Marina Bay Sands Weekend

It's the thing to do.  It's such a national icon.  It's also on the pricier (but not ridiculous side) of things.  And, it includes use of the pool...THAT pool.  We decided to stay at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) on our way out of Singapore (so that our hotel money would pay for it).  Allison was at Youth Conference during our move into our long-term hotel and would be leaving Singapore for the U.S. before we did, so we couldn't switch hotels just once.  We had to pack up and move in in the middle...but it was worth it.  We stayed on a Friday and Saturday night.  I chose the second least expensive room, and reserved two of them, for two nights.  That came to about $2350 sgd (which, yes, was covered).  When we checked in, we were upgraded...TIMES FIVE.  No, literally, times five--we looked it up.  We were upgraded to the Straits Suite which is $5,300 a night, plus tax.  Let's just add that it is on the same floor (meaning there were only about 4 of us--maybe) as the Presidential Suite.  We made sure with the guy at the desk that we had connecting rooms.  He said that he could upgrade us to a room that had a family room with a bedroom on either side.  Thoughts of a typical Marriott-style room meeting that description ran through my head.  Not until we opened the room doors...yes, double, did we start to process the full scope of what he was saying. It was awesome.

Elevator lobby on our floor (floor 52) at check-in on Friday:

Our room.  The bathroom off of the front foyer:

 The family/living/dining room:

 The kitchen (which had it's own separate hallway entrance):

 The second bedroom:

 The second bedroom's bathroom:

 The Master bedroom:

 The Master bedroom's dressing area, closet and bathroom beyond:

 The private office:

 The private massage room:

 The private workout and haircut room:

 And the highlight, for the kids, the karaoke room:

The Infinity Pool/Skydeck:

 Robertson/Clark Quay shophouses:

 Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall:

 Fullerton Hotel:

 Esplanade Theatres:

 National Gallery Singapore:

 Ships, docks, and more construction:

Dinner across the way in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands at DC Comics ($300):

 Nighttime city view from room:

 Morning view from room, and yes, that's Madison playing the baby grand piano:

Backside of Marina Bay Sands on our walk through Gardens by the Bay to have McDonald's for breakfast:

 Inside one of the three towers of the hotel:

 Partial shot of the front of MBS:

 Lunchtime view from the Observation Deck (57th Floor):

 Garden's by the Bay's Flower Dome and Cloud Forest (dome):

 Marina Barrage, one of our favorite spots, and where our family pictures were taken:

 Singapore Flyer and part of the Formula 1 racetrack:

Our afternoon swim:

Walk back through Gardens by the Bay to Satay by the Bay for our favorite satay, fruit drinks, and prata:

 Sunset from our room:

 ArtScience museum:

 Helix bridge:

 Boathouse:

 Merlion with bumboat:

 Note from McKenna (I'd had one earlier, too):

Club 55 (previously the Cheese and Chocolate Bar, located on the 55th floor) as highly requested by the kids.  Me, Allison, Madison and McKenna came in at just over $200:

 Sunday morning room-service: