For many of us, chalets in Singapore were the place to celebrate birthdays, school holidays, and family gatherings. Even today, they’re still a popular choice when you’ve got a big group of friends or relatives to accommodate. But if you’ve stayed in one before, there’s a good chance you’ve also encountered dated interiors and musty rooms that made you swear off chalets for good.
Well, Coliwoo Resort Changi might just change your mind. The team behind the property has transformed a former Changi chalet into a resort, complete with modern rooms and facilities you wouldn’t typically expect from a traditional chalet. We went down for a first look, and here’s what you can expect.
Coliwoo Resort Changi, located at 159 Jalan Loyang Besar, was once a state-owned chalet built in the 1980s. Today, it’s been given a new lease of life as a resort-style co-living hotel.
The property is home to 380 rooms and plenty of facilities to keep you entertained. These include a gym and adult and children’s swimming pools. An additional outdoor sports corner and jacuzzi pool are slated to open in Q4 of 2026.
Beyond the usual hotel amenities, there are also cosy communal spaces. You’ll find tables and chairs dotted around the grounds for catching up with friends or getting some work done, as well as beanbags where you can kick back and relax with a book.
The location is another highlight. Pasir Ris Park is just a 1-minute walk away, making it easy to head out for a morning stroll or cycle by the beach, while Wild Wild Wet is only around 7 minutes away on foot if you’re looking to add a little adventure to your stay.
Upon arriving at Coliwoo Resort Changi, the first thing we saw and entered was a glasshouse-concept reception room. We were pretty impressed stepping in, as it was pleasantly scented and spacious, with lots of benches, chairs, and beanbags scattered around.
Kids’ play area.
Not to mention, there are also coffee machines and teabags tucked away in a corner, as well as a kids’ play area including a mini slide and cute little tent, so guests of every age can relax and enjoy their wait for check-in.
The reception room also houses a compact gym for guests, which packs quite a bit into its small space. You’ll find a rack of dumbbells, alongside workout machines like treadmills to sweat it out.
We visited 2 types of rooms, the Premier Studio and Maisonette, both of which were pretty cosy in size and donned a grey, black, and white colour scheme.
Each room comes with a TV as well as a welcome tea and coffee set consisting of teabags and coffee powder, and the rooms were nicely scented, which we thought added a touch of hotel-like quality to the otherwise co-living-style space.
Room sizes at Coliwoo Resort Changi range from 200sqft to 400 sqft.
Kitchenette in the Premier Studio.
Entering the glass doors of the Premier Studio (from $210/night), the first thing you’ll see is a kitchenette with its marble countertop and overhead shelves of crockery. Each studio comes with 3 sizes of cooking pans, as well as basic plates and kitchen utensils. Of course, there’s also a stove and sink, along with a washing machine tucked cleverly under the counter to make the most of the space.
The kitchenette faces the washroom, which comes with a standard shower-and-toilet setup and a sink. Further in, you’ll see 2 single beds across a corresponding pair of tables, making the room just perfect for a pair of buddies who want to explore Changi and get some work done at the same time.
The Maisonette (from $280/night), like the Premier Studio, opens up to the kitchenette, with the bathroom facing the kitchen counter. It’s a 2-level accommodation, so you’ll find a dining table and chairs on the 1st floor by a staircase leading up to a sleeping area, which consists of 3 single beds and mini closets.
There’s a window too, on the 2nd floor, so natural light streams into the place. If you want to lie down in bed while reading or working at night, each bed also comes with a reading lamp attached to the bedframe.
The entire space is snugly sized, and great for groups that want to co-live for a period of time or take a little getaway at a place near the beach.
Fun fact: The maisonettes were originally part of bigger chalets, which have since been split in half to form 2 separate units.
If you’re checking in with family or a bigger group, consider booking the Eastin Studio (from $270/night) instead. It can accommodate more guests with either 3 super single beds arranged in a row or 1 large bed and 1 single bed, giving everyone a comfortable place to sleep.
Image credit: Coliwoo Resort Changi
The Superior Studio (from $190/night) is ideal for couples, friends, or solo travellers. It comes with 2 single beds, a workstation, as well as the kitchenette and washer-dryer that are standard for each room.
Couples who want a sweet getaway can also look into the Pool View Queen Studio (from $260/night), which comes with a queen-sized bed and a view of the sparkling pool waters. This is also good for individuals who want a solo staycay and don’t fancy extra beds lying around the place.
Additionally, this room type comes with an accessible bathroom, which is worth noting if you’re travelling with wheelchair users or elderly companions.
For pairs who want a more spacious room, the Deluxe Studio (from $200/night) offers either 1 large bed or 2 single beds, as well as all the amenities available in the other rooms.
There’s also the Patio Studio (from $195/night), for those who fancy 2 single beds and a private patio with tables for working outdoors or open-air meals.
One thing to note is that the hotel doesn’t provide extra beds or baby cots. So if you’re planning a staycay with a larger group, you’ll likely need to book multiple rooms.
Between the rows of rooms are pockets of communal spaces designed for both downtime and play. There are even trampolines where kids, or energetic adults, can squeeze in some fun cardio between dips in the pool.
Elsewhere, you’ll find long tables that can be used for gatherings between large groups split into different rooms, and mini faux-grass patches that are ideal for a nice picnic on a cooler day.
Solar panels that support the property’s energy requirements.
Despite the resort’s mostly open-air layout, plenty of greenery and large ceiling fans are scattered throughout the premises to keep things as breezy as possible.
Down the walkway from the reception room, you’ll find 3 karaoke rooms equipped with large TV screens and comfy couches for your mandatory staycation singing session. Like many of the different rooms across the resort, the air inside carries a pleasant scent.
The warm lighting makes the rooms feel cosy and inviting, while the sound system was crisp and clear when we tried it out.
To use the karaoke rooms, you’ll need to make bookings as a resort guest, so hurry and chope 1 during your stay – we imagine they get pretty popular.
These amenities aside, what impressed us most was the pool, framed by trees and generous in size. Many deck chairs are also available for those who want to bask in the sun, adding to the tropical resort vibe.
The kids’ section of the pool sits at 0.05m in depth, while the regular pool is 1.2m deep. Cute floats are also peppered around the pool for the kids.
Pasir Ris Beach.
One thing you won’t find within the resort is a barbecue pit. These were removed as part of Coliwoo’s renovation of the former chalet, in favour of a more hotel-resort-like experience without barbecue smoke lingering around the property.
That doesn’t mean your chalet-style barbecue plans are completely off the table, though. Step out through the resort’s back gate, and you’ll be right at Pasir Ris Beach, where public barbecue pits can be found along the coast.
Screenshot from: Google Maps
The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Changi Airport.
If you’re coming by public transport, take Bus 354 from Pasir Ris Interchange. Alight at the Opp Lighthouse stop, and it’s a 3-minute walk to the hotel from there.
You might have written off chalets after one too many stays in dated rooms, but Coliwoo Resort Changi is worth a second look. Plus, its location offers a fresh alternative for your next staycation without straying too far from the nostalgic charm of chalet getaways.
If you’re looking for a long-term stay, room rates start at $3,000/month. As part of Coliwoo Resort Changi’s opening promotion, guests can enjoy $500 off their monthly rental by booking and staying before 31st October 2026.
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Photography by Shirlynn Koh.
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