The Sanchaya

We visited here during a trip to Singapore to visit two of our sons and their families.From the time that we arrived at the Tanah Merah ferry terminal in Singapore until we arrived back there we were looked after extremely well. The hotel had upgraded us to a Junior Suite with a sea view as there was building work going on at the adjoining site but as there were very few people there during our stay this was clearly not a problem for them. We revelled at being able to relax by the pool, stroll along the beach and have leisurely meals in one of the two restaurants.There is not a lot to do and we would not recommend it for children but it was ideal for what we wanted after the long flight out from England. The staff were universally charming and attentive. For pampered luxury, albeit at a great price, the Sanchaya takes a lot of beating.

Booked The Sanchaya as an early birthday celebration for hubby. Was supposed to be a surprise for him but he insisted on knowing where we were going and ended up using his DBS Altitude card as there was a promotion for one complimentary Sanchaya Signature massage. Was advised to book the Emerald Class on Bintan Ferry which was a great way to travel. Emerald Class passengers have priority in getting off first and one of The Sanchaya staff was waiting to whisk us through immigration and direct to The Sanchaya Lounge. Room registration was done at the Lounge and a driver sent us to The Sanchaya Estate. As we arrived before the official check in time, we were offered a hospitality room at one of the Lawan Village one bedroom villa, our original booking. However, due to some construction at the adjacent site, they upgraded us to another room away from the noise. The few hours we spent at the villa in Lawan Village was cozy and pleasant as we sat at the veranda overlooking a lake. Enjoyed the soft breeze and was lovely to see birds of nature flying. In the early afternoon, we had The Sanchaya Signature massage which started with cleaning of the feet and followed by the massage. What we liked was the hot and smooth volcanic stones that were used which was really soothing. In the afternoon, we moved to the upgraded superior one-bedroom unit away from the noise though it felt more like a modern hotel room. Hubby still preferred the Lawan Village surroundings. Staff or artisans as they are called are all very friendly and made it a point to address you by name. Surroundings were well kept and you could spend time at The Library, The Salon, The Dining Room, pool or beach. Or you could have access to the thousands of video movies that are available in your room. The estate is wireless and the signal on the whole is pretty good. We also managed to enjoy a game of croquet... first time playing and thought it was interesting. Overall, it was a great and memorable stay. If you love privacy, and being away from the crowds, this is the place to visit.

My friend and I traveled to Sanchaya for the weekend. The ferry service on Bintan from the hotel is outstanding. They have their own beautiful lounge where they have wifi and serve you tea. And they take care of all your bags (including taking them off the belt while you are in the lounge). This was the best service of the entire experience. The hotel itself is beautiful and immaculate. The rooms, the dining area etc are very tastefully done. But not worth the extremely high prices (a 5 star hotel I prefer in Thailand is half price, including the airfare for a room with a pool and better service). The service is a bit off (though well intentioned). The hotel has been open for a couple years and it seems like it is the staffs first day. No one seemed to really be in charge. For example, the hotel staff didn't know what a "converter" is for electrical outlets, did not understand when we called for "cranberry juice", and a few other areas where the language barrier became frustrating. Also our companion was not really a companion, we couldn't get in touch with her and when we did ask her to schedule yoga for us, she never called us or anything to confirm. She had one job for us and could not follow through. She also never checked in with us again for the rest of the time.And it's not because she was so busy, the hotel was basically empty. There were 2 other couples there that night. The food overall was very good. Breakfast is included and that was nice given the rest of the food was outrageously expensiv. Two small vegetarian spring rolls was appx $S15. Also there was a sommelier walking around trying to get people to do a wine and cheese tasting. It seemed like a good thing to do but when we found out the prices (over $S140 per person) decided not to do it because I wasn't confident of the value for money based on other experiences at the resort. Later that evening, the sommelier sent us over a cheese plate where we were sitting by the bar. Which seemed so nice because we didn't ask for it and didn't want it as we were having dinner shortly but I would have had a piece or two. Thank god I asked the waiter if it was complimentary because he said no and the price of the plate was at least $75! So I thought it was bad form for the sommelier to send it over like that. And then he came out and asked if he could pour us a taste. I said sure as long as it wouldnt mean we were "doing the tasting" and he said-- no on me. So I had a very small taste of a nice Spanish red. He then said: anything else you want, I have a lot of bottles open. I said that I've really been wanting to try the Barolo which apparently is oxidized in a special machine they have on property. So he said sure, no problem. 20 minutes later he never came out again and then we left for dinner at the hotel restaurant. He never came over to apologize or anything after leaving us hanging. And on the topic of wine, the first night we were there the waiter poured me a glass of the primitivo and it had very clearly gone bad. A simple wiff would have revealed this. Shocking that a hotel that prides itself on its wine would serve turned wine. They opened a new bottle and the pour was great and not turned but very surprising altogether. And of course, they charged me for the glass (good service would have been to take it off the menu!) The spa treatments themselves where very nice. But the spa is small. No steam or anything. And the landscaping around the spa was very ugly and did not look attended to. Also we did yoga and it was not what I had hoped. I've done hatha yoga before and this was just some basic stretching. Also there were many mosquitoes and even though there was a fan, the yoga instructor did not have the remote to turn it on. Anyway,I don't mind paying big bucks for luxury, but this is not on the level of hotel where paying this amount is okay without making you feel taken advantage of. This hotel would have been a lot more palatable if it was half the price. I just felt taken advantage of for the prices and the level of service provided. Also the whole experience is just strange and seems like they don't really know what they are doing.

Just an hour by ferry from Singapore, we've discovered a hidden gem in The Sanchaya. It's private, exclusive and an all round stunning property with great service. From the fast track through customs to its own lounge at the terminal, it feels like the little details have been thought of and it makes a big difference. The service is warm, genuine and the staff are eager to please whilst being discreet. It probably lacks the polish and confidence of say the Four Seasons but this may be more a matter of training than anything else & in a way has its own charm. We can't remember all the staff by name but they were all lovely - for eg staff member Fadil who seemed to wear many different hats all with a smile became a familiar and welcome sight for us. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa which was perfect for 4 friends and signed up to the wine & cheese tasting with the in-house sommelier which was well worth it with an extensive array of high-end wines and a lot of information from the Somm! The prices are comparable to the Four Seasons. The food can take some time to arrive but it is fresh and very good! Highly recommend the red snapper fillet curry and the beef rendang. Breakfast was included and is extensive with smoothies, herbal drinks and a lot of different food options. The cocktails again are pricey and on the sweet side but that the sweetness levels can be easily fixed if you speak to the bar/staff. An example of a small tweak that could be made is having electronic bells at poolside sun loungers so you didn't have to try to wave down a member of staff each time you needed something and having a dedicated pool staff member to keep track of guess who had just arrived and needed towels, water etc. The positives are tremendous - you feel like you are truly in luxury and the hotel offers a unique experience. Well worth a visit for a special occasion - budget allowing!

Wow, where do I even start? This resort simply blew us away! From the ease of booking through their website, to the no-fuss express clearance at the custom, to the warm welcome upon arrival at the resort, to the impeccably well maintained room and facilities, to the gorgeous beach, to the yummy breakfast and to the sincerely caring staff! Do I need to say more? My wife and I had such a wonderful 2-night stay during our anniversary that we really didn't want to leave this place! Well done to the team at The Sanchaya! You guys have done yourself proud in providing top notch service to your guest! You guys definitely have won us over! See you soon.