Is Marina Bay Sands Worth It? Well, it really depends on what you're looking for. (We can't deny that it's pricey!) Here's a Marina Bay Sands Hotel Review by someone who's stayed there so many times, my friends call it my office! (Most recently in June 2024.)
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Marina Bay Sands is one of the most famous hotels in Singapore, thanks in part to the movie, Crazy Rich Asians. I've been lucky enough to stay there over 10 times. (Thanks to my Mom's friends: thank you Aunties!)
Whilst I'd love for all of you to stay there (so I can hopefully make affiliate commission LOL), I must tell you that whilst I love it, it's not for everyone. (For one, the price already makes it inaccessible to quite a few people!) Here's what you need to know to help decide if it's for you, and how to make the best of your stay.
Before we get on with the nitty-gritty of my 10+ stays, here's some key things you need to know about staying at Marina Bay Sands:
- staying at MBS hotel is the ONLY way you can use the famous MBS infinity pool (It's so important I've dedicated an entire page just to it- Click the last link for a review of the pool. There is no extra cost to use the pool.)
- if you want large rooms, MBS has some of the biggest hotel rooms I've seen in Asia (you can have 3 adults stay in each room.)
- you need to be able to afford to spend approximately S$600 to S$1400 (US$440-US$1035) for a hotel room (per night)
- the lower rate is for the older, unrenovated rooms in Tower 3
- the higher rate is for the newer rooms in Towers 1 & 2
- there is a distinct difference in these 2 categories of rooms (I'll show photos later.) The newer ones feel a LOT more luxurious, whilst the older ones are well-sized and well-equipped but not too different from any other 5-star hotel
- if you're looking for a luxury stay, and your idea of luxury is privacy and exclusivity, then MBS may not be for you. The hotel has around 1,850 rooms so how private can that be? It's really a place to see and be seen. Having said that, I HATE the idea of seeing-and-being-seen, but I still love staying at Marina Bay Sands, because everything just works super well and the service is amazing. A friend who is the anti-thesis to everything MBS offers- she prefers intimate small boutique hotels to 5-star chains and has been known to rearrange even the furniture of Four Seasons!- left impressed after staying here!
Booking rating (3 Apr 2024): 9.2 of 10
Google rating (3 Apr 2024): 4.6 of 5
Tripadvisor rating (8 Apr 2024): 2023 Traveller's Choice Best of the Best (4.5 stars)
Although there is a big price difference, after staying at the (cheaper) Tower 3, I enjoyed but wasn't a huge advocate of Marina Bay Sands Hotel. However, after staying at the more luxurious (and more expensive) Towers 1 & 2, I started recommending Marina Bay Sands hotel to everyone! You just feel super pampered, and staying there feels like a treat! (If you've already made up your mind, I would be so appreciative if you book MBS hotel via my affiliate link, at no cost to you. It helps maintain the cost of this Asian travel blog. Thank you 🙂 )
If not, read on to find out more about staying at the hotel!
Note: staying here for your entire stay may feel like too much ($$), but it will make a special occasion such as a birthday, aniniversary etc feel much more special.
Location
The location is one of my favorite things about staying at MBS. The hotel is located in the heart of Singapore city, in the Marina Bay Area.
MBS hotel has direct, air-conditioned access (wheel-chair accessible) to the Bayfront Station (i.e. the MRT/ local subway), Marina Bay Sands Shoppes (a luxury shopping complex), and the Marina Waterfront.
It is also very close to (by which I mean walking distance, even in Singapore's heat):
- Gardens by the Bay
- Art Science Museum
And fairly close to (walking distance when the weather is good. In Singapore- it's hit-or-miss):
- Esplanade
- DBS Sailing by the Bay (free and fun sailing activity in MBS!)
- Raffles City (shopping area)
Note: you also get buses at MBS but I prefer the subway, because the hotel is so big, finding the bus stop is more tedious (and hot) than getting the subway.
Check-In/ Out
Check-in is at 3 p.m. and check-out at 11 a.m. However, for the longest time, I thought it was 2 p.m. so would roll up to the counter at 1-something, and still get let into my room early! (The hotel tries to accommodate you- within reason- if they have space but they are often fully booked.)
Out of over 10 stays, there was only 1 time that the room was not ready at 3p.m. and so I could only get to my room at 4 p.m. (You get a card for the famous infinity pool to hang out in the meantime, where you can enjoy poolside dining and relax.)
The receptionist always asks if I need help getting the bag up to the room (but I always do it myself, since it's easy to wheel.)
I've also asked for a later check-out on occasion at Marina Bay Sands Hotel and it's never been an issue to have the room till 12 noon. (I've never asked for a check-out later than that.) The concierge is also happy to store your luggage if you arrive earlier/ leave later than your check-in/ check-out.
The only thing I would improve about this process is that the luggage drop-off is opposite lobby from the check-in/check-out, which feels a little far to walk 😛 (Does that sounds a bit spoilt?)
Rooms
There are 2 types of rooms at MBS:
- Garden facing (with a balcony)
- City facing (no balcony)
Both have floor-to-ceiling windows so you can enjoy the incredible views. Which room is "better" would depend on what you prefer to look at. (If you want me to do an in-depth comparison of both types of rooms, let me know in the comments!)
They have always been sparkling clean- I have never had an issue with cleanliness during any of my 10+ stays. When you enter your room, besides the usual free tea/ coffee/ fresh milk (in the fridge) and chocolates, there's also a Welcome Gift.
Plus, the air conditioning is individually controlled (i.e. you can set the temperature in your room. In Korea, some 5-star hotels didn't allow you to adjust the temperature!)
Note: for lower floors, I prefer the garden view. For longer stays and higher floors, I prefer city-facing.
Towers 1 and 2
I still remember the first time I stayed in the newly renovated rooms in Towers 1 and 2. I was blown away by how luxurious the rooms was! (To confirm that the room was as good as I thought it was, over my 10 stays, I've had 4 different friends come and visit, and they ALL left impressed and wanting to stay at Marina Bay Sands. (One even wanted to buy the dustbin which, luckily, is not for sale!))
Note: rooms have slightly different configurations, so every stay is slightly different!
Tower 3
These are the "old" rooms that have not been renovated. They're also cheaper.
When I used to stay here, I was never impressed with the actual room, but I still enjoyed my stay at MBS (because the bathroom and room are still large and comfortable and the hotel functions very efficiently.) There's a bit more of a personal touch as you get a towel-folded-into-a-toy gift (e.g. a dog or bear) which you don't get in the "fancy" rooms.
The offering in the mini bar is also different- the snacks are more down-to-earth (see below.) Having said that, the cleaning staff sometimes leave me FREE snacks when I stay in Tower 3. (e.g. free soft drinks and bags of chips.) This does not happen in Towers 1 and 2, although they do sometimes give me more than my share of chocolate. (Yum.)
The plus side is I'm less inclined to spend ALL day in my hotel room- which is what I often do when staying in Towers 1 and 2 (because the rooms are so amazing)- which isn't ideal as a tourist!
Note: you can see into some of the Garden Facing Rooms from the link bridge (to the Shoppes) I stayed there once, and people waved at me from the bridge. I highly recommend using the day blinds.
Mini Bar
Hotel guests get:
- Nespresso machine (free capsules)
- TWG tea (free- note this is for the tea packets. The JARS of TWG tea in the mini bar are NOT free.)
- (very nice) chocolates (3- all slightly different flavors)
- sugar cubes
- fresh milk (in the fridge)
- bottled water (they are SO generous with the bottled water- you never need to order the (expensive) bottles from room service!
I also like how there's a drawer to store your personal groceries in the fridge drawer.
Toiletries
The quality of the freebies in the Marina Bay Sands Hotel room- think bedroom slippers and laundry bag- are the best I've seen at any hotel! The laundry and shoe bags are SO thick and silky, and the slippers have exquisite detailing. (They honestly look like they could be SOLD though they do tend to flatten a little after using for a week plus.)
The toiletries given to the rooms in Towers 1 and 2 were recently changed (in 2024) to Jo Loves by Jo Malone. (Previously they were Salvatore Ferragamo.) I LOVE the new scent, however I must say it does smell quite floral, so not sure what guys will think of it!
The last time I stayed at Tower 3, the toiletries given were Roberto Cavalli (No Parabens) but that may have since changed.
Pool
At the time of writing, this is the world's largest infinity pool.
The MBS poolside has dining. I enjoy having a bite looking at the sea in the evening as it's so breezy. It gets pretty cool by 7 or 8 pm- I even needed a blanket once! (You can eat by the pool from 6am-11pm, with a short break in between to change from breakfast to lunch.)
You need 1 key card per guest to access the pool.
Note: The pool is closed in stormy weather. (Singapore rains over 100 days a year. So far, I've never not been able to access the pool area when I wanted to. However, if your entire point of staying at Marina Bay Sands is for the pool (it's not mine), you may want to book 2 nights at MBS, just in case.)
I love the newly renovated deluxe room, but if you're just here for the pool, you can save money by booking the cheapest room. TIck it off your bucket list!
Other Facilities
Spa
The hotel's in-house spa is the Banyan Tree Spa. I've not tried it as it's expensive. If you want a cheaper massage, there's Natureland over at the shopping mall. Not as fancy but serviceable, in my opinion. (It's clean and comfortable!)
There's also a gym and fitness centre where you can exercise whilst enjoying great views.
Turn Down Service
For Towers 1 and 2, you get a turn down service at night (between 530 to 730, usually.) This isn't just making your bed. The MBS hotel staff, they also:
- top up toiletries (by Jo Malone. Previously by Salvatore Ferragamo and Roberto Cavalli)
- top up water, tea, coffee, and chocolates
- place your slippers, water, and a glass by your bedsite
- freshen up your room
Note: if you look East Asian, the housekeeping staff may attempt to speak to you in Chinese. Just speak in English and tell them you don't understand, and they'll try to switch to English. The housekeeping staff has always been helpful and generous.
Classes
I also like how MBS hotel has some fun classes, that are a little different from the usual gym offering, such as:
- Sunrise yoga on the Observation Deck (ticketed)
- zumba in the pool (not regular, free)
- Aqua Fit on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Yoga on Monday and Wednesdays
- Pilates on Tuesdays and Fridays
- etc
Room Service
I've ordered room service several times and it always takes 40 minutes to arrive. (The operator will tell you, which is something I appreciate.)
Something else I really like is that you can make an order via the MBS app, which is extremely convenient and easy to use. (Or you can use the traditional way- the phone.) Oh and room service runs 24 hours. There are fewer options late at night, but more than enough to satisfy you.
For a complete review of the Marina Bay Sands in-room dining, click the link. For a sumamry, here are some of the dishes I've tried and what I think of them:
Breakfast
- Nasi Lemak: Delicious! It is one of the most expensive nasi lemaks I've had in Singapore- except for the Coconut Club- but the curry chicken and sambal shrimp taste good. The portion is generous too so
- Japanese Breakfast: Not super impressed. I would not repeat this.
- 2 Eggs Breakfast: Not impressed.
Lunch/ Dinner
- Wonton soup (for kids): at $18, this is one of the more affordable options on the menu. It's big enough to feed an adult! Bigger than the portions at some hawker stalls. (It's Hong Kong style, not Singapore style wonton noodles.)
- Laksa: not bad. Hawker centres are still better and cheaper, but this is decent laksa you can eat in comfortable surroundings. The soup is served in a thermojug to keep it warm!
- XO Fried Rice: not good. There was no wok hei. I don't think the Chinese room service chef is the same one as the Blossom Chinese Restaurant chef because the standard of stir-frying is so different. (Click the link for a full review of the restaurant.) The XO Fried Rice at Jumbo (in MBS Shoppes) is MUCH better!
Another dish I'd like to try at Marina Bay Sands is the $42 Angus Beef ramyeon, but that will have to wait till this blog actually starts earning money! As of now, paying $40+ for instant noodles feels too extravagant to me!
Note: to save money, if I want to eat in my room, I usually just takeaway food from the Marina Bay Sands food court and bring it back to the room to eat. (Click through for a review of all the stalls/) There's a 30cents charge for the container. You can get 10% back in Reward Points/ Dollars if you have the (free) MBS Lifestyle Rewards Card.
Restaurants
You have (almost) any type of cuisine you could want at Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Shoppes, from restaurants by celebrity chefs to Singaporean street food:
- Singaporean: the food court, room service, Renku (a few dishes)
- Chinese Restaurants: Blossom (in the Hotel), Jumbo, Imperial Treasures, Pu Tien, Tim Ho Wan, Canton Paradise, Mott 32, room service etc (Click through for reviews of each restaurant.)
- Japanese Restaurants: Wakuda (in the Hotel), Waku Ghin, Sen of Japan, Koma, room service etc
- Italian restaurant: Lavo (on top of the Hotel, not recommended), Da Paolo, Robertas etc
- American: fine dining at Cut steakhouse, Spago by Wolfgang Puck, Yardbird
- Other Western: Bread Street Kitchen, Daniel Boulud, Le Noir, TWG etc
- Vietnamese: So Pho (in the mall, Shoppes, not great)
- Indian: Punjab Grill, the food court, or room service
- Korean: room service or the food court
- Hot Pot: Hai Di Lao, Fatt Choy
- With live music: Renku (in the hotel), Le Noir
Note: There is even a vegan burger truck on the waterfront promenade! I waited slightly over 10 minutes for my burger, enjoying the nice music from the truck. The fries were crisp but you don't get sauce or serviettes and the portion is quite small. (I needed dessert.) The truck has no seating so I sat by the water to eat but it was so windy the box flew with the breeze. Tasted quite good but I didn't find it good value (the burger at the MBS pool was better but not plant-based.)
Things to Do Nearby
One of the best things about MBS is how central the hotel is, the easy access to the MRT (i.e. getting around Singapore comfortably), and the number of fun things to do nearby. (If you need to save after splurging on a Marina Bay Sands hotel room, here's a list of free things to do in the area, such as the Spectra water show. For a more complete Singapore itinerary, click here.)
Some of my favorite things to do in the Marina area are:
- Gardens by the Bay (part ticketed and part free, open 5 am to 2 am): at. 745pm/ 845pm, there is a Gardens Supertree Grove show. If your room faces the garden, you should be able to see it from your room.
- Spectra Light Show 8 am/ 9 am (10 am on Fri and Sat)
- Walk or just sit around the Waterfront (there are nice lounge chairs)- you can also bike or skate around the area
- Take the MRT to Chinatown to eat at the hawker centres (direct train line)
- Check out the shopping mall, which is connected by an air-conditioned underpass (accessible, with lifts.)
- Artscience Museum
Note: sometimes the hotel has movie nights by the pool. From 11-18 March 2023, at 8 pm, a different movie was filmed every every night. Bean bags are allocated 1st come 1st serve and the experience had a resort feel (although it was mostly kids watching.) Shows ranged from "how to train dragons", "white chicks," "Jumanji," and "Spider Man No Way Home."
Comfort for Seniors
There is wheelchair access from the hotel to the mall and MRT (subway station)- all in air-conditioned comfort, thank goodness!
The hotel has wheelchairs that they can loan to you. Unfortunately, you can't reserve them but when I asked the concierge, he told me that they've never run out before.
The MBS Hotel staff are very attentive- but not to the point of obsequiousness - and I would feel comfortable leaving my geriatric Mother in their care.
In a nutshell, is Marina Bay Sands worth it? (Affiliate link, if you found the information here helpful, I'd be so grateful if you would support it by booking through the link. Thanks!) If you can afford it, want to pamper yourself, and are not looking for privacy, then YES! I, certainly, am always happy when going back to stay.
Any questions about staying at Marina Bay Sands? Leave it in the comments!
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