Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa

The hotel was built in 1993, and though some aspects look slightly dated, others are timeless. A cobbled valet driveway covered by a glass ceiling lets guests glimpse the room balconies adorned with colorful flowers above. Beyond the entryway, the lobby is a vast open-air affair. Inside, large irregular stone slabs cover the floor and golden hues illuminate decorative floral panels. 

The atmosphere of the hotel is always bustling. As most of the guests are families, expect kids running around everywhere, from the pool to the lobby. Unlike at other kid-oriented resorts on Sentosa Island, Shangri-La is right on the beach, and many room balconies have views of the South China Sea -- both big draws here. (Just note that at certain times of year the beach hosts major parties with deafening music, so check the calendar.) The decor and level of service don't quite measure up to other Shangri-La properties, however.

The hotel is located on the edge of Siloso Beach, along the western end of the island. It is a bit removed from the chaos of Resort World while still being convenient to its attractions. The location can be accessed via cable car, beach tram (connecting Beach Station to Siloso Beach), or monorail. 

Sentosa Island itself is divided into two very distinct parts -- the tranquil, more secluded eastern half (home to golf courses, quiet resorts, and forests) and the younger, tourism-oriented western half, home to the massive Resort World entertainment complex. It's a six-minute drive to Universal Studios Singapore and about a 20-minute drive to mainland Singapore's downtown area via the Sentosa Gateway.

Shangri-La has 454 rooms and suites with a tropical decor in cream and green hues and light wood furnishings. Carpets with an orange and black pattern add variety to the color scheme, while furnished private balconies with sliding shutters allow for a lot (or a little) natural light, depending on the unit. Rooms come in separate tiers with garden, pool, or sea views, though all get 40-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Standard bathrooms have either a walk-in shower or shower/tub combos -- not the separate shower and tub one would expect from an advertised five-star hotel. Suites add iPod docks, DVD players, and Nespresso machines, along with large outdoor patios or balconies with hot tubs. Most room categories have connecting rooms available.

Thanks to the direct access to a white-sand beach, guests can find volleyball, soccer, and other outdoor activities, along with non-motorized boating equipment, such as kayaks and paddle boats for rental. Off the beach, the huge outdoor pool area at the center of the resort has a large pool with an integrated kiddy pool and two hot tubs surrounded by a sundeck. There's also a splash zone with interactive water features and a separate pool with a pair of three-story waterslides so children can go wild away from the adult sunbathers. A climbing wall and a flying trapeze provide for more daring diversions, and there are a playground and game room for the fainthearted. More kid-friendly amenities abound in the Toots Club, a supervised indoor playground (for kids 5 to 12) with a treehouse jungle gym, slide, and activities available for a fee (but included in some packages). Children under 5 can use the space with parental supervision. Other daily activities include tours of the herb garden, beach games, and pool games.

While the kids are occupied, the full-service spa Chi has treatment rooms with the usual single and couples pampering, along with a hot tub and steam room. The 24-hour fitness center is a bright space with greenhouse-style windows equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, and weight training machines. There's also a warmly decorated hospitality lounge with a library, espresso machine, and business center with printing services. Event facilities include seven meeting rooms and a ballroom that can accommodate 480 people.

The main dining options are clustered together in one central building with four eateries. The Silver Shell Cafe has an open kitchen with a buffet as well as an a la carte menu. It's kid-friendly, with a fridge stocked full of baby food, complete with sterilizers for baby bottles, and plenty of outdoor seating. Casserole specializes in international comfort foods, from Moroccan tajines to southeast Asian clay pot dishes. There's also a noodle bar and an outdoor cocktail bar with overhanging awnings shaped like a lotus. On the beach, Trapizza does casual Italian fare with wood-fired pizzas, pasta, and salads, while the Siloso Beach Bar serves light snacks by day with a kids' menu and an ice cream bar.