Hotel Staycation Review: W Singapore Sentosa Cove – Feeling Cool in this Enclave for the Rich & Famous

W Singapore – Sentosa Cove stands as a true getaway from the hustle and bustle of Singapore, with a location that is relatively intimate, relaxing and far from the maddening crowd. This is considering that the resort island where it is situated is more known for lively attractions such as Universal Studios and Adventure Cove Waterpark. With a setting right at the playground of the rich and famous, this W property’s Sentosa Cove location not only creates an atmosphere perfect for a hideaway but also one that is thankfully not touristy.

Part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, this property is a Category 6 for SPG members, effectively tying it with St. Regis Singapore and Westin Singapore. While the W’s sister hotels in the country are all city hotels, getting here’s an easy cab ride from Vivocity which took less than ten minutes for me. Shuttle buses also run from here to the hotel every hour or two. You can check out the shuttle bus schedule here.

hotel lobby

With three people manning the front desk when I arrived, I managed to check-in early prior to the standard check-in time with only a short wait for my room. While it can get busy here during 2 to 3pm especially on weekends when the bulk of visitors come at the same time, there are roving guest relations staff who assist in case the queue gets unbearably long.

woobar

That being said, the lobby in itself is cozy and very stylish. I didn’t mind lingering here for a bit while waiting for my room to be ready. In fact, I went to have myself some drinks over at the WOOBAR while waiting.

Fabulous Room

Part of my welcome pack consisting of my keys, a map of Sentosa and a free entrance pass to the island were two drink coupons that I could redeem at the WOOBAR. When I got up to my room, I saw a most unique looking welcome treat. While I am accustomed to receiving the customary fruit basket, or in some cases a bottle of wine, I’ve not forgotten my similarly interesting experience when I stayed at W Bangkok and was presented with candies and chocolates sealed in sardine cans. This time around, I got a really sweet treat in the form of whipped cream and sprinkles on an ice cream cone as well as a bowl of M&Ms!

Entering the room for the first time with lounge music emanating from the excellent BOSE sound system, I was immediately reminded of W’s cool and urbane proposition which seemed to blend quite well with the lush grounds and expansive pool outside. My Fabulous Room was quite spacious, at 40 square meters in size, and came with a balcony. The room had a pinkish hue which could be enhanced or changed to other colors with the light settings at the bedside.

sitting area beside my bed

In front of the bed was the flat-screen LCD TV which could be closed with a drawer. There was also a box underneath it filled with several types of adapters. Definitely no problems here when it comes to finding the right plugs to connect phones, iPads and laptops.

“flirt” light settings

As I mentioned, there are a couple of light settings to choose from. I turned on the one that said “flirt” and was met with the above scene.

The minibar here was also a bit different. Apart from the standard snacks and drinks, there was also a provision to create customized cocktails using in-room mixers.

the balcony

While I typically don’t care much about balconies, it certainly is a much welcome addition if the place comes with a fantastic view. My balcony opened up to excellent views of the contours of the swimming pool and nicely landscaped grounds.

The bathroom came with a large bathtub, with glass windows beside it that could be opened to give direct access to the bed. The toilet and shower area were in separate enclosures.

Like in other W properties, the toiletries were from Bliss. I was provided with facial wash aside from the customary shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and lotion. The complete set, as only W can provide.

Facilities

skirt, one of two restaurants inside the property

The low-rise property has a fantastic design that makes it a pleasure to explore. There are two proper sit-down food venues here – The Kitchen Table which is similarly named to the all-day-dining restaurants in W properties elsewhere and SKIRT, which is unique to this particular property. I returned to the hotel a couple of days after my stay to check out their new menu. Check out my dinner experience at SKIRT.

wet area inside the spa which is open to all hotel guests

At the ground floor was the Away Spa, which had a wet area for all hotel guests to use. I particularly loved the ginger tea here.

the gym

The gym, which is aptly called FIT, was relatively spacious and featured a good balance of machines needed for a good workout. They also provide customized trainings such as TRX and Muay Thai. During my visit, I was subjected to an intense power stretching session with the personal trainer, Bon, where I was literally stretched to the limit! I also discovered just how inflexible I am (physically) but I digress.

evening pool view

The centerpiece of W Singapore – Sentosa Cove’s facilities is undoubtedly the swimming pool which is one of the largest I have seen in a hotel in Singapore. With sleek curvatures, the shape resembles a lake (yes, it’s that big!) and was particularly picturesque during the evening I was there. It’s also a family friendly pool, with a depth ranging from 0.9 to 1.2 meters. What I particularly like about the pool is that it’s open 24 hours a day!

The pool bar, called WET Bar, was architecturally notable with its white cylindrical structure. I dropped by for some drinks late in the afternoon.

Breakfast at The Kitchen Table

Breakfast was served at The Kitchen Table. As I happened to be staying during the weekend, the hotel made some provisions to extend the breakfast area to Skirt as well which was a wise decision given that almost everyone comes down simultaneously at 9am for breakfast.

The spread was not particularly extensive but it’s also not your typical buffet. While I did spot many of the usual suspects, the way that it’s packaged is distinct to the W brand. For instance, yogurt and muesli were placed inside jars while various types of milk were contained inside individual glass bottles for guests to grab.

Social media seemed to have been a consideration when it came to the breakfast items. Take for instance the pancakes (which were delicious by the way) that came with a smiley face!

Verdict

Prior to my stay, I was wondering how the property could possibly integrate W’s more urbane and savvy proposition into a place that’s meant for relaxation. However, I must say this was executed quite nicely and in retrospect the proposition turned out to be fitting due to its location near happening places such as the ONE°15 Marina Club and Quayside Isle. This gives the property a good differentiating factor over the other hotels and resorts in Sentosa.

In that respect, I loved the sleek interiors of the property with curves and highly photogenic scenes at almost every turn. I stayed during the weekend with occupancy relatively high. This often tests the staff’s mettle but the service remained excellent. I was particularly impressed by the product knowledge of the staff I interacted with, from guest services to the waiting staff at the restaurants down to my personal trainer during my gym session. I ended my stay not prepared to leave yet!

Booking It

Room rates at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove can go crazy at times especially during weekends so it is important to plan ahead if you intend to stay here. Currently, the property has a staycation package that comes with a stay at the entry-level Wonderful Room (similar layout to the room I reviewed except that it has no balcony), breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children plus afternoon tea for the same number of people for S$589 net during weekdays and S$639 net during weekends. With these inclusions for up to 4 people, this rate works out favorably against the member-only price available at their website which is S$507.29 for weekdays but excluding breakfast and afternoon tea. Do note that standalone breakfast at the W Singapore – Sentosa Cove is chargeable at S$56.50 per person and the vicinity of the hotel is not exactly brimming with plenty of breakfast options. You can book the staycation package with breakfast and afternoon tea here.

You can read more of my hotel reviews here.