weekend getaway
Feb 6, 2012 | 1:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2
weekend getaway
long time admirer so to speak- first time poster!
i am currently based in Sinagpore for a month for work... and this weekend I was hoping to get out to an island for a night - maybe bintan/bantam...
i like the proximity to the city.
do any of my single, fellow business travellers have any advice or suggestions on places to stay? I really am just looking for a beach/pool/spa and a few nice cocktails!
thank you!
i am currently based in Sinagpore for a month for work... and this weekend I was hoping to get out to an island for a night - maybe bintan/bantam...
i like the proximity to the city.
do any of my single, fellow business travellers have any advice or suggestions on places to stay? I really am just looking for a beach/pool/spa and a few nice cocktails!
thank you!
Feb 6, 2012 | 3:01 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2
because i only plan on 2d1n stay- i was thinking S$3-400...
i am planning a longer trip to Krabi in a few weeks. but for an overnight I didn't intend on going overboard.
Just a nice Sea View, Relaxing Chair and Cool Cocktails. Maybe a massage if time permits.
i am planning a longer trip to Krabi in a few weeks. but for an overnight I didn't intend on going overboard.
Just a nice Sea View, Relaxing Chair and Cool Cocktails. Maybe a massage if time permits.
Feb 6, 2012 | 3:03 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,353
Alas, all the beaches in easy striking distance of Singapore -- which basically means Desaru, Bintan, Batam, and Sentosa -- kind of suck, the water just isn't clean. The northern Bintan hotel bubble is the least bad facilitywise, but if all you want is a pool and cocktails, you might be better off staying at one of the resortier hotels in Singapore itself.
The other option is to fly somewhere that does have great beaches: Phuket, Langkawi and Koh Samui are all around 1.5 hours away by plane.
The other option is to fly somewhere that does have great beaches: Phuket, Langkawi and Koh Samui are all around 1.5 hours away by plane.
Feb 6, 2012 | 8:55 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UAL SPG Hyatt
Posts: 595
Yup, as jpatokal pointed out, the "beach" part of many of the nearby places are pretty polluted and your "Sea View" ends up being a view of container ships and other floating junk.
About 2-4 hours away, consider Pulau Tioman. The Berjaya resort there is quite nice and being further out to sea, the waters are much nicer. I think there may still be direct flights from Singapore there on the weekend.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Pulau_Tioman#b
About 2-4 hours away, consider Pulau Tioman. The Berjaya resort there is quite nice and being further out to sea, the waters are much nicer. I think there may still be direct flights from Singapore there on the weekend.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Pulau_Tioman#b
Feb 6, 2012 | 12:03 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hh Gold, NH*G, SPGP, SQ-CC
Posts: 1,382
Yup, as jpatokal pointed out, the "beach" part of many of the nearby places are pretty polluted and your "Sea View" ends up being a view of container ships and other floating junk.
About 2-4 hours away, consider Pulau Tioman. The Berjaya resort there is quite nice and being further out to sea, the waters are much nicer. I think there may still be direct flights from Singapore there on the weekend.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Pulau_Tioman#b
About 2-4 hours away, consider Pulau Tioman. The Berjaya resort there is quite nice and being further out to sea, the waters are much nicer. I think there may still be direct flights from Singapore there on the weekend.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Pulau_Tioman#b
Feb 7, 2012 | 11:19 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UAL SPG Hyatt
Posts: 595
tyco, a little off topic but do you know if "Big Pig Island" (Babi Besar) is still accessible? I have fond memories of that place, especially the beach on the northeast side of the island.
this talk of weekend getaways had me yearning for one myself! someplace warm especially!
this talk of weekend getaways had me yearning for one myself! someplace warm especially!
Feb 7, 2012 | 10:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hh Gold, NH*G, SPGP, SQ-CC
Posts: 1,382
tyco, a little off topic but do you know if "Big Pig Island" (Babi Besar) is still accessible? I have fond memories of that place, especially the beach on the northeast side of the island.
this talk of weekend getaways had me yearning for one myself! someplace warm especially!
this talk of weekend getaways had me yearning for one myself! someplace warm especially!
but it is certainly accessible and I believe ferries travel from Mersing Jetty, the same as the one which goes to Tioman.
Feb 8, 2012 | 4:28 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,353
Getting to Tioman by land is a bit of a hassle, as you'll need to cross the border via the terminally congested Causeway in JB and transfer to a ferry at Mersing. This is closer to 4 hours than 2 in my book, which means the flight may actually work out faster. The ferries also don't run at night, so you'll probably want to make your way to Mersing on Fri, overnight there, and catch a morning ferry.
Jun 4, 2012 | 6:51 am
#11
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2
I visited Sentosa Island last year. Its beaches did not seem dirty to me. It was indeed very hot, but I stayed in the hotel during the hottest hours. It was a nice hotel. I made the reservations through RihlaPrime. I came across some of their offer. They typically cut down 50% fro the original price. Anyway, I consider my experience quite relaxing and entertaining. Sentosa also has an adventure park that you might like.
Jun 4, 2012 | 8:38 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,158
I visited Sentosa Island last year. Its beaches did not seem dirty to me. It was indeed very hot, but I stayed in the hotel during the hottest hours. It was a nice hotel. I made the reservations through RihlaPrime. I came across some of their offer. They typically cut down 50% fro the original price. Anyway, I consider my experience quite relaxing and entertaining. Sentosa also has an adventure park that you might like.
Bintan isnt that bad after all, just a bit pricy. The Hotelcluster at the Northshore dont leave much of a choice as to stay in the resort. But the beach and sea is much cleaner than compared to Singapore.
Another option near Tioman is Sibu Island. Can be booked as a package tour ex-Sin.
Jun 4, 2012 | 12:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SIN
Posts: 1,099
I visited Sentosa Island last year. Its beaches did not seem dirty to me. It was indeed very hot, but I stayed in the hotel during the hottest hours. It was a nice hotel. I made the reservations through RihlaPrime. I came across some of their offer. They typically cut down 50% fro the original price. Anyway, I consider my experience quite relaxing and entertaining. Sentosa also has an adventure park that you might like.
Jun 5, 2012 | 2:32 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Gran Canaria, Singapore, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold to Silver to Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond, GHA Platinum
Posts: 5,500
Would the Hard Rock Hotel at Penang be worth a look? Just a (very) short flight away.
Jun 6, 2012 | 12:21 pm
#15
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