The rise of daycations: 5 daytime treats to pamper yourself with in Singapore

Daycations, which have taken off for those seeking short stays in hotels, have evolved into a form of self-care to cope with stress and maintain well-being.

More hotels, such as the Four Seasons Hotel in Orchard, have seen stronger demand for wellness services in the hospitality industry in recent years.

The hotel has devoted most of its third floor to wellness, which includes its spa and fitness areas. It offers a Spa and Wellness daycation package for those looking for a mini-getaway of just a few hours.

Other hotels, such as Studio M Hotel near Clarke Quay, offer day-time escapades for the whole family.

Studio M’s creative downtime approach to daycations allows families to book a few hours at the hotel to engage in figurine painting and have a bite together.

These short, affordable getaways are not tethered to costly spa memberships or minimum stays at luxury hotels, and offer members of the public a way to return recharged to the workplace or home.

And daycations may be just what the doctor ordered.

Dr Jasmine Yeo, clinical director and head consultant psychologist at The Private Practice, a mental health service provider clinic in Thomson Ridge, says research shows that short breaks – whether for a few hours or a full day – can reduce stress, boost mood and improve mental clarity.

Studies on “micro-breaks” – which last only a few minutes – also show they can lift energy levels and fight fatigue, she says. These breaks improve performance for tasks such as creative work or office duties, though they may not help as much with highly demanding tasks.

“Taking time out for yourself isn’t just about relaxation, but it’s also key to getting fresh ideas and staying creative,” Dr Yeo says.

“Engaging in new settings stimulates the brain, encouraging fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking, which is particularly beneficial ahead of important presentations or business pitches. Stepping away from routine tasks gives the brain space to think more freely, which can lead to new insights.

“A change of scenery – like spending a day at a hotel spa – helps the mind reset, reducing stress and sparking creativity.”

Dr Yeo says that self-care is also about building a life that feels good every day.

“While daycations and spa-cations can be a great way to recharge, regular habits like mindfulness, exercise and quality sleep are just as important for long-term well-being,” she adds.

The Straits Times scopes out five daytime treats in Singapore.

Dial up a luxe DayAway treat

DayAway is the first digital membership programme in Singapore that unlocks luxury experiences and special privileges in top hotels, spas and private members’ clubs previously inaccessible to those who prefer walk-in, a la carte arrangements.

Ms Martha Waslen founded DayAway in 2021, initially for booking day-time experiences at luxury hotels here.

The Singapore-based American tech entrepreneur has since reimagined DayAway as a public platform to access luxury experiences and privileges curated by the world’s biggest hospitality brands, such as InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Her concept won the 2021 Skift Idea Award for Tech and Innovation in its first year of operation. The global accolade is billed as one of the most coveted awards for brands and businesses redefining the future of travel.

Unlike most room-booking apps, DayAway has a local presence for members who have queries or need to check their booking status.

“Our members expect the highest level of service, which is why DayAway has a dedicated Singapore concierge team who can be reached via phone or e-mail to extend 24/7 support,” says Ms Waslen.

In December 2022, DayAway evolved from a public platform into a members-only global marketplace.

One of its top offerings, the DayAway Jetsetter membership, appeals to global travellers who prioritise luxury stays in leading hotels in Singapore and around the world, enjoying preferential rates and perks such as upgrades and discounts.

It offers packages from top-tier hotels such as Raffles Singapore and Mandarin Oriental Singapore, as well as food-and-beverage experiences in restaurants and popular watering holes.

One of its best-selling packages is a few hours at the Gem Suite at Raffles Singapore, priced from $275.77. This includes indulgences such as yoga, traditional Asian massages, wet and dry saunas, and hydrotherapy – a soak in an indoor vitality pool filled with mineral-rich Peruvian pink salt, plus two hours at the main pool.

Ms Waslen is revamping the website to showcase more luxury hospitality brands.

“In the coming months, we will open selected bookings on our marketplace to the public, allowing more guests to enjoy our DayAway experiences,” says the 39-year-old, who has two children aged four and six.

“We are also elevating our membership benefits, providing members with exclusive access to premium services, personalised offers and early access to new experiences, and ensuring that DayAway consistently offers value and privilege that are hard to find elsewhere.”

There are several DayAway membership tiers with annual fees starting at $100 for local experiences to $300 for the DayAway Jetsetter, with benefits such as room upgrades at over 4,500 hotels globally.

It offers 58 curated packages globally, including Raffles Singapore’s Gem Suite retreat. A recent addition to the local line-up is the “Sun and Scrub for Two” spa daycay at W Hotel Sentosa (from $210.42), which features dual body scrubs and dining discounts.

In the coming months, more than 200 spa, wellness and dining experiences will be offered in Singapore, with hundreds more expected throughout the region in 2025.

DayAway will also have a new gifting section to elevate the way people gift hotel and spa vouchers, Ms Waslen says.

The vouchers come in custom-designed envelopes, which are wrapped in linen paper and placed in a DayAway carrier.

“Our goal is to continually push the boundaries of luxury hospitality and wellness, offering our community unparalleled access to exclusive experiences, while staying true to our vision of providing seamless, curated getaways,” Ms Waslen says.

Pan Pacific Orchard: Mini-getaway in the world’s best tall building

Go for a daycation in a modern architectural wonder that brings together the island’s four aspects – tropical forest, beach, garden and cloud – under one leafy roof.

Singapore’s Pan Pacific Orchard hotel in Claymore Road was recently crowned the Best Tall Building (Worldwide) by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), a non-profit founded in the United States.

The 23-storey, 140m-tall building was designed by multi-award-winning home-grown practice Woha Architects.

The council’s judges found that the design of the 343-room hotel stood out from other buildings worldwide because of its approach to high-density urbanism, combining nature, community and sustainability within the city’s bustling Orchard Road shopping belt.

CTBUH, a global authority on vertical developments, made the announcement at its annual conference in London and Paris from Sept 23 to 27.

The project’s “hotel in nature” concept transforms the traditional high-rise into a vertical green space, with multiple terraced gardens and water features integrated into the building, achieving a green plot ratio of more than 300 per cent.

“By holistically incorporating greenery into its design, Pan Pacific Orchard honours Singapore’s heritage while pushing the envelope of sustainable urban development in a dense, urban setting,” the judges said.

Spend a daycation at the Pan Pacific from 9am to 6pm to marvel at the biophilic architecture and check out its wellness programmes.

The hotel’s Daycation Room Stay starts at $200++ for a deluxe room and $500++ for a beach club pool access loft.

These include access to the pool as well as indoor and outdoor gyms on Level 5. There are also discounts on F&B items, as well as in-room dining and a la carte treatments at the St Gregory Spa.

The chain of spas was founded in 1997 by Ms Wee Wei Ling, the eldest child of the late Singapore banking tycoon Wee Cho Yaw, who was at the helm of the family’s Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

The spa brand is focused on specialised treatments and traditional healing therapies, such as Chinese tui na and Balinese massage.

Pan Pacific Orchard’s manager Douglas Fernandez says the hotel’s teams have distilled luxury into the “perfect urban retreat”.

“For nine hours, guests can immerse themselves in our architectural wonder, unwind in our luxurious beach club pool access loft rooms, and indulge in bespoke spa treatments,” he adds.

“It’s remarkable how rejuvenated one can feel after just a few hours here. Whether you’re here to relax, catch up on your favourite shows or both, we’ve designed this experience to make every moment count towards refreshing your spirit.”

Info: Go to eshop-ppsor.panpacific.com

Carve out a few hours for self-care at the Four Seasons Spa

One does not need to be a guest of the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore in Orchard Boulevard to enjoy its spa’s luxury wellness facilities.

Unlike most high-end hotel spas, which require a membership or a room reservation, the Four Seasons Spa is open to both guests and non-guests who want a few hours of peace and quiet – as well as serious pampering.

The wellness space takes up the entire third floor of the hotel, which has gone through several phases of renovations since 2021.

Besides the spa, there are two outdoor tennis courts, an outdoor Japanese Zen garden, and a Pool House that offers a menu developed in consultation with an accredited nutritionist.

Bathed in natural light, the spa’s lounge has a serene neutral palette highlighted by gold accents and natural textures, with a Garden City motif.

A chandelier featuring gilded ginkgo leaves greets spa guests at the entrance, reflecting sunlight streaming into the space.

The spa has three single treatment rooms, a manicure and pedicure lounge, and a Couple Suite that comes with an en-suite steam shower and private hydrotherapy bath for a therapeutic soak.

Among the services on the self-care menu – ranging from body scrubs to deep tissue massage – is the Spa and Wellness package.

Priced at $366++, it is a “spa and dine” experience that includes a 90-minute Peranakan Signature Therapy Massage, followed by a three-course set lunch at the Pool House which includes a choice of wellness juice.

In the last few years, the hotel has seen stronger demand for hospitality services focused on wellness and well-being, says Mr Chua Shengwen, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore’s manager.

He adds: “We are thrilled to share our wellness sanctuary with guests, where they can disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with themselves through immersive wellness journeys at Four Seasons Spa, anchored in Asian natural therapies, wisdom and heritage.”

Info: Go to fourseasons.com/singapore/spa

Be treated like a star at Capella’s day spa-cation

Capella Singapore hotel on Sentosa island hosts some of the world’s most high-profile names.

In 2018, the 121,000 sq m hotel provided the stage for the world’s paparazzi, news anchors and political aides-de-camp to broadcast news about the North Korea-United States Singapore Summit with former US president Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The hotel is owned by Pontiac Land, a property developer, owner and operator based in Singapore, with more than six decades of experience in luxury property development.

In 2018, Pontiac Land acquired Capella Hotel Group as a wholly owned subsidiary from the hotel’s founder, German luxury hotelier Horst Schulze.

Since May 2024, the hotel has opened its doors to the public from 8am to 8pm for its daycation package called Wellness Discovery (Day Spa Journey), priced at $450++.

The spa, which embraces natural and holistic treatments, has been listed in the influential Forbes Travel Guide as a five-star spa for 14 consecutive years.

Guests start the day with breakfast at rustic Italian restaurant Fiamma, helmed by chef Mauro Colagreo of three-Michelin-starred Mirazur in France, and then head to the Auriga Spa for a 90-minute Intuitive Wellness Massage.

Auriga – the Greek name for a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere – has nine treatment suites, including four suites for couples and separate spa facilities for men and women.

The wellness massage is Auriga’s signature body treatment, tailored to one’s needs with a choice of warm oil and massage pressure.

Besides discounts on a range of F&B items throughout the hotel, the daycation package also features discounts on retail skincare from Auriga Spa. These include products from Swiss brand Margy’s Monte Carlo and London-based Organic Pharmacy.

Guests have free access to the gym and pools, as well as Auriga’s Purification Water Experience.

This purification is designed to lead guests to a state of relaxation by combining hot and cold water therapies.

Mr Jorge Hernandez, director of Spa and Wellness at Capella Singapore, says that reconnecting with one’s mind, body and soul is essential for holistic wellness, especially for city dwellers.

“The spa’s signature retreats and therapies use traditional techniques and organic ingredients to nourish and revitalise, offering a serene escape where you can immerse yourself in total relaxation amidst nature,” he adds.

Info: Go to capellahotels.com

Live, laugh, loft at Studio M Hotel Singapore

Studio M Hotel Singapore, a loft-inspired designer hotel in Nanson Road near Clarke Quay, has announced new daytime luxe retreats with something for everyone.

Its 360 rooms are available for day use at affordable rates – be it for a change of scenery to work on an office project, a romantic retreat for couples or a day of family fun.

The rooms were designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni in 2010, inspired by the “loft lifestyle”.

Unlike conventional rooms that have a fixed decor and room size, loft designs cater to a young urban demographic, featuring high ceilings, mezzanine floors and open layouts.

Studio M’s stay experience is branded as “Live. Laugh. Loft”, a concept that global hospitality management and real estate group, Millennium Hotels and Resorts, debuted here in 2010.

The property is co-located in a larger integrated development which includes UP@Robertson Quay, a luxury apartment project by home-grown developer, City Developments Limited.

For daycations, guests can choose from two options: Premier or Studio Loft Rooms, which are available from 9am to 6pm. Rates for Studio Loft rooms start at $130 and Premier Loft rooms from $150.

The Premier Loft Room, spread out over 22 sq m, features a living and study area on the lower level, complemented by a private bedroom on the upper level.

The Studio Loft Rooms, also about 22 sq m, have signature high ceilings with a bedroom on the ground level and a dedicated workspace on the mezzanine.

Guests also enjoy free access to the swimming pool and gym, alongside a variety of in-room amenities.

Studio M’s “Wellness by the Breeze” well-being initiative allows guests to join free pilates and zumba sessions next to the pool on Nov 16 and 30.

Members of the public can join for a nominal fee of $10++, which includes a complimentary coffee or tea, and a discount on most F&B orders.

From Oct 28, there will also be the “Brew and Brush at Memo Cafe” experience ($20++), a figurine painting session which includes a free beverage such as coffee or juice, and a selection of pastries.

Options for figurines include characters from Japan’s Sanrio and China’s Pop Mart ranges.

Info: Go to milleniumhotels.com

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.