Hard Rock Hotels in Malaysia and In A Complex of Attractions on Sentosa island, Singapore

Hard Rock Hotel, Desaru, Malaysia. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

After visiting Hard Rock cafe in Melaka, and another in Desaru, Malaysia, we decided to look at Hard Rock in Singapore. Where is it? On the island of Sentosa.




Sentosa is where American President Trump met North Korean leader, hidden away at the Capella resort.


The complex on Sentosa

I saw that the Hard Rock Hotel on Sentosa, off Singapore, was the venue for a three day event on book writing and author publishing in January 2020.



Hard Rock Hotel exterior

Hard Rock Hotel is part of a large complex of attractions and four hotels and a conference centre.

Hard Rock Hotel interior


In the same complex is the Michael Hotel. It is not named after Michael Jackson but after the architect Michael Graves.

Michael Graves designed several modern buildings including the Portland building in Portland , Oregon.

Portland Building, Portland, Oregon, designed by Michael Graves.

Michael Hotel, Sentosa, Singapore



Wikipedia explains:
Resorts World Sentosa (Abbreviation: RWS) is an integrated resort on the island of Sentosa, off the southern coast of Singapore. The key attractions include one of Singapore's two casinos, a Universal Studios theme park, Adventure Cove Water Park, and S.E.A. Aquarium, which includes the world's second largest oceanarium (after Chimelong Ocean Kingdom).

So far, so good.

 How do you get to the island of Sentosa?

If you are a tourist or newcomer to Singapore it may be worthwhile spending, allocating, some of your holiday money on the overhead cable car.

However, if you want to visit by public transport, you want a cheaper form of travel, and a cheaper entry fee.

Now that the book writing event has passed, what is worth seeing on Sentosa?

1 Hard Rock Hotel
2 The Trick Eye Museum - on of a kind, top of my list

Choices
Take the MRT to Harbourfront. Walk to the Vivo City modern multi-storey shopping mall.
Catch the shuttle across from Vivo City upper floor to Sentosa, for a small charge.

Entry to Sentosa varies from free for walkers and tiny tots to about two dollars for locals and local senior citizens, up to four or six dollars for a taxi or car.

If you are a regular visitor, and want to see a lot of the attractions, it's worth investing 25 Sing dollars on the pass which gives you a twenty dollar voucher on your birthday and other  discounts and offers throughout the year.

Singapore flag

Singapore flag

Useful Websites
Singapore Airlines
singaporeair.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resorts_World_Sentosa

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Singapore

Directions
https://www.google.com/maps/
Hotel Offers
https://www.hardrockhotels.com/specials?&campaign=
Reviews
https://www.oyster.com/singapore/hotels/hotel-michael/

About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Free To See At Sentosa - Animals and Birds

Flag of Singapore

My friend Joshua told me that Sentosa has a free animal attraction by the beach. This is where he works. Because it is free it has no budget nor push for advertising, which is why you might not have heard of it.

Those who like free things will be very glad to hear of it.

However, you also need to factor in the cost of getting to Sentosa. But it's nice to know that what you spend on transport is offset by what you save on attractions.

Of course, if you have a bigger budget, I will be worthwhile buying a combined ticket for the paid for attractions.

But isn't it nice to know that there's something free.


Sentosa has a Merlion, symbol of Singapore.

I shall add more information later.

Useful Websites
Free attraction
https://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore/attractions/animal-bird-encounters

Other paid for attractions tickets
https://store.sentosa.com.sg/

singaporeair.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentosa

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Singapore/Sentosa_and_Harbourfront

https://wikitravel.org/en/Singapore/Sentosa
https://www.imoney.sg/articles/sentosa-on-a-budget/

Author
Angela Lansbury

Trump's and Kim Jong-Un's Visit To Singapore - see what they saw

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America. Photo from Wikipedia.

Problems
Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un met in Singapore, happily with a historic handshake and no security problems. Where did they go? What did they see? What did they eat? What did it cost!

Answers
I was delighted that Trump and Kim met in Singapore. What a boost to Singapore's image, spreading worldwide knowledge on the tourist scene.

Landmarks I expected and hoped they would visit. They missed Singapore Night Safari. But Kim saw the Marina Bay Sands hotel with its rooftop, infinity pool, and the riverside walk. Wonderful.

Triple tower of the Marina Bay Sands hotel, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

You can walk around the marina and look up at the hotel. The lower floors are a complex of shopping arcade, upmarket shops, and restaurants. For twenty dollars you can ride up to the observation deck, and the twenty dollars is taken off the price of a drink or food.

The North Korean leader's bill was picked up by Singapore and cost millions, but it put Singapore on the world tourists' map.

Journalists got to see the Fullerton hotel and, I hope some of the surrounding waterside statues which I have described and photographed in previous posts.

I have also shown the parts of the Shangri-la hotel where Trump stayed, not the private tower, but the public areas which you can visit.

Interior of the Fullerton Hotel, Singapore, where journalists stayed. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The doorman at the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The grounds of the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore, where Trump stayed. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The lobby of the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The public areas of the Shangri-la hotel grounds in Singapore.  Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Sentosa island is another popular tourist area with a beach, a hotel, several attractions.

You won't be flying on a private US air force plane, but you can enjoy great comforts on the award-winning Singapore Airlines.

Useful Websites
visitsingapore.com
singaporeair.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

What's child friendly in Singapore? Any islands with beaches?

I was recently asked, 'What's child-friendly in Singapore? Are there any islands with beaches?

   Yes, Singapore is an island and there are lots of beach areas along the East Coast with nearby restaurants, cycle hire and other activities.

   On the south side of Singapore is a traffic free island called Sentosa. It's like a giant Disney park with a couple of hotels and lots of attractions. Look for all-inclusive tickets. You may want to go early in the day to get your moneys worth, have time for everything, and arrive in time for attractions which are fully booked, crowded or closing before you leave if you are staying late or staying overnight.

   A ferry ride takes you to the islands of Bintan or Batam, popular for weekends away. Take your passport.

   To make use of time in Singapore, go on the Night Safari and perhaps have dinner there. Check out bookings as you may be able to get a discount or a combined ticket with the Singapore Zoo or Bird Park. 

   To get an overview of the city, ride on one of the hop on hop off buses.

   Children would also like a boat trip. These range from a short trip along the river, an amphibious Duck vehicle tour, or a historic elaborate Chinese style ship for a day tour to a tiny island where you can hike to a temple, or a little motorboat which zooms off.

   Another idea is the equivalent of the London Eye, a giant wheel called the Singapore Flyer.

Discounts
Look for coupons on line and in the local free magazines and booklet you pick up at Changi airport on arrival. You sometimes get discounts with your airline ticket or hotel booking, and from maps in the hotel foyer, so check on these sources too. If you have time, check out the Singapore tourist boards websites and offices in the UK, Singapore and other countries in English or other languages.
   You might want to include Universal Studios.
   Look for a City Pass, Riverboat Pass, Sentosa Pass. You can buy tickets for one, two or three days.
Look for beaches and boats on sites about Bumboat tours, River cruises, Tripadvisor, and YouTube.