Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Check-In & The Prestige Suite Review

We spent our first night near Changi Airport at the Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy (a smooth, easy start to the trip, which I’ll write about separately). With a late checkout secured, we wrapped up some nearby sightseeing the next morning and headed to Sentosa — with our hotel booking confirmation in hand, since you need it to avoid paying the Sentosa entry fee by taxi.

Singapore is compact and traffic-light by design (the government tightly controls the number of vehicles on the road), so the ride was quick. As we crossed into Sentosa, I noticed the vibe shift immediately. The high-rises disappeared, replaced by lush tropical trees. It felt quiet, green, and genuinely different from the city we’d just left — which was kind of surprising, considering how close they are to each other.

The resort’s first impression? Legitimately impressive. The lobby isn’t enormous, but it has high ceilings and opens up beautifully onto a central courtyard — a stretch of manicured lawn, a fountain, and a sense of space that made the property feel much larger than it is. The black marble floors give it a quietly chic edge. That courtyard is the image I keep coming back to when I think of this place.

Then came check-in.

There was a large wedding party checking in ahead of us — every single one of them, at the single desk, with what appeared to be the only staff member available. No one came to assist. No temporary station opened up. We waited a long time. (I’d already had some unanswered emails to the resort before arrival, so this wasn’t a great sign.) Singapore is supposed to be one of the most efficient cities in the world. This corner of it had apparently missed the memo.

Once we finally got our keys and made our way to the room — which, I’ll note, is genuinely a journey from the lobby — we arrived at our Prestige Suite: 688 sq ft of separate bedroom and living room. I’d chosen a split-room suite deliberately, because our son goes to sleep around 8–9pm, which means our evenings essentially end at 7. Having a proper living space so we could eat snacks and decompress after he’s down was a non-negotiable.

The room itself was genuinely good. High ceilings, warm wood finishes, spacious without feeling cavernous, and — unlike some reviews I’d read beforehand — it didn’t feel dated to me. The design felt considered. The furniture worked. I was relieved.

The bedroom had a king bed, the pre-requested crib, a couch, and a TV — with a large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking… other people’s parked cars and foot traffic. Because we were on the ground floor. So the curtains stayed closed.

The living area had a much bigger sofa, a stylishly designed bar unit with a coffee machine and minibar, and a welcome fruit basket with a note. The bathroom was all mirrors — large ones over the sink, one by the bathtub, more on the cabinet doors — which made it feel simultaneously larger and slightly overwhelming. Amenities were Balmain.

Oh, and there was a separate set of kids’ amenities. More on that shortly.

Breakfast at Kwee Zeen

I’d seen reviews warning that Sofitel Singapore Sentosa’s breakfast wasn’t worth it. I went anyway, mostly because there’s genuinely nothing walkable nearby, and making a trip to the main island just for breakfast felt excessive.

After a good night’s sleep and stepping out of the room, I realized that check-in had included zero orientation. No mention of where breakfast was, what time it started, where anything was. I wandered toward the lobby and happened to spot the restaurant — Kwee Zeen — on my own.

There are indoor and outdoor seats. We chose outdoor, since it was a cloudy morning and didn’t feel too intense. The indoor section matched the lobby’s aesthetic well — cool, considered, consistent in style. The outdoor section felt like it had been appended as an afterthought. An odd contrast.

The buffet spread was… basic. Salads, bread, cold cuts, egg station, cereal, fruit. An outdoor crepe station and a noodle station. I tried the prawn noodle soup — it smelled amazing, but tasted surprisingly flat. The eggs were unremarkable. The bread selection was extensive, which would be great if you’re into bread. I’m not, particularly.

The one genuinely Singapore-specific touch I kept wishing for was kaya toast. Just kaya toast. That would have elevated the whole thing.

I’d used my Accor Plus membership for a 50% discount on breakfast, and our son ate free at his age, so the math worked out. Without that discount, I’m not sure it would feel justified. But — and this is worth noting — the atmosphere at breakfast was genuinely warm. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa draws a lot of families, and seeing so many young children running around made it easy and comfortable. Our son barely raised an eyebrow from anyone. That part was lovely.

After eating, I took a slow loop around the resort grounds before heading back to the room. Quiet, tree-lined paths, birdsong. The ambiance of the resort itself is genuinely peaceful.

The Pool: Deep, Beautiful, and Beer-Adjacent

We’d originally planned to take Sentosa’s tram to Siloso Beach, then head to VivoCity for lunch before coming back for an afternoon swim. Our son had other plans. The moment we were back in the room after breakfast, he started lobbying hard for the pool.

Since the afternoon sun in Singapore is intense and our son’s enthusiasm was at peak levels, we gave in and headed down early.

The pool was nearly empty that early in the morning. Cool at first, but Singapore’s heat takes care of that quickly — especially once the clouds cleared and the sun came out fully. The pool is a single, generous length that deepens toward the far end — up to 2.5 meters — with a lifeguard stationed accordingly.

(Side note: I was in the middle of freediving training at the time, working toward Level 2. Watching the deep end, I genuinely wished I’d brought my snorkel to practice duck dives. That far end is legitimately good for adults.)

On one side of the pool, there was a small station with complimentary kids’ goggles and life jackets — though everything was sized for older children, which didn’t quite work for our three-year-old. We made it work. He had a blast anyway.

Then my husband wanted a beer. App-based ordering opened at 10am. We waited, placed the order the moment it went live, and… nothing arrived for 30 minutes. There was no one to ask. Eventually our son’s lips started turning blue (time to get out), so I took him back to the room while my husband waited for the beer. He gave up, rejoined us in the room.

A few minutes later, the room phone rang. The beer was ready for delivery — almost exactly one hour after ordering. I still don’t know what happened. Did they brew it?

Beer-related mysteries aside, the pool was a highlight.

LEBAR & The Welcome Drink

Our original afternoon plan — the Sentosa tram and beach — had slipped away with the morning swim, so we pivoted. A nearby hawker center (Lau Pa Sat) had its Saturday Satay Street opening at 3pm. We’d go early, around 4pm, before the crowds.

Before that, we stopped at LEBAR — the resort’s bar — to use the Accor welcome drink perk. I chose sparkling wine; my husband chose beer (again, brave man). Our son sat down and was asleep within five minutes. Swimming will do that.

Since our son’s naps tend to run about an hour, we decided to linger. My husband ordered a carbonara (he loves it; this was his view of the menu), and with happy hour running, he got 1+1 on his beer. I used the time to catch up on our trip budget spreadsheet. It was, genuinely, a lovely hour.

The staff at LEBAR were the warmest we encountered during our entire stay. The setting — all marble surfaces, open on all sides, perfectly shaded — was breezy and comfortable even in the 2pm heat. This was the one space where everything clicked: good atmosphere, good service, good company (including one very efficiently napping toddler).

The Shuttle Bus Schedule & VivoCity

Getting in and out of Sentosa by taxi every time would add up fast. The resort runs a shuttle to VivoCity — the massive mall right at the Sentosa Gateway — with departures every 15–30 minutes, so even if you miss one, the wait isn’t long.

While waiting for the shuttle, we discovered the Doctor Fish pond tucked between the lobby and the bar. Tiny fish nibbling at your feet — our son was too nervous to participate, but watched with fascinated horror from a safe distance. The fish, I’ll note, were enormous. The biggest I’ve ever seen at one of these things.

VivoCity itself is well worth knowing about. It’s large, with a solid mix of shops and restaurants, and it connects directly to the MRT — so it becomes a natural hub for day trips. The FairPrice supermarket there is one of the larger locations I visited, and it was an excellent spot to pick up snacks, fruit, and groceries for the room. Mango, sliced and packaged, was SGD 4.70 — more than the SGD 5 for four packs I’d found at a hawker centre fruit stall, but noticeably better quality and presentation. Worth it.

Shuttle times are worth checking in advance — but once you’re in the rhythm, it’s a convenient and free way to move between Sentosa and the city.

Final Verdict: Is Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Worth It?

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa is a beautifully built resort. The architecture, the materials, the sense of space — it all suggests somewhere that was designed with care and genuine investment. The rooms are good. The grounds are peaceful. The pool is excellent for adults. LEBAR is a gem.

And yet. Would I come back? No. Would I recommend it? Not without significant caveats.

On Sentosa as a choice for Singapore: Unless you’re specifically there for Universal Studios, or you want a deliberate reset from the city, a hotel in Sentosa isn’t the obvious choice for a short Singapore trip. The beaches aren’t the kind you’d come to Southeast Asia for. It’s close to the main island, but it adds a logistical layer. If you want a quieter base with a bit of resort energy, a Sentosa hotel makes sense — but it’s a specific use case, not a default.

On Sofitel Singapore Sentosa specifically: The service was, frankly, not at the level I’d expect from a property of this caliber. The staff count seemed low for the resort’s size, and those who were present didn’t appear to be working from a consistent playbook. Check-in was slow and offered no orientation. Nobody told us where breakfast was, where to pick up welcome drinks, or how the shuttle worked. We had to figure everything out ourselves.

The beer-taking-an-hour episode. The “Okay.” response when I raised a legitimate concern. These things add up.

And then there was MyKids.

When booking, I’d spotted an add-on called “MyKids” and paid extra for it, assuming it was some kind of family package. I received no explanation of what it included at check-in. Midway through our stay, I went to the front desk to ask what the MyKids package actually was.

“It’s food-related,” I was told. And nothing else.

After our stay, I looked it up. The MyKids package includes: children’s meals (lunch, dinner, afternoon snacks), unlimited soft drinks and juice for kids throughout the day, unlimited Kids’ Club access at Villa Des Enfants, in-room movies, and welcome gifts. There was apparently a Kids’ Club on the property. I didn’t know. We didn’t use any of it. I received nothing — except the Balmain amenities for my son’s bath. When I raised this at the desk, the response was a single “Okay.”

We’re generally easygoing travelers. It takes a lot for us to feel genuinely disappointed in a hotel. Sofitel Singapore Sentosa managed it. The facilities were lovely; the experience around them was not. The Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy — a step down in category — delivered a noticeably better experience.

I’d love to return to Sentosa island someday. A longer trip, a proper resort stay, more time to actually be on the island.

Just not here.

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The Five Royal Palaces & Shrine of Seoul: A Complete Overview

Seoul has five royal palaces: Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung.

When I was young, all five looked pretty much the same to me—I couldn’t really tell them apart. But once I learned more about their history, I started noticing the differences. Let me break down each palace as briefly as possible:

Gyeongbokgung: The Heart of Joseon, The Primary Royal Palace

This was the first and main palace built by the Joseon Dynasty (a beopgung, or “primary palace”). It was designed to showcase the king’s authority and dignity—grand, orderly, and imposing.

Main Purpose: The official space for state ceremonies and where the king handled governmental affairs.

Changdeokgung: The Palace Kings Loved Most, Harmony with Nature

If Gyeongbokgung feels like a formal office space, Changdeokgung was more of a home—a place where kings actually lived and spent most of their time.

Main Purpose: When Gyeongbokgung was destroyed by fire, Changdeokgung served as the de facto primary palace for roughly 270 years.

What Sets It Apart: The palace was built following the natural terrain rather than flattening the land artificially. It also features Huwon (the Secret Garden), a masterpiece of traditional Korean landscaping. Highly recommended for nature lovers. Note: Separate reservation required for the Secret Garden.

Changgyeonggung: A Palace Built with Filial Devotion, A Living Space for Royalty

Built to house the royal family’s elders (like the Queen Dowager), this palace sits right next to Changdeokgung.

Main Purpose: Primarily used as a residential space for the royal family.

What Sets It Apart: It has a more intimate, feminine atmosphere compared to other palaces. It carries a painful history of being converted into a zoo during the Japanese occupation but has since been restored. Don’t miss the Great Greenhouse (Dae-onsil)—a Western-style glass structure. Personally, I found it especially beautiful during the nighttime opening, with all the lights on.

Deoksugung: Where Tradition Meets Modernity

Originally a royal residence, it was upgraded to a palace after the Imjin War (Japanese invasion of 1592). This is where Emperor Gojong declared the Korean Empire, signaling Korea’s ambition to become a modern nation.

Main Purpose: A center of diplomacy and politics during the late Joseon period and the Korean Empire era.

What Sets It Apart: Traditional Korean buildings coexist with Western stone architecture (Seokjojeon) in the same space. Seeing a Renaissance-style building inside a palace is quite a unique experience.

Gyeonghuigung: The Quiet Palace in the West

A secondary palace (ignung) built for the king to retreat to in emergencies or to rest.

What Sets It Apart: Most of it was destroyed during the Japanese occupation, and only a portion has been restored. It’s small but offers free admission, and since it sees fewer tourists, it’s a lovely spot for a peaceful stroll while appreciating traditional Korean architecture.

Jongmyo: The Sacred Shrine Where Joseon’s Spirits Rest

Many foreign visitors assume this is a royal tomb, but it’s actually a shrine—not a burial site.

What It Is: The kings’ bodies are buried in the royal tombs (wangneung) scattered across the mountains outside Seoul. Jongmyo, on the other hand, is where the spirit tablets (sinju)—wooden plaques representing the souls of deceased kings and queens—are enshrined. Think of it as Korea’s equivalent of a grand cathedral housing royal memorial tablets, or perhaps a Confucian Pantheon—though rather than religious worship, the focus here is on filial piety (hyo) and ancestral remembrance.

If the palaces represent spaces of life and politics, Jongmyo is a space of spirit and peace.

Note: Except on Saturdays, entry is typically limited to scheduled guided tours only, so be sure to check the tour times in advance.

Which Palace Should You Visit in Seoul?

If I had to recommend just one palace to someone visiting Korea for the first time, it would have to be Gyeongbokgung—the main palace.

If you’ve ever watched a Korean historical drama (sageuk), you’ve probably seen scenes where the king sits in the center while rows of officials stand on either side, responding in unison or presenting their cases. That setting is the main hall of a palace called Jeongjeon, with Gyeongbokgung’s Geunjeongjeon and Changdeokgung’s Injeongjeon being the most famous examples. Between the two, Gyeongbokgung is more grand and imposing—which is why it’s been featured in countless Korean films, historical dramas, and even the opening scene of Golden‘s music video by Huntrix, Netflix’s popular K-pop demon hunter show.

For all these reasons, Gyeongbokgung makes the most sense as a first recommendation. But if someone asked me which palace is my personal favorite, I’d say Changdeokgung without hesitation.

When you step inside Gyeongbokgung, it’s undeniably majestic—but there’s something rigid about it. Everything is sharp, orderly, almost severe. The palace was literally built on flat ground in a strict grid pattern, and apparently the kings found it psychologically stifling. Changdeokgung, on the other hand, was constructed along the natural slopes of the mountain, making it feel much cozier and more comfortable—which is why kings preferred to stay there.

If Gyeongbokgung is the “official headquarters,” then Changdeokgung is the “real home and office” where kings actually ate, slept, and worked. Kings loved Changdeokgung with its beautiful gardens far more than the rigid Gyeongbokgung—and honestly, I feel the same way. I once visited Changdeokgung during a special spring opening when all the doors and windows were left open, and the palace surrounded by spring flowers was absolutely breathtaking. (For some reason, I don’t have a single photo left from that day ) The Secret Garden is the real highlight of Changdeokgung—it requires a separate reservation, but if you’re already visiting the palace, I highly recommend bundling it together.

Hanbok Rental: The Free Entry Perk

Except for Changgyeonggung, all palaces charge a small admission fee—but if you’re wearing hanbok (traditional Korean attire), entry is free.

I personally find hanbok absolutely beautiful, but the truth is, Koreans rarely wear it in daily life outside of childhood or during Seollal (Lunar New Year), the biggest holiday in Korea. After childhood, you might wear it at your wedding—maybe. Even that’s becoming less common because rental fees are so expensive. That’s why when they first announced the “free admission for hanbok wearers” policy, I thought it was a brilliant idea.

Hanbok rental shops started popping up around every palace, and as different styles emerged—from traditional hanbok to saenghwal hanbok (everyday hanbok) and gaeryang hanbok (modernized hanbok)—the palaces became the best place to spot people in hanbok, whether Korean or foreign.

But of course, with the good comes the not-so-good. Hanbok has evolved through many eras and continues to change today, so I can’t outright say anything is “wrong.” But sometimes I see people wearing hanbok that looks so cheap—presumably because rental shops are cutting costs to stay profitable—that it barely resembles hanbok at all.

What I consider classic women’s hanbok in dramas:

To me, traditional hanbok (not saenghwal or gaeryang styles) means a slightly shiny fabric like gongdan (silk satin) with soft, elegant colors. Legitimate hanbok specialty shops charge quite a bit, so I understand that tourist-area rental shops have to compromise on fabric quality.

Traditional hanbok is worn long enough that your feet are just barely visible. But rental shops probably shorten the skirts to prevent the hemlines from wearing out too quickly. I can accept seeing shoes or feet, but I’ve often spotted skirts hiked up to mid-calf, with the inner pants (sokbaji) showing as people walk. Add some never-before-seen glittery gold patterns that look like they were painted on with craft glue, and honestly? It starts to feel like something other than hanbok entirely.

Visit a hanbok expo and you’ll see constantly evolving designs—new patterns, new styles, even suit-like hanbok. So who am I to say what’s “correct”? But in my mind, the essence of hanbok lies in its understated elegance, so I wanted to share my thoughts.

My color combination recommendations for achieving that classic hanbok look:

• For children: Bright primary colors on the skirt or colorful saekdong (rainbow-striped) jeogori (jacket) are perfect—playful and cheerful.
• For young adults: Pastel color combinations, or pairing one bold primary color (either skirt or jeogori) with a very soft, muted shade for the other piece. This creates a gentle, graceful look.
• For older adults: Muted, subtle color combinations, or a dark-toned skirt (like dark green or indigo) paired with a bright but low-saturation jeogori. This gives off a dignified, elegant, and sophisticated vibe.

Color combinations are ultimately a matter of personal taste, but generally I’d recommend: either both pieces in soft, muted tones, or if you use one dark or bold color, balance it with a light, subtle shade on the other.

If there are patterns, I prefer designs where the pattern color is similar to the garment’s base color—so the pattern doesn’t stand out from a distance but rather feels integrated with the hanbok. Royal hanbok often features elaborate patterns, but even those tend to complement rather than clash with the fabric colors.

My Personal Hanbok Photo Shoot Experience at Gyeongbokgung

Just before my son’s first birthday (*dol*), we rented hanbok and had a photo shoot at Gyeongbokgung.

We dressed our son in a *seja* (crown prince) outfit, and since he was the star, my husband and I chose colors that would complement him without stealing the spotlight—recommended by the shop staff. I don’t usually wear purple and wasn’t sure if it would suit me, but I ended up really liking it. And seeing the photos taken inside Gyeongbokgung made me love it even more.

Since my son’s birthday is in July, we did the shoot in mid-June… and with hanbok fabric being what it is, it was *scorching* hot. Between the blazing sun, holding the baby, and constantly trying to make him smile for about an hour and a half, we were absolutely exhausted. My husband, who really doesn’t handle heat well, had an especially rough time.

By the time the shoot ended, our son had completely passed out. After returning the hanbok, we were walking back when I spotted a place called *Dasaria*—an outdoor skewer bar. We parked the stroller and stopped for a drink. I will *never* forget that ice-cold draft beer. It was pure salvation.

Because this wasn’t just a casual visit—we had scheduled the day specifically for a professional photo shoot—it was more tiring than usual. But now it’s become such a precious memory. The hanbok was beautiful, the photos turned out amazing, and I’m already thinking about doing it again in autumn. The shop where I rented hanbok is called **Geumjundang (금준당)**. Their Instagram account has tons of gorgeous hanbok color combinations, so if you’re planning to rent hanbok or just curious, definitely check it out for inspiration!

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Flight Review: Incheon to Singapore (SQ605)

Our aircraft was an A350-900, 6 years old. It was a Wednesday, so I hoped for some empty seats — no such luck. Completely full.

Our son was exhausted from the late hour and fell asleep during taxiing. Shortly after takeoff, the meal service began. I’d wondered when they’d serve food on a midnight departure arriving at 5 AM — turns out, right away. The choices were beef or Korean kimchi fried rice. I ordered the kimchi fried rice, but it was just okay, so I only ate a bit. The in-flight meal on the Singapore to Incheon return flight was japchae rice, and it was delicious.

Browsing the in-flight entertainment, I was reminded how impressive Singapore Airlines’ selection is — tons of movies and shows. Plus, KrisFlyer members get free Wi-Fi. The in-flight experience really is top-notch. If it had been a daytime flight, I would’ve watched a movie, but I was too tired. I just checked which terminal we needed for our Malé connection and went to sleep.

Red-eye flights feel like time passes quickly when you sleep through them. We arrived at Singapore Changi Airport before 5 AM, a bit earlier than scheduled. Groggy and exhausted, but there was something I really wanted to see — the waterfall at Jewel Changi!

On my previous Singapore trip, we had an early morning departure and couldn’t visit Jewel. It was one of the things I’d been most looking forward to, so missing it was a real disappointment. This time, with a 5.5-hour layover, I was determined to see it.

There was one problem with this plan. Google Maps shows Jewel Changi as “open 24 hours,” so I naively assumed everything would be operating. But Jewel is essentially a shopping mall attached to the airport — technically outside the terminal — and at 5 AM, nothing was open. Only a luggage storage counter. I went to check the waterfall anyway, and sure enough… the unlit, empty waterfall sat in complete silence. I’d even filled out an SG Arrival Card and cleared immigration for nothing. With nothing to do at Jewel and nothing happening at the airport that early, we just went back inside to find a lounge.

I finally got to see the Jewel waterfall on our return trip from the Maldives, catching it just before closing time — barely 20 minutes. Next time I’m in Singapore or transiting through, I really want to see Jewel during the day.

Changi Airport Lounge Guide (Priority Pass / The Lounge Members)

Terminal 1

• Marhaba Lounge: PP, The Lounge Members (24hr, showers available)
• Plaza Premium Lounge: PP, The Lounge Members (24hr, good food quality)
• SATS Premier Lounge: PP (24hr)

Terminal 2

• SATS Premier Lounge: PP, The Lounge Members (24hr, showers available)
• Ambassador Transit Lounge: PP, The Lounge Members (24hr, showers available)

Terminal 3

• SATS Premier Lounge: PP (24hr) Check app before entry as partnerships may change
• Marhaba Lounge: PP, The Lounge Members (24hr)
• Ambassador Transit Lounge: PP, The Lounge Members (24hr)

Terminal 4

Blossom Lounge: PP, The Lounge Members (24hr, jointly operated by SATS and Plaza Premium)

Terminal 4 requires shuttle bus from other terminals and has a separate duty-free zone. Recommended only for T4 departures.

SATS Premier Lounge Review (Terminal 2)

Changi Airport has 4 terminals, with Terminals 1-3 freely accessible via a circulating train. Walking from Terminal 1 to 2 is also doable. With our long layover, we didn’t necessarily need to use the Terminal 2 lounge, but at the time, I assumed Changi would be like Incheon, where Terminals 1 and 2 are far apart and require a bus. So I automatically thought we should use Terminal 2’s lounge.

Since our Singapore-Malé flight (SQ432) departed from Terminal 2, we chose between SATS Premier Lounge and Ambassador Transit Lounge. We picked SATS — I can’t remember why.

The SATS lounge was consistently crowded regardless of the hour. Exhausted from the early morning, I grabbed a coffee to wake up and got breakfast for my son, who’d missed the in-flight meal.

The food selection wasn’t extensive: bread, fruit, salad, cereal, plus a few hot options like curry, noodles, potatoes, and meatballs. There was also self-serve laksa.

I’d had amazing laksa during my Singapore trip and wanted to try it again, but this wasn’t quite the same as that unforgettable bowl from Lau Pa Sat. After a leisurely breakfast, we still had hours to kill. I wanted to nap on the sofa, but the SATS lounge chairs have low backs — really uncomfortable for sleeping while seated.

I tried getting my son to sleep on the sofa too, but he was too uncomfortable. He kept saying he was tired but couldn’t fall asleep. I even grabbed an airport trolley thinking he could sleep there, but that didn’t work either. He’d eaten, looked around at everything, but couldn’t sleep and was getting bored. So I deployed the emergency tablet cartoons earlier than planned. Thankfully, it worked, and we survived the long layover. A 5.5-hour airport wait with a toddler is definitely pushing it.

Having a lounge helped us survive the early morning hours, but those low-backed chairs made napping difficult. On our return trip, we used the SATS lounge again and tried the showers — they were dim, cramped, and honestly the worst lounge showers I’ve ever seen.

I later learned that the other Terminal 2 lounge, Ambassador Transit Lounge, has higher-backed chairs better for resting and much nicer shower facilities. The food seems similar. The Lounge app says both charge for children over 2, but some blogs mentioned Ambassador Transit is free for children under 6.

If I ever need a Terminal 2 lounge again, I’ll definitely choose Ambassador Transit over SATS. And with a long layover, since moving between terminals isn’t difficult, I might just go to a different terminal entirely. Based on reviews: Terminal 1’s Plaza Premium, Terminal 2’s Ambassador Transit, and Terminal 3’s SATS seem to be the best options.

Finally, boarding time approached, and we headed to the gate for our 10:50 AM flight to the Maldives.

Flight Review: Singapore to Malé (SQ432)

Time to actually go to the Maldives. The Singapore-Malé 10:50 AM flight (SQ432) was also an A350-900, 7 years old. Arriving at the gate, I could immediately tell — packed again. People of all nationalities gathered together. True to the Maldives’ honeymoon reputation, there were far more couples than families. I’d hoped for some empty seats, but no chance — completely full.

Singapore to Malé is 4.5 hours. My son fell asleep again during taxiing — probably the effect of being up since 5 AM.

Like before, the meal came shortly after takeoff. For the first time in my life, I chose fish for an airplane meal, and it was surprisingly good — it somewhat shattered my prejudice against fish as an in-flight option. While eating lunch, the clouds outside the window were so beautiful I had to take photos. The Maldives can have sunny days even in the rainy season and rainy days in the dry season, but September — when I visited — is technically the rainy low season. Seeing such gorgeous clouds on the way made me hopeful for clear weather throughout our trip.

I watched the live-action Lilo & Stitch movie on the in-flight entertainment, and before I knew it — we’d arrived! Malé Airport! The airport is so small that planes don’t connect directly to the terminal. We descended stairs from the aircraft and took a bus.

After immigration and baggage inspection (the Maldives is Islamic, so alcohol is prohibited), we exited to find dozens of resort staff holding name signs. We just needed to find the Cora Cora Maldives representative, and from there, everything would be handled for us. The real vacation was about to begin.

Final Thoughts

Without direct flights, I’d tried to maximize vacation time by booking a post-work overnight departure: 6 hours of flying, an early-morning layover, then another 4.5-hour flight. Including travel to the airport and waiting at Incheon, nearly 21 hours had passed. The Maldives is that far. Exhausted from just traveling, I thought, “I could never do this again.”

But after just 4 nights at the resort, I now constantly find myself wanting to go back. Maybe not every year, but once every three years would be wonderful.

Singapore Airlines takes slightly longer than Sri Lankan Airlines to reach the Maldives from Korea, but it’s still shorter than other options — that’s why I chose it. Maybe my expectations were too high after an amazing (but brief) business class experience? The economy seat pitch felt narrower than expected, which was a bit disappointing. Then again, without that business class comparison, I probably would’ve felt differently.

Objectively compared to other full-service carriers, the crew service is excellent and the food is decent. Free Wi-Fi and an impressive entertainment selection make the in-flight experience genuinely positive. With Asiana joining Korean Air and leaving Star Alliance sometime in 2026, maybe it’s time to get better acquainted with Singapore Airlines.

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Why Winter Bangeo-Hoe Is So Popular

Peak Fat Content

Yellowtail accumulates fat as water temperatures drop between November and February. This gives winter yellowtail a rich, savory depth that rivals mackerel or tuna.

Different Cuts, Different Experiences

The belly, mid-section, and back each have distinct flavors and textures. The belly of a large winter yellowtail is famous for its melt-in-your-mouth quality.

Dramatic Seasonal Difference

Spring and summer yellowtail tastes mild and unremarkable, but winter yellowtail sees a dramatic upgrade in density and flavor. There’s a saying: “You can’t beat winter bangeo-hoe.”

Bigger Is Better

Yellowtail develops more fat as it grows larger. In winter, fish over 6kg are commonly caught, making the hoe exceptional.

Cultural Event Status

Every winter, social media, and food blogs spotlight “bangeo-hoe season,” creating a natural trend. “Gotta have bangeo-hoe in winter” has become part of Korea’s seasonal food culture.

Versatile Preparation

Beyond hoe, yellowtail shines as sushi, grilled, or in hot pot. Torched yellowtail sushi is a particular winter favorite.

The sweet spot is roughly November through February, but I personally recommend December to January — when it’s cold enough to make you say, “Wow, it’s really freezing out there.”

Where to Eat: Local Hoe Restaurants (횟집)

The most accessible option is your neighborhood hoe restaurant (hoejip). You can find one in almost any area, and if the place does decent business, they’ll likely carry yellowtail in winter. For after-work meetups, convenience matters, so I usually pick a busy spot near the meeting place or my home.

Pro tip: Go where there’s a crowd. Beyond the skill in aging and slicing fish, yellowtail is a large fish that tastes better when it’s big. Busy restaurants go through inventory quickly, meaning fresher, larger fish. Quiet places might serve yellowtail that’s been sitting in the fridge too long.

Recently, I met friends near their place at a restaurant famous for bangeo-hoe. Even on a weekday evening, we had to wait. The place had a 150-minute time limit due to demand — staff would give you a heads-up as time ran out.

We ordered via tablet at our table. Three of us, medium size — easy choice.

Like most hoe restaurants, various side dishes arrived first. This place, Honggildong Hoesusean, was pretty standard. Some places overwhelm you with banchan, but I’ve noticed those sometimes skimp on the actual fish. So I don’t automatically celebrate a mountain of side dishes.

Among the banchan, I spotted beondegi (silkworm pupae) and dasulgi (freshwater snails) for the first time in ages. These were common street snacks when I was a kid — maybe 100 or 200 won for a paper cup. I don’t eat them anymore, not because of taste but… let’s just say once you know what they are, the visual is harder to ignore. Many Koreans can’t eat beondegi either. One friend at our table, though, got nostalgic and happily finished the entire portion alone.

Then came corn cheese — that reliable banchan that never disappoints. Canned corn with mayo and a bit of cheese, baked until bubbly. Simple, impossible to dislike, and my childhood favorite at hoe restaurants.

After some chatting, the bangeo-hoe arrived. Medium size for three people, 75,000 won. The presentation was stunning. Large yellowtail means you get a variety of cuts, and this platter delivered — you could see how richly marbled the fish was just by looking.

There’s no single “correct” way to eat bangeo-hoe. Some wrap it in seaweed like tuna, and dipping sauces range from wasabi-soy to ssamjang (fermented bean paste) to chogochujang (sweet-spicy vinegar sauce). I personally love wrapping it in perilla leaves with ssamjang. Perilla has a strong, distinctive aroma that some people find off-putting, but it pairs beautifully with fatty fish. One piece of fresh yellowtail on a perilla leaf, a dab of ssamjang, a slice of raw garlic, a bit of rinsed kimchi — pure happiness. Add a shot of soju to cut through the richness, and you’ve got the perfect bite.

As we kept eating, sweet potato tempura and grilled fish arrived. The sweet potato was delightful, and we lucked out — instead of the usual grilled herring, we got yellowtail head. Tender, flavorful, excellent.

After a bottle or two of soju and plenty of life updates, we ordered maeuntang (spicy fish stew) to finish. Usually around 5,000 won at hoe restaurants, it’s made from the fish bones, radish, crown daisy, and spicy seasoning. The kick is perfect after all that rich hoe. Adding ramyeon noodles is also highly recommended.

Two and a half hours flew by. With people still waiting, our time was up, so we settled the bill and left.

If someone asked me what to eat in Korea, I’d enthusiastically recommend a hoe restaurant — especially bangeo-hoe in winter. But first, I’d ask: “Do you actually eat raw fish?”

If you’ve never had hoe, or if you’re not comfortable with that springy-chewy-soft texture, I’d hesitate to recommend it. Hoe restaurants are essentially all-fish establishments, so there’s not much else to fall back on if it’s not your thing.

Yellowtail Hoe Restaurant List

• Honggildong Hoesusean (Jungnang-gu)
• Namhae Bada Macha (Seongbuk-gu )
• Uri Bada Susan (Mapo-gu)
• Daechan Hoetjip (Jongno-gu)
• Daegwangeo Hoejip (Gangbuk-gu)
• Uri Hoe Pocha (Dongjak-gu)
• Baegildo (Gwangjin-gu)
• Jamae Susan (Gangnam-gu)

Where to Eat: Noryangjin Fish Market / Garak Market

For the biggest seafood markets in Seoul, there’s Noryangjin and Garak. Both are massive, offering an incredible variety of seafood. If it swims, they probably have it — fresh and alive. Koreans love visiting these places too.

Things have improved over the years, but being traditional markets, some light soliciting still exists. There’s also lingering skepticism about price manipulation — stories of vendors weighing fish with water in the bag or pressing on the scale. Because of this, I personally prefer places with fixed prices.

Currently, the most famous vendor at Noryangjin is Hyungje Sanghoe, but I usually go to Dokdo Susan (stalls 002-004). You can order online for pickup with no waiting, or use the kiosk on-site with staff assistance.

On my recent visit to pick up yellowtail, I noticed Dokdo Chobap next door selling pre-made sushi lunch boxes — 12 assorted pieces for around 22,000 won. Seemed like solid value, though I didn’t try it since I had other plans. Even just looking at it, the quality appeared quite good.

The market’s real advantage is variety. Just wandering around is entertaining — so many fascinating things to see. Beyond hoe, you can pick up shrimp, crab, clams, live octopus, raw oysters, whatever catches your eye. Just know that fish market prices aren’t necessarily cheap, so do your research beforehand.

Once you’ve bought your fish, where do you eat it? I always take mine home, but if that’s not an option, head upstairs where restaurants will prepare your purchase. Tell the vendor you’re eating there, and they’ll direct you to a partner restaurant. Or pick one yourself. Hand over your bag of fish, and they’ll slice, cook, or prepare it however you want — hoe, grilled, steamed, stir-fried, soup — for a seating and preparation fee. Think ahead about how you want to enjoy your seafood.

If someone in your group doesn’t eat seafood, Garak Market might be better than Noryangjin. Garak handles both seafood and meat, so restaurants there can accommodate mixed preferences.

I bought a mini portion of yellowtail hoe (about 1.5 servings, 53,000 won) from Dokdo Susean plus some tuna belly from a second-floor vendor. The mini size meant fewer cuts, but the taste was excellent. Unlike popular restaurants with mandatory waits, the market has no lines, endless options, and plenty to explore — a worthwhile experience for tourists too.

Noryangjin Fish Market List

• Dokdo Susan (stalls 002-004)
• Son Seonjang (stalls 017-019)
• Jeonla Sanghoe (stalls 159-161)
• Hyeongje Sanghoe (stalls 168-172)
• Ilseong Susan (stalls 007-009)

Where to Eat: Korean-style-pubs Serving Seafood

If committing to a full hoe restaurant feels risky — maybe you’re not sure about raw fish, or someone in your group can’t eat seafood — consider a Korean pub or Japanese-style izakaya that serves a variety of dishes.

Being a full-service restaurant, there are fallback options if hoe isn’t working out. The atmosphere is usually nice for lingering, but expect higher prices for smaller portions, and alcohol orders are typically required. Reservations might be necessary given the limited seating.

Recently, searching for a bangeo-hoe spot near a friend’s office, I found Sujokgwan — a Korean-style pub. Despite the name meaning “aquarium,” they have more than seafood: flatfish and tuna hoe, abalone, sea squirt, live octopus, triploid oysters, steamed clams, and octopus, alongside Korean meat dishes like bossam (pork wraps) and LA galbi (short ribs). The bangeo-hoe(58,000 won) was excellent and my first of the season. For a foreign friend’s first Korea visit, somewhere like this might be the safer introduction.

Seafood Restaurant List

• Soo jok gwan (Gangnam-gu)
• Baboseom (Yongsan-gu)
• Badadang (Seocho-gu)

Ready to Try Winter Bangeo-Hoe in Korea?

Somehow, bangeo-hoe became my most-eaten dining-out dish this winter. I know that sushi and sashimi abroad often differs from what you get in Japan or Korea, so I can’t push this as a must-try for everyone. But if you’re comfortable with raw fish — that soft, bouncy, chewy texture — then Korea’s winter delicacy, winter yellowtail, deserves a spot on your list.

Klook.com

Reception & Check-In: First Impressions

Walking from the jetty to the reception, my first impression of Cora Cora was surprisingly casual. From the logo featuring “It’s Freedom Time” to the colors and decorations throughout the lobby, everything felt bright, warm, and approachable rather than luxurious or sleek.

At the lobby, we received a welcome drink of sparkling wine while completing check-in with our assigned butler. Our butler was Aju, an incredibly professional staff member. He asked about our departure flight schedule, any food allergies, exchanged WhatsApp contacts for any needs during our stay, and showed us how to make restaurant and excursion reservations through the Cora Cora app. He had already made restaurant reservations for us, with the flexibility to change anytime. Thanks to Aju, we experienced zero inconvenience throughout our stay.

One side of the lobby features a pool table, foosball table, and ping pong table. Initially, I thought it was odd to have these right in the lobby where people constantly pass through. But by the end of our stay, I didn’t think twice about it—playing games with that stunning lagoon as a backdrop just felt wonderful.

Our family particularly loved the sofa area near the lobby entrance. A large tree creates perfect shade, keeping the space surprisingly cool even under the Maldivian sun. This spot remains the most iconic image of Cora Cora in my mind. The shaded sand stays cool, and sitting barefoot on that soft sand while feeling the gentle breeze brings such peace—with the bonus of an unreal lagoon view.

Our son would play in the sand while my husband and I grabbed coffee from My Coffee café right next door, spending time gazing at the sea. Sitting there, all the stress and busyness of life back in Korea would melt away, and my mind would become as clear as the lagoon’s waters.

Cora Cora Maldives Lagoon Villa Review

When researching Maldives resorts, I knew that if the price was the same, I absolutely wanted to stay in a Maldives lagoon villa. I’d never experienced staying in an overwater room before and was incredibly curious about it

After nearly 24 hours of travel, we finally entered our lagoon villa. There are two lines of lagoon villas—one facing sunset, and one with a wider lagoon view. I’d heard that the sunset line’s rooms are visible from the central beach sunset point, so I requested the lagoon-facing line for privacy, and the request was granted. While Cora Cora isn’t specifically famous for its lagoon, the clear waters spread out beautifully before us.

The room has a bed and sofa bed, comfortable enough for three. The terrace accessible from the bedroom features sunbeds, a table, and a net hammock. Personally, I found such peace sitting on the shaded sunbed gazing at the lagoon. You can enter the water directly from the lagoon villa, and while the depth allows adults to stand, the water isn’t as calm as it looks—too risky for young children. So only my husband went swimming from the room while my son and I stayed out.

The minibar includes one small bottle each of sparkling, red, and white wine, plus beer, various drinks, and snacks—all complimentary with daily refills. Traveling with a child means we couldn’t spend long hours at bars or restaurants, so the free minibar refills were wonderful. They also provide tumblers that you can fill with coffee from My Coffee café to enjoy in your room or outdoors—incredibly useful.

The Cora Cora eco-bag and flip-flops are yours to keep. I carried the bag everywhere—to the pool, beach, restaurants—and still use it back home. The gradient colors are gorgeous. Amenities include single-use items, while hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash come in full-sized bottles. The shampoo and conditioner left my hair a bit stiff, so I used products I’d brought from home.

The bathroom has an open wall allowing you to see the lagoon from the bathtub. A net hammock between the tub and the view partially obstructs it, but it adds character. Since both the bathroom and terrace have net hammocks, we never used the bathroom one—except for drying swimsuits!

Many Maldives resorts have spacious rooms even at base level, but Cora Cora’s base rooms are smaller than average. I worried it might feel cramped, but while not generously spacious, it wasn’t uncomfortably small either—plenty of room for three. The wide-open outdoor view prevents any feeling of confinement. Beach villas offer more space since the sandy area in front becomes part of your room, but beach villas can have bugs and more mosquitoes. If I return to Cora Cora, I’d choose a lagoon villa again!

Cora Cora Maldives All-Inclusive Dining: Complete Restaurant Guide

Cora Cora has four restaurants and one café: Tazaa (main restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and occasional dinner buffets), Aquapazza (Italian, lunch and dinner), Teien (Japanese, dinner only), Ginger Moon (Asian, dinner only), and My Coffee (coffee and gelato).

Tazaa: Main Restaurant

Breakfast at Cora Cora is only available at Tazaa. The buffet includes various breads, Indian-style hot foods, cereals, salads, fruits, sausages, a self-serve noodle station, and a cooking station for eggs, crepes, and pancakes. While well-stocked with variety, something felt lacking to me. Despite the many options, not much appealed to me.

My biggest disappointments: no cheese for bread, and the Asian noodle soup smelled amazing but tasted like nothing—a few spoonfuls of chicken stock and salt would’ve fixed it! I tried every day to find a satisfying breakfast combination but never succeeded. Most buffet items stay the same with rotating hot dishes. My husband loved the chili con carne, hummus with pita bread, paratha, and beef stroganoff—often overeating. I preferred the cooking station’s eggs and pancakes. Our picky son mainly ate bread with strawberry jam or eggs Benedict.

While breakfast is buffet-style, lunch operates à la carte. We ordered salad, burger, calamari, and pork ribs, with fish and basmati rice for our son. Maybe because he was active and hungry, he ate well—scooping up rice enthusiastically, then announcing “Mmm, chicken is delicious!” while eating fish.

Everything we ordered was delicious. The burger had been praised in blogs I’d researched, and it delivered. The calamari was tender and tasty, and the ribs were reliable as always—we cleaned our plates.

Cora Cora’s desserts are generally delicious but quite sweet. Koreans often praise desserts as “not too sweet,” preferring moderate sweetness over intense sugar bombs. Cora Cora’s desserts lean toward intensely sweet, blood-sugar-spiking territory. Delicious, but too sweet for me to finish.

Tazaa hosts themed dinner buffets on specific days. During my visit, Thursday featured Spice Route Night. Perhaps due to Maldives’ proximity to India (or theories that indigenous Maldivians descended from Indians), the menu heavily featured curries and spice-based dishes. Being exhausted from arrival killed my appetite that first night, so I didn’t eat much, but my husband enjoyed the variety of meats served with pita bread and paratha.

Sunday featured Fisherman’s Catch BBQ, a seafood-focused buffet. Since Teien and Ginger Moon were closed that night, it seemed like every resort guest gathered there. The menu included sushi (also available at Teien), shrimp, crab, lobster, and various grilled shellfish. I loved the grilled lobster best and kept going back for more—perfectly prepared for easy eating. My husband, who dislikes seafood and prefers meat, didn’t have as many options, but I was thoroughly satisfied.

Tazaa handles breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and while breakfast was underwhelming, lunch items were quite good, and the dinner buffets were solid. They had live performances during dinner with talented singers creating great atmosphere.

One downside: while mosquitoes were barely noticeable at the lagoon villa, Tazaa was mosquito central. My son, who’s allergic to mosquito bites, suffered despite mosquito spray—apparently Maldivian mosquitoes are different. Also, the water glasses seemed to have a slight odor, possibly from poorly maintained drying towels.

If you stay at Cora Cora, you’ll eat at Tazaa most often. For seafood lovers, I highly recommend Fisherman’s Catch BBQ.

Aquapazza: Italian Restaurant

Besides Tazaa, Aquapazza serves lunch. This Italian restaurant became my favorite at Cora Cora. I only had lunch here twice and never tried dinner—my biggest regret of the trip.

Over two lunches, I ordered: salad, spaghetti carbonara, pepperoni pizza, tenderloin steak one day; salad, spaghetti ai frutti di mare, chorizo risotto, and tenderloin steak another day.

Everything was above average. The carbonara was slightly under-seasoned—my only minor complaint. On our last day, eating lunch here, I deeply regretted not trying dinner. The desserts were excellent too—tiramisu paired with their signature cocktail “Bitter Lies” was fantastic.

A funny thing happened both times we ate at Aquapazza. After morning swimming, we’d come for lunch, and our exhausted son would start dozing around the time bread arrived, then fall asleep sitting up—both visits! Initially panicked (we’d just ordered! What do we do? There’s nowhere to lay him down!), we caught a staff member’s attention. They pushed two chairs together and laid out towels to create an instant mini-bed. I was so grateful.

Our son napped beside us throughout lunch, giving us—miraculously—the only peaceful meal of our entire Maldives trip including flights and airport lounges. Perhaps that’s why Aquapazza remains my most satisfying Cora Cora dining experience.

Teien: Japanese Restaurant

Teien is the Japanese restaurant connected to Tazaa’s interior. Interestingly, many Maldives resorts have Japanese restaurants. Is Japanese food really that globally popular?

Japanese cuisine is quite common in Korea, and having traveled to Japan multiple times (Korea and Japan are close), I know that Western interpretations of Japanese food differ significantly from authentic versions—like teriyaki sauce in teppanyaki or non-seafood sushi rolls. I was curious about Maldivian Japanese food… but honestly, Teien was my least favorite of the four restaurants.

The menu includes miso soup, ramen, tempura udon, meat soba, various skewers, sushi, sashimi, and rolls. We ordered broadly, skipping only skewers and rolls, with sake to pair.

The appetizers—seaweed salad and edamame—were quite good. The tangy seaweed salad awakened my appetite. Unfortunately, what followed disappointed. The soba and udon shared identical broth—disappointing—and the udon noodles weren’t actually udon noodles, which was the saddest part. Udon is one of my son’s comfort foods; I’d planned to feed him udon for dinner, but it wasn’t the udon he knows. He doesn’t like thin noodles, so he refused it. Fortunately, there was avocado—another favorite—so he had a decent meal with avocado sushi.

For the main event—sushi and sashimi—the most important factor is freshness and texture. Fish from cold waters have firm, chewy flesh, while warm-water fish tend to be soft. Obviously, Maldivian sushi can’t match the real thing. Even within Japan, Hokkaido sushi quality far exceeds Okinawa’s due to water temperature differences. Knowing Maldivian waters are warm, I expected softer textures. Perhaps my lowered expectations helped—it was better than anticipated. For the Maldives, not bad.

Then came the skewers. I figured grilling skewered meat would be simpler than sushi and ordered some… Unfortunately, the meat was so tough and salty it was hard to eat. Even the mushrooms were tough—strange. The Maldives being predominantly Muslim means pork isn’t commonly consumed, which might explain why the pork skewer was especially tough. We couldn’t finish the skewers, and by then our son was sleepy, so we got chicken karaage to-go… It was so salty (pickled in salt?) that we couldn’t eat it either.

Teien might satisfy those accustomed to Westernized Japanese food, but for anyone familiar with authentic Japanese cuisine, it’s hard to recommend. Though skewer quality varies greatly depending on who’s cooking—your mileage may vary.

Ginger Moon: Asian Restaurant

Ginger Moon is an Asian dining restaurant, like Teien operating only for dinner. It features an open kitchen where I could see the head chef directing assistants—the main chef appeared to be Thai. The menu focuses primarily on Thai food with Indonesian and Malaysian options. There were also Korean dishes, but reviews warned the taste differs significantly from authentic Korean food, so I trusted the chef and ordered Thai dishes.

We ordered Cumi Cumi Bakar, Labb Tuna, Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong, and Mango Sticky Rice. The Labb Tuna featured fresh tuna (not unusual) with an interesting mint note—fine for me but not great for my husband who can’t handle fishy flavors. Cumi Cumi Bakar (grilled squid) was savory and tender, perfect with beer. The tom yum goong and pad thai tasted nearly identical to what I’d had in Bangkok—delicious. The menu also had Som Tam, Laksa, and Satay that I love, but I was too full to try them. If I return to Cora Cora, I’d probably skip Teien and visit Ginger Moon and Aquapazza more often.

My personal restaurant ranking: Aquapazza = Ginger Moon > Tazaa > Teien. Though I didn’t try Aquapazza dinner, lunch was satisfying enough that dinner should be good too. If you enjoyed food in Bangkok or Bali, definitely visit Ginger Moon. And Tazaa’s Fisherman’s Catch BBQ is highly recommended.

My Coffee: Café Review

My Coffee café sits right next to the lobby, operating from morning until night. We’d stop by for coffee throughout the day, or fill our room’s tumbler before heading back after breakfast. Beyond coffee, they offer various drinks—and best of all, multiple flavors of gelato and sorbet.

Having ice cream available anytime—what child wouldn’t love that? My son visited daily. Day one: strawberry. Day two: stracciatella—he loved it so much he ordered it exclusively until our last day. Many resorts offer dessert ice cream after meals, but few have cafés serving ice cream all day. My Coffee was probably our most-visited spot at Cora Cora.

The True Meaning of “Maldives All Inclusive”

Most Maldives all inclusive plans limit restaurant orders to 1 appetizer, 1 main, and 1 dessert per person per meal. Cora Cora has no such limits—order whatever you want. Coffee and ice cream are available anytime. The café doesn’t even check room numbers. I absolutely loved this system, and it contributed enormously to our relaxing Maldives vacation.

After experiencing true all-inclusive at Cora Cora, if I ever research Maldives resorts again, I’ll either return here or only consider resorts with similar “Unlimited AI” plans (even that term sounds a bit funny, doesn’t it?).

Swimming Pools: Sound Pool & Main Pool Construction

An unexpected variable during our visit was pool construction. About a month before departure, I learned that both pools would undergo sequential renovation, with the main pool under construction during our stay. The main pool is 1.5-2m deep for adults, while the sound pool is about 1-1.2m—a shallow pool. Since one had to be under construction, having the shallower pool available worked better for playing with our son.

The two pools are connected, and the Sound Pool is on the smaller side. But with few swimmers during our visit, it was pleasant enough for playing with a child. The pool floor tiles have a holographic coating that sparkles like jewels in the sunlight—beautiful. However, the Sound Pool’s tiles were quite cracked, looking potentially dangerous.

Years ago, a Korean guest at another Maldives resort was cut badly by broken pool tiles, and that story circulated in Korean communities for years—the pool clearly needed renovation. The cabana cushions around the Sound Pool also looked unwashed for quite some time. I hoped these would be replaced during the renovation.

On our departure day, walking to Tazaa for breakfast, I noticed the main pool’s tile replacement was complete with some water already in it. Seeing it uncovered for the first time, it was much larger and deeper than the Sound Pool—looked fun. My husband joked, “Guess we need to come back to use that pool.” I genuinely want to return!

Spending time at the pool, ordering cocktails or beer from adjacent Aquapazza, enjoying the sparkling water during the day and colorful sunset reflections in the evening—that’s a perfect vacation.

House Reef Snorkeling Experience

On the opposite side from our lagoon villa sit the beach villas, with the best house reef at the very end. The dark patches visible within the clear lagoon are coral areas where you can see diverse fish. Since my son desperately wanted to play in the ocean, we brought him in—but the current was stronger than expected for a 3-year-old, and he got scared. After that, he only played in the pool.

I’d looked forward to snorkeling in the Maldives, so I specifically chose a resort balancing lagoon beauty with underwater environment. I’d heard Cora Cora Maldives’s snorkeling point was decent and had high expectations. The current made visibility less than crystal clear, and honestly, the underwater environment wasn’t exceptionally remarkable.

Coral bleaching was evident, and the colorful coral reef I’d hoped for wasn’t there. Still, I saw diverse, colorful fish: Surgeon fish, Snapper, Parrot fish, Trigger fish, Jack fish, Damsel, Rabbit fish, Butterfly fish, Wrasse and more. However, I didn’t spot the baby sharks, rays, or turtles supposedly common at Maldives resorts. I’d hoped to see sharks and rays swimming into the lagoon or beach area—that was somewhat disappointing.

The house reef length felt moderately long—one round trip took about an hour. That single hour of snorkeling gave me a perfect sunburn on my back. I knew the Maldivian sun was intense and brought well-researched famous sunscreen, but even that couldn’t protect me for one hour. The inflammation from the sunburn caused severe shoulder pain. Thankfully, I’d brought sunburn medication and aloe soothing gel purchased in Bali, which helped. For Maldives trips: bring good sunscreen!

Excursions: Snorkeling Extravaganza & Sunset Cruise

When I first decided on the Maldives, I imagined incredible underwater environments and couldn’t wait to snorkel. But resorts famous for great underwater environments often had unattractive lagoons, kids clubs starting at age 4, disappointing restaurants, or prices too high. I eventually learned that resorts with both great underwater environments and beautiful lagoons are rare, so I decided to book snorkeling excursions.

Cora Cora Maldives offers various excursions. I wanted to try Manta Quest, Turtle Quest, Snorkeling Extra Vaganza, and Snorkeling Coral Garden. Manta Quest runs only Tuesdays—we checked out Monday, so impossible. Turtle Quest and Coral Tour had no available spots—I should have checked immediately at check-in! The only available excursion during our stay was Extra Vaganza, which visits two snorkeling spots. Not my first choice, but I wanted to snorkel, so I booked it. We sent our son to the kids club and joined the tour.

I’d recently earned my AIDA Level 2 freediving certification and brought long fins, but for safety reasons, life jackets were mandatory—no diving allowed, just snorkeling. Both spots had strong currents but weren’t too deep, with abundant coral and diverse fish—plenty to see. I’d hoped for more than just fish—sharks, rays, turtles—but didn’t spot any. Still, resort excursions have limited participants (guests only), making for a comfortable snorkeling environment.

Another excursion was the Sunset Cruise—departing an hour before sunset for a boat tour around nearby waters. This complimentary excursion is offered to all guests staying 4+ nights.

The lower deck was nearly full. When the boat anchored, passengers could go upstairs to enjoy the view with complimentary sparkling wine. Most people headed up, so our family stayed comfortably on the lower deck with our young son. The captain kindly showed our son the control room—a special experience. The sunset itself was partially blocked by large clouds—somewhat disappointing—but spending an hour on a boat enjoying the sea breeze was special enough.

Cora Kids Club: The Highlight of Our Maldives Vacation

The biggest reason I chose Cora Cora Maldives among many candidates was TripAdvisor’s excellent kids club reviews. Traveling to the Maldives for vacation while wanting to do house reef snorkeling and snorkeling tours is impossible with a toddler in tow—parents can’t leave a young child alone. Whether our son could adapt to the kids club would determine our vacation quality. So I researched meticulously before choosing this resort.

My biggest worry: our son had just turned 3, communicating well in Korean but knowing only “Hello,” “Yes,” and “No” in English—nothing else. Could he adapt to an unfamiliar environment without being able to communicate? I’d read reviews of Bali resorts requiring parents to stay if children couldn’t communicate with staff. Would the Maldives be the same?

On his first kids club day, he needed some adjustment time, but ultimately found it satisfying. That night at bedtime, I asked what was most fun that day—”Kids club,” he answered. Would he go again tomorrow? “Yes!” Kids club adaptation: successful.

Cora Kids offers various hourly activities and crafts, plus plenty of toys—though the toys seem more suited to toddlers while activities fit preschool to early elementary ages. Being young, my son mostly played with toys, did sand play in the backyard, or played in the kiddie pool. The kids club pool was perfect depth for him, so I sent him there in his swimsuit from the start. After our house reef snorkeling, we stopped by to check on him—there he was, happily splashing in the water like a fish.

The next day, we sent him to kids club after breakfast and went on the Extra Vaganza snorkeling tour. Returning to the resort, I spotted kids club staff Sadha and Siba walking with our son toward the beach in front of the lobby. He was in his swimsuit, but they wore regular clothes—getting their pants soaked in seawater while playing with him. They didn’t care. Watching them prioritize his fun over their own comfort moved me deeply. If it were me, I’d probably have said “Mommy can’t go in, my pants will get wet.” Seeing them play with him his way, I understood why TripAdvisor highlights Cora Cora’s kids club.

Later, Siba sent us photos taken during his time at kids club. In every single photo, his face beamed with pure happiness. The kids club staff gave us time away from parenting to enjoy our Maldives vacation while giving our son happy memories—I’m deeply grateful to Sadha and Siba.

More to Explore: Museum, Fitness Center & Spa

The lobby houses a small museum about Maldivian history. According to the displays, early Maldivian settlers were likely shipwrecked sailors or fishermen. The indigenous Giraavaru people are believed to be connected to Tamil descendants from India, with some early settlers possibly from the Indus civilization (North India).

Monsoon winds determined travel timing—sailors crossing the Indian Ocean had to stay with Maldivian locals until winds changed. These interactions left behind objects like “Dutch Onions” (a type of glass bottle) and formed today’s diverse Maldivian communities.

Over thousands of years, Indian Ocean trade flourished, bringing outsiders whose interactions created modern Maldivian society. Travelers brought specialized knowledge, creating “cultural fusion” as exotic items were absorbed and transformed into everyday tools.

This historical background of “confluence of cultures”—transformed and transforming over a thousand years—has become today’s Maldives. Fascinating content.

Since Maldives travel typically means going straight from airport to resort and back again, there’s little opportunity to experience local culture. Having this glimpse into Maldivian history and artifacts was wonderful.

Maldivians look remarkably similar to Indians but speak English with completely different accents—the museum content helped explain this curious observation.

Near the beach villas sits an archaeological area with traditional Maldivian houses used until relatively recently, a mosque site, and a traditional “bathhouse” with stagnant water that I suspected was breeding ground for the island’s many mosquitoes. My son has mosquito allergies; despite constantly applying mosquito spray, he (and I) got bitten relentlessly. I grew to resent that bathhouse.

There’s also a watchtower-like structure. I climbed it imagining a Moana-esque panoramic ocean view… but only saw jungle and a distant strip of deep blue Indian Ocean.

The fitness center I peeked into once but never used seemed lightly trafficked. Not huge but adequately equipped. Running on a treadmill facing the lagoon would be nice—the view wasn’t quite that, but the natural lighting was excellent.

The spa I never visited. Being in the Maldives, a spa experience might seem fitting, but I’ve rarely found hotel massages satisfying for the price. We spent our time watching the lagoon and swimming, only exploring the resort’s various spaces on our last day—even these small discoveries became memorable moments.

Checkout & Lagoon Hub: Saying Goodbye to Cora Cora Maldives

Our far-too-short 4-night maldives vacation ended, and departure time arrived. With a 1:15 PM Malé-Singapore flight (SQ431), Aju said we needed the first seaplane. Bags packed by 8 AM for staff pickup, then to the lobby by 8:30. Time to leave already… just sad.

After our last slightly-disappointing Tazaa breakfast and finishing packing, we said goodbye to our lagoon villa 232 and headed to the lobby for checkout.

After checkout, you can write a wish on a ribbon to hang on the tree near the lobby. We wrote hoping for good fortune so we could return to Cora Cora Maldives.

Checkout complete, with time before the seaplane, we used My Coffee (still accessible post-checkout) for one last ice cream with our son, soothing the goodbye blues.

The seaplane dock has a waiting lounge called Lagoon Hub. Over drinks, we said our final goodbye to Aju. When I said it was sad to leave, he suggested staying two weeks next time. I wish I could! I need to work hard and earn more money.

During our stay, I’d posted on Instagram. Coincidentally, my husband’s friend messaged saying he’d be honeymooning at Cora Cora the following week! I mentioned this to Aju, and he ended up as that friend’s butler too. We later heard the friend also had a wonderful time at Cora Cora thanks to Aju’s excellent care.

Soon the seaplane arrived, and departing for Malé Airport ended our time at Cora Cora Maldives. Having one last coffee at Malé Airport, worrying about the long journey home while reflecting on our incredibly happy vacation , I firmly resolved: I must return to the Maldives.

Final Verdict: Is Cora Cora Maldives Worth It?

Our 4 nights at Cora Cora felt far too short—but throughout our stay, we ate without worry or calculation thanks to the all-inclusive system. Butler Aju ensured our comfort throughout. Cora Kids staff Sadha and Siba gave our young son unforgettable happy moments. And every staff member was wonderfully friendly. All these elements combined to show us what Cora Cora’s slogan “It’s Freedom Time!” truly means—it was a wonderful vacation and wedding anniversary.

Some drawbacks exist: occasional cleanliness issues, somewhat disappointing meals. Those seeking luxury or high-end resort service might not find Cora Cora ideal. But for those seeking a comfortable (if not glamorous) family vacation at a Maldives resort, I recommend considering Cora Cora Maldives.

Lastly, I recalled a conversation with the manager at Munduk Moding Plantation in Bali. He’d said Bali has countless resorts, and theirs isn’t particularly exceptional in facilities, plus it’s in a hard-to-reach location—they know it’s difficult for guests to choose them and travel there. So they want every guest who does visit to be as comfortable as possible, with all staff striving toward that goal. Cora Cora Maldives gave me a similar feeling—everyone working to help guests have the perfect vacation.

Since Cora Cora Maldives was my first Maldives resort, I have nothing to compare it to. It may fall short for some travelers. But for me, it was the best Maldives resort and the best anniversary vacation we’ve ever had.

Klook.com

Finding the Perfect Maldives Resort for Us: Welcome to “Maldives University”

In Korea, most people visit the Maldives only once in their lifetime—usually for their honeymoon. This “once in a lifetime” perception means that those who decide on the Maldives for their honeymoon spend considerable time researching to find the perfect resort within their budget. In Korea, we jokingly call this intensive research phase “enrolling in Maldives University.”

I went through the same process. As a family traveler among all the newlywed couples at various travel agencies, I attended consultations and looked at resort recommendations. The prices seemed to fit my budget, but when I searched for reviews, something always felt off. The more resorts I looked at, the more appealing options I discovered, and my standards kept rising while my budget remained fixed. I needed to establish clearer criteria.

My resort requirements:

• 2 adults + 1 child (age 3, free accommodation)
• Maldives all inclusive(food and beverages included)
• Decent food quality with meat options
• Good enough underwater environment for snorkeling
• Minibar refills (alcohol included would be a bonus)
• Kids club accepting 3-year-olds
• Accessible by both speedboat and seaplane (preferring speedboat if all else equal)

With these criteria set, my husband and I narrowed down our final five candidates: Cora Cora Maldives, Robinson Noonu, Anantara Dhigu, Kagi, and Dhigali.

Even after carefully selecting these favorites, each had clear pros and cons. After much deliberation, we chose Cora Cora Maldives. While its room size was the smallest among our candidates, it had no other significant drawbacks. The deciding factor? TripAdvisor reviews raved about its kids club.

When I searched Maldives resorts on TripAdvisor, recurring keywords appeared in the reviews. Only three resorts had “kids club” as a highlighted keyword: Cora Cora Maldives, Robinson Noonu, and Anantara Dhigu. Anantara Dhigu only accepts children from age 4, so that was out. Robinson Noonu also had excellent kids club reviews, but my budget wouldn’t cover an overwater villa there. Cora Cora Maldives offered overwater villas within my budget—decision made!

This process might sound simple, but between visiting multiple travel agencies, researching countless Maldives resorts, and reading reviews, it took nearly two months to make the final choice. Since this was my first Maldives vacation, I could only hope my decision wouldn’t lead to regret.

The Maldives: Far, Far Away

The day of our 5th anniversary trip finally arrived. Since COVID, direct flights from Korea to the Maldives no longer exist, so a layover is mandatory. I chose to transit through Singapore, boarding Singapore Airlines SQ605, departing from Incheon Airport at midnight. I had hoped for some empty seats nearby so we could stretch out, but the flight was completely full.

We’d traveled several times since our son was born, but overnight flights had been rare. I was worried, but our little one found a comfortable position and slept soundly throughout the six-hour flight. We landed at Singapore Changi Airport at 5 AM—an ungodly hour.

With a 5-hour layover before our Malé connection, I had hoped to explore Jewel Changi. But at 5 AM, absolutely nothing was open. Even Jewel’s signature waterfall wasn’t running. We gave up on sightseeing and spent our time at the SATS Lounge in Terminal 2.

A 5-hour layover with a toddler is quite long. Without the lounge, surviving dawn hours at the airport would have been brutal. We managed by letting him watch cartoons on a tablet—a rare treat we don’t usually allow. I attempted the self-serve laksa at the lounge, though nothing compares to the one I had at Lau Pa Sat years ago. I’ve heard Terminal 3’s SATS Lounge is better, so if you have a long layover like we did, consider heading there instead.

After what felt like an eternity, we boarded the 10 AM Singapore-Malé flight (SQ432). The crowd was incredibly diverse—people from all over the world. Naturally, also completely full. The four-hour flight to Malé passed with our son sleeping again, exhausted from his 5 AM wake-up. I wished I could lie down too.

Six hours of flying, four more hours of flying, plus five hours of layover waiting. And we still hadn’t reached Malé. My exhaustion was accumulating, and landing at Malé Airport wasn’t even the end.

Stepping outside the airport, countless people held signs with resort names. That’s when it hit me—this really is the land of resorts. I quickly spotted the Cora Cora staff among them. After a luggage weight check (seaplanes have strict limits), everything was handled by the staff. This is where Maldives resort service truly begins.

Seaplanes don’t depart on a fixed schedule like taxis, so we waited in a lounge at the seaplane terminal. A short 5-minute bus ride took us there, and stepping outside, I was greeted by the Maldives sea. Usually, harbor waters are murky everywhere, but here—even at the harbor—the water was stunningly beautiful.

The lounge offered drinks and pastries. Our son, finally alert after sleeping through both flights, grabbed a muffin and croissant. I was too exhausted to care about food—I just wanted to board the seaplane, get to the resort, and collapse.

I’d heard that seaplane waits could stretch to 1-2 hours if they needed more passengers, but we were lucky. Many guests were heading to Cora Cora, so we departed after only about 10 minutes. The seaplane was exactly as expected: tiny, no air conditioning, uncomfortably hot, and loud enough to require the earplugs they handed out.

The flight from Malé to Cora Cora took about 50 minutes. Since every passenger was going to Cora Cora, we didn’t need to stop at other resorts. Watching the various islands and resorts from above made time pass surprisingly quickly.

Final tally to reach Cora Cora Maldives:

When you arrive at the resort, staff greet you with welcome necklaces and celebratory drum beats. I’d anticipated this moment would feel magical, but in reality, I just wanted to check in and lie down immediately. The journey to a Maldives resort is truly long and grueling. The silver lining? Our son handled this marathon without major complaints.

Living in Singapore would mean reaching the Maldives in just 4 hours without layovers. Singapore’s proximity to Bali, Bangkok, and other Southeast Asian destinations suddenly seemed incredibly valuable.

Stepping off the seaplane, we met Aju, our butler. Walking toward the lobby, my first impression of Cora Cora was surprisingly casual. From the logo and fonts to the building colors and decorations, every detail reflected the resort’s vibe. The “It’s Freedom Time” slogan, the bright colors, and the welcoming logo all conveyed a friendly, approachable atmosphere.

During check-in, Aju shared the WhatsApp contact for any needs and introduced the Cora Cora app for reservations. After a brief resort tour, we headed to our water villa.

Aju mentioned a restaurant was still open if we wanted lunch. No, no… just get me to the room! Our villa was number 232, decorated with a painting of a child on a swing. Each room has unique artwork. Initially, I thought the paintings looked a bit tacky and that removing them would make the space cleaner. But they grew on me. I hadn’t thought much of it, but my 3-year-old used that painting to identify our room.

After Aju’s room orientation, I wanted to film one of those room tour videos everyone makes at Maldives resorts. But the moment we entered, our son started exploring everywhere, knocked over the welcome snack box, moved cushions around, and carried the trash can to different spots while I was picking up snacks. I gave up on filming immediately. This is what traveling with a child means.

Our son had slept through the flights, so while I was finally feeling human again, he was fully charged and demanding swimming and sand play. Summoning my remaining energy, I played with him at the pool. Aju had reserved dinner at the main restaurant Taaza for Spice Route Night—apparently a Thursday buffet. But I was too exhausted to have an appetite, so our first dinner in the Maldives was modest. If you’re completely drained on arrival day, skip the buffet and opt for à la carte.

That first day was consumed by travel, and I collapsed from complete energy depletion.

This Is What “True maldives all inclusive” Means: Eat Whatever You Want!

After a deep sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed and could finally enjoy Cora Cora properly from day two. The daily rhythm: wake up, have breakfast, swim, have lunch, sip coffee while watching the sea, stroll around the island or join resort excursions, then dinner—and the day is basically over. The most repetitive activity during a resort stay is probably eating.

We chose all-inclusive because we have a child, because my husband and I both love eating and drinking, and because we didn’t want to worry about costs in expensive Maldives. If you research Maldives resorts, you’ll find many offer all-inclusive packages, but typically these limit you to one appetizer, one main, and one dessert per person per meal, with extra charges for certain menu items.

That’s why some resorts like Cora Cora offer “Unlimited All-Inclusive.” Since all guests automatically receive all-inclusive, there’s no need to track whether your plan includes lunch, dinner, or alcohol. Just go to any restaurant at mealtime and order whatever you want, with no limits on dishes. This felt like “true all-inclusive” to me.

People generally eat similar amounts anyway, so unlimited menus don’t differ dramatically from limited ones in practice. But psychologically? Huge difference. Some resorts charge extra for specific items—understandable for something like teppanyaki, but it makes you wonder why they call it “all-inclusive” at all.

maldives all inclusive resorts I researched:

At Cora Cora, breakfast is a buffet at the main restaurant. Lunch is available at two restaurants. Dinner options include three restaurants plus occasional buffets at the main restaurant.

Before the trip, I wondered if I’d get tired of eating at the same resort restaurants every meal. But staying only 4 nights meant I could only try each dinner venue once (except the main restaurant). I wished I’d stayed longer to revisit my favorites.

Honestly, nothing at the breakfast buffet particularly impressed me. Breakfast was the most disappointing meal of the trip. But eating a leisurely morning meal while listening to waves—how long had it been? The morning sun wasn’t harsh, and without air conditioning, it wasn’t even hot (though the mosquitoes were absolutely relentless). It finally felt like a real vacation.

For lunch, there’s the main restaurant with diverse options and the Italian restaurant Aquapazza. Both were good, but I personally preferred Aquapazza. Taaza’s burger and calamari were quite tasty. Aquapazza’s steak was solid, and while pasta varied by dish, the risotto was delicious overall. The tiramisu was especially good—paired perfectly with Cora Cora’s signature cocktail “Bitter Sweet.”

Dinner options included Aquapazza, Ginger Moon (Thai-focused Asian cuisine), Teien (Japanese), and occasional buffets at the main restaurant. I skipped Aquapazza for dinner assuming it’d be similar to lunch, but later learned the dinner menu differs—a regret.

Ginger Moon offers Korean dishes too, but reviews warned the taste differs significantly from authentic Korean food, so I stuck to Thai dishes like tom yum and pad thai. Surprisingly exceeded expectations. If I had to pick the restaurant closest to authentic local cuisine, it’d probably be Ginger Moon.

My biggest disappointment was Teien. Being Korean, I eat Japanese food frequently since Korea and Japan are close and Japanese cuisine is common in Korea. The gap from authentic taste was too wide. I understood that sashimi texture would differ in tropical climates, but I expected at least the grilled skewers to be decent. They weren’t. The karaage was so unbearably salty it was almost inedible. If I return to Cora Cora, I probably won’t visit Teien again.

I also tried Spice Route Night buffet (Maldivian cuisine focus) and Fisherman’s Catch BBQ buffet (seafood). Spice Route Night wasn’t my style, but my husband who loves Indian food enjoyed it. Fisherman’s Catch was the opposite—I loved the grilled lobster, but my husband has a shellfish allergy and prefers meat over seafood, so it was less ideal for him.

During our four days, I’d wake up and eat, swim and eat, walk around and eat. The café next to the lobby served coffee and ice cream anytime, and we visited every single day without exception.

On typical vacations, even at resorts, you go sightseeing, research what to eat, wonder about local specialties and popular dishes, check maps, and deliberate constantly. In the Maldives, you can’t leave the resort, so you simply eat what’s available. I thought this would be a drawback, but actually, not having to think allowed me to focus entirely on relaxation. This style of vacation might be uniquely Maldivian. What I expected to be boring turned out immensely satisfying—and being able to freely order any menu item without restrictions? This must be paradise.

I Caught the “Maldives Ocean Is on Another Level” Disease

When I first started planning the Maldives trip, I naively thought: the lagoon probably looks the same as on screens, but the house reef snorkeling must reveal incredibly colorful underwater worlds, right? So I prioritized resorts with good underwater environments.

Later, I learned that resorts famous for great underwater environments actually look similar to Korea’s East Sea—not the tropical paradise I imagined. I adjusted my criteria to resorts with a good balance of both lagoon beauty and underwater life.

Upon arriving and seeing the lagoon in person… it was far more beautiful than I’d imagined. Cora Cora isn’t even famous for its lagoon, yet the water color was mesmerizing. Gradually, I fell completely under its spell.

My favorite part of each day was sitting on the sofa in front of the lobby, gazing at the glass-like emerald sea. Sitting in cool shade, thinking about nothing, watching the ocean—all worries disappeared, and my mind became as clear as the Maldivian water. If even a resort not known for its lagoon could affect me this way, what must the famous lagoon resorts look like? I became incredibly curious.

But is watching the sea all there is to do in the Maldives? Absolutely not. I found the snorkeling quite satisfying too. Of course, if you simply want to see diverse marine life and vibrant corals, there are better destinations worldwide. Underwater conditions vary by resort, but Cora Cora’s house reef didn’t show me the colorful corals I’d hoped for—though the fish variety was impressive.

The snorkeling excursion, however, delivered exactly what I wanted: vibrant corals and abundant fish. Totally satisfying. Some resorts even have baby sharks and eagle rays swimming near the beach, turtles visible from the house reef, or dolphins playing just offshore.

Beyond the house reef, you can enter the water directly from your room, but those crystal-clear waters appear clear because of white dead coral on the bottom. You won’t see many fish, and there’s honestly not much to look at underwater.

Since Maldives vacations mostly mean staying within the resort, you’ll naturally spend time at the pool too. One disappointment: during my visit, the main pool was under construction, so only the shallow sub-pool was available. But lying in a cabana, watching sunlight sparkle on the tiles, or seeing the sunset reflected in the pool—any view brought peace of mind.

And this is all-inclusive, remember? Aquapazza, attached to the pool, serves drinks and cocktails you can take with you. Being Korean, I naturally ordered a mojito first. A famous line from the Korean movie “Inside Men”—”A mojito in Maldives, please”—by actor Lee Byung-hun made it almost mandatory for Koreans to take mojito photos in the Maldives. I don’t usually love sweet cocktails, but the sweet, minty refreshment suited the Maldives atmosphere perfectly.

Throughout our stay, water was ever-present: morning swims in the ocean or pool, afternoon lagoon-gazing, pre-dinner sunset watching. I’d thought such a monotonous vacation wouldn’t suit me. But the Maldives’ isolated environment, allowing complete focus on the water’s changing colors throughout the day, proved genuinely valuable.

Since returning, I’ve been researching our next destination, but now every beach I see just makes me think: “I want to go back to the Maldives.” People say travelers catch “Maldives ocean is on another level” disease after visiting. I guess I caught it too.

Maldives with a Child is An Excellent Decision – Happy Kid, Happy Parents.

The main reason I chose Cora Cora was TripAdvisor’s highlighting of the kids club. If our son couldn’t adapt to it, we wouldn’t be able to do snorkeling excursions or even house reef snorkeling—parents can’t exactly leave a toddler alone. His kids club adaptation was my critical mission.

At just over 3 years old, our son communicates reasonably well in Korean but knows only “Hello,” “Yes,” and “No” in English—nothing else. I worried most about whether he could adapt to an unfamiliar environment without being able to communicate. We decided to stay nearby during his first kids club visit.

About 30 minutes later, the kids club called saying he was crying. He’d bumped into something while playing and had been crying for mom and dad ever since. My heart sank—was one day too soon? Should we give up? But he seemed to like the space itself and didn’t want to leave. A staff member suggested trying the outdoor play area.

The moment he saw the sand play area, he became transfixed. Kids club adaptation attempt #2 began. The sand was incredibly effective. When we returned an hour later, he was still playing in that exact spot.

That night before bed, I asked what was the most fun that day. “Kids club,” he answered. Would he go again tomorrow? “Yes!” Adaptation: successful.

The next morning after breakfast, I asked if he wanted to go to the kids club. An eager yes. We sent him in his swimsuit, and my husband and I finally got to snorkel at the house reef. One round trip took about an hour. Passing by the kids club on our way back, we saw our son playing joyfully in the kiddie pool with staff members Sadha and Siba, like a fish in water. In just two visits, he’d completely adapted.

This let us confidently book a snorkeling excursion. The following day, we sent him to the kids club right after breakfast in his swimsuit. He walked in without any resistance, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

After the Extra Vaganza snorkeling tour, I hurried back worrying something might have happened. I spotted him walking outside with Sadha and Siba. Where were they going? They’d taken him to the beach in front of the lobby for water play. He was in his swimsuit, but they were in regular clothes—their pants getting soaked by seawater. They didn’t care. Watching them prioritize his enjoyment over their own comfort moved me deeply.

After checkout, the kids club shared photos they’d taken of our son during his time there. Every single photo showed him beaming with pure happiness.

Was the kids club his only source of joy? Not at all. When we rode the buggy between restaurants, he loved sitting in the front seat next to the driver. The restaurant staff were all so friendly that even our usually shy son started initiating high-fives and playing around with them, treating them like favorite uncles.

Following the barefoot staff, he’d kick off his shoes the moment we reached the lobby. The soft sand everywhere became his favorite toy. The unlimited ice cream available anytime. Without question, our son enjoyed Cora Cora the most out of our entire family.

Other destinations require leaving the resort for sightseeing, sitting in strollers, or enduring boring shopping trips. The Maldives’ no-leaving-the-resort structure turned out to be absolutely perfect for our toddler. Seeing him this happy naturally made me happy too.

Conclusion: Our Maldives vacation was truly the best ever.

The Maldives is a perfect place for vacation. And Cora Cora was the most perfect vacation my husband, our son, and I have ever experienced.

What did we do? Wake up, eat, swim, eat, watch the sea, drink coffee, rest, eat… not much else. Sounds boring, right? With 24 hours in a day, what do you do with all that time?

The surprising truth: despite such a simple schedule, I was incredibly busy. So busy that I—someone who normally stays up until 1 AM—passed out exhausted by 10 PM every night.

What made this vacation at Cora Cora especially happy? Ordering any menu item without restrictions. With a child, unexpected situations arise constantly—but even if he fell asleep, we could get takeout and eat in our room. The friendly atmosphere (rather than ultra-luxurious) suited our family trip perfectly. Our butler Aju helped make our vacation special. And the kids club staff whom our son adored—Sadha and Siba.

The journey from Korea to the Maldives required enormous time and was exhausting. But after returning, I finally understood why people go to the Maldives. “I want to go back to the Maldives” became my constant refrain. Every single element was satisfying.

During our visit, the main pool was under construction, leaving only one pool usable. My husband joked, “Guess we’ll have to come back to use that pool.”

If you’re planning a Maldives trip with excessive expectations of luxury, ultra-premium service, or high-end hotel experiences, Cora Cora might not be the right fit.

Since Cora Cora was my first Maldives resort, I can’t objectively compare it to others. But for those seeking a peaceful, friendly resort atmosphere—a vacation that truly feels like vacation—especially families with young children, I wholeheartedly recommend Cora Cora Maldives.

It’s Freedom Time!

Best Hawker Centers for Lunch (Local Favorites with Great Value)

I personally recommend having lunch at hawker centers frequented by locals, where you can get excellent value meals compared to Singapore’s expensive restaurant prices. Here are my top lunch recommendations:

Best Hawker Centers for Dinner (Relaxed Evening Atmosphere)

Some hawker centers operate mainly during the day with stalls closing in the evening, others become more vibrant in the evening with increased crowds, and some operate 24 hours. Here are recommendations for more relaxed dinner atmospheres with special evening menus:

• Newton Food Centre: One of the most famous hawker centers among tourists, featured in the movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians’. Known for seafood dishes, though some stalls may overcharge tourists, so be cautious. Prices are slightly higher than other hawker centers.
• Zion Riverside Food Centre: Located alongside a canal offering quiet outdoor dining with cool river breezes – preferred by locals.
• Old Airport Road Food Centre: One of Singapore’s largest and oldest hawker centers, popular with locals featuring traditional Singaporean home-style cooking and Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded stalls.
• Seah Im Food Centre: Near HarbourFront Station and Sentosa Island, popular with commuting locals and Sentosa visitors. Many stalls operate until late hours.

Night Market Atmosphere Hawker Centers (Vibrant Evening Vibes)

Essential Hawker Center Tips

Payment: While more hawker centers now accept card payments, many still operate cash-only, so bring cash. QR code payments are also available.

Securing Tables: Before ordering food, reserve your table by placing tissues, water bottles, umbrellas, or other personal items on the table.

Finding the Best Food: Stalls with locals queuing are almost guaranteed to be excellent. Each hawker center has different famous stalls and signature dishes, so observe which stalls are most popular.

Bring Supplies: Tables don’t provide napkins or tissues, so bring wet wipes or tissues. This is especially important for messy foods like chili crab that require hands-on eating.

Singapore hawker centers offer the perfect solution for experiencing authentic local cuisine without breaking your travel budget. From affordable 3-6 SGD meals to UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage, these food courts provide insight into Singapore’s multicultural society while satisfying your taste buds. Whether you’re looking for a quick local lunch or a memorable dinner experience, hawker centers deliver authentic flavors, cultural immersion, and unbeatable value that make them essential stops on any Singapore itinerary.

Klook.com

Singapore Heritage Architecture Recommendations

• Raffles Hotel: Colonial Architecture (British Colonial) + Renaissance Revival
  • Icon of Singapore’s classic luxury
  • A representative colonial-style hotel opened in 1887
  • The birthplace of the famous Singapore Sling cocktail
• The Fullerton Hotel: Neoclassical
  • Heritage luxury where history meets stunning night views
  • Former Central Post Office building constructed in 1928
  • Stroll along the river to enjoy views of the Merlion and hotel sands singapore
• National Gallery: Neoclassical + Art Deco Elements
  • Southeast Asia’s largest contemporary art museum
  • Art museum converted from the former Parliament House and Supreme Court buildings
  • Historic site where Lee Kuan Yew declared independence in 1965
  • Experience Asian art exhibitions + admire historic architectural details including dome ceilings and marble floors with classic charm
• Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall: Renaissance Revival
  • Performance arts venue + iconic clock tower landmark
  • Used as a hospital and military headquarters during World War II
• St. Andrew’s Cathedral: Neo-Gothic Revival
  • Singapore’s largest Anglican cathedral
• Boat Quay: 19th Century Commercial Colonial Style
  • Former commercial port and trading hub
  • British-style warehouses + colonial shophouse buildings
  • Renovated into restaurants, pubs, and riverside nightscape hotspots
• CHIJMES: Neo-Gothic Revival
  • 19th-century French convent building in Gothic style
  • Now a beautiful dining and bar complex
  • Variety of atmospheric French and Italian restaurants; outdoor dining tables under ambient lighting highly recommended

Raffles Singapore Breakfast(Tiffin Room) Review

Raffles is a representative colonial-style hotel that opened in 1877 during the British colonial period. It’s Singapore’s oldest hotel and one of the few remaining 19th-century hotels in the East. This iconic luxury hotel has hosted countless world-renowned figures, from Queen Elizabeth to Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplin, Rudyard Kipling, and Somerset Maugham. Somerset Maugham, in particular, extensively reflected his experiences staying at Raffles in his literary works.

As a symbolic architectural landmark where colonial-era luxury, literature, and politics coexisted, Raffles was one of the places I absolutely had to visit during my Singapore trip.

Since Raffles is a luxury hotel with extremely high nightly rates, I couldn’t afford to stay there. Instead, I decided to experience breakfast at the Tiffin Room and try a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar.

Since I was staying at the Fairmont Singapore, located right across from Raffles, it was just a 5-minute walk away. I would have loved to see Raffles in the early morning darkness, but by the time I arrived, it was already bright daylight. I reached the Tiffin Room around 7:30 AM, and many people were already enjoying their breakfast.

Since Singapore has high humidity year-round, we sat indoors. However, after seeing the absolutely beautiful courtyard through the window, I deeply regretted not eating outside!

Although I had seen photos beforehand, Raffles showed no signs of being an old hotel, thanks to major renovations in 1989 and 2017. The colonial architectural style was beautifully preserved. The Tiffin Room, where we had breakfast, was small in scale but exuded luxury in every detail of its interior design.

Breakfast Setup and Menu Options

Each table came pre-set with Alain Milliat jams in various flavors, honey, and even premium ketchup in small bottles—all the sauces, jams, and condiments needed for the meal. While I didn’t try the premium ketchup (since there were no accompanying dishes), I was curious about what makes premium ketchup different!

Raffles’ breakfast buffet features appetizers, salads, fruits, and desserts, while main dishes are ordered à la carte with no quantity restrictions—you can order as much as you want.

Signature breakfast items include:

• Various fresh-pressed juices, coffee, and tea
• Omelettes and pancakes (signature dishes)
• Egg Benedict, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, boiled eggs
• Asian options: Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng, Singapore Laksa, dim sum selection, kaya toast, congee, vegetable dal curry, vegetable rice noodles

Raffles Long Bar Singapore Sling Review

Since the Long Bar is still a bar, I was concerned about visiting with a child and potential dress code requirements. However, research confirmed that children are welcome and there’s no dress code. I saw many grandfathers in Hawaiian shirts, and shorts were perfectly acceptable.

We were seated immediately when the bar opened and ordered two Singapore Slings for my husband and me. While there weren’t suitable drinks for our child, since we weren’t planning a long stay, I gave him peanuts from the table instead.

The Long Bar provides complimentary peanuts at every table to accompany cocktails. If you’ve ever researched Raffles Singapore’s Long Bar, you’ll know about their famous tradition of throwing peanut shells directly on the floor.

In the early 20th century colonial era, Southeast Asian plantation owners who frequented such bars would eat complimentary peanuts and casually discard shells on the floor—this was the natural scene. The Long Bar faithfully recreates this unique tradition. This peanut shell-throwing custom isn’t just a gimmick but a historical recreation of colonial-era habits!

The discarded peanut shells become part of the atmosphere, naturally harmonizing with the Long Bar’s plantation-style interior and creating a relaxed, casual ambiance. While bars typically require dress codes and formal table manners, Raffles Long Bar maintains this tradition to convey the sentiment of “freely enjoy your time.” This naturally explains the absence of strict dress code regulations.

The Long Bar represents “the only legal space in Singapore where you can throw something in a public place”—quite unique in Singapore’s clean, rule-heavy environment. This small act of “permitted rudeness” becomes a cultural experience element, creating more memorable experiences for visitors. This ‘minor impoliteness’ of throwing peanut shells on the floor paradoxically allows guests to fully experience the leisurely, romantic bar culture of 100 years ago—a charming attraction!

This unique appeal has made it so popular with tourists that it’s included in Klook Singapore passes, becoming one of Singapore’s essential tourist attractions.

While eating peanuts, our Singapore Slings arrived! Almost everyone visiting the Long Bar comes for this iconic cocktail, which also has its own story. During an era when women found it difficult to drink cocktails in bars, bartenders created this pink cocktail that resembled juice, giving birth to the Orient’s first cocktail designed for women—the Singapore Sling.

Created to look like juice, the Singapore Sling displays a beautiful pink color. However, its ingredients include gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine, Benedictine, and Cointreau. Despite its innocent appearance, it contains substantial alcohol content with an ABV of approximately 20-28%, usually around 23%. While the fruit flavors make it easy and delicious to drink, one glass can definitely get you tipsy.

Since our son grew bored after some time, I thought we should finish quickly and leave, so I drank mine rapidly—only to be surprised by how tipsy I became!

Raffles Boutique Shop sells Singapore Sling packages. While not inexpensive, they make worthy souvenirs, so I recommend stopping by.

Complete Raffles Experience Summary

This completes the full Raffles Singapore experience: breakfast at the Tiffin Room, cocktails at the Long Bar, and souvenir shopping at the Raffles Boutique Shop!

Each space has its own history and story, with luxury as an added bonus. Raffles Singapore was an excellent component of my Singapore city center historical tour. For the Long Bar specifically, using a Klook Singapore pass can provide more affordable access, so I recommend booking through Klook.

Klook.com

The Most Modern City in the World

Singapore is a small city-state, and most tourist attractions are concentrated in the Central Region, making it a destination that requires less long-distance travel compared to other countries. This naturally makes Singapore a low-difficulty tourist destination.

The Merlion statue – with its lion head and mermaid tail – is probably what most people think of first when they hear “Singapore.” On my second day, when I visited Merlion Park to see this iconic statue, I encountered the largest crowds of tourists, all taking playful photos with their mouths open or striking various poses.

Across from Merlion Park, you can see Singapore’s representative landmarks: Marina Bay Sands(singapore sands hotel), the ArtScience Museum, and the Singapore Flyer. Turn your head in another direction, and you’ll witness an incredible forest of skyscrapers housing numerous corporations.

Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre: A Unique Dining Experience

Located in the Central Business District (CBD) at Raffles Quay, Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre is probably a must-visit spot for every Singapore tourist. What makes Lau Pa Sat special is that at 7 PM every evening, the road in front transforms into Satay Street – vehicles are blocked, and tables and satay stalls appear right on the road.

Eating satay in the middle of a concrete jungle, literally on the street, creates quite a unique atmosphere. However, it gets extremely crowded due to high demand and limited satay vendors. On weekends, it opens from 3 PM, but I went around 4 PM on Sunday with my child to avoid crowds and had an early dinner. On that Sunday afternoon, Lau Pa Sat wasn’t too busy, so we received our satay quickly, along with other dishes like laksa.

Marina Bay Sands(Singapore sands hotel): Where Modern Architecture Meets Waterfront Views

Walking northeast from Lau Pa Sat for about 10 minutes brings you to the waterfront, where you can see Marina Bay Sands(singapore sands hotel) and the ArtScience Museum across the water. Going from the heart of the city center to suddenly seeing the open sea with landmark buildings was when I thought, “Ah, this is Singapore’s unique charm that sets it apart from other cities!”

While advanced architectural technology and unique buildings are common today, when Marina Bay Sands(singapore sands hotel) was first built, its three curved towers topped with the ship-shaped SkyPark was considered a groundbreaking attempt worldwide. Even though I’d seen this building countless times on YouTube and the internet, seeing it in person felt completely different – similar to how seeing the Eiffel Tower in person feels vastly different from seeing it in photos.

Sitting on a bench near the Immersion of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes memorial, I found myself wondering: how did they even conceive of building something like this?

Singapore developed rapidly, initially growing as a trading port during British colonial times due to its geographical advantages. After independence, with no natural resources on its small land, Singapore grew through trade and finance, eventually becoming Southeast Asia’s financial hub. But then to intentionally spend astronomical amounts building distinctive modern architecture to attract tourists? This didn’t seem like an ordinary decision.

Most famous tourist destinations are based on history, heritage, art, or incredible natural environments. The few famous urban tourist destinations like American cities have vast content, while Tokyo has abundant food and traditional cultural content. In contrast, Singapore has a short history with few traditional cultural elements and limited entertainment content. Choosing architecture as the content to attract tourists seemed quite remarkable to me.

Building architectural landmarks requires enormous investment, and once built, you can’t tear them down if you don’t like them – it’s not an easy choice to make (excluding oil-rich countries like Dubai).
Honestly, I expected to just think “Oh, the Merlion!” and “Oh, Marina Bay Sands looks unique!” and be done with it. But Singapore’s representative landmarks sparked much more curiosity than I anticipated.

The Fullerton Hotel: Where Colonial Heritage Meets Modern Singapore

Walking toward Boat Quay (about 10 minutes on foot), you’ll pass The Fullerton Hotel, which provides a refreshing contrast to Singapore’s modern cityscape. This Neo-classical granite structure was built during British colonial times and served as a post office, then as a hospital and military headquarters during WWII, before being renovated into today’s hotel. Whether it’s the building’s massive scale or the contrast of this classical-style building next to the forest of skyscrapers, The Fullerton Hotel looked incredibly impressive to me.

After passing The Fullerton Hotel and briefly checking out the Helix Bridge, I walked along Boat Quay, where numerous restaurants line the wharf. Since all restaurants operate terraces facing the wharf, I recommend choosing one to enjoy a beer while feeling the sea breeze. The buildings across the water are mostly classical-style architecture like The Fullerton Hotel, creating a completely different atmosphere from the Lau Pa Sat experience.

A Country Where Diverse Cultures Harmoniously Coexist

Singapore is a multicultural nation with citizens/permanent residents comprising approximately 74% Chinese, 13% Malay, 9% Indian, and other ethnicities. Religious distribution is also diverse: Buddhism 31%, Christianity 19%, Islam 15%, Taoism 8%, Hinduism 5%, and others.

Before visiting Singapore, I assumed Chinese people would dominate since they comprise three-quarters of the population. However, around tourist areas, perhaps due to many people working on employment visas, I didn’t feel Chinese people were the majority – instead, I saw incredible diversity with various ethnicities coexisting.

Singapore’s multicultural nature is best experienced in representative tourist areas like Arab Street, Little India, and Chinatown – each preserving the culture, food, and religion of their respective ethnic communities.

Arab Street: Middle Eastern and Malay Cultural Hub

Arab Street is the center of Middle Eastern and Malay culture, with colorful and exotic atmospheres throughout its alleys. The Sultan Mosque inside is the most symbolic landmark, surrounded by alleys filled with diverse food and shopping options including hijabs, batik fabrics, perfumes, and carpet shops reflecting Islamic culture. Haji Lane features graffiti murals, vintage shops, and unique cafes, making it quite an Instagram hotspot.

While some restaurants serve completely unrelated cuisine like Japanese food, you’ll find plenty of Middle Eastern kebabs, Turkish desserts, and nasi padang – perfect for Middle Eastern food lovers!

I visited during Ramadan, and they were setting up large-scale tables for evening communal dining. Among the various shops selling diverse products along both sides of the street, the carpet and lighting shops left the strongest impression. While these items were too difficult to bring home, their exotic patterns and designs remain vivid in my memory.

The Sultan Mosque sits at Arab Street’s center, and despite being a hotspot, it was absolutely packed with people. Still, with plenty to see and eat, it’s an essential stop for tourists.

I wanted to dine at one of the Turkish restaurants in the alley for my husband who loves Iskender kebab, but the prices were higher than expected for a tourist area, so we decided to try Turkish food elsewhere and just bought drinks. However, the set menus looked well-composed, so I’d recommend trying a meal if you’re interested.

Little India: Authentic Indian Community Experience

About a 15-minute walk from Arab Street brings you to Little India, the center of Singapore’s Indian community, naturally formed when Indians settled during Singapore’s founding. Perhaps because Arab Street was more colorful, Little India felt slightly less impressive upon arrival. You’ll see traditional Indian colors, many Tamil signs, and Hindu temples throughout – essentially India in miniature.

Maybe that’s why, while I rarely felt inconvenience pushing a stroller anywhere else in Singapore, Little India felt different. Narrow roads often lack clear separation between sidewalks and streets, with cars parked on roads creating complexity, plus constant car horn sounds made me want to leave quickly. While Arab Street has clear points designed to attract tourists, Little India feels more like a commercial area genuinely created by Indians for their daily lives.

Still, having come this far, I walked to see Little India’s famous temple, passing through a jewelry district. Since Indians tend to wear elaborate gold jewelry, shops lined up with enormous gold necklaces, bracelets, and accessories. Most shops had people shopping for jewelry – quite fascinating to observe. Fun fact: Singapore has relatively cheap gold, making it good for gold investment (learned this on the Big Bus tour).

Passing the jewelry district, I reached my destination: Sri Veeramakaliamman Hindu Temple. The colorful and intricate sculptures on the temple roof were so fascinating I stared for a long time. This temple worships Kali, the goddess of destruction and protection, where devotees pray for protection from evil. The South Indian (Dravidian) style with bright colors and detailed deity sculptures was eye-catching. Strong incense aromas wafted from the entrance, and seeing Indians going to pray made me want to explore inside, though I felt I shouldn’t enter and only observed from afar. The interior houses various Hindu deities including Shiva and Ganesha alongside Kali – I should have been brave enough to look inside.

Despite an underwhelming first impression, Little India revealed unique charm as I explored. It pairs well with Arab Street for combined sightseeing.

Perfect Family Travel Destination with Modern Green Spaces

As mentioned above, I was traveling with my 2-year-old son. While many worldwide destinations and resorts cater well to family travel, surprisingly few urban destinations are truly suitable for traveling with children. Singapore, despite being a complete urban destination, offers many child-friendly attractions.

Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise: World-Class Animal Care

Singapore Flyer: Sky-High City Views

The Singapore Flyer is Singapore’s iconic observation wheel. Honestly, I’d never ridden such an observation wheel outside of amusement parks. I decided to try it to give my son a new experience. The wheel was quite large, and with few visitors, they seated 2-3 families per cabin. I rode with another family of five, where the father gave detailed explanations to his children about how the wheel operates – I thought he was an amazing dad and aspired to be such a parent.

Originally, I wanted to ride before sunset to see both the sunset and night views, but we arrived later than planned and only saw the night scenery. Due to its size, one rotation takes considerable time, but the night view from Singapore Flyer was absolutely spectacular. My son, seeing aerial night views for the first time, excitedly joined me in sightseeing while I took photos. While big city night views are somewhat similar everywhere, being able to see Singapore’s landmark Science Museum and Marina Bay Sands(singapore sands hotel) together makes it worth recommending.

Gardens by the Bay: Innovative Vertical Gardens

Gardens by the Bay is Singapore’s botanical garden with truly enormous scale. Too vast to explore entirely, I visited only the most famous Cloud Forest and the Disney-themed Floral Fantasy. Floral Fantasy wasn’t particularly special but featured Disney characters made from plants that children would enjoy.

Cloud Forest attracted enormous crowds, and I completely understood why. In Singapore, where architectural permits supposedly require unique designs, this is what happens when they build a botanical garden. Cloud Forest is essentially a vertical botanical garden where visitors walk spirally up and down six stories of plant displays. Taking an elevator to the top and walking down, while slightly limiting stroller navigation, the wall-mounted plant arrangements were fascinating.

The idea that botanical gardens could be built vertically was absolutely amazing. Most importantly, I was impressed by the Singapore government for enabling such creation. You could see how seriously this modern city-state takes harmony with nature. Unlike typical hot greenhouses, Cloud Forest was kept cool, making it perfect for families with children. Don’t miss the Supertree Show at 7 PM and 8 PM!

East Coast Park: Family Paradise

East Coast Park is Singapore’s largest and most popular beachfront park. Pre-trip research showed many positive reviews, and discovering a massive slide on Google Maps convinced me to visit – the park exceeded expectations. It’s spacious with excellent children’s facilities, including sandboxes and water play areas that my son absolutely loved. I carelessly didn’t bring spare clothes or swim diapers, warning my son not to sit in water, but he ended up soaked from head to toe, forcing us to buy clothes at a nearby mall. Seeing his happiness made this one of my most satisfying Singapore locations.

While East Coast Park doesn’t offer crystal-clear beach waters suitable for swimming, the active park atmosphere includes restaurants around the playground and several restaurants serving Singapore’s famous chili crab near East Coast Lagoon Food Village hawker center. Perfect for avoiding hot afternoon hours while letting children play, enjoying park walks, seaside strolls, and peaceful dinners at hawker centers or restaurants.

Conclusion

I had 5 nights and 6 days in Singapore, but with late arrival and early departure flights, I actually had 4 days of sightseeing. Even though Singapore is small, 4 days wasn’t enough, especially with a child making night activities impossible – time felt even more limited.

Singapore proved to be an exceptional travel destination, particularly suitable for Westerners planning their first Asian trip who worry about cultural adaptation – it’s an incredibly low-barrier destination.

The small national scale and excellent public transportation make travel easy and lower the difficulty level. While Singlish has unique pronunciation, English as the primary language removes language barriers. For a city destination, the emphasis on harmony with nature prevents bleakness. Diverse architecture provides artistic fulfillment, while the multicultural nature offers varied food, religions, and cultural experiences as bonuses.

Being one of the world’s safest countries is a clear advantage, and for those concerned about Southeast Asian hygiene, Singapore maintains good sanitary conditions. The biggest drawback would be cost – “with enough money, it would be such a great place to live” became clearly apparent. Singaporeans’ favorite phrase “Clean & Safe” truly captures it. What started as an unexpected trip became a destination I absolutely want to revisit.

Money-Saving Tips for Singapore Travel

Everyone knows Singapore’s high cost of living. While perceived expense levels vary by your home location, I believe in saving where possible, and beyond cost-saving, Singapore attractions benefit from advance booking, leading me to discover Klook’s Singapore Travel Pass.

Klook’s Singapore Travel Pass lets you choose how many attraction tickets to purchase from Singapore’s many destinations at discounted rates. Since it includes virtually every tourist destination, managing reservations through one platform proved more convenient.

I purchased access to Gardens by the Bay, Big Bus City Tour, Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise, Singapore Flyer, and Raffles Hotel Long Bar Singapore Sling cocktail voucher. Calculations showed I essentially got 1-2 attractions free compared to individual pricing. While I skipped Universal Studios since my son isn’t old enough to be interested, the Singapore travel pass includes Sentosa and Universal Studios options for those planning to visit.

Highly recommend using the Singapore Travel Pass if you’re planning a Singapore travel!

Klook.com

모벤픽 BDMS 방콕 레이트 체크아웃하고 수영장 이용 후기

호건이가 갑자기 낮잠을 자버리는 바람에 늦은 점심을 먹고 나니 벌써 오후 3시. 모벤픽 BDMS 수영장에는 유아풀이 있어서 호건이가 엄청나게 좋아했기 때문에 체크아웃 후 아기와 함께 수영장을 또 이용해도 되는지 물었더니 흔쾌히 가능하다고. 그래서 수영장 이용 후 샤워실을 사용할 수 있는지도 미리 체크했는데, 1층에 있는 헬스장 샤워실을 이용하면 된다고 확인을 받았다.

식사 후 방으로 돌아와서 짐 다 챙겨서 체크아웃 먼저 하고 수영 후 갈아입을 옷들만 빼놓고 나머지 짐은 맡겼다. 그리고 바로 수영장으로 내려갔는데, 점심 먹고 난 후부터 계속 수영장에 가고 싶었던 호거니,, 발걸음이 아주 가볍다 ㅋㅋ 뒷모습 왜 이렇게 귀여운지..수영장은 조식당이자 점심을 먹었던 Nourish를 통해서 나가면 바로 나온다. 수영장 주변으로는 트랙이 있는데, 밖에서 조깅하고 싶어 하는 사람들을 위해서 간단하게라도 만들어놓은 것 같다. 바닥도 약간 자전거도로처럼 푹신한 길로 되어있고, 코스가 넓거나 길진 않지만 나름 잘 정리된 정원이어서 도심 속에서 산책하는 것과는 조금 다른 느낌이 난다. 나는 더워서 저녁때만 딱 한 바퀴만 돌아봄..ㅎ

방콕 모벤픽 BDMS의 수영장은 규모가 막 엄청나게 크다! 이런 건 아니지만 그래도 충분히 즐길 수 있을 만큼의 넓이다. 나는 오후 4시~6시 이때 수영장에 갔었는데, 이 시간대는 생각보다 사람들이 별로 없어서 좋았다ㅋㅋ 일단 중국인 관광객들은 수영장에서 마주친 적이 없고, 이틀 동안 한국인은 딱 4명? 6명 정도. 다양한 국적의 사람들이 있었는데 기본적으로 수영장에 사람이 별로 없어서 놀기 편했다.

그리고 유아풀장이 있어서 호건이도 놀기에 좋았는데, 오후 4~6시 이때에는 그림자가 별로 안 지고 햇빛에 너무 노출되어서 솔직히 놀기엔 너무 뜨거웠다. 그리고.. 수영장 물이 너무 뜨뜻 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 이게 어느 정도 쌀쌀한 날씨에 미온 수풀이면 너무 좋을 텐데… ㅋㅋㅋ 완전 핵 더운 날씨에는 그냥 시원한 수영장 물이 더 좋을 것 같아.. 그리고 기분 탓일 수도 있는데, 일단 수영장에 나오는 물 자체가 약간 미온수인 듯했고, 거기에 강렬한 햇빛 때문에 물이 더 데워진 것 같은 느낌이었다.

참고로 수영장에 기본적으로 상주해 있는 안전요원은 없고, 알아서 잘 놀아야 한다. 그리고 음식이나 음료도 주문할 수는 있는데, 직원이 계속 상주해 있는 게 아니라서 약간 직원이 지나갈 때 주문해야 하는 단점? 선베드에 누워서 맥주라도 시켜 먹었으면 너무 시원했을 것 같은데 그냥 기본으로 비치되어 있던 레몬 물을 마셨다. 그 외 자유롭게 이용할 수 있는 튜브, 암튜브, 구명조끼, 비치볼들이 있다!

마지막 날 수영장 갔을 때는 딱 한 가족만 수영장에서 놀고 있었고, 우리가 들어가고 나서 얼마 안 있다가 그 사람들은 나가서 사실상 수영하는 내내 전세 내고 수영했다. 완전 쾌적!! 내가 원한 건 키즈풀에서 물장구치며 노는 호건이였지만 자꾸 어른 풀장에 들어온다고 해서 결국은 계속 안아서 물놀이시켜 줬다. 힘들긴 해도 수영장에서 노는 게 방콕 여행에서 호건이가 가장 즐거워한 순간 2위였다 1위는 모벤픽 BDMS 조식당에 있던 키즈놀이방에서 논 거..ㅎㅎ

수영장 이용 후 사용가능했던 헬스장 샤워실

호건이 신나게 물놀이 시켜주고 샤워는 1층에 있는 헬스장 샤워실을 이용했다. 수영복 입고 헬스장들이오니 좀 뭔가 이상하긴 했는데, 어차피 헬스장에도 사람이 없어서 ㅋㅋ…. 여자탈의실 기준 샤워실이 3칸? 4칸? 정도 있었고 전부 엄청 깨끗하게 관리되고 있었다. 샴푸랑 다 비치되어 있어서 따로 준비해 갈 필요는 없다. 뭔가 굉장히 세련된 느낌의 사우나실도 딸려있었는데 내가 갔을 땐 꺼져있었다. 하긴 누가 이 방콕 5월 핵 더운 날씨에 사우나를 하겠냐 싶긴 하다만 운동 끝나고 시원한 물로 샤워하고 나서 사우나 하면 개운할 것 같기도..?

모벤픽 BDMS의 탈의실, 샤워실 규모는 작긴 하지만 헬스장 이용하는 사람이 별로 없어서 샤워실에도 사람이 없었고, 혼자 전세 내고 사용했다. 그렇게 뽀송하게 씻고 난 후 남편이 호건이 씻기고 나오는 거 기다리면서 헬스장 구경을 했는데, 규모는 작아도 기본적으로 있을 거 다 있고 심지어 필라테스 기구도 있다. 내가 알기로는 매일 요가 등 다양한 프로그램이 준비되어 있어서 투숙객은 클래스 신청하면 들을 수 있는 거로 알고 있다. 여행 가기 전에는 나도 아침 먹기 전에 클래스 신청해서 운동으로 아침을 시작해 볼까 했지만 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 역시나 어림도 없지.

헬스장이 가든뷰라 초록 초록 완전 힐링 되면서 운동할 수 있을 것 같아서 요가는 못하더라도 러닝머신이라도 해야지 했는데 역시나 어림도 없지 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 결국 마지막 날 수영장하고 샤워실만 쓰러 잠깐 들린 헬스장 ㅋㅋ

샤워를 마치고 뽀송하게 나와서 센트럴월드 구경을 다녀왔다. 센트럴월드 엄청나게 크고 휘황찬란하고 뭐가 엄청 많은데, 막상 딱히 살만한 건 별로 없었다. 여기저기 구경하다가 호건이 장난감이나 살까 해서 토이져러스를 구경하러 갔는데, 원래 토이져러스 가격이 이랬나? 싶을 정도로 가격이 높아서 이 정도 가격이면 한국에서 사는 게 낫겠다 싶어 결국 아무것도 사지 않고 나왔다. 그래서 남편이 좋아하는 치즈케익팩토리가 있길래 그냥 저녁이랑 디저트라도 먹고 갈까 했는데 가격이 은근히 꽤 부담되는 가격이었던 걸로 기억한다.ㅎ.. 심지어 점심을 너무 늦게 먹어서 아무도 배가 고픈 상황이 아니라 결국 저녁은 호텔 옮기고 나서 간단히 먹기로 하고 스킵하고 호텔로 돌아갔다.

호텔에서 센트럴월드 올 때는 그랩 택시를 타고 왔는데 워낙 막히고 생각보다 오래 걸리길래 택시 타나 걸어가나 거기서 거기인듯해 돌아갈 때는 그냥 걸어갔다. 센트럴월드 나오면 스카이워크? 육교?같은 통로를 통해서 빅씨마트 건물로 바로 들어갈 수 있게 연결이 되어있길래, 나는 빅씨마트 라차담리점으로 들어가서 다시 1층으로 나왔다.

센트럴월드에서 모벤픽 BDMS 후문까지 유모차 끌고 대략 15분 정도 걸렸다. (참고로 후문은 8시까지만 열려있어서 8시 이후에는 돌아가야 하므로 더 오래 걸림) 후문으로 들어가면 주차장이 보이고 주차장에서 나와서 올라가면 모벤픽 BDMS 정문과 Rim Klong Café 카페 사이에 있는 길로 올라오게된다. 당연히 이 습한 날씨에 걸어 다니면 덥긴 하지만 워낙 이 주변 차가 많이 막히기도 하고, 택시비가 조금 아깝기도 해서 내 기준으로 빅씨마트 라차담리점, 센트럴월드 도보로 15분 정도는 갈 만했다.

호텔 돌아오니 어느덧 저녁 7시. 호텔에 맡겨둔 짐들 찾아서 두 번째 호텔 U 사톤 방콕으로 이동했다. 하나하나 너무나도 만족스러웠던 방콕 모벤픽 BDMS 웰니스 리조트 앤 스파. 하나하나 너무 다 만족스러웠던 후기 끝.

방콕 모벤픽 BDMS 2박 후기 요약

나는 all.com에서 레드핫룸으로 20만 원 정도 할인받고 예약했다. 보통 레드핫룸은 조식 제공이 안 되는데, 예약 당시 호텔에 메일로 문의하니 스위트룸은 조식이 포함되어 있다고 해서 조식 추가 비용도 따로 없었다. 심지어 조식이 건강식도 챙길 수 있으면서 메뉴 퀄리티가 꽤 괜찮고 맛있어서 완전 대만족.

방은 내가 예약했던 투베드룸 아니어도 기본적으로 좀 넓은 편에 속하는듯하고, 내가 묵었던 2베드룸(커넥팅룸)은 거의 35평 규모로 방이 진짜 엄청 넓어서 완전 쾌적하게 지낼 수 있었다. 일단 거실이 별도로 있으니 호건이 재워놓고 남편이랑 거실에서 야식 먹기 너무 좋았고, 침실에는 아기침대 놔도 공간 완전 널널. 아기 침대도 두 돌 아기 기준 사이즈 괜찮았고, 아기 전용 바디워시나 로션이 따로 나오는 것도 너무 좋았다. 남편 생일 기념으로 방문한 거라 받은 케이크도 존맛, 미니바와 간식도 무료로 제공되어서 은근히 잘 챙겨 먹었다.

특이하게 여긴 초콜릿아워가 따로 있었는데, 일반적으로 호텔들의 클럽라운지는 아이들이 출입 불가하거나 입장이 가능하더라도 엄청 조용히 해야 하는 등 이용하기엔 약간 제약이 있는데, 초콜릿아워는 기본적으로 아이들도 같이 즐길 수 있는 개념이라 호건이 데리고 가기 마음이 편했다. (물론 아직 두 돌 아가에게 초코는 허락되지 않지만)

수영장에는 사람이 별로 없어서 놀기 좋고 유아풀이 별도로 있어서 아기 놀기에도 좋다. 체크아웃 후 수영장이랑 샤워실 이용 가능한 건 진짜 좋았고, 레이트 체크아웃도 4시로 넉넉하게 받을 수 있었는데, 5시나 6시 레이트 체크아웃한 사람들도 있는 걸 보니 상황만 괜찮다면 고객의 니즈에 최대한 맞춰주려고 하는 듯했다.

아코르 플러스 혜택으로 호텔 내 레스토랑에서 메뉴 50% 할인받아서 식사도 저렴하게 먹을 수 있었고, 진짜 하나하나 다양한 장점들이 많은 호텔이었다.

단점으로는 전반적으로 일부 직원들의 영어가 잘 알아듣기 힘든 점, 약간 일 처리가 뭔가 어설픈 점..? (직원 매뉴얼 같은 게 잘 안되어있는 듯)이 있긴 한데, 그래도 내가 핸드폰 잃어버렸을 때 적극적으로 도와주고, 친절하긴 엄청 친절하다.

처음에 모벤픽 BDMS 예약하기 전에 몽키트래블이나 아고다, 트립닷컴 등 다양한 예약 사이트들에서 비추 후기들이 꽤 많아서 걱정을 많이 했으나 진짜 우리에겐 가족 여행으로 최고의 호텔이었던 방콕 모벤픽 BDMS. 개인적으로 진짜 강추강추. 정말 U 사톤 방콕으로 옮기기 싫을 정도로 왜 2박만 예약했을까 싶을 정도로 마음에 들었던 호텔이었다.
만약 누군가 이 포스팅을 보고 방콕 모벤픽 BDMS 웰니스 리조트 예약 시 난 방에서 잠만 자는 사람이라서 방 진짜 1도 중요하지 않다는 사람만 아니라면 1베드룸 추천..따봉

방콕 모벤픽 BDMS 금액 확인하기