When it comes to the best hotels at Sentosa, W Singapore Sentosa Cove stands out for me - but Shangri-La Rasa-Sentosa is another strong contender.
Not only is it right next to Siloso Beach, the resort has also got some amazing views depending on which room you choose. I also enjoyed the impressive facilities, complimentary activities and breakfast buffet.
Here’s my full review of the experience.
Costs
Shangri-La Rasa-Sentosa’s room prices usually range around $400 to $500 a night, but I snagged a good deal at $250 ++ on Trip.com for the period of May last year. I booked a Panoramic Seaview Twin Room.
Unfortunately, a round of tightened Covid measures then meant no dining out, so I pushed my stay to July. I had to top up $80 as the new date was more expensive, so the total cost added up to $330. Still very decent for Shangri-La.
Trip.com’s service was great too. They answered their hotline promptly and got back to efficiently on the change of dates.
Location
Shangri-La Rasa-Sentosa is a little inconvenient to get to as it’s all the way at one end of Siloso Beach, but it’s worth the trip. I took a Grab in, but you can also alight at HarbourFront MRT Station and hop onto the resort's complimentary shuttle bus at Exit D, at the taxi stand. View the schedule here.
Check-in and activities booking
Check-in was a speedy and seamless process. There was hardly anyone in the check-in queue when I stayed on a public holiday, so we were quickly issued key cards. Do bear in mind that the school holidays may see more crowds.
Around two weeks before my stay, Shangri-La also sent a welcome email with links to pre-book activities like dining options, children’s facilities and pool access.
I'd recommend booking pool access beforehand as pool slots may fill up fast. Fastest fingers first if you want to avoid awkward timings like 3:15 pm in the afternoon.
Rooms
While I found the lead-in rooms at W Singapore more spacious, Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa’s Panoramic Seaview Twin Room is clean and well-appointed. The balcony also boasts scenic views of the pool and Siloso Beach, particularly at sunset.
The twin beds were comfortable too, and there weren't any issues with the rest of the room. Amenities like the mini-bar, kettle, room safe and TV were in perfect working order, with a selection of coffee and tea to choose from as well.
The bathrooms also had both a bathtub and shower, and all the toiletries you would expect in a standard room.
Facilities
Of course, you don’t come to a resort in Sentosa to stay in the room all day.
Shangrila’s facilities is where the hotel really shines. Perhaps the most attractive feature is the private beach, which guests are offered complimentary access to. Here, one can play beach volleyball, lounge by the beach on the hotel’s sun beds or use the hotel’s sea sports equipment like kayaks, paddleboats and stand-up paddle boards.
I did both kayaking and paddleboarding during sunset, and really enjoyed both activities. There wasn’t a long wait for either as well.
The other attraction is the fairly spacious pool, which has a bar where you can order poolside bites like burgers, sandwiches and snacks. The mozzarella sticks and burgers came in a generous serving, and they were pretty tasty.
The pool also has a kids section which definitely looks like a blast for little ones! There are a total of three slides and also a splash zone.
Arguably one of the most kid-friendly hotels, Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa also has a Mini Toots Club for kids aged 5 and below. Inside is a mini jungle gym featuring a giant block puzzle and baby rockers.
The Toots Club is for those aged 5 to 12, with a cool treehouse slide. If you’ve got a budding artist, check out the Art & Craft Zone. And located just outside the resort (but part of its facilities) is Nestopia, an outdoor play space where kids can climb and crawl to their heart’s content.
Other facilities in the hotel include a 24-hour gym and a spa.
Dining
For dinner, we ordered takeaway pizza from Trapizza, one of Shangri-La's one-site restaurants. The pizza was decent, but would probably taste better if you dined-in as it got cold by the time we returned to our room.
We had breakfast at the Silver Shell Cafe, which came with my room package. Like most breakfast buffets now, all items are served ala-carte by service staff. You order food through scanning a QR code on your phone. I found the selection pretty impressive, and liked that portions were kept small so we could try a little bit of everything.
Choices include local hot dishes, pancakes, waffles, French toast, a selection of breads and fruit, an Indian station, salads and even a gluten-free selection. My personal favourites were the yang chow fried rice and mini waffles. Service was efficient too - we never found ourselves having to chase the wait staff for orders.
My verdict
All-in-all, staying at Shangri-La Rasa-Sentosa Singapore was a delightful experience, and I can’t recall any hiccups on my visit. If comparing this hotel with my other favourite, W Singapore, I’d say this has the slight edge for families seeking a beachfront getaway. W does have the upper hand in its fantastic breakfast quality (though Shangri-La was very decent), along with snazzier, bigger lead-inrooms.
As for Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, it’s perfect for those with young kids. I saw so many families having a blast at the kids’ facilities and the private beach, and the sunset was gorgeous. If you’ve stayed at Shangri-La Rasa-Sentosa Singapore, did you enjoy your experience? Let me know your thoughts below, or any questions you may have!
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