Besides checking into one of these new Singapore boutique hotels, these stylish accommodations near us – from Bali and Thailand to Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Australia – make great options for a weekend getaway. James Lohan and Tamara Heber-Percy, the couple behind boutique hotel specialist Mr & Mrs Smith, introduce their top suggestions.
At Italian-influenced Point Yamu by Como, rooms are immaculately styled by Paola Navone and brilliant pizzas are served poolside at La Sirena restaurant. Thailand sings through, too, thanks to the Phuket-inspired artworks in the lobby, Peranakan-Thai cuisine in Nahmyaa restaurant and the jaw-dropping views of Phang Nga Bay.
If you book through Mr & Mrs Smith: A drink each at the Aqua Bar; guests who stay three or more nights – or book a suite – will receive a 90-minute massage when paying for an hour-long treatment.
Get the five-star treatment with the exhilarating independence of a private villa at Sungai Gold hotel in Bali’s low-key Cepaka Village, just 20 minutes outside Seminyak. A posse of staff that cater to your every whim will facilitate luxury lounging in airy living areas or by the cool jade-green pool. Those with an entourage can snag the sister property next door, Villa Sungai, to double the fun (and room).
If you book through Mr & Mrs Smith: Each adult gets a complimentary 60-minute massage: each child under 15, a 30-minute massage.
See: An insider’s guide to the best restaurants & cafes in Ubud, Bali
As if seated in meditation, Siem Reap hotel Belmond La Residence d’Angkor gazes towards a contemplative courtyard with a midnight-blue swimming pool, and exudes an ambience that encourages a relaxed pace. The tranquil rooms blend the traditional with subtly contemporary touches, ensuring that both modern-design mavens and heirloom habitues will feel right at home at this stylish sanctuary.
If you book through Mr & Mrs Smith: A cocktail each in the Martini Lounge
Kahanda Kanda in Galle is an eight-room residence on a lush green tea plantation, popular with peacocks, parakeets, mongoose and monkeys (and discerning tourists, too.) We have British owner George to thank for the cosy colonial charm, and after trying chef’s Sri Lankan curry breakfasts, you’ll scorn cereal forever.
If you book through Mr & Mrs Smith: Each guest gets a spa treatment.
Ducking and diving is the name of the game at One&Only Hayman Island on the Great Barrier Reef, surrounded by the aquatic wonderland of the Coral Sea. Beyond the allure of the light, bright contemporary rooms, a raft of activities beckons, from scuba diving to tennis lessons. Afterwards, relax with a massage in an ocean-view pavilion or picnic on nearby Whitehaven Beach.
If you book through Mr & Mrs Smith: Explore the depths with a snorkelling trip for two.
The owner’s ancestral abode anchors the Empire Retreat and Spa hotel’s stone and timber presence on Western Australia’s Margaret River. At this rural retreat with Asian accents, quaff a glass of chardonnay from the on-site vineyard after indulging in mud wraps from the signature spa.
If you book through Mr & Mrs Smith: Tuck into a cheese plate and bottle of Empire Estate wine.
An adapted version first appeared in Silverkris.
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