Marina Bay Sands Hotel Review – is it worth the expense?

We had been dreaming about staying at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore for many years but never could justify the expense. However, for a special big 50th birthday, we decided to blow the budget, and tick off one of the things on our bucket list. So we booked to stay for one night before we joined our cruise on the Mariner of the Seas.

Transfer from Changi Singapore Airport to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Marina Bay Sands Hotel will provide a Limousine transfer, however, the cheapest rate at this time $120 (£60).

Tip – Get a normal taxi from the airport, this is very easy to do. We followed the Taxi signs just outside the arrivals hall and found it easily, we jumped in a taxi, paid $24 (£12) and arrived at the hotel 20 minutes later.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

The Hotel

Things in Singapore do not come any bigger than the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. It has 2,561 luxury rooms and the triple towers are joined by the world’s biggest cantilever roof by a huge boat like platform that serves as a resort. The sky park as it is called has restaurants, gardens, an observation deck and an enormous 150-metre infinity pool. It is an iconic landmark that can be seen from miles away.

Checking in at the Marina Bay Sands

We had booked a Grand Club Room so were able to check in at the Club desk. This was situated in Tower one and easy to find. The service was excellent and very efficient, the concierge took care of our suitcases and they were delivered to the room. Check in time at the Marina Bay Sands is at 1500, however, we arrived extremely early at 0900 due to our flight time. This was not a problem as the concierge looked after our bags and we were given access to the pool area until our room was ready.

Tip –get there early and it gives you more time to spend in the pool.

The Room at the Marina Bay Sands

We booked a Grand Club Room with City View which was situated on the 37th floor in tower 2.

Here is a video tour of our first impressions…

As you can see we were chuffed to bits with the room, when the curtains opened the view was just spectacular. The bathroom was amazing with a separate shower, toilet and stand alone bath with stunning views over to the Gardens by the Bay. This was an extremely comfortable room with a lounge and dining area included and we couldn’t fault it.

View from Grand Club Room 3769

The city view at night was something like have never experienced before, we hardly slept as we just could not get enough of this view!

Singapore skyline view from our room

Tip –Pay the extra for the city view and the Club55 as it really is worth it.

Club benefits at the Marina Bay Sands

Staying in a Club room gives you access to Club55 a first class lounge on the 55th floor which has amazing views both towards the city and over the Gardens by the Bay.

View of Gardens from Club55

Breakfast was served in Club55 and was excellent, the bacon was superb the best we had ever had it, it just melted in your mouth. There was a great selection of usual breakfast fare and some more unusual fare which went down very well.

Breakfast at Club55

Between 2pm-4pm, afternoon tea is also served, this includes all soft drinks, pots of tea and coffee, cakes, cookies, fresh fruit with clotted cream. There isÿalso savoury snacks and a particular favourite of ours was the spicy chilli crisps.

Between 5pm and 7pm there are complimentary alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages available, along with a buffet selection. The champagne and cheeses with truffle puree went down particularly well.

Champagne time in the Club55

The service was second to none and our waiter Kodies was exceptional.

Tip –Make sure you utilise these facilities as the views are amazing and the service superb.

The Infinity Pool at the Mariner Bays Sands Hotel Sky Park

The infinity pool is on the 57th floor within the Sky Park and is the largest in the world at 150 metres. It is open from 0600 to 11pm, in fact the pool was busier at night than it was in the day. Your room key card gives you access to the pool.

Infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands

The pool is as impressive as we expected but the water was surprisingly cold. We were a bit nervous swimming to the edge but actually when you look over the edge it is not a sheer drop it is stepped so didn’t freak us out!

Chilling at the edge of the infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands

Here’s a little tour of the Sky Park including the pool area….

We have never experienced anything as spectacular as this pool area and we would of loved to spend more time here.

If you are not staying at the hotel you cannot access the pool but you can access an observation desk at the Sky Park at a cost – details are available here.

Tip –Make sure you visit the pool during the day and during the evening as it is a very different experience.

Checking out of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Check out was at 1100, the concierge service was efficient and smooth. We asked for a taxi to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre which arrived promptly, when we got in the taxi we realised that it was not a normal taxi but a limousine taxi which has a fixed fare of $50 (£25). This was unfortunate as our taxi ride was very short, you could see the cruise terminal from the hotel and would of cost us approximately £5!

Tip – don’t just ask for a taxi, always ask for a normal taxi not a hotel taxi and don’t get in before you check this.

The Location

The Marina Bays Sands Hotel is in the perfect location. The Bayfront MBS is directly by the hotel so exploring Singapore is easy. Normal taxi’s are also readily available.

Super trees in the Gardens by the Bay

Within the vicinity isÿ800,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, housing many top designer names, called the Shoppes, it has a canal running through its entire length. The world’s largest Louis Vuitton store is found here. Every night there is a 13-minute laser, light and water show called Wonder Full. The Gardens by the Bay are within walking distance and the famous Merlion also sits across the bay from the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Merlion Statue in Marina Bay Songapore

The Cost of staying at the Marina Bay Sands

The Grand Club Room cost a total of $775 (£380) for one night. We could of paid approx £280 for a lower floor with a garden view but paying extra for the Club55 access and the city view was priceless.

Tip –Do be aware that everything in Singapore has tax added 10% service tax and GST 7% total so the price you see is not always about what you pay it is always 17% more, so always check the total.

Conclusion

Was the Marina Bay Sands Hotel worth the expense?

Well that would be a big fat YES, it definitely was worth every penny!

Our one night staying here will always remain as one of the best nights of our lives, and we know we will talk about it fondly for a very long time. Our advice to you is if you are thinking of booking a stay at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel then do it!

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