Siloso Beach Resort Sentosa

Constructed with the natural terrain as a strict guideline, the sustainably built resort is almost entirely open-air, hemmed in by tropical flora (along with some unwanted fauna). The main building's exterior walkways reduce its electricity demands, while allowing squirrels, lizards, and insects to roam freely around sunny common areas filled with loungers and hammocks. A second section contains private villas amid old-growth trees that were preserved during construction, using methods that would leave the forest's deepest roots undisturbed. 

The resort is located across a narrow road from Siloso Beach, on the western half of the island. It is a bit removed from the chaos of Resort World while still being convenient to its attractions. A beach tram that stops in front of the hotel connects to Beach Station, where guests can take a shuttle bus across the island, or the monorail back to the main land.

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

Most of the resort's 196 rooms and suites in the main building face the beach or the landscaped pool within the interior courtyard. Standard rooms are on the small side, with hardwood floors and a basic decor with a touch of floral artwork. The windows are a frequent point of concern, with staff unable to keep up with the clinging natural detritus of the forest. Flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric tea kettles come standard, but Wi-Fi requires an extra fee -- when it's available at all. Bathrooms have walk-in showers, with upgraded rooms adding separate soaking tubs. Roof Garden Suites add stairs that lead to private rooftop terraces, with open-air rainfall showers and tiled hydrotherapy tubs, along with hanging rattan chairs. The private villas have a rustic flair, with outdoor hot tubs and patios with forest views. Trees grow through their floors, up through the ceilings, some encased in foggy glass walls that look like living installation pieces. There's also a seventh-floor Glass Loft with a private balcony and floor-to-ceiling picture windows overlooking the pool.

The heart of the resort is its landscaped outdoor pool, fed by natural spring water sourced from an underground reserve. A towering wall waterfall oxygenates the water by design, alongside two small waterslides, and water cycles through an eco-friendly filtering system that avoids the use of chlorine. The hotel organizes eco-tours educating about the need for sustainability, and has its own wormery on the grounds, which composts through the action of worms, for the benefit of its forest. The open-air Alfresco Cafe makes use of rooftop herb and vegetable gardens, which serves a Western-style breakfast and nods to the island's British colonial history with such classics as fish and chips.