Relax and unwind in this oasis of tranquility
Village Hotel Changi was truly a breath of fresh air after a busy work week. The hotel is located in the East, offering us the chance to have a respite far away from the hustle and bustle of the city! Instantly recognisable by the myriad of colourful balcony boxes adorning its exterior, a staycation at Village Hotel Changi promised exactly such – a pop of colour amidst its surroundings, and a well-deserved escape surrounded by lush greenery.
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.
Besides being just a 2-minute walk from Changi Ferry Terminal and a short boat ride from Pulau Ubin, the hotel is also a mere 3-minute walk from Changi Village Hawker Centre. On top of that, the hotel is in close proximity to Changi Point Coastal Walk, Changi Beach Park and so on. The hotel offers free shuttle bus services to Changi International Airport, as well as to its sister property, Village Hotel Bugis, should you wish to get to the city.
From food to nature to culture and heritage – the area surrounding the hotel has it all! Village Hotel Changi encourages guests to go out and discover the area during their stay, to #livelikealocalsg and indulge in the wide array of local experiences. We just couldn’t wait to start exploring!
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 sanctuary vibes.
We have the tendency to overpack for staycations, and were thus thrilled to find a spacious cupboard that even had an elevated platform large enough for us to place our luggage or sit comfortably on. We discovered that this, coupled with our reflection in the mirror, made a pretty cute photo spot – so couples, do take note of this! The only grouse we had was that the cupboard only had one bathrobe for the two of us, but all we had to do was to make a call down to reception and another was brought up to our room in a jiffy.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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 bed feels like heaven; we had a hard time getting up after sinking right into the middle of it!
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
The hotel is home to two pools – the Creek Pool on the 1st floor, and the Infinity Pool on the 8th floor.
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!
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.
Colourful flowers often drop into the water from the overhanging trees, so feel free to pick some up and stick them into your hair!
Should you get hungry during your swim, simply pick up the phone located right next to the pool and place your order. Choose from a poolside menu that includes chicken wings, poutine fries, or even wagyu beef burgers and top it off with an ice-cold Corona or some Ginger Ale. We loved how fast the food was delivered – all we had to do was to get out of the pool, dry off with a towel, and take our time to slowly savour our food before jumping into the pool again!
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! Also, 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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
The Wine Company probably needs no introduction, and is known for serving good wine at fantastic prices. Whether for a post-meal tipple or late-night drink, The Wine Company 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. Here you can find wines from all around the world – Bordeaux, Chile or Naples; 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!
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! ;)
Due to its close proximity to Changi Airport, guests are able to plane-watch from the infinity pool located on the top floor of the hotel. How cool is that! During our swim, we spotted a couple of photography enthusiasts camping beside the pool armed with their high-tech photography equipment. The pool makes for an idyllic spot to spend an afternoon; just think: a gorgeous view of the sea and the sound of places roaring overhead. If you want to feel removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, it doesn’t get more countryside than this!
In line with the hotel’s #livelikealocalsg theme, every guest is given this Village Passport upon check-in! Don’t be so quick to discard this unassuming little booklet – the Village Passport is a fun-sized book stuffed to the brim with information about the surrounding area, where you’ll be able to find out what’s there to ‘eat’, ‘drink’, ‘play’, ‘learn’, ‘talk’ and ‘bike’! Besides containing vital information about the surrounding attractions, the booklet also contains snippets of Singapore Slang – colloquially known as Singlish – as well as detailed maps of biking routes along the Changi Coast. This Village Passport is basically all you need to make the most out of your staycation, so use it well!
One of our favourite places to chill in the hotel would be at The Wine Company’s al fresco dining area. What we particularly like about the place would be their local food and wine pairings – The Wine Company serves up local fare such as Char Kway Teow and Carrot Cake, and even recommends the corresponding wine to go with it. We never imagined how good local food and wine could taste when put together. What a novel culinary experience to have, huh!
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 Centre.
Chock Full of Beans is just a 3-minute walk from Village Hotel Changi, and is widely known for their adorable 3D latte art. Just look at it! We have no idea how the baristas manage to pull off such a feat, but we almost couldn’t bear to take a sip! You can choose from either 2D latte art (for both hot and cold beverages), or 3D latte art (for cold beverages only). Prepare to wait 20-30 minutes, depending on the crowd, for the masterpiece to be served to you but trust us, it’s worth every minute of the wait!
The food served is decent as well, with our favourite being the poached eggs over garlic toast, with the homemade garlic spread adding an extra zing to the usual eggs benedict.
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.
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.
We only have two words to describe the food here at Changi Village Hawker Centre – absolutely DELICIOUS! We love how the hawker centre is so close to the hotel, allowing us to pop over for a meal any time we wished. The Nasi Lemak here comes highly recommended, so does the unique longan red tea dessert. It’s times like these that we wish we were born with multiple stomachs… So much good food and so little space! The stalls here open till pretty late, which is perfect for when you want a late-night nibble.
