{"id":2052,"date":"2015-09-01T00:00:30","date_gmt":"2015-09-01T00:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/bintan-singapore-school-holidays\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11T17:42:06","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T17:42:06","slug":"bintan-singapore-school-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/experience\/bintan-singapore-school-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Spend the September School Holidays in Bintan’s Newest Playground"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lagoi<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Bay:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Bintan’s<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Newest Playground<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Desperate for a quick getaway this September school holidays\u00a0but just can’t stand flying miles with the kiddos?\u00a0Bintan\u00a0has two new kids on the block worth checking out \u2013 and just a boat ride away.<\/p>\n

You may have\u00a0been here countless times before, and frankly, it\u2019s not somewhere\u00a0you saw yourself ever setting foot again. But with two stylish new offerings where families can relax and recharge,\u00a0Bintan, with its\u00a0white, sandy, coconut-fringed beaches, has renewed appeal.<\/p>\n

Choose between The Sanchaya<\/a>\u00a0ultraluxe hotel and the upscale\u00a0Swiss-Belhotel\u00a0Lagoi<\/a>. Both properties\u00a0are located within the verdant and pristine confines of\u00a0Lagoi\u00a0Bay, a brand-new premier resort that\u2019s set to revive\u00a0Bintan’s\u00a0status as a high-end destination.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Sanchaya: A Heavenly Retreat<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n

\"sanchaya-bintan\"<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a mum looking for some time out to reconnect with your tween or teen while being pampered from head to toe, The Sanchaya is the place to go. If you have younger kids, there is no\u00a0kids\u2019 club at this hotel but The Sanchaya does provide in-room children’s menus, cots, highchairs and child-friendly\u00a0eating utensils.<\/p>\n

The quality\u00a0of service and attention to detail at The\u00a0Sanchaya\u00a0are simply impeccable. Waitstaff whisk you away to a private lounge area the minute you step off the ferry \u2013 perfect when you have restless kids in tow. When you arrive\u00a0at the hotel, your personal butler (who trained with the prestigious\u00a0British Butler Institute) will lead you to your room, leaving you to unwind in your resplendent\u00a0suite.<\/p>\n

\"bintan-resort-sanchaya\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Setting<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At this exclusive beach retreat, landscaped gardens surround grand whitewashed two-storey buildings, evoking the splendour of the 19th-century colonial plantation houses that once dotted the region.<\/p>\n

Its\u00a021 private villas and nine suites offer a bold mix of old and new. Classic\u00a0bamboo furnishings, black and white blinds and a stunning\u00a0collection of Asian\u00a0knick-knacks, art and antiques blend perfectly to create a chic and sumptuous effect.<\/p>\n

\"school-holidays-bintan-sanchaya\"<\/p>\n

\"sanchaya-bintan-lobby\"<\/p>\n

\"sanchaya-bintan-beach-resort\"<\/p>\n

\"bintan-sanchaya-guestroom\"<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Food<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A word of warning. Don’t give in to the temptation\u00a0to gorge on the snacks and beverages from the in-suite complimentary\u00a0minibar.\u00a0Instead, save yourself for the epicurean\u00a0delights that await you at the\u00a0resort’s\u00a0fine dining establishments.<\/p>\n

The elegant Dining Room<\/strong> serves breakfast daily and features a small buffet setup aimed at not wasting food. Here, you\u2019ll find cereals, terrines, cold-pressed juices, homemade yogurt, freshly baked bread, jams and a daily pastry, plus a rotating live cooking station dishing out South-East Asian specialties. Keep your eyes peeled for the\u00a0kebaya-clad Jamu<\/em>\u00a0Gendong<\/em> lady, who makes her rounds during breakfast, offering guests refreshing traditional\u00a0Indonesian medicinal elixirs\u00a0of local spices and\u00a0root vegetables \u2013 a healthy and virtuous\u00a0way to kickstart the day.<\/p>\n

\"sanchaya-bintan-restaurant\"<\/p>\n

\"bintan-sanchaya-restaurant\"<\/p>\n

You can also have lunch and dinner in the Dining Room. The lunch menu caters to all palates, including local dishes and such Western comfort-food staples as burgers and club sandwiches. For dinner, traditional fine-dining options, such as Lobster\u00a0Thermidor\u00a0and beef tenderloin\u00a0with\u00a0foie\u00a0gras,\u00a0dominate.<\/p>\n

If you prefer a more\u00a0laid-back\u00a0ambience, try some Bangkok street food at the\u00a0Tasanee\u00a0Grill\u00a0poolside restaurant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Or order room service and entertain the kids with a few flicks; rooms come with an\u00a0iPad\u00a0loaded with a movie collection to watch on your state-of-the-art Bang &\u00a0Olufsen\u00a0flat-screen TV.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Things to do There
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s so much to see and do at The\u00a0Sanchaya.<\/p>\n

Start the day with complimentary morning yoga sessions on the beach. Check out the 24-hour gym or the various on-site activities, such as\u00a0beachside\u00a0croquet, P\u00e9tanque, golf and archery.<\/p>\n

For something\u00a0a little more adventurous, explore the waters surrounding\u00a0Bintan\u00a0on The\u00a0Sanchaya\u00a0yacht while indulging in a gourmet picnic onboard\u00a0or at a neighbouring islet.<\/p>\n

At the end of a long and active day, laze by the gorgeous\u00a050-metre infinity pool and order a bespoke cocktail before catching up on your reading.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\"sanchaya-bintan-resort-courtyard\"<\/p>\n

\"On<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Turn Down for…Chocolate<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Sanchaya\u2019s turn-down service is also a cut above the standard-issue chocolate mints on your pillow. In its place, you\u2019ll find the elaborate Chocolate Experience, which consists of a warm chocolate beverage and an array of\u00a0artisanal\u00a0chocolate pastries served in your suite.<\/p>\n

If you need even more pampering, reserve a slot at the spa. Massage treatments range from Balinese, Thai and Swedish options\u00a0to The Sanchaya\u2019s signature\u00a0Java Volcanic Stone Massage.<\/p>\n

\"Spa<\/p>\n

Uncompromising and with a penchant\u00a0for refinement and detail, The Sanchaya\u00a0makes for a luxurious escape from all the stresses of modern life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Swiss-Belhotel<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Lagoi<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Bay: Superior<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Value<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n

Though not as swish as its neighbour, the four-star Swiss-Belhotel\u00a0makes for a comfortable\u00a0stay, offering families good value for money and an ideal strategic base from which to explore\u00a0the sights of\u00a0Bintan.<\/p>\n

There is<\/em> a kids\u2019 club here, and guests can enjoy a cool dip in the dainty rooftop infinity swimming pool or a massage at the Asmara Spa. There is also a gym, although this is still being built.<\/p>\n

\"lagoi-bay\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 196 well-appointed rooms exude a warm and inviting\u00a0aura, and are accented in bright colours set against soothing natural\u00a0shades of green and brown. When making a reservation, do request\u00a0for the rooms at the back to enjoy pleasant vistas of the crystal-clear Lagoi Bay lake and the immaculate beach.<\/p>\n

\"swiss-belhotel-bintan-room\"<\/p>\n

\"swiss-belhotel-pool\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Food<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Currently, only one food and beverage outlet \u2013\u00a0The Swiss Caf\u00e9 \u2013\u00a0is open, and this is where the breakfast buffet is served. Expect\u00a0quite a spread, including\u00a0Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian\u00a0and Western items. Watch that waistline (or don’t!) as\u00a0you indulge in the breads, pastries, waffles, noodles and rice dishes, as well as local desserts.<\/p>\n

The lunch and dinner menus are also unpretentious\u00a0affairs, with steak and burgers making an appearance alongside local specialties. Another restaurant and a sports bar are currently in the works.<\/p>\n