STAYING ON SENTOSA

We will spend five days in Singapore in July and would like to stay on Sentosa Island. We previously stayed at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa has retained much of its charm with its position on the island’s popular swimming beach, but it does face serious competition. Much of this comes from Resorts World Sentosa, a casino and entertainment complex. It has six hotels with 1 800 rooms, including a Hard Rock Hotel and spectacular beach villas and ocean suites. However, the hustle-bustle “theme-park” feel of the complex may not suit a couple out for a quiet break.

There are a number of other top-tier resorts on the island, with rooms costing from R1 500 to R2 500 a night.

Then there are two that are more expensive, but stand out from the crowd. The W Singapore Sentosa Cove, which is highly rated for its vast outdoor pool, will cost you around R3 500 per night and is worth considering. However, the one that gets the nod from me as the best on the island is the Capella Hotel.

This five-star retreat is located in a rainforest and features three outdoor swimming pools and an award-winning spa. Its Asian charm and spectacular service make this the one to beat, but it is pricey with rooms from around R6 000 per night. If you can afford to splash out, give it a go.