Why we paid $500 and got up at 5:45am!?!
- toinfinitypoolandbeyond
- Apr 27, 2019
- 3 min read
The Ultimate Infinity Pool
It was our first morning at the Marina Bay Sands, it was dark, it was cold (by local standards), and there was an irritating-yet-familiar ringing in our ears. It was an iPhone alarm... something we hadn't heard in the few months since ditching our corporate jobs to travel around Asia. It was 5.45am. We quickly remembered that we had decided to get up early and watch the Singapore sunrise from THE infinity pool.
The pools grand opening is at 6am each morning, and it is grande, perhaps even... grandiose. A short but suspenseful elevator ride shudders to a luxurious climax at a chic art-deco lobby complete with high-ceilings, marble floors, mood-lighting, and a single potted palm. There's no fanfare or fireworks (although there is a laser-light show in the evening), but you know it's special because of the droves of dressed-up selfie-seekers that descend on the signature spot every day. Now we don't mean dressed up as in heels and cocktail dresses, but don't be surprised to see Sunday-best hair-do's, full-faces of makeup, and swimsuits straight off the Victorias Secret catwalk; alongside designer shades and handbags galore... think Louis Vuittons ode to The Walking Dead.
The pool area is accessed via a staffed turnstile using your room card-key, this adds to feelings of exclusivity since you know that everyone at the pool has also paid a minimum premium of $500 to gain access. Robes and slippers are provided in the room, towels are available poolside, and there's even a cute little stall where you can purchase sun cream and other essentials should you have forgotten to bring your own :)
As far as infinity pools go, MBS is a particularly impressive specimen. At over 150 meters long, it adorns the majority of the worlds largest cantilevered platform known appropriately as SkyPark - literally a Park in the Sky - which is so big it can accommodate 3900 people and, in places, overhangs the main building by as much as 67m (thanks Wikipedia). However, these facts and figures mean little when you're up there, on the 57th floor. It's ALL ABOUT THE VIEWSsssssssssssssssssssss.
Now, we weren't the only ones to set an early alarm (and were probably also joined by a bunch of people who hadn't even been to sleep yet), but we did manage to secure some prime real estate at the pools edge with a direct view of the Singapore skyline. On the opposite side of the SkyPark, by the Tower 3 entrance, there are a couple of hot-tubs which overlook Gardens by the Bay nearly 200 metres below. These are an absolute hidden gem (which we hadn't read about anywhere during our research), and were much appreciated as we waited for sunrise.
The next day we swung by the pool after 9pm. Despite having been open for over 15 hours, it remained busy but we managed to get pretty much the same beds we had the day before. We dropped off our non-essentials and jumped into the pool, iPhone in hand, for some night time skyline shots, and of course more selfies :).
On our last day we just had to go back ONE. LAST. TIME. This time we went to the area over Tower 1 (by the kids pool) which offered a totally different perspective on things. After taking yet more photos from this new angle, we quickly escaped back to the adults-only section for one last cheeky dip in those amazing Jacuzzis.
Advice;
Remember, the infinity pool is reserved for hotel guests only - making it a more exclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Don't for get ALL your room cards - 1 per guest is required for access to the pool.
There are family friends and adults-only sections, choose accordingly.
The pool opens at 6am, get there early to ensure your pick of sunbeds, and for some cool shots of sunrise over the gardens.
The pool closes late, don't forget your night shots of the skyline.
Check-out the hot tubs for added relaxation, especially early in the morning and late in the evening.
Wish you were here,
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