Sentosa Island overview

Sentosa translates as peace and tranquillity, ironic given the island’s role as one enormous tourist trap. Horribly popular with locals and tourists, over five million people visit the adventure filled resort each year. The Siloso beach area is excellent if you can find a space and hosts nightly parties, while five-star hotels and golf courses cater to the well-heeled traveller. The new Universal Studios Singapore theme park at Resorts World Sentosa typifies the synthetic quality of the island, which delights children – if not parental wallets. Most attractions are outrageously expensive, but the beach, buses and the evening laser music fountain show are all free. Once home to the disastrous failure that was British Fort Singapore, Sentosa has evolved into a gargantuan, glitzy, giddy theme park. Underwater World, Asian Village and the Insect Museum are among the more interesting offerings.