A Review of the Marina Bay Sands

The ArtScience Museum provides an interesting architectural complement to the monolithic Marina Bay Sands hotel. Standing like a water lily emerging from the promenade in front of the Shoppes building complex, the ten-petaled structure (designed, like the rest of the Sands complex, by Moshe Safdie) houses 21 galleries that cover everything from history exhibits to art shows to architectural showcases.

The building is crowned with ten petals that have been described as the “welcoming hand of Singapore” – the immediate impression is that of a flower or of hands extended in good will, depending on whom you ask.

The petals are sheathed in a glass fiber reinforced polymer that is more commonly used for high-performance racing yachts. Two bay windows set in the petals look out to the Marina Bay basin.

The exhibits in the Museum are arranged through the building’s three floors of gallery space, comprising a total of 64,500 square feet. The museum holds 21 galleries in total, accessible via a glass lift.

The center of the flower collects rainwater into a central channel, which then filters out to the reflecting pond around the museum building. To further burnish its green cred, the museum reuses the water in its bathrooms.

The museum is open from 10am to 10pm daily, including public holidays. Last entry is allowed at 9pm. Entry to the ArtScience Museum is not free to hotel guests; ticket prices depend on the exhibit, but discounts are available to both children under 12 years of age and senior citizens above 65. Same day re-entry is allowed for visitors who want to take a break to do some shopping or dining at the Shoppes next door.

The museum also conducts regular educational programs for both children and adults, including talks, workshops, and guided tours.

• For your guide’s recap of his visit to the ArtScience Museum, read this blog entry: It Came from the Depths - Titanic: the Artifact Exhibition in Singapore’s ArtScience Museum.

Your guide only had a night and a day to experience the Marina Bay Sands – not enough to cover the whole Sands experience. I’d be remiss if I neglected to mention the Marina Bay Sands’ other attractions, which are just as compelling as far as reasons to visit go.

Casino: It just wouldn’t be the Sands without a gaming floor. With a gaming area of 161,000 square feet, the Casino at the Marina Bay Sands has enough space to feature over 600 table games and over 2,500 slot machines and electronic table games. Gamers can play roulette, baccarat, blackjack, texas hold'em bonus progressive, and three card poker in the casino. The casino can accommodate over 15,000 patrons across its four levels.

Banyan Tree Spa: The famous Banyan Tree spa franchise has a home in the Marina Bay Sands, up on the 55^th floor overlooking Marina Bay. Offering “time honored Asian therapies”, Banyan Tree provides two Royal Double Spa Suites with double rainmist room, bathtub, shower and washroom; three Deluxe Double Spa Suites with bathtub, shower and washroom; and ten Standard Single Spa Suites with shower and washroom. Guests at the hotel suites can request in-room massages from professional Banyan Tree spa therapists. The spa is open from 10am to 10pm daily.

Celebrity restaurants: The restaurants in both the hotel and the Shoppes complex serve up a diverse gourmet dining experience, with over 50 restaurant choices. Celebrity chefs have opened restaurants within the Sands, allowing guests to savor the work of personalities like Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Daniel Boulud, Guy Savoy, and Tetsuya Wakuda.

Theaters: Two world-class theaters make their home within the Marina Bay Sands, providing a place where popular Broadway musicals can let loose. The Sands Theater in particular has showcased acts like the Lion King and Wicked under its rafters.

Location: 10 Bayfront Drive, Marina Bay, Singapore. Location of the Marina Bay Sands (Google Maps). One hour from Changi Airport by MRT; thirty minutes by shuttle bus, available for free to registered guests (present printout of confirmation email).

Rooms: 2,561 rooms and suites within tower 1 and tower 3, 55 levels each; Broadband Internet available in all rooms.

Amenities: Buildings crowned by Sands SkyPark on 57th level. Infinity edge pool, observation deck, Ku De Ta (nightclub), Sky on 57 (Asian restaurant) and Club at Marina Bay Sands (executive club lounge). The spacious hotel lobby features a number of dining experiences, including Rise, an all-day restaurant featuring world cuisine; lobby bar Fuse; espresso bar and bakery SweetSpot; and Chinese restaurant Jin Shan. Guests get free access to Banyan Tree fitness center. Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, ArtScience Museum, Casino, and Theaters easily accessible from lobby.

Contact Details: Phone +65 6688 8868; website www.marinabaysands.com; email inquiries@marinabaysands.com.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.