Plan a Staycation to Remember at Village Hotel Changi
Get a breath of fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the city
"Rent a bicycle and journey to East Coast Park or Changi Beach, and top it all off with a heaping plate of Nasi Lemak at Changi Village Hawker" - The TripZilla Team
Our Staycation Highlights:
● Rooftop Infinity pool overlooking the South China Sea Close proximity to Changi Village Hawker Centre
● Chilling at the The Wine Company’s al fresco dining area (located at the lobby level)
● The Village Passport, a comprehensive guide of the area, given to every guest upon check-in
Escape from the City
The Hotel
The lobby was large and brightly-lit, and check-in was a breeze – mostly due to the helpful and obliging staff! We had booked ourselves the Ubin Adventure Package which, on top of a night’s stay plus buffet breakfast, included a complimentary 3-hour bicycle rental at Pulau Ubin (the voucher for which was given to us upon check-in). The package even included a late check-out at 3pm plus a complimentary upgrade from a Superior room to a Deluxe Room – sweet! This allowed us to hop over to Pulau Ubin on day two (the ferry terminal is located just a 2-minute walk from the hotel!), and have sufficient time to come back for a shower before check-out.
From food to nature to culture and heritage – the area surrounding the hotel has it all!
Your Room Choices
Superior Room
One of the features that caught our eye was the large window pane separating the room and bathroom. Couples can choose to keep this window open, and families/friends have the option to draw the blinds for more privacy. The room comes with a stash of tea and coffee – perfect for when we need a hot cuppa to go with a soothing soak in the bathtub. We also really liked how we could watch TV from the bathtub through the window!
We got peckish later at night, and couldn’t resist traipsing downstairs to grab ourselves some supper. We highly recommend the butter chicken and egg prata from the coffee shop opposite the hawker centre! Being the gluttons that we are, our takeaway food somehow wasn’t enough to fill our tummies, thus imagine our delight when we found the 24-hr room-service menu! That’s right, room service is available round-the-clock, so we were able to order a steaming plate of lasagna in the wee hours of the night. How awesome is that! Sadly, we gobbled it down before taking any pictures.
Deluxe Room
We stayed in a Deluxe Room, which was surprisingly a lot bigger than what we expected! We absolutely loved all the space we had. The smooth wood panelling gave the floor a polished feel and the pastel green walls added to the rejuvenating sanctuaryvibes.
To our delight, we discovered a large balcony attached to the room! Not all rooms have this balcony, so be sure to request for one upon check-in. We especially liked how this balcony was entirely enclosed, allowing us to gaze at the views whilst in air-conditioned comfort. We were given a sea-view room, which gave us sweeping views of the area. P.S. For yoga fanatics – this is a great spot to practise all your poses!
Executive Club Room
The Club Room is something that we highly recommend to all our readers! The room comes with a balcony overlooking the sea, and a large spacious bed with lots of plush pillows. For those who like al fresco balconies, the room comes with a big balcony that overlooks a canopy of green.
Not all rooms come with a balcony, so do request for one such room upon making your reservation! Staying in this room category will give you lots of Club benefits, such as all-day light refreshments and non-alcoholic beverages at the Club Lounge, as well as 2 hours of free-flow cocktails in the evening. More on this later!
Junior Suite
For those looking for more space, spread out with the Junior Suite that comes with a unique curved wall design! If you’re travelling with your family, this suite is just the right size. The hotel will provide any extra beds if you require any – simply make your request at the counter whilst checking in. The Junior Suite comes with Club privileges as well.
Executive Suite
For the ultimate indulgence, choose the Executive Suite – it not only comes with a separate living area, it also comes with lots of comfy sofa seats and a large wide-screen television. The suite also comes with a large bathtub. Choose to draw the curtains should you wish to watch TV during your soak, or keep them closed should you desire more privacy. We couldn’t help but run all around the large space; we also decided to get creative and use the gigantic mirror as a prop for our couple photos. Double vision, anyone? We especially liked the curved windows as well – they made a pretty cool Instagram spot and added a touch of elegance to the suite. The size of the suite is also great for groups of friends or families.
Take your pick from a wide variety of activities – from soaking in three pools and chilling at the Club Lounge to recharging at the spa.
Relax at the Club Lounge
Staying in an Executive Club Room, Junior Suite or Executive Suite gives you exclusive Club privileges that are worth every penny! In fact, we dare say that these Club privileges are enough to make us book a stay at any of Far East Hospitality’s hotels. These Club privileges include exclusive breakfast at the Executive Lounge, all-day light refreshments and non-alcoholic beverages, 2 hours of free-flow cocktails in the evenings as well as unlimited Wi-fi access.
On top of that, Club guests also are able to choose an early check-in timing of 10am, or a late check-out timing of 4pm. Is that crazy or what! Be it for locals or foreign travellers, these Club benefits are seriously the highlight of any stay here at Village Hotel Changi. The Club Rooms don’t cost that much more than the other rooms, so we highly, highly recommend this room category! And, we love how the hotel allows Club guests to share this experience with their friends and family; for every extra person, breakfast and cocktails are chargeable at a modest fee of S$20 and S$30 per pax before taxes respectively. It's time to party!
The La Cantina de Venezia Restaurant was possibly the most picturesque restaurant we’ve ever set our eyes on. The restaurant is located on the 8th floor, and overlooks a sweeping view of the South China Sea. The restaurant is also located right next to the infinity pool, where the deck is known to be a popular wedding solemnisation venue. Our favourite dish at this restaurant is the squid ink linguine or the Ferrari pizza – we just couldn’t get enough!
On top of all these dining options, the lobby also has a vending machine which dispenses all sorts of hot food. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, and we were sorely tempted to order a platter of roasted chicken with mushroom sauce or a plate of vegetarian briyani rice. Perhaps next time, when we have more space in our stomachs! ;)
Swim in the 2 Pools (Infinity Pool + Creek Pool)
The infinity pool on the roof of the hotel was simply gorgeous. Gorgeous! The pool overlooks the South China Sea, and is absolutely stunning anytime of day. We could even spot Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong from where we were! There’s also a children’s wading pool on one end, and a frothy jacuzzi on the other. This pool gets rather crowded towards the evenings on weekends, so do visit in the afternoons if you prefer some peace and quiet.
The Creek Pool is located right next to the Saltwater Cafe, and has really cool transparent walls! This allows parents to grab a quick bite at the cafe whilst keeping a close eye on their kids during their swim. We came down for a swim in between meal times to avoid being somewhat of a zoo exhibit, and were able to capture some pretty interesting shots of us mid-paddle!
Tone your muscles at the Gym
We were taken by surprise when we entered the gym – the gym is housed in a curved semi-circle like room, and offers almost every type of workout equipment imaginable. It’s also a lot bigger than expected! In fact, we daresay that this was one of the best hotel gyms that we’ve visited. The best part? It’s open 24 hours, allowing restless insomniacs like us to come in and work up a sweat in the middle of the night.
Recharge at the Spa
The spa facilities on the first floor came in the form of Stella Wellness Centre, offering all sorts of soothing massages. We didn’t have the chance to try this during our stay, but we heard that the skilled masseuses give one mean foot massage!
Have a hearty breakfast at Saltwater Café
Our buffet breakfast was at the Saltwater Cafe located at the lobby of the hotel. We were greeted by a sumptuous spread – all our favourite breakfast staples were there: bread, cheese, ham, baked beans and so on. For those that prefer Asian cuisine, enjoy a heartwarming bowl of congee topped with all kinds of condiments such as peanuts or seaweed. Our favourites were the live egg cooking station – where a chef cooked eggs in any style we wanted, on the spot! – and the fishball noodles station where we got to try our hand at cooking our own bowl of steaming goodness.
Be spoilt for choice with the many dining options
Besides the Saltwater Cafe, take your pick from 4 other dining options within the hotel itself. All of these are located at the lobby of the hotel, with the exception of La Cantina de Venezia Restaurant being on the 8th floor.
Harry's Bar probably needs no introduction, and is known for serving good wine at fantastic prices. Whether for a post-meal tipple or late-night drink, Harry's is the place to go! You can choose between an indoor or al fresco seating area, but we chose to sit outside for added ambience. Should you be unable to make a decision, simply call upon the friendly waiters who are ever-ready with a recommendation or two!
Every guest receives a complimentary welcome drink upon check-in, which is served at the Vau Wine Bar. The bar is peppered with lots of comfy plush sofas, which are great to sink into after a whole day of activity. The entire place has a delightfully chill vibe, enhanced by the soothing piped music floating through the air. It’s also home to a grand piano, so feel free to tinker some tunes in between your cocktails!
Choubei Restaurant is a Japanese restaurant that serves authentic Japanese fare. We especially loved the sashimi, which tasted unbelievably fresh without any trace of the frozen taste often found in many local Japanese joints. We also highly recommend the Wagyu Don – the beef slices came in a generous portion, and every bite was succulent with that amazing melt-in-your-mouth quality.
What drew us to this restaurant, however, was the Happy Hour from 6-9pm from Tuesdays to Sundays where we could down bottle after bottle of beer at affordable prices!
Other Great Things in the Area
Get back to nature at Pulau Ubin or visit a vintage café. The Changi area is full of surprises! Rent a bicycle and journey to East Coast Park or Changi Beach, and top it all off with a heaping plate of Nasi Lemak at Changi Village Hawker
Adrenaline-pumping activities
Changi Beach
If you love the beach, fishing or windsurfing, then Changi Beach is the place for you! Time your visit with dusk to catch picturesque views of the sunset. For a unique vantage point, rent a canoe and soak in the fiery colours from out at sea. The waters here are teeming with fish, so bring a fishing rod and some bait to try your luck. Don’t worry, no experience is required – this was our first time fishing, and we managed to snag a puffer fish which we released it back into the ocean after. We saw others catching crabs too!
Activities
Changi Point Ferry Terminal
The hotel is located just opposite the Changi Point Ferry Terminal, which is a short bumboat ride away from Pulau Ubin! Pulau Ubin is home to some of Singapore’s last kampungs, and offers a rustic experience for anyone looking to travel back in time.
Café
Coastal Settlement
The Coastal Settlement is a darling little cafe tucked away in an enclave of lush greenery. What surprises customers, however, isn’t its tranquil location but its eclectic interior; stepping into The Coastal Settlement was like travelling to the past. Every bit of the café’s interior is adorned with timeless memorabilia, ranging from rustic vespas to antique gramophones. A vintage car even sits in one corner of the room!
The thin-crust Wagyu beef and mushroom pizza is a definite crowd-favourite. Do be warned that despite the café’s interesting decor, the interior is rather dark so do opt to sit outdoors if you prefer to dine alfresco.
Activities
Pulau Ubin
One of the best ways to explore the island is on two wheels, and luckily for us we had a free 3-hour bicycle rental as part of our Ubin Adventure package with Village Hotel Changi. We got a pretty good workout as we cycled around exploring; we even came across a family of wild boars! Don’t forget to check out Chek Jawa Wetlands, which is one of the highlights.
What People are sayiung
“You can see the nearby sea and also watch the birds and aeroplanes by the balcony. As this hotel is so near Changi Airport, we saw planes fly past every 5 minutes.”
- Kids ‘R’ Simple
“2D1N created more opportunities for us to explore the rustic area in Changi, we love the experience!”
- Sengkang Babies
“I was pleasantly greeted with a luxe and spacious room when I opened the room door! No discrepancies between the online photos of the room and the real thing.”
- ChemistryLadieu
Get ready for your Village Hotel Changi staycation!
