Sanchaya, Bintan Island

The Sanchaya is an elegant, intimate resort with a beautiful, quiet beach and a relaxing atmosphere, providing the perfect romantic getaway.

The resort itself is on the island of Bintan, an Indonesian island that is only a 45-minute ferry ride from Singapore. It’s a lush island with plenty of flora and fauna in the middle, but its main attraction is the beautiful white sandy beaches that fringe its shores. The whole island has a very relaxed, laid back vibe, but the Sanchaya takes this to new levels – it sits on its private stretch of beach and is a haven of peace and tranquillity.

Clean white sand, tall palm trees, beautifully pristine waters that are shallow and great for swimming and comfy beach loungers make this a truly stunning seafront spot. The beautiful infinity pool also looks out over the beach. There is also a small gym, spa, croquet lawn and yoga pavilion to keep you further entertained. Enjoy a cocktail in the bar, filled with colonial grandeur and serving an array of refreshments. The main restaurant has a few outdoor tables and looks out over the pool, offering a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also a Thai restaurant close to the beach that serves delicious and authentic food. 

There are 30 rooms in total, made up of 21 villas and nine suites. The suites include all rooms in the main ‘Great House’, which sits at the centre of the resort. It’s a lovely building with hints of colonial architecture, with breezy long galleys and attractive white walls. Varying in size, they offer different views ranging from the garden, sea and veranda view. Towards the rear of the property are the lofty Thai-style villas set around a pool, offering space and a bit more peace and quiet away from the main house. The one, two and three-bedroom villas sit along the beachfront, with plenty of space, but it is the Presidential Villa that is undoubtedly the best room in the resort. It has a private pool, direct beach access and four bedrooms set over two stories. All have large, comfy beds, beautiful bathrooms with excellent amenities and tasteful décor, the perfect combination of colonial luxury and old-world traveller charm with artistic maps on the walls. 

You will reach the Sanchaya via a stylish VIP arrival lounge at the Bintan port. Staff will sort out immigration procedures and an Indonesian visa on arrival while you relax with snacks and drinks. Then you will be transferred by car for 20 minutes to the resort. It makes for a very convenient and easily reached beach destination for those transiting through Singapore, finishing a long trip through Southeast Asia or looking for a short break.