Sun’s out, buns out, amirite? Except that the beaches you’re familiar with are packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people. If you’re looking for sand, sun, and sea, but find yourself in the midst of sweaty swarms instead, we’ve just the list for you.
From pink sand beaches to glow-in-the-dark shores, here are 8 best beaches near Singapore for your next weekend getaway.
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Ferry from Singapore to Desaru.
TBH, it might actually take you less time to travel to Desaru than it will be for you to find the perfect sunbathing spot on one of the beaches in Singapore. The beach town in Johor is accessible via a 90-minute ferry ride via the Desaru Link Ferry Services.
While you can certainly head to the beach for the usual paddleboarding and banana boating, there’s a tonne of family-friendly things to do in Desaru.
Adventure Waterpark.
Hit up the ostrich farm to feed livestock. The Adventure Waterpark will also score you brownie points with kids for its 20 different water attractions.
Travel time: ~90 minutes
Getting there: The Desaru Link Ferry Services runs once a day from Thursdays to Sundays at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
Image credit: @thelaziphotographer
You want a tropical beach paradise closer to home but not the crowds a la Langkawi. We’ve got you. Try the Perhentian Islands instead, located on the Northeast coast of Malaysia.
Image credit: @pulauperhentianofficial
The pair of islets are part of a protected coral reef, so it’s untouched. Hence, expect natural beauty as far as the eye can see both above and underwater. Apart from corals and exotic fish, the area is also home to sea turtles who frequent the shoreline to lay eggs. You can catch this action at the aptly named Turtle Sanctuary Beach.
Travel time: ~4 hours 30 minutes
Getting there: Fly to Kota Bahru from Singapore with one layover in Kuala Lumpur. Then take a ferry from Kuala Besut Jetty to reach the Perhentian Islands.
Pink Beach.
Image credit: @instaudreyttt
Nature lovers will probably already be familiar with Lombok, especially if mountain climbing is your jam. Mt Rinjani, which is an active volcano, is located on this island and often sees experienced climbers take on the hike to the summit daily.
The island neighbours Bali with beaches that are just as picturesque but with smaller crowds. You’ll often see places like Pink Beach pop up on IG feeds for its sand that’s been coloured pink from crushed corals. Another IG hotspot is the ocean swing located on the East side of Lombok.
Catch the sunset from Wyndham Sundancer Resort Lombok’s private beach.
Image credit: Wyndham Hotels
If that’s still too much of a crowd for you, park your booty at Wyndham Sundancer Resort Lombok instead. You’ll get private access to the beach that’s reserved for guests only. While you’re here, lap up beach club luxury with the swim-up pool bar right next to the ocean. You can enjoy beachside dining at the resort’s BBQ grills too.
Travel time: ~2 hours 50 minutes
Getting there: Fly from Singapore to Lombok with a layover in Jakarta or Bali or fly non-stop to Lombok.
Image credit: @hsbdrone
If divers could have their way, they would probably want to keep Coron Palawan as much of a hidden gem as possible. But we’re not going to gatekeep this lagoon in the Philippines from you.
Image credit: @ronn.jpeg
This place is known for its shipwreck diving site, where Japanese war ships and a plane from World War II sunk to the seabed, and are now homes to tiny sea creatures.
Image credit: @catchflightsssnotfeelings
If you’re not much of a diver, Coron Palawan is still worth exploring via kayak. You can rent these from Coron Town then paddle away to one of the limestone karsts jutting out of the turquoise waters. Many of these have quiet slivers of beach, so bring your swimsuit and plenty of sunblock if you’re planning to visit.
Travel time: ~4 hours 20 minutes
Getting there: Fly to Manila first from Singapore then take a connecting flight to Coron.
Beach vacations and Thailand are practically synonymous. But if you’re looking for utter peace and quiet out on the sand and in the sea, we recommend picking Khao Kalok over Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Samui any day.
Image credit: @lilie_lilyy
Khao Kalok is just south of Hua Hin, which is already a popular tourist destination for local beachgoers. But unlike Hua Hin’s crowds that throng the beaches and Vana Nava Water Park, Khao Kalok’s white sand beach remains relatively peaceful throughout the day.
Image credit: Wyndham Hotels
You can choose to sprawl out on a beach blanket, or head to Wyndham Hua Hin Pranburi Resort & Villas for more privacy. There are even pool villas you can book that come with your own plunge pool and outdoor bathtub to soak in.
Travel time: ~6 hours
Getting there: You’ll need to drive or take a taxi from Bangkok to Hua Hin. For a more scenic route, there are railway trains that travel from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong train station to Hua Hin. Khao Kalok is a further 30-minute drive south thereafter.
Image credit: @ilregalodeitrentanni
If this isn’t your first visit to Vietnam, it’s likely you’ve already done the scenic tour around Halong Bay. The next time you’re here, skip the tourist-filled cruises and make a beeline for Cat Ba Island if you want secluded beaches.
Image credit: @sullaejobgi
Cat Ba Island is the biggest karst formation in Vietnam and serves as a gateway to Lan Ha Bay. It’s the lesser-known sister to Halong Bay but just as fetching with its many limestone islets. You can easily rent a kayak to visit these islets that often have a stretch of beach each.
Wyndham Grand Flamingo Cat Ba Resort.
Image credit: Wyndham Hotels
For direct access to the beach, consider a stay at the Wyndham Grand Flamingo Cat Ba Resort. The resort has its own private area facing Lan Ha Bay. Beyond just providing deck chairs on the beach, the resort also offers a host of other activities such as jetskiing and island hopping tours.
Travel time: ~7 hours
Getting there: Fly to Hanoi from Singapore then take a bus to Halong Bay. You’ll need to take a ferry to reach Cat Ba Island.
Image credit: @snapbyrgn
Hoi An may be best known for its heritage and culture but this sleepy town also boasts sandy beaches lined with coconut fronds. The shoreline of Hoi An is sectioned off into different beaches, each one with its own reputation for various activities.
An Bang Beach.
Image credit: @phuowngthuy
An Bang Beach is the most famous and where you’ll find numerous dining spots for fresh seafood. For water sports, head instead to Cua Dai Beach where you’ll find vendors renting out snorkelling gear and surfboards, and organising scuba diving trips.
Tam Thanh Beach mural village.
Image credit: Klook
Another beach worth checking out include Tam Thanh Beach, which is a popular IG spot thanks to its colourful murals that line the beach. There’s also Hidden Beach that isn’t very hidden, as it’s right between Cua Dai and An Bang. Although quieter in the day, it’s well-known for its beach parties that run late into the night.
Image credit: Wyndham Hotels
You’ll be minutes away from the beach when you stay at Wyndham Garden Hoi An Cua Dai. Cua Dai is just across the street, while An Bang is a short walk away. While it’s a convenient stay for beachgoers, it’s also fitting for travellers looking to explore the historical town. There’s a free shuttle bus that takes guests to nearby tourist attractions.
Travel time: ~3 hours 45 minutes
Getting there: Fly directly from Singapore to Da Nang. Hoi An is a 30-minute drive or taxi ride away.
Koh Rong Sanloem.
Image credit: @where_the_bong_tree_grows
Cambodia may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think “beach vacay” but you’ll be surprised that tropical paradise is less than a 3-hour flight away from Singapore. Off the coast of Sihanoukville, a province in the west of Cambodia, are the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem.
Glowing bioluminescent plankton on Koh Rong.
Image credit: Visit Koh Rong
Koh Rong is the bigger one of the 2 offshore islands and is already a hit among beachgoers looking to party. For less of a crowd, Koh Rong Sanloem is your best bet, since it’s less developed. If you stay till the evening, the shores start to glow in the dark, thanks to the bioluminescent plankton that live in the shallow waters.
Balcony with an outdoor bathtub facing the Gulf of Thailand.
Image credit: Wyndham Hotels
While there are accommodation options on both offshore islands, we recommend staying on the mainland at Sihanoukville for its ease of access to public facilities and dining options. Book a stay at Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham Blue Bay Sihanoukville if you want to be facing the Koh Rong islands. They’re also able to arrange roundtrip ferry services for guests.
Travel time: ~2 hours 50 minutes
Getting there: Fly directly from Singapore to Sihanoukville then take a ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem.
When it comes to beach destinations, Bali and Phuket are high on the been-there-done-that list. So if you’re looking to switch things up, keep this list handy for holiday ideas that aren’t to your usual locales.
Ramada Suites by Wyndham Wailoaloa Beach Fiji.
Image credit: Wyndham Hotels
Don’t just try out a new beach for your vacation plans this year. Expand your horizons by visiting destinations like Fiji or Guam. Or venture to new cities in your fave countries like Pyeongchang in Korea and Davao in the Philippines.
Wherever you choose to go, there’s bound to be a property by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts nearby. There are more than 9,000 of them that can be found all across the world, including those mentioned above.
If you’re ready to explore out of your comfort zone, Wyndham will be rewarding travellers like you when you book a stay in one of their Asia Pacific hotels directly with them.
Image adapted from: @wyndhamrewardsapac
You’ll get 20% off your hotel bill when you stay for more than 3 nights from now till 1st March 2023. As a bonus, you’ll also score free breakfast for 2 thrown in for hotel stays in China. Plus, for the rest of Asia Pacific, you’ll get a free room upgrade to the next tier.
While you’re at it, sign up for Wyndham Rewards, the hotel loyalty programme, to earn an additional 3,000 points on your account for your stay. These points can be exchanged for free stays from 7,500 points per night, or even used to redeem for tours and activities when you travel.
These perks aren’t going to last forever, so if you had “plan holiday” on your to-do list, we’d hop onto it right now.
This post was brought to you by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Cover image adapted from: @instaudreyttt, @ronn.jpeg, Visit Koh Rong
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