In a country where infinity pools are a standard across hotel lodgings, Marina Bay Sands’ stands high above its competitors, literally, with palm trees parallel to the water line swaying vigorously, 57 stories above the bustling city. It’s surreal, even for a born-and-bred Singaporean.
Cue the bikini (mostly high fashioned and not at all pragmatic) clad tourists vying for that incredible once-in-a-lifetime photo to rub their friend’s noses into. I caved and lined up for a chance when the crowds mysteriously parted the waters, cajoled my very unwilling partner to snap a shot before trudging back down to our suite to enjoy the rest of the staycation.
This, my friends is where the hotel’s appeal truly shines. A bespoke armoire holding fine teas, wines and treats (including Korean spicy cup noodles), buffed calf leather and a spacious walk in wardrobe — these are just a few of the glow-up details. The newly refurbished Sands Collection is a wonderful tumble down the rabbit hole — a place where luxury and hospitality meet, get intimate and breed all sort of mischievous details.
The Backstory
Marina Bay Sands may take the biggest piece of the pie in the sector of MICE or meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions in Singapore, but now, it has set its sights on the luxury hospitality market. In a bid to manifest this, US$1.75 billion has been poured into the reinvestment; fronted with a new brand vision, ‘above beyond’ — a cue to surpass expectations in the field of hospitality. The change is drastic, a whopping 775 suites up from a previous 180. It’s not about lucrativeness, it’s a strategic imperative. The modern guests want more than just a place to rest their heads, they want a comfortable space decked out with high end fixtures, overlaid with personalized attention from your concierge.
In Marina Bay Sands’ transformation, the Sands collection is one of the two distinct hotel collections unveiled as part of this transformation and it includes family friendly options like the sands family suite with bunk beds and access to a play den kitted out to inspire creative play (open from 10am – 8pm)
The other hotel collection to get a facelift is the Paizacollection — because what’s better to the high rollers than staking their entire inheritance? — the extravagant rewards that come out of winning. The new collection offers some best-in-class accommodation including a chairman suite with karaoke facilities and a fully stocked kitchen.
Set the scene
Because we can, we’re first transported door-to-door in one of the establishment’s entourage of limousines. Picture this, there’s ambient lightening, cool leather chairs that were doing wonders for my lower back ache — honestly it was hard to beat. Till the doors of the hotel blew wide open and the prospects of the unknown beckoned from within. We skipped the queues and zipped straight up to our suite where check-in was performed seamlessly without having to perform any sort of absurd deep dive for the booking or documents per se-luxury (as a state of mind) — this is where it begins.
The Suite
Straight off the bat, we draw similarities to the very ostentatious Wynn Palace in Macau. The resemblance is uncanny, sans the loud, garish and slightly tacky showcase of gold trimmings, toiletries included. Instead, it’s a classy utopia filled with luxurious fabrics and textured marble, subtle recessed lighting in natural contrast to the tumbling shades of greenery that one is treated to if you book the rooms with ‘Gardens-by-the-bay’ view.
The door opens up to a spacious living area complete with a 75-inch television and a four-seater dining table. The couch and the accent chair are plush, perhaps too comfortable that they might even render the weak-willed’s sightseeing plans obsolete. Rounding the corner, a giant king-sized bed large enough to house my entire tiny family (which to be honest, is annoyingly a daily occurrence) is a sight for sore eyes.
The only catch… the mirroring 75-inch television in this sleep sanctum as well. With disconnecting being a modern luxury, this twofold situation is a major overkill. That might just be my only gripe. The tour continues through the two-person bath tub to a very capacious walk-in wardrobe replete with Dyson hair dryer and a small sink dedicated to the vanity area.
The Food and Drinks
Variety and quality are the axiomatic principles to MBS’s F&B success. From the breakfast buffet at RISE restaurant suited for a more Asian palate, to an à la carte version with a view to-die-for at SPAGO by Wolfgang Puck (don’t pass up the Iberico Pork Dumplings ‘Agnolotti’); Marina Bay Sands is committed to fueling your discoveries in and about the bay area. There’s also complimentary afternoon tea at RISE for suite guests if that’s your cup of tea.
Besides the complimentary experiences, there’s a wide slew of dining options at MBS, with highlights including Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s more recent and casual outpost — Wakuda, Maison Boulud, Estiatorio Milos, Mott32 and Yardbird.
Specifically Jin Ting Wan
We visited Singapore’s highest fine dining Cantonese restaurant — Jin Ting Wan — and it was definitely Yue (Cantonese) cuisine at its apex.
Executive chef Albert Li digs deep to exemplify classic techniques such as slow cooking, double boiling and the mastery of dim sum, The roasted pipaduck is something of a marvel — the bird dramatically flayed and flattened to resemble the pear shaped elegance of the Chinese music instrument, the Pipa. The meat is then mixed in with aged tangerine peel and water chestnut before adhering it back to the skin and roasting over Lychee wood. The result is a lacquered exterior harboring aromatic flesh underneath. So good that I find myself speaking in absolutes.
Beyond its cuisine, the restaurant celebrates another aspect of the Cantonese culture, it’s tea-imbibing traditions. The tea program at Jin Ting Wan is mapped by Jacky Zhao Gang, head tea master with a wealth of experience from his tenures at Wynn Palace Macau and Grand Lisbao Hotel. It spans 7 categories with over 80 varietals and wins the attention of the crowds with both sophisticated palates and deep pockets.
The perks
Free access to the SkyPark Observation Deck and sampan rides through the canals of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Brilliant. Though I must say that complimentary access to the lotus like structure perched over the bay, i.e. the ArtScience museum, takes the cake. Parents, do not hesitate to make a trip to the futuristic teamLab Future World exhibition, its colorful mix of interactive installations are sure to keep little hands busy.
Yay or Nay
For the longest time, travelers headed to Singapore would make a beeline for the Marina Bay Sands — warming the sunbeds at the edge of the cosmopolitan city for most of the day, while nibbling on too-expensive snacks. Now, the rejuvenated suites make lingering in the comforts of your luxurious hotel domain an equally alluring proposition, and we are all for it.
Marina Bay Sands
Address: 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956
Instagram: @marinabaysands
