When Trump met Kim
In June 2018, the team at Capella Singapore wasn’t necessarily angling for an out-of-this-world PR
opportunity. In its (then) ninth year, the serene Sentosa island property was already notching up awards as
one of the finest five-star stays in the Asia-Pacific region. And then the phone rang.
Not a single holidaymaker was present at the resort during the first-ever meeting of North Korean and US leaders. Security would never allow that. Each nation’s secret service personnel made their obligatory sweeps, over and over again, leaving no stone unturned – in the quite literal sense.
The eyes of the world saw the 45th president of the USA greet the Supreme Leader of North Korea and then, within days, it was back to business as usual. But two things had changed. A circular plaque marked the moment of the historic meetings – and the whole world had heard of Capella Singapore.
Fostering perfection
A year later and the resort is celebrating its 10 year; a decade of understated decadence. And it’s so easy to see why this Singaporean sanctuary was chosen for such
a momentous occasion. Four main colonial-era buildings have been reimagined by Sir Norman Foster – once housing British military – and the resort then really took shape with its flowing, looped layout, new event spaces, lavish spa and a host of spacious pool villas.
The diminutive island is packed with a whole host of luxurious stays and leisure products, including a Universal Studios, sprawling water park and two world-class golf courses on some of the most sought after real estate in the world. The heart of the East Asian city-state has a plethora of five-star properties but none are quite like Capella.
Suite satisfaction
From your drop-off amid the columns of the erstwhile army barracks, villa guests are whisked to their own private hideaways for a seamless check in. Along the lush walkways, not much wider than the courtesy buggies, sit rows of one- and two-bedroom villas, hemmed in by the dense leaves of tropical vegetation, ensuring the utmost privacy for guests.
And privacy is paramount when the primary fixture of the abode is a sizeable pool. Well, room for the whole family and/or friends, at least. If they don’t mind getting a little cosy while they cool off from the tropical humidity. The resort does of course come equipped with its own trio of Instagram-worthy swimming pools, but there’s nothing quite like bathing just steps away from your own private sanctuary.
Each and every one of Capella Singapore’s 38 villas boasts a plunge pool, in addition to an elegant dark wood and beige-toned living area and sleeping quarters. In keeping with Maldivian-style villas of the same level, Capella’s hideaways flow seamlessly from the living area – complete with plush seating, bar area, desk and Nespresso coffee-making facilities – to the capacious bedroom and beyond.
Whether you’re in the bedroom or the lounge, simple functions are just a button press away. Plug in your device for Bluetooth surround sound to share your tunes and unfurl the floor-to-ceiling window blinds with the bedside device, which also notches the room cooling to your exact liking. Then, behind the lavish king bed lies a bathroom suitable for his ‘n’ hers and… whosoever else happens to be there.
The huge glass-panelled shower sits adjacent to the more discreet toilet cubicle, also sharing the same space as the twin sink areas. The bathroom takes up a reasonable portion of the villa’s 133sqm, but also serves as an access point to your very own outdoor rain shower, if you’d prefer to cleanse among the foliage. You’d be forgiven for perusing the expansive room service menu and saving one of the resort’s superb dining venues for another night; Cassia, The Knolls and Bob’s Bar to name a few.
Capella’s 10 candles
And why not linger longer? There’s a wide range of offers and packages available to book, many of which are themed around the 10-year milestone. If you truly want to make the most of the villa, along with the best of the hotel – including the restaurants, spa and wellness facilities – then the ‘Third Night On Us’ offer could be the best choice for villa guests, with a complimentary third night when you pay for a two-night stay.
It also gives you time to make use of the Capella Culturist service, to perfectly pair the luxury of the resort with authentic cultural and culinary experiences across Singapore. It would, after all, be remiss to not make a visit to one of the hallowed ‘hawker centres’ and satisfy your cravings for all the scintillating Chinese, Malay and Indian delicacies you could imagine. This really is a destination to dine for.
Stay:
WHAT: Sentosa & Capella Suites
WHERE: Capella Resort, Singapore
TEL:+65 6 377 8888