Stylish hotel on Sentosa Island with top views and a cool pool – but the suite? More of a design mistake. Perfect for a relaxing short trip with a pool and close proximity to Universal Studios.
Welcome to our hotel review # 23 out of a total of # 32 reviews.
Table of Contents
Location
As the name suggests, W Singapore is located on the island of Sentosa, in the middle of Singapore’s south coast. With their relaxed atmosphere, trendy colours and casual image, W Hotels attract a party-loving, high-net-worth clientele. The hotel’s location on Sentosa Island is ideal! It is the city’s main entertainment district with beaches, leisure activities and Universal Studios Singapore. The hotel is located right next to the marina and several restaurants are within walking distance.
Getting there
We travelled from Langkawi on a Scoot flight direct from the Malaysian island to Singapore Changi from the Ritz Carlton Langkawi.
Of course, the vast majority of travellers arrive in Singapore by air and always land at the city’s world-famous airport. This is an attraction in itself, with the Jewel Terminal, for example, which is more of a shopping mall than an airport terminal. If you have the chance, don’t miss a visit!
Of course, you can also enter the country by land coming from Malaysia. Bus and train services are available. The large port also offers the option of arriving by boat – or even yacht!
How to get to the resort
As always in Singapore, we took a grab to the hotel. From the pick-up point in the basement of the airport terminal, it takes just under 40 minutes to get to the W Singapore. While entering Sentosa Island, you (or the driver) have to prove that you live on the island or are staying in a hotel on the island. Entry is then free of charge.
Of course, you can also take public transport from the airport. The metro is very modern and safe. However, you have to change trains to get to the coast of the main island. There you have to take a monorail to Sentosa Island. There is a free and well organised bus service. However, at 1:20 hours, the whole journey takes twice as long as by grab. But the bus stops right outside the hotel entrance.
Check-in
As we arrived at the W Singapore, we were helped to unload our luggage. We then took our suitcases to check in ourselves. To get there, you have to take the lift or a large staircase to the second floor. This is where the lobby and reception are located.
Once upstairs, the reception is located in the far left corner. Unfortunately, the reception desks, squeezed into the corner, don’t offer much space or privacy. To check in, we just stood at the counter. Sitting during check-in is not an option at the W Singapore.
As we had an early flight, we arrived at the hotel before 3pm and our room was not yet ready. All the formalities were taken care of and we were given a welcome drink in the form of a healthy shot inside a pharmacy bottle. While waiting, we spend some time in the lobby and on the outside terrace. Unfortunately, most of the terrace was closed off for an event and not available to hotel guests – something that was to continue throughout our stay. Personally, I always find events in public areas of hotels rather difficult.
So we stayed outside and waited for our room to be ready. After getting an app notification and a quick second visit to reception, we got our room keys and went up to the top floor without any further support.
W Singapore at a glance
W Singapore consists of several blocks, which together form the hotel’s 7-storey building. The restaurants, gym and spa are located on the first floor. The lobby, reception and bar are on the second floor. The rooms and suites are located on the floors above.
The design language of all W Hotels is currently undergoing radical change. The new hotels that are being built at the moment are all already focusing on a new design concept, while the existing hotels, including this one, are currently undergoing a transformation and are gradually adapting to the new design language.
Suite
As always, we booked the lowest room category at W Singapore – in this case the Wonderful room. We used a Suite Night Upgrade from Bonvoy and were upgraded to the WOW Suite. This is the second highest category of suite. Only the Presidential Suite – called the Extreme Wow Suite at W Hotels – is higher.
Our suite, No. 722, was right next to the lift. We couldn’t find the door at first and wandered around the corridor for a while. Eventually we found out that the suite actually had two entrances. Sometimes you really are blind when you’re travelling.
Livingroom
Whichever entrance you take, you will always find yourself in the large living room. There is a sofa with a low table and an armchair in front of the TV, a dining table and a bar with high chairs. To the left of the entrance is the bar cabinet with a mini bar, snacks and a coffee machine with capsules.
Just to the left off the entrance hall is a small guest toilet. Opposite you can find the desk to work on.
This is where we worked for a while in the afternoon. After a short time we noticed a rather annoying beeping sound that occurred at irregular intervals. It took us quite a while to figure out that it was coming from opposite our front door and originated from the doof of the housekeeping supply room. The opening mechanism beeps every time it is opened! However, the door cannot be left open, otherwise it beeps permanently! After asking the friendly housekeeping staff we were left annoyed as this could not be changed. And as you can imagine unfortunately, this didn’t make it any easier for us to concentrate on our work.
Bedroom
Next to the desk is the door leading to the bedroom. Here you will find a king-size bed with a large blanket and 4 identical pillows. The bed seems to float and is lit from below. There is a small ottoman at the foot of the bed and on the two bedside tables are the usual items such as a telephone, alarm clock, writing materials and two bottles of water with glasses.
To the right of the bed is a low armchair and to the left of the bed, right in the corner next to the patio door, is an egg-shaped bucket chair suspended from the ceiling.
The built-in wardrobes are against the wall opposite the bed. In the middle of the wall is the TV, which can be closed off with panels. Below the TV is a chest of drawers. To the left and right of this are floor-to-ceiling cupboards containing a suitcase rack, slippers, iron and ironing board, bathrobe and everything you need for laundry.
Bathroom
Off the bedroom is a very large bathroom, separated only by a frosted glass panel. The shower and toilet are to the right of the entrance. To the left is the large bath with Jacuzzi function. A television is built into the wall at the foot of the bathtub. The toiletries are placed right below the TV. W Singapore supplies bath salts, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and soap from MOMO and Skin Regimen. There is also a Loofa sponge.
At the head of the room, below a huge mirrored wall, is the double vanity. Here, of course, you will also find various other amenities. These include a toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, soap and lotion.
View
The highlight of this suite is still to come! And that would be the view, the terrace and the pool. The terrace is accessible from the living room and bedroom. It spans the entire width of the suite and offers fantastic views of the pool and adjacent marina.
Here you can snuggle up in a comfortable sun lounger, enjoy a snack at the table or swim in that really big pool. All with the best view! Isn´t that really cool! What do you think?
All in all, the suite is huge and offers endless possibilities. The views are great and the terrace is amazing. The furniture isn’t up to date, but it’s still great. However, we thought the design of the suite was really awful and a very tasteless version of the 70s. There may certainly be guests out there who think this is a great touch of style. We however didn’t like it at all!
Resort activities
Pool
The pool at W Singapore is located at the back of the building right by the Marina and is beautifully set in the greenery. It is quite large for a hotel in Singapore – a city where space has always been a rare commodity. The temperature was pleasantly warm and during our stay there were only a handful of people in the pool at any one time.
At the far end, in the middle of the pool bar, is a tower with a small waterslide. Here you can enjoy the view and slide back into the pool at high speed.
There are a variety of sun loungers, sun beds and swinging chairs around the pool, so there is plenty of room for everyone. Each sunbed has a stand with a button to call for service. Alternatively, you can order directly online using the QR code. We always appreciate these pretty cool features.
In keeping with the W Hotel image, the DJ booth is always available for parties by the pool. Once a week there are lounge beats for all guests in the afternoon.
Kid´s Pool
In the corner next to the slide tower, separated from the main pool, W Singapore also offers a shallow kid´s pool. The little ones can also refresh themselves here. Unfortunately, there are no other play facilities.
Fitness Center
The gym is located on the first floor to the right of the exit as you leave for the pool area. It is well equipped and of a reasonable size. There is always a member of staff on reception to help you. Towels and drinks are provided free of charge.
Spa
The AWAY Spa at W Singapore is located at the back of the first floor, opposite the gym. Unfortunately, we were not able to test the spa for you this time. If you want to know more about it, click here.
Tours
Sentosa Island is the perfect getaway from Singapore. As well as the beach and palm trees, the island offers plenty of entertainment options, including Universal Studios Singapore.
The buildings along the marina, next to W Singapore, are home to many outdoor restaurants from all over the world. As well as Chinese, Italian and Thai food, you can also enjoy Greek cuisine while taking in the wonderful views of the harbour.
You will never be bored here – there are endless ways to spend your time.
Special features
As status members, we were invited to a social drinking event in the evening taking place on the terrace of WooBar. Here we were served really tasty small hors d’oeuvres as well as cocktails and champagne. The event was hosted by the Manager of Rooms that evening. The German chatted with us for quite a while and we were able to talk at length about the design of the hotel and the brand.
We learnt that the makers of W Hotels are growing older and that the brand, which was originally more party and younger, is ageing with its guests and that the focus of the brand is now more on classic and sophisticated interiors. The classic pink and purple design will gradually give way to fresh shades of blue and a more relaxed feel.
W Singapore is in the midst of this transformation. The lobby and adjoining areas have already been redesigned. Rooms and suites will follow.
Once the process is complete, we will be back to review the hotel for you again – we promise!
Restaurants
W Singapore has two restaurants and one bar. The two restaurants are located next to each other on the west side of the building, while the bar is located in the lobby on the second floor. Both restaurants also serve breakfast.
Skirt
Skirt grill restaurant offers a beautiful terrace overlooking the marina and international grill specialities prepared in the open kitchen right in the middle of the restaurant. You can enjoy dinner here every day and lunch on Saturdays.
At breakfast time, the restaurant serves as an overflow option if there is not enough capacity at the main breakfast restaurant.
The Kitchen Table
The kitchen table is an international restaurant serving Indian, Asian and Italian cuisine among others. You can choose between an air-conditioned room or a terrace by the pool.
This all day dining restaurant also serves the pool area. It also serves as the main breakfast restaurant. If you would like to know more about breakfast, please read the text below.
Woo Bar
Woo Bar is located within sight of the reception and overlooks the W Singapore pool. Here you can enjoy a delicious coffee during the day or a great afternoon tea with all the trimmings. The bar also hosts live music every Saturday.
Breakfast
At W Singapore, breakfast is served at the kitchen table, the all-day dining restaurant, and when it’s busy – as it was for us – the adjacent skirt Restaurant is also included. We sat in the latter and were quite happy with that as it is a much quieter place than the main restaurant. It should also be noted that the hotel was far from full capacity at the time of our stay. Where all the breakfast guests are supposed to sit when the hotel is outsold is not clear to me. You might take this into account.
For breakfast you can choose from the buffet, but hot drinks are ordered and served at your seat, as are the daily specials from the small menu. As always, Fabi ordered an egg bendedict, which arrived after a few difficulties – but unfortunately was not at all tasty.
The buffet is beautifully laid out and presented, with several live cooking stations in the main restaurant. However, there is a lot of hustle and bustle – not the most relaxing way to start the day. There is a wide choice of food, but I found it strangely uninspired.
The service was helpful, but communication was difficult and execution very uninspired.
Check-out
Check-out went smoothly. We did not use the express check out option but checked out at reception. It was quick and professional but unfortunately rather impersonal.
Costs
The cost for this overnight stay at W Singapore in May 2024 – for the standard room – was 386 SD which was about 270 euros at the exchange rate at the time. Breakfast was included for both of us due to our Marriott Bonvoy Titatnium status.
Departure and onward journey
With a self-organised grab, we left for Singapore Changi Airport. From there we took a direct flight back to Frankfurt on a Lufthansa 747-800. If you are interested in this flight, feel free to read the review of the flight in the opposite direction from Frankfurt to Singapore in April 2024. The plane and the route are the same.
Conclusion
This review is not sponsored in any way and is not an advertisement. This is our personal opinion about our stay at W Singapore. Your experience may be different. In order for us to continue to provide such in-depth reviews, we would appreciate if you would share and like this review, as well as watch, like and share our YouTube videos. Feel free to give us feedback on how you liked the text and what your experience was at W Singapore – if you have ever stayed there.
Honestly, we booked the hotel because we were visiting Universal Studios and there is a free shuttle bus on Sentosa Island getting you to the park. Sure – you have the opportunity to stay in a spacious hotel with a huge pool in Singapore, which basically is not possible in the city itself. But I wouldn’t stay at W Singapore again for any other reason than to vacation on Sentosa island itself and not wanting to travel there.
The stay wasn’t really bad, but it wasn’t great either. The overall service – with one exception at the management cocktail – was just very mediocre and uninspired. The design of the suite was just not our style, so our verdict is rather mixed. Nevertheless we weren’t really sad once we checked out.
Recommendation
We can recommend W Singapore to all groups. Families will find a large pool, although there is a lack of activities for the little ones. Couples, singles and business travellers will also find good accommodation.
Hotel Homepage
Rating
W Singapore scores 7 out of 10 possible points.
We deduct one point for the hectic breakfast, another for the ugly design of the suite and a final point for the rather clumsy service. We´d put the hotel in the mid-market segment.
Go there?
Well. I would say that if the location suits you, you can go there. But otherwise, there are definitely better hotels in the city around this price range! If interested you can also read our review of the Duxton Reserve in Singapore’s Old Town. It´s worth it!
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