Short trips from Singapore, from Malaysia to the Maldives!

Oceanfront resorts near Singapore – The Residence Bintan

Nature meets elegance at this hidden oasis on Bintan. The property is fringed by tropical greenery on one side and the South China Sea on the other. It’s on the island’s south-eastern shore, and although it’s just a 55-minute ferry ride –  it feels like a world away.

The 127 rooms have simplicity and sophistication at their heart. They include 22 one-bedroom beachfront villas, 80 one-bedroom vista and garden terraces, 15 one-bedroom Deluxe Sea View Villas and four opulent two-bedroom villas, perfect for a short trip from Singapore!

Things to do on your weekend getaway from Singapore

• Dine in style at the resort’s three restaurants and bars. These include traditional Indonesian dishes and Pan-Asian cuisine at signature restaurant Rica Rica, offering an innovative twist on local cuisine.
• The Spa with treatments by Ila is home to eight private treatment rooms with serene views.
• Try one of the many activities on offer at this resort near Singapore, which include a batik workshop where you’ll learn the traditional skill of dyeing fabric-making and take home your own personalised batik masterpiece!

cenizaro.com/theresidence/bintan

Wellness weekend getaway – Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai

A weekend getaway into Thailand’s tranquil mountains will give you a full body-and-mind reset. The Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai is perfectly tucked away in the foothills on the edge of the city. While you revitalise, stay in a one- or two-bedroom pool residence designed from reclaimed wood, or a restored four- bedroom teak villa with a private pool.

The highlight of the retreat is the Ayurah Wellness Centre and its six tailor-made wellness programmes. These programmes include a focus on natural healing, eliminating burnout, healthy living with diabetes, Vipassana meditation and self-love. Plus, for yoga lovers or aspiring yogis, there’s also a full immersion programme. Aleenta’s revitalisation theme is also evident at The Garden Restaurant, which puts a nutritious spin on Northern Thai Lanna cuisine and Western fusion food.

Things to do on this short trip from Singapore

• Test out your skills in the kitchen at a wellness cooking class and create a bespoke nutritionist- led plan to take back home
• Join in the complimentary daily yoga, Qi Gong, meditation and mindfulness classes during your short trip
• Work with a resident master healer, doctor, nurse and nutritionist to achieve optimum wellness and balance in your life

aleenta.com/chiang-mai

Short trips from Singapore – Aleenta Resort and Spa, Phuket

Located on the sunset side of the Andaman Sea and pristine Natai Beach is the five-star Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga Resort and Spa. This secluded paradise in Phang Nga province is just a 25-minute drive north of Phuket International Airport. Walking into your private suite, you’ll first notice the floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in the beautiful vista from outside. Each room also has a private pool or swim-up access, while the four-bedroom villas offer beachfront access. Exploring the grounds, you’ll find the Ayurah Spa and Wellness Centre, with tailor-made retreats where master therapists combine medical, holistic and nutritional wellness approaches to suit your individual needs. You’ll learn about boosting your immune system, new movement routines and tools to relax and refocus your mind – a superb souvenir to take back to Singapore!

Things to do at this resort near Singapore

• Visit iconic Phang Nga Bay to see huge limestone cliffs and rock formations
• Take your tastebuds on a journey trying new plant-based cuisines at SEASON’s Restaurant
• Keen to get out on the green? There are incredible places to visit near Singapore for golf enthusiasts and this area is home to six world-class golf courses

aleenta.com/phuket

Unwind off the Malaysian coast – BuBu Resort

The Perhentian Islands, made up of Besar (“Big”) Island and Kecil (“Small”) Island, are among the most beautiful tropical getaways off Peninsular Malaysiaʼs east coast, with clear waters full of marine life, and lush jungle set against sparkling beaches.

Among those beaches is Long Beach, which is home to BuBu Resort and BuBu Villa, ideal spots for anyone looking for a total escape from city living. BuBu Resort is at the northern end of the beach, and features 36 modern guest rooms with all the amenities you need. At the other end, half a kilometre away, is BuBu Villa, a collection of 18 single and two-room luxury villas featuring ethnic architecture and modern facilities. Once you’re checked in, private sun-loungers await, where you can soak in the sun, laze away the day and then sip on complimentary evening cocktails to cap things off!

Things to do on a weekend getaway from Singapore

• Snorkel in the designated marine park and see fish, turtles and coral reefs
• Explore the tropical rainforest on an island hike
• Ramp up the romance with a sunset cruise or a candlelit dinner on the beach

buburesort.com

Places to visit near Singapore with kids – Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort

We feel it’s fair game to include Vietnam when talking about seaside resorts near Singapore; after all, the flight to Ho Chi Minh City only takes two-and-a-half hours! Opened in 2019, Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort is located southeast of HCMC. Enjoy stunning ocean views and take your pick from the resort’s wide range of rooms, suites and villas. Fancy a private pool? Each of the villas comes with one. You can even enjoy a floating breakfast in it! For larger groups organising short trips from Singapore, there are two- to three-bedroom villas spacious enough to house everyone comfortably.

Things to do on a weekend getaway from Singapore

• Chill at Breeza Beach Club and enjoy a drink or two at the cocktail bar. You can even try your hand at whipping up your own cocktails at a mixology class!
• The resort’s Kids’ Club will also keep little guests busy with a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, fancy dress and painting.
• Treating yourself to a relaxing treatment at YHi Spa or lounge by one of the hotel’s three pools.
• Head out on an excursion to Vung Tau city, Binh Chau hot springs or other attractions nearby.

melia.com

Bike rides and massages in Vietnam – Anantara Quy Nhon Villas

We love the sound of the one- and two-bedroom rooms at Anantara Quy Nhon Villas! Located on Vietnam’s south central coast, this all-villa property comes with infinity-style pools, in-room villa host services, spacious sundecks and also oversized bathtubs. You can choose a preferred room scent, enjoy Anantara’s signature natural soap collection, and enjoy the offerings in the in-villa wine cellar and delicatessen, including a selection of charcuterie, cheese and locally-made ice cream. There’s a swim-up bar that’s great for sampling premium cocktails, Vietnamese craft beers and Cuban cigars on your weekend getaway or holiday. And be sure to tuck into local seafood and regional eats at Sea.Fire.Salt, the resort’s signature restaurant.

Things to do on a short trip from Singapore

• Treat yourself to an Anantara’s signature Dining by Design experience during your short trip from Singapore. From picnic-style to fine dining, choose which experience suits your taste.
• Looking for places to visit near Singapore offering something authentic and different? Hop on one of the hotel’s bikes and take a leisurely ride to nearby villages to explore
• Head to the Anantara Spa and enjoy massages and more in nature-inspired treatment suites.

anantara.com

Resorts in the Maldives — The Residence by Cenizaro

The Residence at Falhumaafushi

Slightly further afield than the aforementioned resorts near Singapore (but still only four and a half hours by plane!) is the iconic Maldives, home to some of the prettiest accommodation on the planet. For example, on the unspoilt island of Falhumaafushi in Gaafu Alifu atoll, one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world, you’ll find The Residence, a 94 beach-front and over-water villa resort that offers an intimate retreat in the heart of a marine oasis.

The island’s beautiful house reef has resident sharks and turtles and is accessible right from the over-water villa deck. Designed to complement the tropical surroundings, the villas have been created using natural materials and are decorated with local artefacts.

Things to do at the resort

• The Spa by Clarins on both Falhumaafushi and sister resort Dhigurah is exclusive to The Residence in the Maldives and offers a range of treatments created exclusively for the resort. It’s an ideal place to escape as it sits directly on the lagoon.
• The resort has three restaurants and four bars, including romantic Falhumaa restaurant at the end of a 230m jetty, right on the reef facing the Indian Ocean.
• There’s a fitness centre, kids’ club and excursions to nearby islands, and the PADI 5* Dive Centre offers all level of snorkellers and scuba-divers the opportunity to discover unspoilt coral reefs and rich marine life.

cenizaro.com/theresidence

The Residence Maldives Resort at Dhigurah

Sitting on a 2km long island that’s home to over 2,500 coconut palms and soft white-sand beaches, Dhigurah is connected to its sister property on Falhumaafushi by a beautiful 1km bridge – the longest private bridge in the Maldives. Dhigurah is an all-inclusive resort; guests have access to all nine restaurants and six bars across both islands, including Cantonese dining at Li Bai and Mediterranean tapas at Café del Sol at The Beach Club.

The 173 Beach, Lagoon and Water Villas overlook the stunning turquoise waters, with both sunrise and sunset views, and private pools. Meanwhile, the Kids Club is one of the largest in the southern atolls, with plenty to keep little ones entertained from nature walks and beach games to arts and crafts.

Things to do at the resort

• Enjoy a treatment in one of the 10 overwater pavilions for singles and couples at The Spa by Clarins. There’s also a fitness centre, yoga pavilion, beauty salon and nail spa.
• Pick your own harvests at the resort’s Earth Basket, a garden full of local edible plants and fruit. The resort chef can then teach you how to whip up a delicious and nutritious meal!
• Experience the Maldivian sunset on a traditional dhoni cruise, and encounter pods of playful dolphins during your short trip from Singapore.

cenizaro.com/theresidence/maldives-dg

Weekend getaways to Laos and Cambodia

There are plenty of other great short trips from Singapore. World-renowned Angkor Wat in Cambodia is a must-see, Luang Prabang is a meditative river town in Laos, and there are other resorts near Singapore in both of these countries for culture, food, beaches and more.

More on places to visit from Singapore

Indonesian overview

There are an estimated 17,508 islands in Indonesia, of which only about 6,000 are inhabited. The main islands are Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Irian Jaya and, last but not least, Java. The latter is home to 70 percent of the country’s population. For a relaxing short break, Indonesia has plenty of places to visit near Singapore. Resorts with beaches less than an hour away by ferry include on the islands of Bintan and Batam, and some smaller nearby islands such as Telunas. Elsewhere in Indo, head to Bali for terraced rice paddies, temples, ruins and jungle walks. Luxury villas can be very reasonable if you’re sharing with a group of friends or family. Lombok is described by many as “the Bali of 20 years ago”, and the nearby Gili Islands are an idyllic hideaway. Wakatobi meanwhile, is perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts, with stunning scenery and volcanoes.

Read our Indonesia fact file

Malaysia overview

Right on our doorstep, Malaysia is an easy place to visit near Singapore. In fact, many Malaysian destinations are just a drive away. As an ideal destination for short trips from Singapore it has some great beaches, historical towns and delicious food.

Just across the causeway, Johor Bahru (“JB”) can be good for the occasional shopping and eating experience (get there by car, taxi or bus). Kids will love Legoland there too; it’s barely an hour’s drive from home. Note that on Singapore public holidays, the roads can be busy, with long wait times at borders.

The Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur has areas of historical and cultural interest, fabulous views from the Petronas Towers, and buzzing nightlife in Bangsar. The nearby Batu Caves are worth visiting as one of the best places to visit near Singapore for stunning nature.

For white-sand beaches, Langkawi off the peninsular west coast and Perhentian and Redang islands off the east coast are among the highlights. Tioman, Sibu and Rawa are all great for weekend getatways. Kota Kinabalu in Borneo (East Malaysia) is a stepping-stone to Mabul and Sipadan resorts near Singapore.

Elsewhere, Penang and Malacca hit the spot for history. Taman Negara has the world’s oldest rainforest; the Cameron Highlands and tea plantations are located on the spine of the peninsula; and don’t forget the orangutans in Sabah.

Read our Malaysia fact file

A Thailand overview

Colourful but busy Bangkok has amazing food, fabulous temples, numerous markets and malls, and interesting nightlife. Not far away are the stunning temples of Ayuthaya which are best seen by bicycle. For a beach holiday less than two hours away from Singapore by air, visit Phuket, Koh Samui or Krabi. Or take a boat trip around the breathtaking Ao Phang Nga National Park. Up north, a jungle adventure involving elephants, teak forests and numerous hill tribes awaits you in the Golden Triangle’s Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Read our Thailand fact file

A Vietnam overview

Cruise along the Mekong Delta and visit the astonishing Cu Chi tunnels just outside Ho Chi Minh City for a reminder of the war years. In the north, soak up the colonial French atmosphere of Hanoi, then leave the city for a boat trip around picturesque Halong Bay. The middle of the country boasts culturally significant Hue and the photogenic, sleepy Hoi An, a must-visit for a step back in time.

There aren’t too many places to visit near Singapore that are like the rural area around Sapa. This part of northwest Vietnam is something different. It offers everything from village retreats to rugged cycling trips, and cooking lessons so you can bring your holiday experience home.

Read our Vietnam fact file

Like these ideas for short trips from Singapore? Read about more places to visit near Singapore and other weekend getaways in our Travel section.