The ‘Good Dilemma’

We are in trouble! We are about 1 hour away from our check-out time and the kids are still refusing to leave the Adventure Pool. Honestly, my hubby and I too, were thinking of sneaking back to the adult-only Pamukkale Pool for another round of couple-soak at the Jacuzzi and we have not ready to check-out yet.

Welcome to Village Hotel at Sentosa, the latest (and only by far) family-friendly hotel in Sentosa, designed with families in mind! The memorable staycation started on an excellent note at check-in, with the Very Important Kids (VIPs) receiving ‘VIP’ treatment at their own dedicated Check-In Counter. This was such a brilliant move! The magic doesn’t just stop there. Throughout the week, there are “Playtivities’ specially catered for kids and families!

Poolside Movie Night

Our dilemma actually started the night before. We had wanted the kids to go to bed early but they saw a poster advertising the poolside Movie screening on Saturday.  To make it a bit more challenging, the show screened, ‘Kidztopia’ was actually one of our family’s favourite. So the entire family abandoned our plans for an early night and joined-in the movie screening, lounging on the large bean bags and munching the pop-corn snacks provided complimentary of the hotel.

Breakfast or Bed

With a late night, we did not wake up as early as we wanted for breakfast. The breakfast at the hotel’s main restaurant, Native Kitchen, was good and we were spoilt for choice.  We love the fact that nestled among individual tables are long tables where hotel guests can sit, make conversations and dine with each other in a relaxed setting. It feels like we are one in a community dining with nature.

While the food and ambience was good, what we felt was remarkable was their service.  Attentive and approachable, the staff wore a smile on their faces whenever they interacted with patrons.  Even our kids felt the warmth from their hospitality.  For my hubby and I, we were amazed at how the restaurant team kept their professionalism amidst the stresses of serving a busy Sunday morning crowd.  This to us is customer-centricity at its best.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions!

We didn’t think that a short staycation warrants so many decisions but yes, it certainly did especially when we had to decide which of the 4 pools to start with right after breakfast!

It was initially easy with the younger Buddy going for the Children’s Play Pool while the eldest dipped right into the Adventure Pool with me. However after a few rounds laughing, splashing and sliding down with Daddy and realizing that his sister wasn’t with him, the boy too wanted to go to the Adventure Pool.

Here at the Adventure pool, we were impressed that it is actually 3 different pools on its own, with three different depths.  Each depth section offered a generous amount of space for families and their kids to frolic, relax and splash around! What made it more interesting is the fact that there are small children floats to be loaned free of charge for hotel guests.

Guests can also take these floats to the Lazy River and slowly paddle their way across while they admire the lush greenery. The Lazy River was very inviting and the family had fun just floating around the ‘jungle’ and wading through some made-made ‘waterfalls’.

For us parents, the Pamukkale Pool, the hotel’s adult only pool, was the main draw. Like many who have heard about the pool whose design was inspired by the Turkish natural wonder, we were keen to experience it.

We darted over to the Pamukkale Pool and managed to secure a quiet spot at the Jacuzzi exclusively for ourselves.  The Pamukkale Pool is a large and deep pool that offers guests their own ‘pods’  – semi-circular sections complete with large deck chairs to basically soak, tan and bask their time away against the expansive views of the South China Sea.  Tip: If all the deck chairs are filled, do like what we did – go to the Jacuzzi by the side and enjoy the water massage itself.  Bliss. 

Family Rooms

Time seemed to slip by so rapidly when we are having fun! Before long we had to hurry the kids up to our comfy room to start packing-up for check out. Our comfy and compact family room comes with 2 rooms adjacent to each other. This meant that parents can have their privacy while the kids can enjoy theirs too.  With the family room, there are 2 washrooms – a little luxury that we appreciate. Really helps in getting the family organized!

The beds were very comfy and the décor classy and welcoming! Here, soft pastel colours evoke a sense of calm and comfort which enhances the family feel.  Perfect!

To provide more space for families to rest and relax, some common amenities were adapted.  For example, the room also came with an in-built Hyflux drink dispenser tap where we could get free flow distilled drinking water. Coffee and tea sachets and snacks vending machines are available at a common station at the lift lobby.  The in-room wardrobe has been cleverly replaced by a luggage counter with hooks and hangers at the top.  (Think of it as a wardrobe without the doors). There is even a little extendable study desk below the TV. Quite clever use of space in the room I must say.

Surprise!

At the Native Kitchen, the waiter over-heard the kids’ discussion on plans for my birthday dinner and surprised me with a slice of their heavenly chocolate cake! How nice!

Supply Depot

For guests who want a quick snack in between swims or grab a lunch-to-go before heading out for Sentosa excursions, there is a well-stocked cafe counter offering pastries, cakes, juices, ice-creams and other snacks right opposite the Native Kitchen, at the hotel lobby. This offers hotel guests so much conveniences.

Letter to the GM:

Finally! Sentosa has a family-friendly full-service hotel to call its own! From our travels and experiences, what sets a family-friendly hotel apart is not so much the facilities and furniture but more importantly, the staff.  Here, right from the time we checked-in, it has been smiles, service and more smiles. Even to the kids.  The kids and us felt very welcomed indeed.

While we truly enjoyed the family-friendly services and facilities: movie nights, scavenger hunts, the pool decks and pool side activities, there is so much potential for more of these to leverage on the family-centricity of the hotel which the staff is totally primed for. Thank you for having us and we look forward to be back to the Village Hotel at Sentosa!

Village Hotel at Sentosa

• 10 Artillery Avenue, #02-01, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099951
• +65 6881 8888 / +65 6496 7699
• [email protected]