Some of the best things in life are unexpected.
That was exactly what happened during our 9-day adventure to Singapore, Batam, Indonesia, and a Disney Cruise. I had everything planned out, or so I thought.
Our original plan was simple: spend our first night at Robertson Quay Hotel, then return there for another two nights after our trip to Batam. Since we were leaving for Batam the following day, I had already planned our first-day itinerary around the hotel. After checking in, we were supposed to settle our things and head out for a food trip at Lau Pa Sat.
But sometimes, the best travel memories are the ones that were never part of the itinerary.
An Unexpected Upgrade
While checking in at Robertson Quay Hotel, one of the staff members told us about a promo they were offering that day. They asked if we would like to try their other property in Sentosa, which is Siloso Beach Resort.
I was so surprised that it took me a moment to process what she had just said. She patiently explained the offer, and I told her, “Give me a moment to think about it.”
Of course, there were a few things to consider. I had booked a room for three people, while the room at Siloso Beach Resort had only two single beds. That meant it could be a little tight for the three of us. We also already had an itinerary, and more importantly, we were leaving for Batam the next day.
So, nag-meeting muna kami ni hubby. I checked the resort's location, reviewed our schedule, and confirmed whether this unexpected change would work. After a quick discussion, we decided to take the chance. And just like that, we said yes to the upgrade.
Siloso Beach Resort is tucked away along Siloso Beach in Sentosa, one of Singapore's popular island destinations. Compared with the urban atmosphere of staying in the city, the resort offered something completely different: lush greenery, a tropical setting, and the beach just a few steps away.
It wasn't the kind of place I had originally planned to stay in, and maybe that's what made it more exciting.
Not Exactly Prepared for the Spontaneous Change
The funny part was, we weren't even fully prepared for this spontaneous change. Good thing I had organized our luggage per day. We left two pieces of luggage at Robertson Quay Hotel and brought only one with us to Siloso Beach Resort, together with the things we needed for our Batam trip the following day.
The clothes were prepared, but there was one problem: my shoes and slippers were in a different piece of luggage. And dahil sa pagmamadali namin, nagkamali pa ako ng kuha sa shoe storage. I thought I had grabbed our slippers but extra shoes pala! Toink!
Anyway, we took a taxi from Robertson Quay Hotel to Siloso Beach Resort, and as we made our way to Sentosa, I still couldn't quite believe that our original itinerary had suddenly changed. Just a few hours earlier, I was planning a food trip at Lau Pa Sat. Now, we were heading to a resort by Siloso Beach.
I had never really considered booking a resort in Sentosa because, in my mind, accommodations there were expensive. Yet somehow, we ended up staying there, not because I planned it months in advance, but because of a last-minute opportunity during check-in.
Our Short but Sweet Stay at Siloso Beach Resort
We arrived at Siloso Beach Resort quite late. After checking in, we went straight to our room to leave our things.
The first thing I noticed was the atmosphere. The resort felt completely different from the city. It was surrounded by lush greenery and had a relaxed, tropical feel. Despite being in one of Singapore's popular tourist destinations, the surroundings felt peaceful and removed from the busy streets.
Our room was simple and comfortable. As mentioned earlier, it had two single beds for the three of us, so yes, masikip for three people. But considering that this wasn't even part of our original plan, we didn't mind too much. We weren't looking for luxury during this unexpected stay. We were simply excited to experience Sentosa and make the most of the little time we had.
The resort also had a swimming pool surrounded by greenery. Unfortunately, we didn't get to use it. Sayang talaga, there simply wasn't enough time to enjoy the resort's facilities. If we had stayed longer, I would have definitely spent some time by the pool. But our schedule had other plans.
So instead of spending the evening at the pool, we decided to take a quick look around and head to the beach.
A Quick Visit to Siloso Beach
Of course, if you're staying at Siloso Beach Resort, you can't leave without actually seeing Siloso Beach.
By the time we went out, it was almost sunset. The beach was calm, and the atmosphere was incredibly relaxing. The sound of the waves, the cool breeze, and the greenery surrounding the resort made the whole experience feel like a little tropical escape.
Dinner at the Resort
After spending some time by the beach, we decided to have dinner at the resort. We were already tired from our flight from Manila, and knowing that we had an early boat trip to Batam the next morning, we didn't want to travel far just to find somewhere to eat.
One detail I noticed during dinner also stayed with me. Some of the staff assisting us were persons with disabilities (PWDs). I appreciated seeing an inclusive workplace where people with different abilities were given opportunities to work and be part of the hospitality team.
A Quick Morning in Sentosa
The next morning was another race against time. We didn't have breakfast at the resort because the breakfast opening time didn't fit our schedule. My son also had his morning classes, and we needed to leave early for our trip to Batam.
So, no fancy breakfast for us. We simply bought some bread and noodles from 7-Eleven and had a quick breakfast before getting ready to leave.
Since we were already in Sentosa, though, we wanted to make the most of the little time we had left. We explored some nearby tourist spots before checking out at around 9:00 AM.
Was the Unexpected Stay Worth It?
Our stay at Siloso Beach Resort was short. We arrived late, checked in, explored the beach, had dinner, slept, grabbed a quick breakfast, did a little sightseeing, and checked out. That was it.
But even in that short amount of time, the experience gave us something our original itinerary couldn't: a completely unexpected change of scenery.
What was supposed to be a city stay near Robertson Quay suddenly became a tropical escape in Sentosa. We went from planning a food trip at Lau Pa Sat to walking along Siloso Beach. We went from worrying about our itinerary to simply going with the flow.
Was everything perfect? No. The room was a little tight for three people, we didn't have enough time to enjoy the resort facilities, and I didn't even have the right slippers with me!
But that's also part of the story. Our stay wasn't about having the perfect resort vacation. It was about saying yes to an unexpected opportunity and making the most of the time we had.
And the best part? We knew we weren't saying goodbye to Sentosa just yet. We would be back on Day 4 of our trip for the Skyline Luge and Universal Studios Singapore.
It was just our first unexpected glimpse of Sentosa and a reminder that sometimes, the best parts of a trip are the ones you never planned.
