Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa

Surrounded by tropical trees and manicured gardens, the Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa feels tucked away from the rest of the island. A family of peacocks roam the grounds between the resort's multiple buildings, and a convenient buggy service shuttles guests to and fro. Parts of the resort have retained the charm and white wraparound verandas of the older colonial buildings, which served as British army barracks in World War II. The main building is two stories of glass and steel struts, housing a bright lobby with an atrium ceiling and a lounge with a dedicated conference center.

Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa is in central Sentosa, the quietest and most secluded part of the island. It's tucked onto tropical grounds between and within walking distance of Palawan Beach, Serapong Golf Course, and the sprawling Resort World -- a huge entertainment complex with a wide range of restaurants, hotels, shops, casinos, clubs, and attractions, including Universal Studios and a massive aquarium. Sentosa Island itself is a 25-minute drive to the downtown area and is connected to mainland Singapore by the Sentosa Gateway. It's divided into two distinct parts -- the tranquil, more secluded eastern half (home to golf courses, quiet resorts, and forests) and the newer massive tourism-oriented western half, home to Resort World.

The 140 rooms at Amara Sanctuary are split between those in the modern Sanctuary Block, and suites and villas in the outlying historic buildings. The carpeted standard rooms have a contemporary decor with dark-wood accents, furnished with desks, small sitting areas, and flat-screen TVs, as well as minibars. The bathrooms have walk-in rainfall showers and separate soaking tubs. The resort's more interesting suites and villas have a more sophisticated look befitting the old colonial buildings they occupy. The first-floor Larkhill Terrace Suites have furnished front patios, and at the back, white tiled bathrooms with soaking tubs flow into terraces with daybeds that open directly to an infinity pool. Larger second-floor units lose the direct pool access but have big living rooms and private balconies with daybeds. There are also one- and two-bedroom villas with their own plunge pools and patios that have retractable canopies.

Among the resort's many pools, its rooftop infinity pool has the most impressive views of the South China Sea. The pool shares a small sundeck with a hot tub and a few loungers, while another infinity pool is exclusive to guests in the Larkhill Terrace Suites. There's a third outdoor pool with a waterfall feature in the garden, along with an adjoining kids' pool that has waterslides. The resort's fitness center is run by Aileron Wellness, which offers a variety of training classes (as well as memberships). One room has standard fitness equipment and cardio machines, along with more exotic Power Plates and an Olympic quality Half Rack Machine. The other room is a venue for dynamic fitness regimens -- it's  partially laid with artificial turf and stocked with TRX Suspension gear, a 3 Kick kick-boxing trainer, and  other specialized equipment. It also functions as a yoga and Pilates studio. There's also an outdoor rooftop tennis court (rental fees apply).

The resort's main building houses a conference center with seven function rooms and a grand ballroom that can host up to 1,600 guests. Out on the grounds there's an all-glass pavilion for 50 guests, popular with wedding parties for its antique bell salvaged from an old chapel and its transparent Louis Ghost Chairs, designed by Philippe Starck. For dining, Thanying serves upscale Thai cuisine, while Shutters does more casual fare with optional seating on an outdoor terrace. The open-air Tier Bar has a daily happy hour and serves alfresco bar food (with a Thai twist).