Anita, Author at Salty Sweet Journeys

Asia November 20, 2023

Visiting Universal Studios Singapore with toddlers

Located in the heart of the fun island of Sentosa in Singapore, Universal Studios is a must-see attraction when visiting Sentosa for anyone with kids! But with toddlers? All your questions will be answered in this post about visiting Universal Studios with toddlers and young children.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore is an attraction that you DO NOT want to miss if travelling to Singapore! Filled with loads of areas to explore, rides, shows and of course plenty of places to shop and eat. There are things to do here that the whole family will enjoy, no matter what age!

Must Do Experiences at Universal Studios Singapore

Sesame Street favourites are a highlight for toddlers visiting Universal Studios Singapore — Sesame Street in ‘New York’ at Universal Studios

The little ones will love having adventures in the Sesame Street Spaghetti Chase and meeting their favourites characters from Sesame Street!
The Jungle Rapids ride will have you thinking that you are right in Jurassic Park escaping a flood surrounded by dinosaurs!
Stroll around the park and rub shoulders with all your favourites like the Transformers and the Minions at the Character Meet and Greet for each themed zone of the park.
Check the times and don’t miss the Live Stunt Show based on the movie by the same name WaterWorld. Incredible stunts and the stage will blow our mind (spoiler…get ready for a plane to crash land!) and the performers are amazing. Get ready to get really soaked if you sit in the ‘Splash Zone’. One that the whole family will enjoy!
The grown ups will LOVE the 3 thrilling rollercoasters of the park: Battlestar Galactica Human & Cylon and Revenge of the Mummy.

Stage at WaterWorld stunt show at Universal Studios Singapore — The incredible stage for the stunt show WaterWold

Getting to Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore is located within the Resorts World Sentosa Complex, on Sentosa Island. Here, as well as Universal Studios, you can find a numbers of attractions such as the S.E.A Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark as well as hotels, restaurants and a Casino.

To reach Universal Studios from mainland Singapore, you can easily hop on the Sentosa Express from HarbourFront MRT (Metro station at VivoCity Shopping Centre) and alight at Resort World Station, that is just outside the Resorts World complex.

You can read more on this on my other post coming soon about Getting Around in Sentosa.

resorts world sentosa complex — Resorts World Sentosa

Entry Tickets to Universal Studios Singapore

Entry Tickets for Kids at Universal Studios can be purchased directly at the gates, or for ease you can also purchase them online from Klook. You can also buy here online the Express Pass in Advance to save time and skipping the queues on the rides!

Purchase tickets online with Klook HERE

Adult tickets are charged at prices starting from $82 SGD for Adults and $61 SGD for Children Aged 4 to 12 years old.

FAQ: Is a toddler free for Entry at Universal Studios Singapore?

We travelled when our toddler was just under 3 and his entry was FREE. So despite not being able to go on many rides because of the minimum height requirement, as a toddler he still got to do quite a bit at the park and his entry did not cost us anything!

Zones of the Park

The park made up of 7 different ‘zones’ that are each themed differently:

When you enter the park at the big Universal Studios dome, you go straight into HOLLYWOOD. If you then continue walking anticlockwise you will get to NEW YORK (Sesame Street Characters), onto SCI-FI CITY (Transformers), then moving onto ANCIENT EGYPT (The Mummy), to the LOST WORLD (Jurassic Park themed) and finally into FAR FAR AWAY (Shrek). Each zone has also its own themed walkway, souvenir shops and eateries.

The minions are coming to universal studios singapore — The Minions are coming at Universal Studios Singapore

And stay tuned.. there is one more epic theme coming to Universal Studios in Singapore! Minions Land, is due to open at the park in 2024. At the time of our visit (late 2023) a section of the park was closed off, it was the former Madagascar Zone, and that is where Minions Land is due to open.

You can view the full park map HERE.

Universal Studios Singapore for toddlers and young children

Height requirements

There is a variety of rides and shows that the whole family can enjoy at Universal Studios Singapore, but as a general note most of the rides have a minimum height requirement of 92 cm. The bigger rides and rollercoasters usually have a minimum height requirement of 122-125 cm.

Note that for all the rides, children under 122 cm need to be with an accompanying adult. For some rides, hand held infants are also not allowed for safety reasons.

High rollercoasters at Universal Studios — View of the huge rollercoasters

At the time of our trip our toddler (almost 3 yrs) was around 90-92 cm and could only go on a handful of rides. These listed below are the popular ones for small kids with relevant height restrictions, plus noted some favourites:

FAQ: What rides can toddlers go on at Universal Studios Singapore?

Sesame Street Spaghetti Chase, a favourite ride for toddlers visiting universal studios singapore — New York Zone and the Sesame Street Spaghetti Chase ride

Sesame Street Spaghetti Chase (New York Zone) – Min 92 cm but we were allowed on. This one moves quite slow compared to most other rides but was still great fun for the little ones seeing their favourite Sesame Street Characters ***Highly Recommend***
Lights, Camera, Action! (New York Zone) – No min height
Accellerator Ride (Sci-Fi City Zone) – No min height
Treasure Hunters (Ancient Egypt Zone) – No min height. This ride was heaps of fun. The kids can pretend to drive a jeep into the desert uncovering hidden treasures! ***Highly Recommend***
Dino-Soarin’ (The Lost World Zone) – No min height
Shrek 4D Adventure (Far Far Away Zone) – No min height

Far Away land in Universal studios — The Enchanted Castle at Far Far Away

So if you are visiting with a toddler below the min 92 cm height you will likely be doing some of the same rides over and over. There are although other things to do, such as the Character Meet and Greet that happen all day at the park and lots of exploring.

Popular Rides for Young Kids

For older kids higher than the min 92 cm, my older child (5 yrs) was around 110cm, he was able to go on these:

Jungle rapids, one of the family favourite rides at Universal studios Singapore — Image by Fonthip Ward from Pixabay

Transformers the Ride – the Ultimate 3D Battle (Sci-Fi City Zone) – Min 102 cm. Walk through a Sci-Fi lab and be submersed in a 3D experience with the Transformers escaping from the evil guys ***Highly Recommend***
Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure (The Lost World Zone) – Min 107 cm ***Highly Recommend***
Canopy Flyer (The Lost World Zone) – Min 92 cm. Rollercoaster.
Puss in Boots (Far Far Away Zone) – Min 100 cm. Rollercoaster. ***Highly Recommend***
Enchanted Airways (Far Far Away Zone) – Min 92 cm. Rollercoaster.

Transformers the ride, a popular ride for young kids visiting universal studios singapore — Transformers Ride

Handy Tips for Visiting Universal Studios Singapore with toddlers

Get there early – plan to spend a full day there

The park is usually open from 10am to 6pm, but on some days it open a bit later at 11am. Check the website for the most up to date information.

Allow to spend a full day there as there is so much to see. With kids you will need to take lots of snack/drinks/ice cream breaks if it’s a hot day, and most days are.

If you only have half a day to visit the park – I would opt to go in the afternoon from 2pm onwards. We went mid week and a lot of the bigger crowds had left by mid afternoon and the morning was a lot busier as the crowds entered when the park just opened.

Ancient Egypt where there was some great rides at Universal Studios Singapore — Ancient Egypt

Go midweek and outside holidays if you can

The park gets very busy – we went on a weekday and still some rides had some very long lines of 1+ hours wait. If you can, visit midweek and outside of popular holidays!

There is also the option to pay extra for an Express Pass to skip the queue once per ride (Universal Express Pass starting at SG50 pp) or as many time as you like (Universal Express Pass Unlimited starting at SG80 pp). Note the cost in additional to the Entry ticket.

Purchase tickets online with Klook HERE

A walkway in Universal Studios Singapore — Walkway to the Sci-Fi Zone

I can see that it would be totally worth it to purchase the Express Pass if you are visiting during busy periods like a weekend or school holidays, as waiting in the long lines in the heat with young kids is defenitely not fun!

Leave the most popular rides for early afternoon or just before closing time

We noticed that as we got in as the park opened, the most popular rides had long queues almost immediately, some with waits of 45 min to over 1 hour.

But in the afternoon at around 2pm a lot of the queues had gone and we managed to do quite a few rides. That was the same at around 5 – 5.30 pm just before closing time, a lot of people had left already and we could go on several rides one after the other with no queue.

Puss in Boots Ride, a popular rollercoaster for young children visiting universal studios — Puss in Boots Rollercoaster

The other tip for parents is to make use of the Single Rider lanes if you are tag teaming to watch the kids. These lines are usually shorter and there was no queues on these towards the end of the day!

Bring a pram

There is lots of walking and it’s hot, so the little ones get tired very easily! Prams can also be hired from Universal Studios Singapore at the entry.

Venture outside the park if you need to stock up on drinks or snacks

Universal Studios has heaps of places to stop and refuel for drinks or snacks but it is very expensive! Get a pass out and venture just outside the park to the 7/Eleven around the corner to stock up on cold drinks and Ice cream for a third of the price of what you would find inside the park.

Where to Eat and Stay when visiting Universal Studios Singapore

Eating in Universal Studios Singapore

There are several eateries withing the park as well as several snack and food stands to grab drinks. Some popular eateries include Goldilocks, KT’s Grill & Loui NY Pizza Parlor for some classics like pizza, burgers & fried chicken and Shrek themed waffles.

But note that, for the convenience and experience of eating inside Universal Studios Singapore, you will be paying a premium for it!

If you want to venture outside the park for a lunch for some more choice on what to eat, you can also get U/V light passouts (yes very cool…as we thought!) and check out the eateries just outside the park within Resorts World Sentosa.

Malaysian Food Street just outside Universal Studios — Malaysian Food Street at Resorts World Sentosa

The popular ones are Malaysian Food Street, which has a lot of different Hawker street style classic dishes (around 10-12 SGD per meal). For a fancier feed, also across from Universal Studios, check out Gourmet Park, for some seriously gourmet food trucks.

Around the corner there is also a 7-Eleven convenience store, if you need to stock up on cold drinks and ice creams to cool off with prices from $1-2 SGD, a fraction of what the same would cost inside the park.

Best family hotels near Universal Studios Singapore

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa

The ultimate family resort in Sentosa is the well knows Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa. Located at Siloso beach facing the sea, the resort is complete with it’s own water play area with slides and water sprays, as well as a state of the art Kids Club. This family resort is perfect for families travelling with young children.

Check prices and availability for Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc

Village Hotel Sentosa

This recently opened hotel is a stunning complex with over 600 rooms, most of them interconnecting so perfect for families. The Pool deck on level 3 is the highlight of the resort with 4 themed pools, including it’s own lazy river and many shallow kid-friendly pools! You can read my full review of Village Hotel Sentosa HERE

Check prices and availability for Village Hotel Sentosa

Village hotel Sentosa located near Universal Studios — Village Hotel Sentosa

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa

This large, expansive complex is located on the south of the island, in the cliff above the trendy Tanjong Beach. For families there are a variety of accommodation options that include rooms as well as villas. The Kids club and glamping options for the rooms are particular popular at this luxurious resort!

Check prices and availability for Sofitel Singapore Sentosa

Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc

Want to read more about Singapore?

I hope you enjoyed this Guide on Visiting Universal Studios Singapore with toddlers!

More articles are coming soon about Singapore with Travel Tips and of course The best of Singapore’s Food!

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Recipes November 14, 2023

Prawns and Chorizo Christmas Paella

A beautiful one-pan dish that is PERFECT for your Christmas lunch or dinner! This Prawns and Chorizo Christmas Paella is colourful, full of flavour and loaded with so many fresh prawns! This is the main dish that is the centrepiece of many celebrations, and guaranteed to wow your guests.

Ingredients to make this Prawns and Chorizo Christmas Paella

Rice

For this recipe, I used Calasparra Paella Rice that you can purchase on Amazon HERE or you can find other brands of Bomba rice from your local delicatessen or specialty grocery stores.

Some common questions:

What rice can I use for paella?

The typical rice that is used for paella in Spain is generally the Bomba or Calasparra variety. Both of these rice types are grown in the south of Spain near Murcia, in the Calasparra region.

The main feature of Bomba and Calasparra rice is that it has a very high absorption rate. The rice can soak up all the flavours of the paella without losing its shape or falling apart. That is what makes Bomba or Calasparra rice perfect for Paella!

Can I use Arborio rice instead of Paella Rice?

You can, if you really can’t get a hold of Bomba Rice. The main difference here is that Arborio is much more of a creamy rice as it’s commonly used to make risotto, so the final result will be different texture wise.

Prawns

For this Prawn and Chorizo Paella, I used Australian fresh large green banana prawns. I usually buy them whole and raw. I boil them in salted water then cool them down immediately and generously top the paella with them. The more the better! You can use whatever prawn/shrimp type you prefer.

Chorizo

I used fresh chorizo sausages that I found at my local deli. I have found that it’s not easy to find authentic dried chorizo imported from Spain (unless you can find a Spanish / Latin American deli) and many of the chorizo versions I have tried lack a bit of depth of flavour with the garlic and paprika especially, hence why I add more of these ingredients in the recipe.

TIP: If you can get a hold of dried chorizo, halve the quantity as the flavour is generally stronger than in the sausages.

Saffron & Smoked Paprika

To give the rice the authentic yellow tinge and add some smokiness from the paprika.

Other ingredients needed

Onion
Garlic
Peppers
Green Peas
Water or Chicken / Vegetable Stock (I used water and stock cubes in the recipe)
Tinned Tomatoes
Lemon Wedges & Chopped Parsley to serve
Salt, Pepper & Olive Oil

Equipment needed: A Paella Pan!

For this recipe, I use my trusted 17 inch / 43 cm Carbon Steel Paella Pan. You can pick one up from Amazon, like THIS ONE, or from your local homeware store.

TIP: Don’t have a paella pan? A large pot will also work and you can serve the rice individually as you would a risotto and top with your garnishes.

For a smaller serving of the paella eg. for 4 people, you could also use a large cast iron skillet or pan and garnish it as you would a paella.

How to make this Prawns and Chorizo Christmas Paella

Cook the Prawns

First thing, to cook the prawns. Bring to the boil a large pot of generously salted water and boil the prawns for 4-5 minutes till cooked. Strain immediately and place in a bowl with some ice to cool and stop cooking. Set aside.

Fry the chorizo

Heat some olive oil in the paella pan over your largest burner over the stove and start by frying the sliced chorizo till golden and crispy for 5 minutes.

Add the vegetables

To the chorizo, add the garlic, peppers, and onions and fry gently while constantly stirring for 10 minutes. Season with some salt and pepper.

Add the rice, tinned tomatoes and stock

Once the vegetables have softened and caramelized, add the rice, the tinned tomatoes, and 800 ml of water (fill the tin from the tomatoes twice), Add the stock cubes, salt, paprika, and saffron and give everything a good stir.

Cook the rice gently

The rice will look very watery at this stage, once everything has started to bubble again, turn the heat to low and keep stirring from the edges of the pan to the middle, for 10 minutes. Make sure every grain of rice gets the same love to cook evenly.

After 10 minutes the rice should almost be cooked. The rice should still have a bite to it and you can add another cup of water to continue cooking while stirring for 4-5 minutes.

Add the peas

Add the peas and continue stirring. Give or take 1-2 extra minutes till the rice is cooked to your liking.

Add the prawns, garnish & serve

The paella is ready! Take it off the heat and top with lemon wedges (delicious squeezed over the rice), the cold prawns fresh chopped parsley, and some olive oil. Place it in the centre of the table and let everyone help themselves.

I promise there won’t be much left! Enjoy and hope it’s a spectacular Christmas!

Loved this Prawns and Chorizo Christmas Paella? Want more?

Love rice dishes? Then check out my recipes of Bacon Pumpkin Risotto & Pumpkin Arancini!

Print Pin

Prawns and Chorizo Christmas Paella

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 35

Servings 8 people

Equipment

1 17 inch Carbon Steel Paella Pan

Ingredients

800 gr Raw Prawns, shells on
3 Raw Chorizo Sausages (Sliced in 2 cm pieces)
2 Red Peppers (Diced)
6 Garlic Cloves (Thinly Sliced)
1 Red Onion ((1 large or 2 small), diced)
2 cups Rice (Bomba variety)
1 litre Water or Unsalted Chicken or Vegetable Stock
2 Stock Cubes
1 can Diced Tomatoes (400 g tin)
1 Pinch Saffron
1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
1 Cup Green Peas (Thawed)
1 Lemon (Cut into wedges)
1 bunch Parsley (finely chopped)
8 tbsp Extra virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt (and more to season if needed)
Ground Pepper (to taste)

Instructions

For the Prawns: Bring to the boil a large pot of generously salted water and boil the prawns for 4-5 minutes till cooked. Strain immediately and place is a bowl with some ice to cool and stop cooking. Set aside.
Heat 6 tablespoons of olive oil to the paella pan over your largest burner on the stove and start by frying the sliced chorizo till golden and crispy for 5 minutes.
Add the garlic, peppers and onions and fry gently while constantly stirring for 10 minutes. Season with some salt and pepper.
Once the vegetables have softened and caramelized, add the rice and the tinned tomatoes and 800 ml of water or stock (fill the tin from the tomatoes twice).
Add the stock cubes, 1 teaspoon of salt, the paprika, saffron and give everything a good stir.
The rice will look very watery at this stage, once everything has started to bubble again, turn the heat to low and keep stirring in a circular motion from the edges of the pan to the middle, for 10 minutes. Make sure every grain of rice gets the same loving to cook evenly.
After 10 minutes the rice should almost be cooked. The rice should still have a bite to it and you can add another cup of water on continue cooking while stirring for 4-5 minutes.
Add the peas and continue stirring. Give or take 1-2 extra minutes till the rice is cooked to your liking. Season more if needed.
Take it off the heat and top with lemon wedges (delicious squeezed over the rice), the cold prawns and fresh chopped parsley and some olive oil. Place in the centre of the table and let everyone help themselves.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: spanish

Keyword: christmas food, christmas lunch, one pan dish, paella, prawns and chorizo

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Asia November 5, 2023

Village Hotel Sentosa Review

On a recent family trip to Singapore we stayed on Sentosa island at the Village Hotel Sentosa, a stunning family friendly resort complex, located right next to Resorts World Sentosa and all it’s attractions. Worth the long flight? Absolutely! This is my Village Hotel Sentosa Review.

_{This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a booking, I make a small commission. This is at absolutely NO additional cost to you and helps me keep the site running!}

What you are going to love about Village Hotel Sentosa

The amazing 4 pools and gardens at the pool deck. Heaps of space and a real relaxed vibe.
Perfect for families with young children. Clever room design with interconnecting rooms and shallow pools.
In a great location in Sentosa. Close to the beach, as well as to Resorts World attractions and a short monorail ride into Singapore to connect with the Metro (MRT) .

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

pool at village sentosa — Adventure Pool at Village Sentosa

Where is Village Hotel Sentosa

Village Hotel Sentosa is located on the island of Sentosa, a man made island just off the coast of the south of Singapore. Within a short walk from the hotel you can reach the beach, as well as the many attractions within Resorts World Sentosa like Universal Studios & S.E.A Aquarium.

universal studios, located in nearby resort world sentosa — Universal Studios in Singapore is located just a short walk away

The closest monorail station is 5 minutes away, Imbiah station, which can take you directly into VivoCity shopping centre in Singapore. From there you can take the Metro (MRT – HarbourFront) into anywhere you need to get to in Singapore!

Getting to Village Hotel Sentosa from Singapore Changi Airport

Taxi / Grab

The easiest and quickest way to reach Sentosa is with a taxi from Changi Airport. The trip is around 20 minutes and it costs around 25-35 SGD depending on the time of day. Taxis are available at the airport, and if travelling with children, they can travel on the parents lap on the back seat.

Ridesharing company Grab (think Uber for South East Asia) also widely operates in Singapore and can be more cost efficient than taxis.

If travelling with young children, you must book a Grab Family. Grab Family generally has car seats and boosters installed for young children.

Entry charge when arriving in Sentosa

If arriving by taxi and visiting Sentosa for the day, an Entry Fee to the island is added to the taxi fare.

If you are staying on Sentosa, you will just need to show your accommodation confirmation letter or QR code provided by the accommodation to enter Sentosa and you/the taxi driver won’t be required to pay the Entry Fee.

The fee is between $2-$6 SGD to enter the island, depending on time of day that you enter.

You can read more on this on my other post coming soon about Getting Around in Sentosa.

Facilities & Rooms at Village Hotel Sentosa

children's pool at village sentosa at dusk — Pool at dusk

Village Hotel Sentosa is a large resort complex with onsite restaurant, a stunning pool deck on the 3rd floor with 4 pools, including it’s own lazy river, swim up bar and gym.

Dining

Dining Options – within the hotel

Native Kitchen, Ground Floor, open 7am-11am, 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm

This is where breakfast for Village Hotel Sentosa is served. We did not have breakfast included in our room price so I cannot comment on the food.

It is although a buffet style breakfast serving Western and Asian dishes. It’s also open for lunch and dinner with an extensive a-la-carte menu.

native kitchen, the main restaurant at village sentosa — Native Kitchen, on the ground floor

Supply Depot, Ground Floor, open 8am to 6pm

Located at reception and is available for snacks and light refreshments.

supply depot to stock up on snacks at the lobby — Supply Depot opposite reception

Poor Bar, Pool Deck, Level 3, Open 12pm to 5pm

Located by the Pamukkale pool on the Pool Deck, you can get drinks, cocktails, Pizzas and light snacks.

Dining Options – At Mess Hall complex, located directly across from the Hotel

The gorgeous white colonial building was once a Military outpost, now hosts stylish restaurants and a convenience store. It’s located right across Village Hotel Sentosa, as well as being very easily accessible from nearby Hotels The Barracks & the Outpost Hotel.

mess hall, across the road from native kitchen — Mess Hall, located across the road from Village Sentosa, opposite Native Kitchen

7/11 Convenience Store: Proved to be extremely convenient to pick up some snacks for the room and ice creams when it got too hot. Located just outside reception on the ground floor.
Le Faubourg: French Dining
MIYOSHI by Fat Cow: Japanese Fine Dining
Royal Taj: Indian Dining

Want to explore other dining options in Sentosa? Check out my other post coming soon on Where to Eat in Sentosa.

Swimming Pools

The Pool Deck on level 3 is the jewel in the crown of this resort. Lush greenery and coy ponds surround the pool deck and there is plenty of space to have a lounge or curl up on the many round pods to read a book. All the pools are located on Level 3 via lift or escalator from reception. From Level 3 you can get a great view over the sea.

area to relax on level 3 near the pool deck — Relaxing pods in the Pool Deck Area on level 3

Adventure Pool: the largest pool in the centre of the resort with a shallow end and terraced higher end.

Adventure pool at village sentosa — Adventure Pool

Pamukkale Pool: A stunning infinity pool that looks over the sea, with terraced shallow pools to resemble Pamukkale in Turkey. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the views over the water (and the monorail depot, the highlight for the kids!)

the terraced Pamukkale Pool at village sentosa — Pamukkale Pool

Children Play Pool: shallow and with 2 small water slides and water sprays, this pool is a real hit with the little ones.

Lazy River: so refreshing and surrounded by lush greenery and mangroves. You can grab one of the bright yellow pool floats from the resort and be carried along the river for a float.

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

Other Facilities

Gym: located on level 3 on the pool deck. Well equipped with modern equipment such as treadmills, stationary bikes, bench press and weights. Open 8am to 10pm.
Complementary Resort shuttle to Beach Station & VivoCity running every half hour from 8am to 21.30pm
Tour desk
24 hour reception

Reception at Village Sentosa — 24 hour reception at Village Sentosa

Rooms at Village Sentosa

This hotel is a large complex with 606 guestrooms. The resort is largely catered to families with lots of rooms set up as interconnecting family rooms.

Room types

There are just 3 room types at the resort. Deluxe Rooms (for 2 people), Family Rooms and Deluxe Family Rooms (both family room types are 2 rooms interconnecting). Deluxe family rooms are slightly larger than the family rooms and have a bathtub in one of the rooms. We stayed in a standard Family room.

Family Rooms

Many of the rooms at Village Hotel Sentosa are Family Rooms. The Family Rooms are essentially 2 rooms interconnecting with 2 doors, which you can keep open or closed for privacy.

Family room at village sentosa — Family room with open interconnecting doors

Each room has it’s own 49 inch TV, bathroom, shower and storage. There is also a safe to store valuables. The bed configuration can be set up as 2 doubles or one double and 2 singles.

We opted for 2 doubles and had a bedrail on one side of the kids bed (3 and 5 yrs old).

Room amenities

The rooms are compact, of minimalistic design and with neutral colours. There are large windows facing either the pool, island or sea. The windows have curtains and some great blackout blinds which made it easy for the kids to get to sleep.

Luggage Storage, tiny robes for the kids and amenities in the rooms

The rooms are very well designed with smart use of space, but keep in mind, they are very compact. There is no wardrobe, just a shelf to store a suitcase and a few drawers and hangers to store belongings.

A kettle, mugs, glasses and a jug for ice/water in the room as well an a small fridge (provided empty).

Luggage storage in the rooms — Luggage storage and small fridge upon room entry

No tea or coffee is provided in the room. Instead, on each floor, there is a vending machine for snacks and drinks, as well as a communal Tea / Coffee station.

tea/cofee station and vending machine area — Vending Machine and Ice Machine at each lift

Here, you can take what you need for your room and there is also a water / ice machine, which proved to be extremely handy to fill up water bottles with ice on our way out for the day or in the evening to have a cold drink.

They have the same set up at every lift and floor and everything was always well stocked.

filtered water tap — Communal Coffee and Tea Station

Rooms are serviced daily and we found it to be very good with the rooms thoroughly cleaned each day.

In Room Dining is available across day and night and the menu can be seen on the hotel TV.

Bathroom

A clever feature in these rooms is that instead of plastic water bottles, each room is fittet with a Hyflux filtered water tap so it was great to refill our own water bottles. The water in Singapore is perfectly safe to drink anyway but this was a nice extra touch!

Filtered water tap next to the tap in each room — Hyflux Filtered Water Tap

The wash basin is located at the hallway, next to the luggage storage as you enter the room. The rain shower & Japanese Toto Washlet are in a separate cubicle.

Family Friendly facilities at Village Resort Sentosa

Despite being a hotel that is very geared around families – there is no kids club at this resort. That said, the hotel is very comfortable for families travelling. These are some of the family friendly facilities at Village Hotel Sentosa:

Shallow end of the Adventure Pool, at 0.50 cm

Convenient interconnecting room layouts, which was hard to find for a similar price point in Sentosa. While researching we found that most of the other larger resorts in Sentosa offered family rooms with all the beds in the one room, one bathroom and one tv, rather than in interconnecting but separate rooms.
Blackout blinds in the rooms
Bed rails and cots available upon request for smaller babies and infants (up to 9 kg only)
We found that the Swimming Pools were fantastic for kids, especially young ones. The Children’s Play Pool and part of the Adventure Pool are very shallow, between 30-50 cm.
The restaurant Native Kitchen has plenty of high-chairs, as well as a kids menu

Family Movie Nights at Village Hotel Sentosa

Family Movie Nights on Friday and Saturday nights by the Adventure Pool was a highlight and a great family activity organized by the hotel. They set up bean bags and provide you with mosquito patches and overall had a really great atmosphere.

At our time of stay there were no other kids activities running so it would be best to contact the hotel ahead of time as some activities may only run seasonally during the holidays.

What is nearby Village Hotel Sentosa

Attractions nearby Village Hotel Sentosa

Village Resort Sentosa is conveniently located a short walk away from Resort World Sentosa (10 minute walk or 1 stop on the Sentosa Express Monorail). At Resorts World Sentosa you can find Universal Studios, S.E.A Aquarium as well as many eateries, shopping outlets and the Casino.

You can read more on my posts about Visiting Universal Studios Singapore with Toddlers HERE!

cable car over adventure cove waterpark — Cable Car over Adventure Cove Waterpark

There is so much more to the above though and so many attractions to suit all ages. Some popular ones include Adventure Cove Waterpark, Madame Tussauds as well as go karting at Hyperdrive, Indoor Skydiving at Ifly, ziplining at Mega Adventure Park and the night show at Wings of Time.

For a lazy day by the beach, walk at the back of the hotel to reach Palawan beach and stroll along to cross over the Big Bridge. There are many beach clubs along the beach to relax and have something to eat too.

Catching the Singapore Cable Car across Sentosa and at the top of Mt Faber across to Singapore is also a must do attractions and a great way to see the island from a high viewpoint.

VivoCity Shopping Mall is a huge shopping centre (the largest is Singapore) only 2 stops away on the monorail. From there you can catch the MRT (metro) into anywhere in Singapore.

Hotels nearby Village Hotel Sentosa

Sharing the same complex and pool as Village Hotel Sentosa (and part of the same hotel chain) is the Outpost Hotel. This hotel is more geared for couples / friends and has its own stunning Adults only Sky Pool and Bar with cool beats playing throughout the evening, called 1- Altitude Coast.

You can check out prices for the Outpost Hotel HERE.

The Outpost Hotel Sentosa – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc

The Barracks Hotel Sentosa: Luxury, heritage rooms located next door and can be seen from Mess hall across the road.

You can check out prices for the Barracks Hotel HERE.

The Barracks Hotel – Image courtesy of Expedia Inc

Village Hotel Sentosa Review – Final thoughts

All in all, we really enjoyed our stay at Village Resort Sentosa! Would I come again to Village Hotel Sentosa? Absolutely YES! Would I recommend it for families? YES.

I highlighted the things that I loved about the Hotel and some things that I didn’t love so much about our stay below.

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

What I loved about Village Resort Sentosa

The standout feature for this resort is without a doubt the Pool Area. It is the most impressive pool set up that I have ever seen in a hotel. I loved that there were so many areas that you can go to, always sunbeds, you can move across to the 4 pools and they are all so different.
The design with immaculate gardens, coy ponds to the side and greenery that is on top over the roofs of the pool too, make this the highlight of the stay.

the green roof above the pool deck at village sentosa — The greenery overtaking the roof of the Pool Deck on Level 3

Location we found to be really great. It was so easy to get around in Sentosa or into Singapore with the the Sentosa Express Monorail directly into Vivocity Shopping Centre and from there hop on the MRT.

What I didn’t like so much about Village Resort Sentosa

The main thing that we found a bit challenging during the stay was the size of the rooms. The rooms are quite compact and as we stayed just over a week – we had quite a bit of luggage and the lack of storage just meant we had things lying around everywhere.

We also had quite a bit of laundry to do (always the case with young kids) and there was little or no space to dry it. There was a laundry service at the hotel but it was quite pricey (charged per item) so we did not use it and arranged our own washing.

I think perhaps the room set up for this hotel is more geared towards guests staying for a short stay, rather than longer stays hence the smaller rooms.

Want to read Read More on How to Save Money when Travelling to Singapore? Article coming soon.

BOOK Village Hotel Sentosa

To check out prices and availability of Village Hotel Sentosa, check HERE.

Want to read more about Singapore?

Check out my other articles about Singapore like Free things to Do in Singapore with Kids & Popular and Unique Dishes to Try at Hawker Centres.

Note: This post is NOT sponsored and is my honest and personal opinion only.

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Pasta October 31, 2023

Baked conchiglioni with mushrooms and ricotta

This baked conchiglioni with mushrooms and ricotta is a delightful pasta dish that will make you come back for seconds! The large pasta shells are filled with ricotta and sauteed mushrooms, topped with bechamel, and baked till golden.

Ingredients required for these Baked Conchiglioni with Mushrooms and Ricotta

Stuffed pasta shells ingredients

Conchiglioni – it’s a type of pasta that is shaped like a large shell (Conchiglia in Italian). There are a few different versions and sizes of these, Conchiglie is a common one you find that is a smaller version of Conchiglioni. Conchiglioni is the largest and perfect for stuffing! I used this type of Conchiglioni Giganti.

Another pasta type of similar size of the Conchiglioni is called Lumaconi (taking the name of a snail with shell, a lumaca).

Mushrooms, I opted for using King Oyster Mushrooms but any type of button or oyster variety are great choices for these stuffed shells. I like using King Oyster Mushrooms or Baby Oyster Mushroom variety as they are so meaty and full of flavour!

king oyster mushrooms — Image by Peter Stanic from Pixabay

Three Cheeses – to make the filling for the shells extra tasty and creamy. Ricotta, Parmesan & Mozzarella to combine with the mushrooms.
Garlic & Butter, to sauté the mushrooms.
Salt, Pepper & Olive Oil

Bechamel Sauce Ingredients

Only 3 basic Ingredients are needed for a basic bechamel sauce. Butter and Flour to make a Roux, and Milk.

To season, Salt, Pepper and an essential ingredient that I always use in bechamel, grated Nutmeg! It adds a beautiful nuttiness and aroma to sauce which I love.

How to make these Baked Conchiglioni with Mushrooms and Ricotta

Fry the mushrooms

The first step to prepare the filling for these pasta shells is to gently sauté the mushrooms in finely chopped garlic, a knob of butter, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. The mushrooms will need to cook down for at least 10-15 minutes till the liquid from them has completely evaporated. Set aside to cool.

Boil the conchiglioni

In the meantime, bring a large pot of salted boiling water to the boil and cook the conchiglioni for 4 minutes. This is all they will need to gently soften and make it easy for you to stuff with the filling. They will continue cooking while baking when filled and not end up being overcooked!

Drain the conchiglioni of the excess water. In a large baking tray (I used a large 38 x 25 cm dish) drizzle a generous amount of olive oil and place the conchiglioni there in preparation to filling them.

Tip: Don’t wash up the pot that you boiled the conchiglioni in yet! You can use it for making the bechamel sauce later.

partially boiled conchiglioni before stuffing

Combine the mixture and stuff the shells

Combine the sauteed mushrooms with the ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella, this is the stuffing mixture ready and begin stuffing each shell with a small spoon.

Make the bechamel sauce

Start first by heating the oven to 180 (160 fan forced) in preparation for the shells to bake, as the bechamel won’t take long to make!

For the bechamel, start by melting the butter in a large pot over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the flour and whisk vigorously till the butter and flour have combined and the roux starts to foam and thicken.

This is when you can add the milk. Add a cup at a time and keep stirring with the whisk to prevent lumps. You will see the sauce come to a boil and start to thicken (like a thick custard consistency), and this is when you will know that the sauce is done. Season to taste with a pinch of salt, ground pepper, and grated nutmeg. Remove from the heat to cool slightly.

Tip: You can make the bechamel sauce and filling in advance the day prior to save time, and just keep them in the fridge till you need it to top the stuffed conchiglioni!

Arrange the stuffed shells and top with bechamel

Once the bechamel is done, you can pour it over the stuffed conchiglioni and spread it across all of them so that they are all covered in sauce. Top with a sprinkle of more grated parmesan and some olive oil. The conchiglioni is ready for baking!

bechamel topping on the pasta shells before baking

Bake and Serve

Bake in a hot 180 degree (160 fan forced) oven for 35-40 minutes till golden. For an extra crispy top, turn on the grill for a few minutes! Serve immediately and enjoy!

Want more?

Loved this recipe of Baked conchiglioni with mushrooms and ricotta? Check out my other pasta recipes Sausage & Ricotta Pasta Bake and Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccolini.

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