Review: US$6.6 billion Marina Bay Sands is kind of disappointing
The decor of the hotel is dated, the gym is nothing special, and the restaurants are way overpriced. The infinity pool is good but people are taking pictures instead of swimming
Before getting down to business for Tuesday’s summit, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had been touring some of Singapore's most luxurious tourist attractions – including the extravagant Marina Bay Sands resort and hotel, where the local crowd greeted him like a rock star.
At its opening in 2010, Marina Bay Sands was the world's most expensive stand-alone casino, featuring 500 tables, 1,600 slot machines, and priced at around US$6.6 billion.
Marina Bay Sands is also home to a luxury five-star hotel, shopping centre, convention centre, museum, two theatres, multiple upscale restaurants, and two floating pavilions. To top it all off, a Skywalk connects its three buildings and features restaurants, an observation deck, and an infinity pool that looks out over Marina Bay.
I recently got the chance to stay at Marina Bay Sands and experience its best-known attractions. Here's a look inside:
I got to the Marina Bay Sands via Singapore's super efficient metro, which stops directly underneath the hotel.
The subway stop leads directly into Marina Bay Sands' giant shopping centre, home to a host of luxury designer brands.
Seen from the outside, here's the full view of the Marina Bay Sands complex from the water. The structure on the left is the ArtScience museum, designed to look like a lotus flower.