Is there anything that can top off a four day weekend? Well, we’ve roped in three of Singapore’s most refined tastemakers to inspire your weekend planning with their best tips and tricks. Whether you prefer a peaceful retreat in the middle of a rainforest or a joyous beach party, think of these suggestions as a well-deserved cherry on top of it all.

Jaime Lee, The Paper Bunny

national day long weekend

Jaime needs no introduction – founder and creative director of The Paper Bunny, the popular local stationery and lifestyle brand, she decided to forgo the corporate route as a trained lawyer to pursue her love for stationery, art and colours. From pretty earrings to practical desk planners, The Paper Bunny is a one-stop shop for beautiful yet functional products that can jazz up your everyday life.

national day long weekend

Now, the homegrown brand has taken another step forward with a stylish new collaboration with luxury hospitality group YTL Hotels. Comprising a curated selection of tote bags, toiletry bags, laundry bags, earrings, postcards and notebooks, the collection is everything you need for that quick weekend getaway.

Evoking the idyllic charm of island life, this chic yet relaxed collection is inspired by Pangkor Laut Resort, a luxurious retreat in Malaysia nestled amongst an ancient rainforest and surrounded by white sandy beaches. Here, we speak to Jaime about the collection, and shares a few insider tips for the ideal weekend holiday.

 

 national day long weekend

The Paper Bunny X YTL Hotels collection includes many pieces that are great for travel. What about their design make them perfect for a weekend getaway?

Our weekender totes are perfect for travel – they are soft and roomy, easy to fold and keep in your luggage but holds a large amount of essentials, and also has a zip closure which is great for bringing onboard and keeping under your seat without everything spilling out. They also have long and short straps, for carrying any way you want.

What were some of your inspirations while designing this new collection?

We wanted this collection to truly encapsulate the elements and experiences of Pangkor Laut Resort – the sunset cruise, the hornbills flying around in pairs, the native Keruing Belimbling plant and of course the charming corals peppered across and the pastel earth tones of the beautiful Emerald Bay.

What are the top travel accessories that you must have for a quick weekend getaway?

1) A tote bag that doubles and triples up for going to the plane, beach and city and roomy enough to carry tons of things but soft and easy enough to fold and keep when you don’t need it 2) laundry bags to sort 3) a good pair of sandals.

What are some of your favourite destinations for a short break?

Bali, Bangkok and now that I’ve discovered Pangkor Laut Resort in Ipoh Malaysia, I’ll be back when I need a relaxing weekend.

The Paper Bunny X YTL Hotels collection is available online at www.thepaperbunny.com and at selected stockists.

Colin Seah, Ministry of Design

national day long weekend

One of the most successful and innovative architects in town, Colin is the owner and founder-director of the integrated architectural, interior design and branding firm, Ministry of Design (MOD). Headquartered in Singapore with offices in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur, MOD has won numerous prestigious awards since its inception. While MOD has had a hand in conceptualising and designing numerous projects ranging from offices to condominiums, the trendy architecture firm definitely has a penchant for luxurious hotels.

Now, Colin and his team are back with their fourth hotel endeavour: The Prestige Hotel in Penang, slated to open in October 2019. Combining the best of old-world Victorian elegance and the lush vegetation of the tropics, the independent bespoke luxury hotel promises a distinctive and authentic hotel stay just a couple of hours away from Singapore.

Below, we invite Colin to tell us more about his latest project, and how you can choose the best hotel for that perfect weekend getaway.

 

national day long weekend

What makes The Prestige Hotel great for a weekend staycation?

The Prestige Hotel portrays the natural urban beauty of Penang’s historic core. A modern-day interpretation of Victorian design, it welcomes the urbane traveler to a contemporised and magical quasi-colonial universe. The hotel has all you need without having to leave: fabulously comfortable rooms, a great all day dining restaurant, a rooftop pool for sunset cocktails, a gym to work out in, and in the adjoining arcade, there’s more F&B and retail therapy. Plenty of good food in the area too!

What are some features that you love the most of The Prestige Hotel?

I love how the design of The Prestige Hotel tells a wonderful narrative through its spatial experience, art and design, from start to end. In this case, it’s ‘A touch of magic in a tropical, Victorian Eden.’ We present The Prestige Hotel as a modern interpretation of Victorian-era interior design layered with the local botany. In addition, we added elements of visual surprise through notions of illusion. We took cues from the movie ‘The Prestige,’ featuring the illusory art of magic, also set in the Victorian era.

What would be your advice for those looking for the perfect hotel for a relaxing weekend getaway?

Find something you typically won’t find at home so it’ll be a memorable experience! Also, ease of travel is imperative for a relaxing getaway. For The Prestige Hotel, given that it’s only 25 minutes from the airport, you could leave Singapore on a Friday afternoon at 4pm and be at the hotel’s infinity-edge pool having cocktails and watching the sunset at 7pm!

What is your most memorable weekend trip and why?

My wife and I love The Cappella at Sentosa. We head there every year during her birthday and it has become sort of a ritual for us now. It’s more comforting and familiar than exciting, but then again, you need to have different kinds of holidays, some adventuresome and others comforting.

The Prestige Hotel is located at 8 Gat Lebuh Gereja, 10300 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Visit www.theprestige.my for more information.

 

Tania Chan, Tanjong Beach Club

national day long weekend

As Director of Marketing and Communications at The Lo & Behold Group – the homegrown hospitality company that operates not just Tanjong Beach Club but also several beloved properties like Odette and The Warehouse Hotel – Tania is no stranger to the fun-loving, beachgoer lifestyle. She shares with us some reasons why we should be nowhere but Tanjong Paradisco (Tanjong Beach Club’s 10th anniversary) this weekend, and some tips on how to have an absolute blast at the beach.

What can we expect at Tanjong Paradisco this National Day weekend?

Instead of braving throngs of people in town, you can enjoy our booziest Bottomless Brunch by the beach with endless glasses of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut champagne and a glorious ensemble of the freshest seafood, charcuterie and cheese, succulent meats on the roast, and heavenly sweet treats.

There must have been some significant milestones Tanjong Beach Club has reached over the past 10 years – which are you most proud of?

Tanjong Beach Club’s vision has always been to build a beach culture in Singapore, and most importantly, create memorable experiences on Singapore’s best strip of sand for each and every one of our guests. Some of our most significant milestones are our Smack My Beach Up x Live Young Series, the Chanel Cruise Collection launch and a Mulberry fashion show with Alexa Chung as the DJ. Also, not forgetting, our signature Full Steam Ahead parties which have delivered hours of revelry and had become a destination for locals and tourists alike.

national day long weekend

What are some important elements that make up a great beach party?

The ambience, entertainment and music at the party is important to entice party-goers, but the quality of the food and drinks is still key to keeping your guests happy and energised all throughout.

What are some essential items we should bring to a weekend getaway at the beach?

SPF 50, a good set of portable speakers, a wine stopper, a great read and, of course, a few good friends.

Apart from our beloved Sentosa Beach, what are some of your favourite beaches around the world?

One of my favourite beaches would most probably be the Lummus Park Beach in Miami as it gives off a really retro vibe. Fun fact: Tanjong Beach Club’s design was actually inspired by the beach houses of Miami. The beaches of the Mediterranean are also hard to beat. Head to Capri and Ischia in Italy, Gozo in Malta, and the Cycladic islands of Greece – not just the usual suspects like Santorini or Mykonos, go explore the lesser known islands such as Paros, Syros or Milos.

Tanjong Paradisco will be held at Tanjong Beach Club, 120 Beach Walk, Singapore on 10 August from 10am to 12am and 11 August from 2pm to 2am. Passes are now on sale at www.tanjongparadisco.com.