Hotel Review: W Singapore - Sentosa Cove (Fabulous Room) - Luxury Hotel in Sentosa
After getting my SPG Gold the easy way with just one stay, I have been very inclined to try out Starwood properties in Singapore (and around the Asia-Pacific region). Having been to the Sheraton Towers Singapore on multiple occasions, I've decided to give the W Singapore Sentosa Cove a go one weekend. For those of you who are not familiar with the W Singapore Sentosa Cove, it is not a city hotel. The hotel is actually located inside an ultra-exclusive residential enclave on Sentosa Island - rental for apartments in Sentosa Cove is often estimated to be above S$10,000 a month.
Click HERE to check out the room rates at W Singapore - Sentosa Cove!
I guess the W Singapore Sentosa Cove is one of those places where you walk in and know immediately that you will be impressed or blown away. During my weekend stay at the W Singapore Sentosa Cove, I opted for the Fabulous Room (two tiers higher than the base room) which offers a panoramic view of the beautiful WET® Pool as well as the South China Sea. While the room was not ridiculously big, it was beautifully-appointed with 40 sqm of space and a private balcony. It is worth noting that this is a W Hotel after all so contemporary design is definitely not what you should be expecting.
The best way to get to the hotel is by a taxi or if you really have to, the Sentosa Bus 3. There is also an shuttle that runs between the hotel and VivoCity (while stopping at different locations along the way). The pick-up point is really close to where JPOT is in VivoCity. Since I took an Uber into Sentosa Island (admission charges may apply but they are usually waived for hotel guests), I did not have to worry about the shuttle timings - the only challenge is to get a taxi driver who actually wants to take you into Sentosa Cove (in any case, Uber should have been your first option).
Upon entering my room, I was greeted with this really adorable welcome amenity. As always, this is a paid stay (unless stated otherwise) so I was actually quite surprised that they actually went the extra mile to get The Shutterwhale's logo and printed it on a cupcake. Sure it wasn't the most delicious cupcake around but it is truly the thought that counts.
The one thing you will most probably notice after the impressive view from your balcony is the illuminated floral wall motifs that comes with four different colours of mood lighting. You will also find quirky details and finishing in your room like a hand (fake, of course!) holding some flowers or a metal frog (priced at over S$20). While I am generally a fan of more contemporary room designs, I did find comfort in the Fabulous Room - it was spacious, comfortable and most importantly, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
You will also find some of the strangest light switches by your bed - including Hello, Escape, Runway and Flirt for the different moments throughout the stay - I was stuck on 'Escape' for most of my stay unfortunately.
In case you are wondering what the mood lights look like, this is how it is! I do not really remember which mood lighting this one is but I'm quite certain it's 'Flirt'.
The bathroom of the Fabulous Room is one of my favourite parts of the room (or most rooms for that matter). I love the deep soaking tub especially that looks out to the room and the balcony. With that being said, do note that the sliding windows that peek into the bedroom cannot be locked and therefore someone from the bedroom will be able to open it - you are in a W Hotel after all!
Bathroom amenities are provided by Bliss Spa and it even includes a handy little Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (pure coincidence for this to be in the Fabulous Room!) I've used Bliss Spa amenities on multiple occasions but I do not find the Soapy Suds to be very good. The body butters are quite indulging (even though some of them smell quite artificial) but if you do not like strong smells, bring along your very own Aesop amenities (my personal advice!).
W-branded bathrobes can also be found in the room - even though the one from St. Regis beats it hands down. W Hotels around the world do not have any actual club lounge or executive lounge so don't expect to book a club room or equivalent. With that being said, some W Hotels around the world actually extend complimentary drinks in the evening to their SPG Platinum guests (out of their very own accord). While I was just an SPG Gold during my stay at the W Singapore Sentosa Cove, I do not believe they extend such courtesy for SPG Platinum guests either.
Breakfast was served at The Kitchen Table on the same level as the pretty amazing swimming pool (another one of my favourites!). I have previously enjoyed a Champagne Brunch here and ended up getting a Sip and Indulge membership for S$498+ a year - pretty amazing value if you intend to spend S$500 in one visit anyway. Breakfast was not very extensive but they were all done pretty well. I love the spread of fresh breads, cereals and cute smiley-face pancakes which I am sure will delight the little ones.
In my opinion, the W Singapore Sentosa Cove draws a pretty different crowd - not the ones you would expect to see at a St. Regis or a Grand Hyatt. As such, it is not difficult to see this observation being translated into the food options offered during breakfast.
No stay at the W Singapore Sentosa Cove is complete without taking a dip at the beautiful freeform WET® Pool. There is also a swim-up bar if you are feeling thirsty or if you feel like you've earned yourself a drink. It rains pretty much for most part of the year in Singapore so if you are lucky enough to find a day with clear skies and warm sunshine, hesitate no further and jump right in to one of my favourite swimming pools in Singapore!
W Singapore Sentosa Cove offers a beautiful escape from the city (albeit at a pretty high price) in the heart of Sentosa Cove. It is convenient enough to get to but (feels) far enough to breakaway from the monotony of city life. While I definitely did enjoy my stay in the Fabulous Room, I did feel that the service aspect of the stay in general was lacking. I did not experience bad service per se but at the same time, I did not receive anything spectacular that made it especially memorable. Will I return to the W Singapore Sentosa Cove any time soon? The answer is probably no for now. I love the property, the rooms and the food but something just feels a little lacking for a complete experience (especially with the price the property is charging).
W Singapore Sentosa Cove
21 Ocean Way Sentosa, Singapore 098374
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TRIBE Living Bangkok Sukhumvit 39 is a great value choice for budget-conscious travelers but its slightly longer walk from Phrom Phong BTS Station may make it less convenient compared to more accessible (but pricier) options in the area.