Movenpick Heritage Hotel Review ~ Lovely Sentosa stay

A sure hit attraction for picture obsessed individuals!

 

 

Trick Eye Museums have literally taken the world by storm,  and I fully understand why.

 

 

How can one resist, a picture perfect opportunity to get a shot or two, right next to really interesting and original 3D artworks and
backdrops?

 

 

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Trick Eye Museum is finally in Singapore.

 

 

It is located in Resorts World, Sentosa, right next to the Malaysian Food Street, just a few meters away the Universal Studio.

 

 

Entrance to the Trick Eye was included in the Sentosa 1 Day Play Pass we bought.  Otherwise, a ticket would cost you SGD20 for children and SGD25 for adults. 

 

 

For discounted rates, you may opt for the RW combo/bundle tickets, through the Resorts World website.

 

 

I have posted some of our favorite photos below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 TIPS:

• Know your angles. 
• You may borrow a selfie stick from the museum, so don't fret if you forgot to bring your own. 
• Don't rush into the exhibit.  Take you time and shoot from the recommended photo-shooting angle.
• There is no rest room inside, so do your business before entering.
• Get the most out of the museum.  Come on a weekday to avoid the crowd. 

Your imagination is the limit!

For more information and tips on Sentosa Singapore, please visit my other posts... SENTOSA SINGAPORE

The Luge and Skyride at Singapore Sentosa

Included in our Sentosa 1 Day Play Pass is roundtrip ride to the Sentosa Skyline Luge.


The line at the Luge was long and winding (literally)... but that was fine since this ride is a MUST try when visiting Sentosa.


The Luge and Skyride are actually two rides. 

The Luge takes you downhill, while the Skyride takes you back up.
The ride downhill takes approximately 5 minutes, and the skyride about 10 minutes.


The LUGE is a gravity thrill ride, with a unique braking system that takes cruising or speeding downhill.  I was only at cruising  speed though since I was riding with my youngest. However, hubby and my eldest son were (hmmn...carefully) speeding downhill. 


The Skyride was like riding a ferris wheel only lateral.  I was a bit scared for the boys, as we were seated very high up, traversing on cable! 

 

 

VERDICT

1. It was fun riding the Luge and the Skyride.  Although the boys loved the Skyride more. I think the height adds to the excitement.
2. I can't say the Luge is really safe, since I saw a teen girl with bruised elbow being attended by the Luge medics. I guess one needs to exercise caution in steering the luge, especially next to steep corners.
3. Be careful driving, but don't forget to have fun!
4. It can be hot up on the Skyride so apply sunblock for protection.
5. Be careful with loose belongings, especially your cellphones, cameras and wallets. Please avoid booboos.

For updated pricing please visit the Sentosa website:  SENTOSA LUGE AND SKYRIDE.


For more travel tips on Sentosa, please visit also our other Sentosa Posts: Singapore Day 6 - SENTOSA.   
 

Images of Singapore LIVE (The Real Deal)

(Unfortunately they don't allow photography inside the IOSL, succeeding pictures are photo grabs from the IOSL website)


Images of Singapore Live (IOSL) is housed in the same building as the Madame Tussaud Museum.  IOSL used to be the Images of Singapore, but was enhanced to incorporate live actors in their program.

IOSL transports guests back in time.  Here you get to see real actors, with the help of special effects and  compelling backdrop the story of how Singapore came to be one of the most powerful nation we know today.


This is a one of kind attraction, that showcase how Singapore transformed from a small fishing village to a first world country. 

Inside the IOSL complex, you will see:

• Singapore Dock - Quayside Walk
• Four Winds Trading Company
• Malay Fishing Village
• Commercial Square
• Chinatown
• Jubilee Cinema (which was my favorite)
• Television shop (showing footages of Singapore in 1945 and 1965)
• the Miracle of Singapore (a visual interpretation of Singapore's success)
• the Spirit of Singapore Boat Ride (a boat tour of Singapore's best loved attractions and land marks) 

A visit to the IOSL is highly recommended.

 For ticketing and additional information on IOSL,

please visit their website at: IMAGES OF SINGAPORE LIVE.

Festive Hotel - Resorts World Singapore

 

Hotels inside Sentosa are really expensive, if not for a credit card promotion, which included a 2 nights stay in Festive Hotel's Family Deluxe Room, inclusive of multiple attractions tickets for 2 adults in: SEA Aquarium, Universal Studio and Adventure Cove - staying in a Sentosa Hotel would not have been included in our Singapore adventure.

 

I booked via Agoda using my MasterCard and used earned reward points from my previous Agoda hotel bookings.  The entire package is less than P20,000 total.

 

Breakfast was not included in our package though, but no worries since there are numerous restaurants in the adjoining Forum Mall and nearby Malaysian Foodstreet.

 

Festive Hotel is connected to the USS Theme Park through the Festive Walk and Forum.  It is still about 5-10 minutes walk to and from USS, but a lot convenient than staying outside the Resort's World complex.  

The room was huge with a king size bed, loft bed and sofa bed, that can comfortably sleep 5 pax.  The hotel provided enough linens and pillow.


Room was clean enough (since my dust allergy was not trigger), although it has seen better days and would soon need renovation. 


There is a bath tub, but I find it quite high for the average Asian.  You would need to use steps to climb in and out the tub, which could be slippery when wet.  You have to be extra cautious, especially of the kids to avoid accidents.

There is also no bidet, which saddened by husband. Bidet sprayer happens to be one of his hotel requirements.

But that was okay, as the view compensated for the missing bidet....

Our room opens up to balcony, with a pool view and a glimpse of the USS park at the back ground.


VERDICT
Would like to try other hotels in Sentosa next time.  I have heard about Movenpick, which is cleaner and newer than Festive.  Would consider staying here again, but only if on promotion.


TIPS:

1. Entry via taxi is free for hotel guests, just show a proof of your hotel confirmation (SMS or print out).
2. Ask for the special children toiletries pack upon booking.
3. Request for Sentosa Espress Pass tickets.  This would give you free access to the Sentosa Express to and from Harbourfront Station.
4. Standard Hotel Check-in at Festive Hotel is 3pm, but you may leave you luggage at the hotel concierge before exploring Sentosa Island.   
5. Festive has a pool, but the Hard Rock Pool is much nicer.  Hotel guests may use the Hard Rock Pool, just by showing their Hotel Key card.
6. For convenience, you may opt for the hotel limousine for transfers outside Resorts World.  As the taxi bay, was located near the Forum Mall (5-10minutes walk from Festive, through Festive Walk), we decided on a limousine transfer to the airport which cost us about SGD55 (regular taxi, on a non-peak hour from Resorts World would cost approximately SGD22-25).  The limousine transfer was more expensive obviously, but so convenient, considering regular taxi going outside Resorts World is difficult to get especially during rush hour.  With 4 pieces of full luggage, excluding backpacks and 2 EXTREMELY (we've been walking across Singapore for 8 days straight  now) kids in tow ~ a hotel limousine was a welcome luxury.

 
For Festive Hotel bookings and inquiries, please visit the Resorts World Singapore website:  FESTIVE HOTEL


You may also check out, the rest of our Singapore-Malaysia trip here:

Day 1 - Singapore City
Day 2 and 3 - LEGOLAND Malaysia
Day 4 - Jurong Bird Park and Science Center
Day 5 - Singapore Zoo (with breakfast with the Orangutans)
Day 6 - Sentosa Island
Day 7 - Universal Studio Singapore 
Day 8 - SEA Aquarium and Vivo City

SINGAPORE DAY 6 (SENTOSA)

We deposited our baggage at Festive Hotel, before we began touring Sentosa.

A day in Sentosa is not enough to go visit it's multitude of attractions.  There were really just so many to choose from.  

We decided to buy the Sentosa 1 Day Pass online via the Sentosa website and hoped we can get the most out of the ticket cost by visiting as much attractions as we can.

The Sentosa 1 Day Pass allows you one time access 20 attractions.

Our Sentosa itinerary:

• 10am - Trick Eye Museum. My boys love this one and we had so much fun posing and interacting with the exhibits.  
• 12am - Lunch at Malaysian Food Street. Located right next to the Trick Eye Museum. It is actually a food court. There are plenty of food options with prices not far from the ones outside Sentosa.

We took the Sentosa Express from Waterfront Station to reach the Imbiah Station for the next agenda.

• 1pm - Images of Singapore Live (IOSL).  Entering IOSL was like being transported back to Singapore's history.  Unlike regular exhibits, IOSL employs actors playing parts in Singapore's historic past.  It was very entertaining and highly recommended.  It is just unfortunate, cameras were not allowed inside.
• 2pm - Madame Tussaud Wax Museum. Right next to the IOSL is the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum.  We have been to the Madame Tussaud in HK, SG's was not very different, save for a boat ride which unfortunately was under maintenance when we visited.  If you have been to any of the other Madame Tussaud Museums, you may give this one a skip.  
• 330pm - 4D AdventureLand (Journey 2, Desperados, Extreme Log Ride and Green Lantern).  If you are running short of time, you can just do the Journey 2 and skip the rest of the shows.   
• 430pm- Skyline Luge Sentosa. This was the most fun, which also happens to have the longest queue.  Going down the slope was exciting, though the boys enjoyed going up better.   

Went back to Festive Hotel via the Sentosa Express to freshen up.

• 730pm - Dinner at Ruyi at the Forum

We again took the Sentosa Express from the Water Front Station and alighted at the Beach Station. 

• 840pm - Wings of Time is a wonderful and unique show. Unfortunately for us it started raining and we weren't able to finish it (Note: Wings of Time is an open air seating.  If weather is bad, please bring ponchos and umbrella).

What we have missed, which were part of the Day Pass Package (the boys were too tired):

• Tiger Sky Tower -  It was supposedly part of my planned itinerary, but the boys were not up to it.  The ride up, will give you a 360 degrees view of the Sentosa Island.  A sunset ride would have been splendid.
• Fort Siloso - I figured the boys will be too tired to roam around.
• Port of Lost World -  We have been to Legoland Waterpark previously and there is a pool at Festive, so a miss to another waterpark attraction is forgivable.  

 

TIPS:

• To Get or Not to Get a Tour Package? 
• Suggest you decide first what attractions you want to see.  There are numerous travel agencies offering combo tickets for discounted prices. We decided to get ours from Sentosa online for convenience sake.
• Do the math and compute if you would be able to maximize the day pass/package cost. 
• Note as well that doing more than 4 attractions might mean rushing through the activities. 
• Entrance to Sentosa via taxi is free if you are booked in any of Sentosa Hotels.  Just present an SMS or a print out copy of your hotel booking.
• Upon check-in request for a Sentosa Express pass.  This would allow you to enter and leave Sentosa without having to pay for Sentosa Express tickets.
• Singapore weather is fairly predictable.  It rains almost daily in the afternoon, although this only lasts for 1-2 hours.  December has the most downpour.  Do not let the weather eat out your vacation so come prepared for anything. 
• wear comfortable shoes, which is okay to get wet.
• bring umbrella to shield
• bring ponchos (light/plastic raincoats)
• face towel

DAY 6 - Simply amazing! 

 

 

Check out the rest of our Singapore-Malaysia escapade here:

Day 1 - Singapore City
Day 2 and 3 - LEGOLAND Malaysia
Day 4 - Jurong Bird Park and Science Center
Day 5 - Singapore Zoo (with breakfast with the Orangutans)
Day 6 - Sentosa Island
Day 7 - Universal Studio Singapore 
Day 8 - SEA Aquarium and Vivo City