SINGAPORE—Group vacations abroad are difficult to organize. Aside from thinking about budget and logistics, you also have to take into account the personalities and interests of your companions when making your itinerary.
Do they like cultural exhibits? Nature? Food crawls? Shopping? Amusement parks? Music? Pop culture? The list can go on and on.
It can be frustrating to arrange a trip that features interesting attractions and activities that cater to everyone’s interests. Frankly, it is almost impossible to do so. But in Resorts World Sentosa, the 49-hectare integrated lifestyle resort in Singapore’s Sentosa island, we found a travel destination that attempts to achieve this near-impossible feat.
Here are our top things to do and see at Resorts World Sentosa based on your personality:
The laid-back vacationer:
Yeah, we know. Why even bother flying to another country if all you want to do is stay in your hotel room? But see, there is merit in going on a “staycation.” You’re taking a break because you want to relax—not stress yourself even more with ho-hum and uncomfortable accommodations. “Me-time” is legit, and there’s no shame in it.
At Resorts World Sentosa, you’re spoiled for choice with its six designer hotels that boast of world-class amenities. Some of these are luxurious Crockfords Tower for those looking for VIP treatment, Festive Hotel for family getaways, Equarius Hotel for Zen-seeking nature lovers and trendy Hard Rock Hotel Singapore for music buffs.
The cultural explorer:
Learning about history need not be boring, especially if you do it at the Maritime Experiential Museum. In this interactive cultural exhibition, you’ll get to explore Asian maritime trade history and transcultural exchanges.
This isn’t your ordinary exhibit. You get to meet and learn from holograms of four of the most important seafarers in history: Marco Polo of Italy, Sang Nila Utama who founded Singapura, Ibn Battuta of Morocco and Zheng He of China. There are installations about maritime instruments and skills, miniature and life-size replicas of trading vessels, seaports and the various products that were the center of maritime trade back then.
There’s also the multisensory show Typhoon Theater that simulates what it’s like to sail the treacherous seas during a storm.
The swim fan:
It’s a little odd to go to Singapore if all you want is to have fun in the sun, especially since some of the best beaches in the world are in the Philippines. But if you happen to be visiting Resorts World Sentosa and are looking for something more thrilling than wading in your hotel pool, definitely check out Adventure Cove Waterpark.
It has a 620-meter river attraction that you can explore on a swim ring, a giant wave pool that mimics the sea and even a couple of water-themed playgrounds. But the best part of the waterpark is its six giant waterslides. Must-tries are Riptide Rocket, a roller-coaster-waterslide hybrid and probably the most exhilarating water attraction in the park, and our favorite, Spiral Washout, the oscillating water ride that will leave you in a daze.
The food tripper:
Experiencing a country through food is one of the best things about traveling abroad. But let’s be honest, Resorts World Sentosa can be a little too fancy (read: expensive) if you want to understand why Singapore is often called a “melting pot of cultures.”
Not to worry—it does have pocket-friendly cafés (for that world-famous Kopi C) and restaurants if you want to taste local flavors. Some of our picks at Malaysian Food Street are roti canai with dhal curry, wanton mee, satay, the rose-milk drink bandung and the dessert ice kacang.
The ocean enthusiast:
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live under the sea, then the Southeast Asian Aquarium (SEA Aquarium) will be your jam. Home to more than 100,000 marine creatures of about a thousand of species, this marine park is just breathtaking.
You’ll get to step into an underwater tunnel where about 100 sharks swim below and above you, watch the graceful dance of various sea jellies (not jellyfish!), pet sea stars at the touch pool and be awed by the wondrous beauty of the sea and its residents at the gigantic Open Ocean Habitat area.
What’s even more exciting than exploring this marine wonderland all day? Sleeping underneath that beauty at night through Ocean Dreams, SEA Aquarium’s overnight experience!
The thrill-seeker:
We don’t know about you, but we think one of the best ways to relieve stress is by strapping yourself onto steel contraption and praying you won’t fall off when it propels itself to gravity-defying heights and zooms to dizzying directions. Yes, we’re talking about roller coasters.
Resorts World Sentosa is the home of the Universal Studios Singapore, an amusement park that features 24 park rides, shows and all sorts of attractions. It has seven zones spotlighting film franchises like “Shrek,” “The Mummy” and “Jurassic Park.” You’ll have a blast riding its many themed roller coasters—from shriek-tastic Revenge of the Mummy to woozy Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey.
We think that just like us, you’ll inexplicably find a bit of Zen when you ride the “Battlestar Galactica”-inspired Human, one of the “dueling” roller coasters at the park. Admittedly, we were a little chicken to try out its partner, Cylon, because on it we would have to be suspended from the track (with our legs hanging out!) as it speeds to its stomach-churning loops, rolls and twists.
But who knows, maybe next time?
Visit www.rwsentosa.com for more information.