by Coleen Leong
Staycations are all about a change of scenery and if you’ve been dreaming about soaking up captivating views of green landscapes with nary a high-rise building in sight, check into the five-star Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore. Opened in December last year, the luxury urban resort, whose Thai name translates as “town in heaven”, is the first Singapore property of Thailand’s Dusit International.
Flanked by Laguna National Golf & Resort Club’s Classic (which Tiger Woods has played on) and Masters championship golf courses, the resort is surrounded by tree-lined lush green fairways, dunes, mounds and bunkers – not your typical views in land-scarce Singapore.
There’s nothing higher than the resort’s six-storey main building, whose sleek design mimics the contours of a golf course and features a curvilinear roof. The glass and steel façade that wraps a section of The Greenhouse, the resort’s all-day dining restaurant, even resembles a golf ball.
Across from the main building are eight double-storey pavilions (each with its own plunge pool) – rentable spaces for corporate workshops, wedding ceremonies and other celebrations.
In between the pavilions and main building are three pools – a 53m Lap Pool, a 32m Relaxation Pool and a Kid’s Pool that looks like a putting green.
Golfers who are not members of Laguna National Golf & Resort Club can have the privilege of teeing off at the two 18-hole courses plus enjoy an overnight stay at the resort through its Stay & Play package.
The resort also offers SRV-eligible staycation packages. Click here for more details.
Here’s what you can look forward to during your staycation at the resort.
Chill out in chic Asian-inspired rooms and suites
The resort has 198 rooms and suites decked out in soothing beige and brown hues. Rooms on the ground floor have cosy patios for chilling outdoors, while suites have outdoor terraces as well as outdoor bathtubs.
Be sure to get a room that faces the pool to avoid views of the mega construction of the East Coast Integrated Depot opposite the resort.
The resort’s Thai hospitality roots come in the form of fresh Thai coconuts which are delivered to your room as well as a welcome drink of homemade pandan lemongrass which you can enjoy at poolside bar and grill Tee Deck.
The minibar, complimentary for guests, is stocked with coconut water, a natural sparkling fruit soda, an isotonic drink, San Benedetto still and sparkling mineral water from Italy and wholesome snacks like mixed nuts and a granola bar. There’s also a Lavazza coffee machine and a selection of Ronnefeldt teas for a hot cuppa whenever you need one.
Bathrooms are stocked with amenities by Thai aromatherapy brand Nature Touch and for in-room entertainment, there’s a 55-inch Smart TV with 43 channels.
Savour authentic Thai flavours
Fans of unadulterated Thai food are in for a real treat as The Greenhouse serves a range of authentic Lanna (northern Thailand) and Pak Tai (southern Thailand) dishes from its Thai kitchen that’s helmed by a Thai chef.
Tuck into house specialities such as Nam Tok Neua (grilled Wagyu beef salad), Goong Mae Nam (Thai blue river prawns cooked over charcoal), Gaeng Kiaow Waan Gai (spicy green coconut curry chicken) and Khao Niao Mamuang (Thai mango sticky rice) in an Insta-worthy lush, forest-themed atmosphere. Sit by the window to soak up captivating views of the Masters course.
Head over to Tee Deck for a selection of Thai-inspired BBQ dishes and Bangkok-style street food like Plaa Takrai Talay (spicy seafood salad), Peek Gai Tod Nam Pla (deep-fried chicken wings), Moo Ping (marinated pork skewers with sticky rice) and Som Tam Gai Yang (spring chicken cooked over charcoal).
Fun & play
No staycation is complete without a dip in the pool or lounging by the poolside on a sunbed with a book or drink in hand. You can lounge in style in a private cabana which can be rented for two hours for $100++ per person and includes $75 nett food and beverage spending credit at Tee Deck.
The pool area is also a great place for plane spotting as the resort is a mere 10-minute drive from Changi Airport.
But if your idea of fun is working out, DFiT has all the cutting-edge cardio and weight resistance equipment you’ll need for building muscle and burning fat. Best of all, you’ll get to enjoy striking views of the Masters golf course while you walk or run on the treadmill or climb the step mill in the fitness centre.
The resort also offers a variety of fun recreational activities which include Thai dance class, yoga session, terrarium workshop, resin art workshop, kids magic funshop as well as art and craft workshops for kids.
Rejuvenate and unwind at Devarana Wellness
As the resort is big on wellness, its signature spa is the perfect place to enjoy some luxe pampering and healing treatments. Inspired by the concept of a garden in heaven, Devarana Wellness offers a variety of treatments and holistic therapies that help you rediscover your senses, and revitalise your body and mind.
Massages can be combined with a yoga session and after your treatments, you can even tuck into healthy offerings from a Wellness menu that includes a detox drink at Tee Deck.
Signature treatments include the 90-minute Devarana Signature Massage which combines Thai, ayurvedic and shiatsu techniques with Swedish and aromatherapy influences; and the two-hour Singaporean Delightful Journey which starts with a chendol-inspired body scrub made with sugar, coconut milk, pandan juice and pandan leaves, and ends with a deep tissue massage that employs techniques performed mostly with the elbows.
 and Masters championship golf courses, the resort is surrounded by tree-lined lush green fairways, dunes, mounds and bunkers.){kind=link}