also offer Singapore's first and only beachfront hotel. Guests can enjoy a wide range of recreation and sports activities or simply relax around one of their stunning pools which have been carefully interwoven amidst tropical vegetation and palm trees.
If you are coming from the airport, it takes approximately 30 minutes to drive and you will enjoy the sense of escape as you head out to the Western tip of Sentosa. There you will find the sandy Siloso Beach overlooking the blue waters of the South China Sea.
When both myself and my colleague William Worthington arrived, we were greeted by friendly staff including Communication Manager Elizabeth Loo and her colleague Phylliss Ang. We were initially taken back by the enormous size of the Banyan Tree overhanging the entrance of Rasa Sentosa. They explained that as part of their environmental policy and attaining 'Eco Hotel' recognition, they had been particularly careful during the planning and building of the hotel, protecting the local flora and fauna wherever possible.
It was easy to see how the Rasa Sentosa Resort had taken great pains to create an eco friendly hotel and one which would relax guests upon arrival. Whilst the entrance and hotel is clearly 5 star, it is also set amidst lovely greenery and there is even a waterfall on the immediately abutting rockface. All this adds to the tranquility and relaxing feel of the hotel.
After checking in, we were shown to our room which had spectacular views over the South China Sea. We were informed that all rooms come with an attached balcony allowing individuals or families to enjoy the beauty of the natural outdoor surroundings. Whether you want a hill, garden, pool or sea view room, you can certainly enjoy the splendor of nature.
The following day, Elizabeth Loo and Phyllis Ang escorted us around the hotel and grounds and we were pleased to see that there wasn't just a prolification of concrete. Care had been taken to keep palm trees and vegetation intact, particularly in the gardens and pool areas. Although the Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore might not be classed as one of your 'typical' Eco Hotels given its size - 459 guest rooms - the management were clearly passionate about upholding their eco credentials and were clearly doing this. When you leave the room and take a trip to the beach for example, you can see how clean it is - mostly attributed to their regular clean ups and attention to the detail of their surrounds.
Rasa Sentosa are also proud to offer a range of non-motorized water sports including kayaking, paddle skiing, beach volleyball, free form swimming in their pools and even bicycles for exploring the island. The Sea Sports Centre provides all of the equipment you need. The Flying Trapeze - the first of its kind in Singapore - gives first-hand experience at being a flying acrobat. Corporate and team-building activities can also be organised upon request. If you have children, there is a fully equipped 'Toots Club' for kids club, along with children's pool with waterslides. If you want time on your own, the recreation team are there on hand to organise daily excursions, games and other activities for your children, to allow you the time to do what you want.
The Health Club and Spa
If you enjoy keeping fit and healthy, the Health Club and Spa is a soothing retreat for those seeking a rejuvenating getaway. The spa serves both men and ladies and offers an extensive menu of treatments that include massages, facials and body wraps.
Cuisine
The cuisine at the Rasa Sentosa Eco Resort is phenomenal. They cater for the majority of tastes with a wide variety of restaurants, bars and dining experiences. We sampled some scrumptious Asian and international favourites at the Silver Shell Cafe; Mediterranean and Asian-inspired cuisine in the waterfront setting at the Barnacles Restaurant and Bar (fantastic for a memorable meal taking in the sea breeze and beautiful sunset on the South China Sea, but do book first!); Italian beachfront dining at Trapizza; poolside drinks and snacks at the Pool Bar and live entertainment with light refreshment at the Lobby Lounge. They even had a huge amount of fresh Oysters in the main Buffet style restaurants and they proved very popular amongst guests.
Barnacles is a must visit as it is their signature restaurant. It houses two kitchens, one Chinese and the other Western to ensure diners get some variety. Charcoal is used for the grill which is a rarity in Singapore restaurants. Some of the dishes available to tantalise your taste buds include Chilli Crab, Seafood Platters on Ice, the Yin Yang (a must try starter consisting of Wok-Fried Honey Baby Squids and Mayonnaise Prawns) Pan-Seared Foie Gras with Passion Fruit Coulis and Grilled Meat and Seafood Skewers. It is the ideal venue for a weekend family get together with a delectable seafood buffet spread and programmes for the kids.
Awards
The Rasa Sentosa Eco Hotel and Resort has received several awards due to their blend of Asian hospitality, attention to sustainable environmental policy and outstanding service. These include:
* 'ASEAN Green Hotel Award' - 2008-2009
* 'The Best Resort Hotel', The Daily Telegraph Travel Awards, 2007.
* 'Annual Gold List', Conde Naste Traveller' (US), 2007
* 'Top 10 Resorts in Asia, 2006' (US).
* 'Best Accommodation Experience', Singapore Tourism Board. 2006.
* 'World's Best Hotels', Institutional Investor, 2005.
* 'Six Favourite Destination Spas', Conde Naste Traveller (UK), 2005
Summary of Facilities:
* Five F&B outlets including Barnacles Restaurant and Bar, Silver Shell Cafe, Trapizza, Lobby Lounge, Pool Bar.
* 24-hour in-room dining.
* Baby sitting /child care service
* Toots Club for kids
* Sea Sports Centre
* The Flying Trapeze/rock wall
* Games arcades
* Facilities for the physically challenged
* Conference facilities and venues
* Beachfront and indoor wedding venues
* Gift shop
* Florist
* Laundry
* Non-smoking rooms
* Parking facilities
* Safe deposit box
* Taxi / limousine
* Business Centre
The Shangri-La Group
We recommend the Shangri-La Group highly. Not only did we find the Rasa Sentosa Eco Hotel and Resort to be a high quality organisation but their 'Shangri-La Hospitality' is now world renowned. You are unlikely to be disappointed and there are numerous other five-star deluxe Shangri-La properties around the world including Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines, Singapore, Sutanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the U.A.E. In addition, we are informed the group have a further fifty projects being developed in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Phillipines, Qatar, Seychelles, Taiwan, Tahiland, U.A.E., the UK and the United States.
If you want to find out further information or wish to book an escape, you can do so on the Shangri La website.
Posted under Eco Travel
This post was written by Trisha Gukhool on September 3, 2009
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