Why Singapore is the Ultimate Guide to Ultra-Luxury Travel

Locals, you know, they often call it the “Little Red Dot,” which, I suppose, refers to its rather tiny size on world maps. But don’t let those diminutive proportions fool you. Singapore, this city state, it really punches way above its weight, especially when it comes to offering travelers high-octane opulence and, well, just plain luxury living. This place, after all, served as the backdrop for that movie, Crazy Rich Asians. So, if you’ve ever wondered how the super rich actually experience this city, from the most famous hotels to exclusive dining and private yachts, stick around. We’re going to reveal just that.

Unveiling Singapore’s Elite Stays: Hotels That Define Opulence

When it comes to five-star accommodation in Singapore, there’s certainly no shortage of options. Marina Bay Sands, for instance, is famous for its rooftop infinity pool. But, and this is a big but, it’s the Chairman Suite that’s truly the hidden gem there. It’s so exclusive, in fact, that it’s invite only. Imagine that. A short hop away from downtown, on the resort island of Sentosa, you’ll find Capella Singapore. This hotel is quite famous for being the venue for high-level international meetings. For the most prestigious stay, you might want to consider booking their Colonial Manor. And if history and heritage are what you’re after, there’s really nothing quite like the Raffles Hotel Singapore. This iconic establishment boasts not one, but two presidential suites to choose from. Very few hotels in the world, I think, are as famous as Raffles Hotel Singapore.

Overseeing every aspect of this elite establishment is General Manager Christian Westbeld. He speaks with a certain pride, you know, about the extreme pleasure and honor he has looking after Raffles Hotel Singapore’s day-to-day business, as well as everything related to its strategic positioning. The history of Raffles Hotel is incredibly diverse, stretching all the way back to 1887, when it was founded by the Sarkies brothers. From its earliest days, the hotel’s service and luxurious amenities just naturally attracted the rich and famous. They’ve always welcomed celebrities, apparently. Rudyard Kipling, the author of The Jungle Book, he stayed there. Somerset Maugham, Charlie Chaplin too. And yes, they have the celebrities and stars of our current times arriving and staying, but of course, they don’t share their names. Sometimes, though, there’s no hiding it, especially when the world’s media and hundreds of screaming fans give the game away. But for Christian, what’s truly important is that every guest, every single one, is treated like royalty.

He believes their luxury isn’t just about the gilded decor; it happens in the way they relate to their guests, how they talk to them, how they entertain and excite them. That, he says, is what truly defines luxury hospitality for them. And, well, a few mod-cons along the way certainly can’t hurt. The hotel was, quite remarkably, the first in Singapore to have air conditioning and electricity. They were also the first to offer a butler service, and to have French chefs. These are all attributes that, even now, still define them. And the innovations, they just continue. In 2019, Raffles completed a renovation that was rumored to have cost close to $200 million. They actually preserved everything that made them who they are, and then, they added different layers to make them relevant again, creating atmospheres, environments, and experiences that today’s luxury travelers are looking for. I think the restoration they did really put them back on the map as one of the top hotels in the world, and the renovation allowed them to continue that path. When you stay at this top hotel, Christian couldn’t resist giving us a tour. He showed off their beautiful Palm Court garden, which is one of the most sought-after spaces for hotel residents. Raffles Hotel Singapore is built on three hectares, with half of that space dedicated only to hotel residents. Space, he notes, creates luxury. In addition to the 115 suites that make up Raffles Hotel, they also have nine restaurants and bars. It’s truly a place where time, I suppose, just ticks in a different way. Everything slows down within their walls.

• Marina Bay Sands: Known for its rooftop infinity pool and the exclusive, invite-only Chairman Suite.
• Capella Singapore: Located on Sentosa Island, a venue for high-level international meetings, offering the prestigious Colonial Manor.
• Raffles Hotel Singapore: A historic landmark (founded 1887), offering two presidential suites.
• Raffles pioneered air conditioning, electricity, butler service, and French chefs in Singaporean hotels.
• Underwent a $200 million renovation in 2019 to blend heritage with modern luxury.
• Emphasizes personalized guest relationships and a feeling of timelessness as key luxury elements.
• Features a Palm Court garden, 115 suites, and nine restaurants and bars.

Indulging in Retail Therapy: Singapore’s High-End Shopping Scene

With relaxation covered, cementing its position as a travel must, Singapore boasts a host of shopping options to suit, well, every budget and taste. For those looking to satiate their fashion fix, Orchard Road is definitely on every visitor’s itinerary. It boasts over 5,000 stores along its 2.2 km route. And, for luxury labels, you simply cannot miss the eye-catching architecture that is ION Orchard, which itself boasts over 400 top-end stores. It’s quite a sight, really. And for those hoping for a more nature-filled experience with an ocean breeze, you might want to head over to Marina Bay Sands. They have 270 boutiques and 19 duplexes, one of the largest duplex collections in Singapore today. They pride themselves on being the one-stop luxury shopping destination, offering everything from watches and jewelry to home and living, fashion, beauty, and even a dedicated children’s precinct. They’re constantly evolving, constantly seeking new ways to deliver the best-in-class retail experiences.

So, their VIP shoppers and the celebrities who have visited them find it really convenient. And if they feel that they don’t want to walk, they even have a buggy service for them any time of the day. Welcome to your Marina Bay Sands personal shopping experience, they might say. This personal shopping service offers to chauffeur VIPs around the mall. And unlike other personal shopping services where you’re given only one stylist, this one provides many, all from the brands themselves. Imagine that: a stylist from Ralph Lauren, then one from Buccellati. Buccellati, by the way, opened its first store in Southeast Asia in 2022, and it’s their biggest flagship store in Asia Pacific. Marina Bay Sands isn’t only collaborating with brands to offer new experiences; it also works with some of the world’s best designers and architects, offering unique and visually stunning buildings all housed in over 74,000 square meters of space. Inspired by the Roman Pantheon, the Apple Store here makes its mark as the only floating, spherical Apple Store on the planet. And an underwater tunnel joins the main mall to the only floating Louis Vuitton store in the world, housed in a striking Crystal Pavilion. It’s not just the stores themselves that are out to impress, either. Designer Ned Kahn conceived Rain Oculus, a 21-meter whirlpool that is both a skylight and a piece of artwork. The water collected is recycled back to the piece and also fills a canal that runs through the atrium. It is just one of the many artworks and initiatives that high-end visitors can explore in a space that is constantly evolving.

• Orchard Road: A major shopping destination with over 5,000 stores.
• ION Orchard: Features over 400 high-end luxury stores.
• Marina Bay Sands: Offers 270 boutiques and 19 duplexes, claiming to be a one-stop luxury shopping destination.
• Provides a personal shopping service with brand-specific stylists and buggy service.
• Features unique architectural designs, including the floating spherical Apple Store and the floating Louis Vuitton store in a Crystal Pavilion.
• Showcases art installations like Ned Kahn’s Rain Oculus, which recycles water.

A Culinary Journey: Michelin Stars and Million Dollar Cocktails

With retail therapy all done, it’s time to relax, eat, and just enjoy. And Singapore, well, it’s quite famous for its cuisine, offering a truly global array of menu options, including a remarkable 55 restaurants that have been awarded Michelin stars. Achieving the highest rating of three stars, Les Amis offers French cuisine with an occasional Asian twist that the Michelin guide describes as ‘singularly sophisticated.’ Or, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you could go neo-Nordic with Zen, where premium ingredients infuse the dishes with a unique character. And it’s in an understated and graceful setting at Odette, where you’ll find head chef and co-owner Julien Royer. He’s quite passionate, it seems. He shared their signature compot peppercorn pigeon, served with kabocha pumpkin and glazed chestnut. The name of Odette, he explained, comes from his grandma; it’s his little tribute to her. She was, he said, someone very important to him, the person who actually showed him how much passion, pleasure, happiness, and emotion you can give to people through food and cuisine.

With techniques naturally handed down from his French family, head chef Julien’s award-winning cuisine also has a classic Asian influence, a nod to the part of the world that he has called home for over a decade. He mentioned a “little Asian touch” – a bao made of pigeon meat and pigeon liver that’s served as a side dish for the pigeon dish. The idea, he stressed, is to use every single part of the product, from the pigeon breast to the leg, the bone for the jus, the heart, and the liver for the bao. A childhood spent foraging and learning the lay of the land has certainly helped shape Odette’s menu. But for this chef, there’s only one true influence: the produce and the raw material, the raw ingredients that will always be the starting point of any recipe. Chef Julien holds firm in ensuring the quality of ingredients is never compromised, and he takes pride in sourcing from artisanal, ethical, and, where possible, local producers. There’s always this notion of a sense of place for them; that is important. Being in Singapore, as he noted, the sourcing is a little bit paradoxical because they don’t have much growing there. But at the same time, they have access to plenty of different products from different parts of the world. Really, the world is their market.

Odette also boasts an impressive selection of wines from around the world, carefully selected by its wine director, Vincent Tan, to go perfectly with the dishes. The most expensive wines they have are definitely from Burgundy, collections from Domaine Leroy, Domaine Romanee Conti, which are among some of the rarest in the world. He showed off probably the most expensive bottle on their list right now: a bottle of Domaine Romanee Conti Grand Cru from a 2017 vintage. Right now, it’s on the list for $30,000. A hefty price tag, I suppose, reserved for the most discerning wine connoisseurs, with a purchasing power to match, of course. But this is First Class, and we are showcasing the very best that money can buy. Odette has been consistently serving Singapore’s elite since it opened its doors in 2015. Chef Julien wants people to feel at home, have a good time, and hopefully forget about their daily worries of life as soon as they pass the door. Spend a few hours with them, re-boost their energy, and the positivity and happiness, and I think that’s exactly what they are striving for every lunch, every dinner, every day. It sounds like a truly immersive experience.

And let’s not forget the drinks! Raffles, as you may know, is the birthplace of the famous Singapore Sling. But even before its creator shook the world with that concoction, he came up with another which is, perhaps, much more First Class. It’s called a Million-dollar cocktail, created in the 1910s. It’s more of an egg white, gin sour, slightly on the fruitier side, more on the drier side. Some sweet vermouth and a homemade grenadine syrup. The next ingredient would be pineapple juice. After that, you just need a dry shake, which is basically shaking the cocktail without the ice. There’s no dilution, no chilling, but this one is required for creating the foam for the cocktail, which is very essential. After the dry shake, you add some ice and give it a nice shake. Then, once it’s nicely chilled, you fine strain it. And the Million-dollar cocktail is complete. It sounds like a rather elaborate process for a drink, doesn’t it?

• Singapore boasts 55 Michelin-starred restaurants.
• Les Amis: Three-Michelin-starred French cuisine with Asian twists.
• Zen: Neo-Nordic cuisine with premium ingredients.
• Odette: Three-Michelin-starred French restaurant by Chef Julien Royer, inspired by his grandmother.
• Odette emphasizes using every part of the produce and sourcing ethical, artisanal, and local ingredients.
• Odette’s wine cellar includes rare Burgundy wines, with a Domaine Romanee Conti Grand Cru (2017 vintage) listed at $30,000.
• Raffles Hotel is the birthplace of the Singapore Sling and the “Million-dollar cocktail” (egg white, gin sour, fruitier/drier).

Sailing in Style: The Royal Albatross and Iconic Views

So, what sites do Crazy Rich Tourists need to check off their list when they visit Singapore? Gardens by the Bay offers a horticultural tropical treasure trove, while the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is a place to worship and explore in Chinatown. And don’t miss the Instagram-ready backdrop that is the Merlion; it is, after all, Singapore’s National icon. Also a must-see for most visitors is the eclectic skyline. And what better way to view that vista than from the balmy waters of the Singapore Strait? Operating since 2015, the Royal Albatross has gained a reputation for being one of the most memorable and luxurious maritime experiences this island state has to offer. Passengers get to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view that covers both sea and sky. And the man behind it all is Peter Pela.

Peter gave a tour of the grand saloon, explaining that this particular space he had to redesign six times to get it right. In the end, those solid wooden beams are actually the aircon ducts. He recounted going to a timber yard in Malaysia, and literally, as he was walking out, he saw this huge pile of very old wood. He took an axe and chopped at them, and inside, there was this beautiful redwood. So, they literally bought six tons of that wood. They then made the decision to spend, quite literally, nine months training the artisans to learn how to sail the ship. And they still have nine of that crew with them today, which, I think, is a testament to why they keep the ship in such a high level of maintenance: because they’re passionate about it. They literally handbuilt the ship. They’ve had many celebrities, movie stars, F1 drivers like Mika Hakkinen, for example, so they do have quite an A-list clientele. Their most famous, he’d say, is Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, who came out in 2018, he believes it was, and she spent a few hours on board and absolutely loved it. It’s just such a unique, romantic experience. You really have to experience it to understand it, he says, but they really focused on the whole ambiance and the setting with the mood lighting and the music and the dining experience. And that’s what people love, and why people keep coming back. They just try to do things that are different. The ship is different, the experience is different, and they just try and think outside the box. It sounds like they’ve truly mastered the art of bespoke luxury.

• Royal Albatross: A luxurious tall ship offering panoramic views of Singapore’s skyline.
• The ship’s interior features unique design elements, including aircon ducts disguised as solid wooden beams.
• Built with six tons of reclaimed redwood, handbuilt by artisans who were then trained to sail the ship.
• Has hosted numerous celebrities, including Princess Anne.
• Focuses on creating a unique, romantic ambiance with mood lighting, music, and dining.