Tried and Tested: Early Mother’s Day Staycation (sans kids!) at Capella Singapore

Whether you’re looking for some much-deserved R&R, or just a spa day or delicious brunch, Capella Singapore is just the ticket this Mother’s Day, mama

I’m currently about halfway through my second pregnancy, and while the first trimester was ridiculously smooth, suddenly I’m feeling a lot bigger and slower and achier this time around than I did at the same point in my first pregnancy. At 22 weeks I’m already the same size I was at 30 weeks last time around (which is making me pretty nervous for those brutal final weeks!).

All this is to say, when Capella Singapore offered me the chance to take a quick overnight staycation on Sentosa to preview some of their special Mother’s Day offerings, I had my overnight bag packed in about 30 seconds (and informed my husband we’d be going away that weekend on a last-minute babymoon – obviously this was all made possible by our awesome helper agreeing to work on a Sunday evening). Our Sunday night staycation on Sentosa only lasted about 15 hours, yet we came away refreshed and ready to start the week. Here were the highlights:

We arrived in the late afternoon, and were promptly escorted to our Premier Sea View Room, which offered gorgeous views of the resort’s lush grounds and the South China Sea Beyond. We particularly loved our little balcony that caught a lovely sea breeze.

The rooms are huge by Singapore standards (starting at 77 square metres), with a separate closet/dressing area and spacious bathroom (Aesop toiletries, score!). The King Bed with luxe Pratesi linens was probably my favourite part.

With an early dinner on the books, we quickly made our way down to the tiered swimming pool, which features a quieter adult section as well as a de facto kids’ pool (you’ll notice a lot more splashing and a shallow wading area), and a lap pool. Since we were arriving late in the day (around 5pm), there were plenty of lounge beds available, though it took us a while to hunt down some towels. Poolside drinks and a nearby gelato cart made up for this, though!

Feeling adventurous, I decided to hike down the resort’s multi-step path to its private beach, however a freak fallen branch blocked my path so I never made it all the way down. The glimpse I caught of a wide open stretch of golden sand definitely made me keen to return, however.

After our quick dip and some blissful, uninterrupted reading, we made our way to dinner and drinks at the open-air Bob’s Bar on the resort’s main terrace overlooking the swimming pools and the sea beyond. With a Cuban-inspired menu (and a special award-winning bartender on hand for a limited engagement), not to mention the occasional peacock strutting past, it had the perfect tropical feel we were after. On Sunday nights there’s also a live band that was definitely a hit with the fairly packed crowd that seemed to be a mix of local residents and hotel guests.

My husband enjoyed the special Tiki Bar drinks on offer (I was so jealous, but at least my Virgin Mojito was refreshing!), and some of our other fave dishes included ceviche and the hamburger. My very favorite menu item, though, was the “Cast Iron Cookie”: An ooey gooey mound of chocolate chip cookie dough baked in a cast iron pan and topped with bourbon vanilla ice cream. Delicious! Just be sure to order this one halfway through your meal, mama, as it takes 15-20 minutes to bake.

The true highlight of our quick stay, however, was the one-hour “Babymoon Massage” I got at award-winning Auriga Spa. With a customisable massage bed and special body pillow, I comfortably lay on my sides while the therapist massaged by back, legs, arms, feet and scalp. I was so relaxed by the end that I ended up snoozing for about 15 minutes – and probably could have spent the night there!

The spa offers a full bevvy of other amenities – including a steam room, ice fountain, and vitality pool – that I would have loved to take advantage of if I hadn’t been pregnant. It would be very easy to make a day of it at Auriga Spa, mama, and I highly suggest telling your families to check out their sweet Mother’s Day packages (hint, hint to my husband!).

Following my oh-so relaxing massage I headed back to our plush room for a splendid night’s sleep. It was such a treat waking up on Monday morning and eating a delicious buffet breakfast at The Knolls – with a fabulous array of pastries, fresh fruit juices, and delectable cheeses, I can only imagine how splendid their special Mother’s Day brunch will be.

A mere 20 minutes after finishing our breakfast, my husband and I were in the CBD (Capella also has free on-site parking for guests, too!). We felt worlds away from the city’s hustle and bustle but with a night of recharging our batteries it was a bit easier to kick the workweek off with a smile. Whether you want a quick afternoon away for Mother’s Day or you’re after a quick staycation yourself, mama, Capella may be just the ticket.

Capella’s Mother’s Day Package for 2 adults and 2 children starts from $690++ per night and includes complimentary daily breakfast at The Knolls, 2 cocktails and choice of Satay or Tapas at Bob’s Bar, and a choice of a 60-minute massage or Organic Pharmacy facial for mamas at Auriga Spa. Click here for all the deets!

Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098297, www.capellasingapore.com