Why do a staycay when The Sanchaya Bintan makes it so easy to live large just a ferry ride away?

It’s so challenging to get away from it all, yet have your cake and eat it. We’re talking about a short vacation that maximises your time and enjoyment, without the hassle of flights, transfers, and endless waiting. As we learnt recently, there could only be one place just a stone’s throw from our shores: The Sanchaya Bintan.

After a 45min ferry ride from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and a super-express immigration process via a private lounge, we boarded a luxury SUV that took us right to the five-star resort’s doorstep in 10min flat.

What greeted us was a sprawling, manicured expanse of lush greenery dotted with white colonial-style buildings. Flanking this immense estate, which is the size of 14 football fields, is a long stretch of pristine beach fringed by calm blue seas in the distance. It was private, idyllic, and very much perfect.

A destination unto itself, The Sanchaya Bintan is where one could choose to do nothing at all, and everything if you so wish.

Ready? Action!

Since our travelling party was made up of energetic ladies, excitement was on the cards. In particular, we were here to try padel, the latest racquet sport that has taken the world (and Singapore) by storm.

Invented in Acapulco, Mexico, padel is played on an enclosed outdoor hard court about half the size of a tennis court. Often enjoyed as a doubles game, it seems like a fusion of tennis and squash, using a stringless bat akin to an oversized table-tennis bat, and balls that are softer than tennis’. 

For newbies, padel is easy to pick up, kinder on the heart and joints than other racquet sports, and makes for a great social activity that unites players across varying athletic abilities. After 10min of coaching by the resort’s activity guides, who had trained with Spanish professional padel champion Luis Ruiz earlier this year, we were ready to go. We felt our way through the first one-hour session, assisted by the attentive guides who reminded us of game play rules and helpfully tossed stray balls back into the court, before being adequately competent for the second face-off the next day. 

Something also has to be said for working out within a beautiful gardenscape that encloses the two padel courts on-site. It’s such a lovely facility that in this March, the resort welcomed enthusiasts from the world over for the first edition of The Sanchaya Padel Cup, and continues to be the hotspot for players in the region.

Whether you’re in the company of a loved one, friends, or the entire family, there is much more to do here. The gorgeous 50m pool with a front-row view of the shore is one enticing option, especially when paired with cocktails, but also available are a host of activities for the young and old, from leisurely to adrenaline-pumping. 

Take it easy with croquet and petanque, or dial it up a few notches with blokart (compact land yacht sailing), stand-up paddle boarding, and archery. There is also a cabana for yoga classes situated in a dedicated spa estate, which pampers the fatigued with a whole range of massages, treatments, and nail services — even for children. If you’re feeling restless by nightfall, there is a Mangrove Tour to see fireflies.

Feels like home

Featuring only 29 spacious villas and suites, with buildings spaced apart respectfully, Sanchaya Bintan maintains a low guest-to-space ratio, which means you always feel you have the whole place to yourself. 

Featured in both the common areas and accommodation are a variety of art works, which range from the giant white pineapple sculpture in the front courtyard, to the super-scale saga seeds floating mesmerisingly on the lobby’s water feature, to the eclectic Thai and Balinese artefacts that grace the larger villas. All very Instagram-friendly.

For couples, there are 13 Sanchaya Suites, four Junior Suites, and seven Lawan Thai Villas to choose from. Groups of four to five could opt for the Two-Bedroom Villa, while bigger parties could really live it up in the three-bedroom Leelawadee Villa and four-bedroom Vanda Villa, where lounging space is more than generous. In fact, we’re told the larger villas are popular with wedding entourages.

Behind the white or wooden facades, the aesthetic is restful, muted, and brimming with elegant touches, such as paintings, flowers, and ornate tiling in the bathrooms, which boasts another popular feature — a footed bathtub taking centrestage.

The well-appointed living rooms in each suite and villa come with all the features expected of a luxury stay, but noteworthy are the wine cabinets stocked with the estate sommelier’s selections, and exquisite chocolate bars from our very own Janice Wong. Should you need to sneak in a spot of work, the resort’s wifi connection won’t let you down.

The art of winding down

Probably the only place where you’ll meet and mingle with other guests are The Sanchaya Bintan’s two restaurants and The Bar with an outdoor veranda. And at the latter, quite a handful of them were there to take in the tranquil scenery as they sip on a broad range of libations, including a wonderful array of house-infused gins and rums. A Sunset Hour menu, which offers unlimited pours, is also available.

More reasons to kick back can be found at The Salon & Library, which is a cosy and tastefully decorated wood-panelled space, and adjoining it is The Decanter, a cellar showcasing an impressive range of wines and champagnes. Those with refined tastebuds will be pleased to know that Grand Cru Classes bordeaux, Minuty rose, and bubbles from Billecart-Salmon and Dom Perignon are represented.

And it was at The Decanter, which also serves as a private dining space, where the resort’s Balinese executive chef Budi delighted us with a scrumptious Rijsttafel feast. His influence is clearly reflected in the menu at The Dining Room, which serves up an East-meets-West repertoire of continental European, Thai, and of course, Indonesian favourites.

And Indonesian cuisine would be a memorable highlight of our sojourn, during which we attended a two-hour Balinese cooking class at the open-air Tasanee Grill by the pool. As exotic and complex as the cuisine looks and tastes, we found out that with some preparation, the unimaginable is achievable. 

Our very patient trainer, chef Handhi, took us through the making of two marinades, which form the key bases of various well-known Balinese dishes like Satay Lilit and Chicken Betutu. And to our surprise, the ingredients are easily available back home, and the process was not that difficult. A big hit with us was grilled tuna loin dressed with Sambal Matah, a most magical fresh condiment that took minutes to put together.

If dining isn’t Singaporeans’ top passion, then shopping it is — and The Sanchaya Bintan is ready for that last-minute spree. Beyond the usual souvenirs and necessities found in resort boutiques, the property offers a tasteful curation of lifestyle goods, along with its own line of Mr Morris cat mascot clothing (very stylish, I must say) and plushies. Proceeds from the latter, under the Mr Morris — The Foundation, go towards supporting various philanthropic causes on the island, from hospitality training to coral preservation to a home for orphans and the elderly.

Now, what else could a discerning, time-starved traveller ask for?