First review of mega-hotel the Marina Bay Sands

A LUXURY luxury hotel in Singapore has stolen the title of the world's most expensive and wowed tourists with its unique design.

A new luxury hotel in Singapore has stolen the title of the world's most expensive / Supplied

A LUXURY luxury hotel in Singapore has stolen the title of the world's most expensive and wowed tourists with its unique design.

In pictures: The stunning new luxury hotel

The Marina Bay Sands hotel is a $5 billion integrated resort with 55 levels, a huge infinity pool on top, an indoor canal, a museum shaped like a lotus flower, shops and restaurants, theatres, a museum and a casino.

The hotel’s design, which some have described as resembling three cricket stumps and topped with a boat-shaped deck, stands out so much that even local workers gaze up in awe at the towering structure.

The 10 million square-foot (929,000 square metre) Marina Bay Sands took over as the most expensive hotel to build from the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, at an estimated cost of approximately $3.3 billion.

The hotel, which was built by the Las Vegas Corporation, screams extravagance. It includes 2560 rooms, including 18 different room types and 230 luxury suites.

For high rollers the Chairman suite costs from SG $17,000 ($14,444) per night and includes four bedrooms, two living rooms, steam and sauna facilities, a games room, bar, media room and a team of butlers.

Alternatively there's the Presidential suite which includes three bedrooms, an exercise room and massage area, baby grand piano and a butler.

For those seeking a more affordable stay the Atrium rooms, situated on the lower floors of the hotels, cost from around SG $359 ($304) per night.

The SkyPark is the limit

Positioned to overlook the city on one side and the sea on the another, the view from the hotel can be spectacular depending on which side your room is on.

Sloping towers and straight legs connect at level 23 to form a single building. With the slope as steep as 26 degrees at some points, it is one of the most complex hotels ever built.

Perched up on the top of the hotel is the one hectare ‘SkyPark’, which spans the three towers of the hotel 200 metres above the sea.

The SkyPark is longer than the Eiffel Tower and is large enough to park four-and-a-half A380 jumbo jets.

With 12,400 square metres of space it includes a public observation deck and restaurants such as The Sky on 57 by chef Justin Quek.

It is also home to the Infinity Pool, one of the world’s largest outdoor pools at three times the length of an Olympic pool. It gives the illusion of the water extending to the horizon but the water actually spills over the edge into a catchment below.

There are also celebrity-chef restaurants helmed by the likes of Tetsuya Wakuda from Sydney, Mario Batali from New York, Wolfgang Puck from Los Angeles, Justin Quek from Singapore.

The hotel’s casino has four levels of gaming with an area of 15,000 square metres. It includes 600 gaming tables and over 1500 slot machines.

The hotel, now Singapore’s largest, is expected to attract over 70,000 visits a day and 18 million visitors a year.

Construction began in early 2007 with a new hotel floor built every four days, which the company says is the fastest pace ever for a development of this scale in the country.

Architect Moshe Safdie says the project was complex and had its challenges.

“I separated the hotel into three towers in order to avoid forming a wall separating the city from the sea. It’s a great homage to the sea,” Mr Safdie said.

Five well-known artists were commissioned to create works of art for the complex, including Antony Gormley’s 40 metre long sculpture made from 16,100 steel rods.

How the hotel rates

With its unique shape and sheer size, the Marina Bay Sands is certainly the most eye-catching building in Singapore.

If, like me, you're lucky enough to score a room from the 20th floor upwards facing the city, you're sure to be treated to stunning views.

The $304-a-night Atrium rooms are quite spacious and comfortable and include automated curtains, a large flat-screen television, bath and shower as well as a range of toiletries.

However guests should be warned they may need earplugs – the air conditioning can be quite loud, and without it you’ll be sweltering.

To make the most of the experience guests should explore all the hotel has to offer including the Sky Park, shopping complex and casino.

All in all with great service, the pure luxury of the hotel and its convenient location, guests won't be disappointed.

The writer travelled to Singapore as a guest of the Marina Bay Sands hotel.

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