Staycation 101: How to get your stay right

So, now that you’re tempted to book a staycation, the golden question is – how do you get the best out of one?

Whether you’re a staycation veteran or a total rookie, let us show you how to do it right. From choosing the right hotel to scoring the cheapest rates, here are some essential tips on how to ensure that your staycation experience is nothing but extraordinary.

A staycation is pretty much synonymous with a hotel stay. How do you know if a hotel is the right one for you? There are plenty of hotels in the staycation market, each catering for different personalities and different needs. Choose wisely!

The Romantics

Celebrating a special occasion like Valentine’s Day, anniversary or simply yearning to get some alone time with your other half?

Look for hotels that have couple activities thrown in!

If that’s you, look out for hotels that provide special couple activities such as baking workshops, art jamming or movies by the pool. Take the opportunity to do something new with your significant other! Also, keep an eye out for boutique hotels that offer personalised services and infinity pools for those insta-worthy moments.

The Weary Souls

Rejuvenate your soul!

If you are tired after a long work week and simply want a place to recharge, look for hotels that are wellness-themed. Pick hotels with spa facilities, bathtubs, or pools with panoramic views. It also helps when the interiors are decked out in warm earthy overtones, making you feel as if you’ve entered a sanctuary, leaving all the hustle and bustle of the city behind.

The Weekend Adventurers

Go hunting for art murals along Haji

If you’re the sort who prefers to fill your day with interesting activities and loves wandering around, look out for hotels located near key places of interest! Visit places that you have always wanted to go to. Be it café-hopping, hunting for art murals, music festivals or a day out at the beach, take the opportunity to explore a side of Singapore you otherwise would have missed out on!

Family Staycation-ers

It’s always more fun when everyone is together!

If you’re looking for opportunities to bond with the little ones, choose family-friendly hotels that come with family rooms and kiddie pools. A convenient location is another plus point – so the whole family can get to and from the staycation in a breeze. To provide their guests with a more cohesive experience, some hotels even offer packages that include complimentary tickets to USS and the Singapore Zoo – this will allow both the young and old to have fun discovering and re-discovering Singapore together!

The Escapists

The idea of escape. With every holiday comes the notion of escape, and going on a staycation should be no different!

Escape to a place without a labyrinth of skyscrapers

For this type, location is key. Look for a hotel far from the city centre, somewhere that’s more elusive and hard to reach. After all, the whole point is to escape one’s normal routine. Set your sights on hotels that are located far from the city centre, near the coast or surrounded by nature.

When it comes to booking rooms, it’s all about value for money, but how do you decide which room type to book? Is the cheapest always the best? Let us break it down for you.

Superior room

Superior rooms are typically the smallest, furnished with basic amenities. If you are looking for comfort at a low cost, book superior!

Deluxe room

What’s the difference between superior and deluxe rooms? This is a question typically asked by many. In comparison, deluxe rooms are usually larger, located on higher floors with better views and some even come with a balcony. Book a deluxe room if size and a beautiful view matters to you.

Club/Executive room

Club/executive rooms are a cut above the rest. Get extra perks like daily buffet breakfasts, in-room mini bars, bathtubs (depending on room), free-flow cocktails, exclusive access to facilities like infinity pools and club lounges! An upgrade from deluxe to club/executive room typically costs $50 or less. Sounds like value for money to me!

Suite room

The most premium room category of all, Suite rooms would wow you with its luxurious décor and exclusive perks. Splash out on a suite to pamper your loved ones, make them feel just how special they really are. Suites rooms also come with living rooms and are perfect for those celebrating special occasions like birthday parties as well.

Family room

A common room type offered by child-friendly hotels, family rooms are spacious and allow you to fit multiple beds into one room. This is the go-to room category for family staycation-ers, perfect for couples with young children who need a little room to run around!

Nothing is worse than spending the entire day cooped up in a room, make sure your staycation does not turn out to be a mundane day spent idling in a hotel room. Here’s some tips:

Want to have a good time but you’re just too lazy to plan? Staycation packages is the solution for those who simply want a fuss/research-free weekend. These packages often come bundled with activities that range from workshops like cookie-making and yoga sessions, to free bowling tickets and bicycle rentals.

These staycation packages often don’t cost much more than the usual room – for a nominal fee, you’ll get to experience so much more!

Explore the vicinity:

Feast your eyes on panoramic views from Pinnacle@Duxton’s skybridge near Oasia Hotel Downtown

If you’re of the more adventurous sort, venture out of and explore the hotel’s surrounding vicinity. Find out what’s nearby be it interesting activity spots or quirky cafes, shake up the weekend by trying something unconventional. There’s actually so many things to do in Singapore - From jetting above waters to horse riding, urban gardening to visiting the island’s largest camera-shaped museum!

Discover what you can do within the hotel itself:

Kickback and plane-watch from an infinity pool

For those who prefer to stay indoors or would like to unwind after a day of activities, make sure to utilize the hotel’s large array of amenities and facilities! From chilling at infinity pools and Jacuzzis to sipping cocktails in lobby bars and buffet spreads, you’ll be occupied throughout your stay! Many hotel rooms also come equipped with SmartTVs that allow you to enjoy movie marathons or listen to your favourite jam on Spotify.

Leaving the most important tip for the last, here’s how to get the best bang for your buck!

Start booking early

Securing your dates early not only allows you to grab rooms at a steal, you can also be ensured of availability for your desired weekend. Last-minute booking introduces uncertainty caused by limited availability and the pricey rates that come along with it! Start shopping for your staycation at least 3-4 weeks in advance!

Weekends vs weekdays

Hotels in the city centre are less occupied on weekends, due to lesser influx of business travellers. This also means that their weekend rates tend to be lower. For hotels that are less popular among business travellers, the reverse is true, rates can be significantly lower for weekday stays. How about a staycation on a weekday?

Avoid peak periods

Festivals, events and international business conventions bring an influx of people to our shores and, with it, a surge in prices. Avoid planning a staycation on dates that coincide with such events. Events to take note of are The Singapore Grand Prix: F1 (normally held in September), Christmas and New Year’s Eve (weekends around the end of December and beginning of January), as well as the various public holidays throughout the year.

Always book directly from the hotel’s website

Our advice to you is to use these third-party booking sites merely as a device to browse through the hotels available, then head straight to the hotel’s official website to make your booking. Why? Official sites of hotels usually offer rates that are at least 5-10% cheaper to encourage direct bookings. Many hotels even promise to refund bookers the difference should they find anything cheaper after your booking is made!

Booking directly also often comes with exclusive perks such as early check-in or late check-out timings, free breakfasts or room upgrades.

So the next time you’re looking to book a staycation, do keep all these nifty little tips in mind. A staycation doesn’t just have to be a night away from home, but can instead be so much more. Grab the chance to rejuvenate and have an adventure vacation right within our shores. Start planning your next staycation right away!