Accommodations like wildlife resorts in Bali with animal interaction at your doorstep and an underwater hotel in Maldives offer exciting experiences like no other. When it comes to unique staycation ideas in Singapore, we’ve got the MRT-themed hotel and now, we also have The Bus Collective, a refurbished SBS bus hotel in Changi Village.
If you have an appreciation for kitschy aesthetics, then an overnight stay at The Bus Collective should rank high on your hit list.
Private bathrooms with rain shower.
Image adapted from: The Bus Collective
The compound houses 20 former SBS buses that have been transformed into cosy modern eco-friendly rooms fitted with amenities like beds, couches, TVs, and even a private toilet.
Plus some of the rooms come with bathtubs, a fully stocked minibar, complimentary toiletries, and plenty of time to capture cute content for your feed.
Depending on how many people are booked for the staycation, there are 7 types of rooms to choose from.
Couples can opt for the Queen Victoria room, which features a spacious round queen-sized bed and a bathtub right in front of the bed, for an unforgettable staycation.
In case you missed it, yes, we said round bed.
For 3 people, their King George and Duxton Twin rooms would be perfect, while bigger groups of 4 can go for the Adams Drive, Clarke Quay, Hamilton Place, and Pioneer North rooms.
The sleeping arrangement for each room is different, but we suggest families get the Pioneer North room, as it has bunk beds for the kiddos on top of the King-sized bed.
Image credit: The Bus Collective
On the other hand, the King George room is good for smaller families as it comes with a king bed and sofa bed.
There’s even a room for wheelchair-bound individuals that has railings for extra support, a handicap-friendly bathroom, and an additional sofa bed for caretakers.
All the buses have an outdoor patio with a BBQ pit where the whole family can grill up a feast.
And of course, staying inside a bus means you’ll get to sit inside the driver’s seat and pretend you’re bringing the bus out for a spin. This makes for a perfect spot to capture IG-worthy pics or even trick your family and friends into believing that you drove a bus.
You can book a basic stay at The Bus Collective from $280/night and get breakfast for an additional $20 or top up $75 for both breakfast and a BBQ set.
Like most hotels, you can check in from 2pm onwards at the 24/7 reception area where you will get key cards to your assigned bus. On the day of checkout, return your keycards to the reception by 11am.
At the reception area, guests get to enjoy complimentary coffee and tea at any time of the day too.
Once you get your keycards, you are all set for this one-of-a-kind hotel experience.
Within the vicinity, you’ll find BUSKing BBQ to feast on a delicious array of barbecued treats.
Those who would rather DIY their meal can order BBQ sets to grill on the personal BBQ pit just outside your bus hotel room. Time to relive those chalet memories.
BBQ sets for different-sized groups, starting with the 2-pax set, cost $70. It comes with all the cooking equipment you’ll need including sauces, charcoal, and utensils along with food like sambal prawns, chicken chops, and sambal sotong.
Image credit: BUSKing BBQ
For larger groups, there’s the option of a 5-pax set ($160) and a 10-pax set ($250). Those who need the Halal option can simply choose their a la carte items like chicken wings ($6), sambal fish ($3), and lobster balls ($6).
Image credit: しょうくんまぁ via Tripadvisor
Another food option just a 5-minute walk away is Changi Village Hawker Centre, for affordable and delicious local dishes. There are endless rows of food stalls here so there’s definitely something for everyone to enjoy.
Some amazing eats at Changi Village Hawker Centre include Kampong Lor Mee, Mizzy Corner Nasi Lemak, and Weng Kee Original Taste Ipoh Hor Fun.
If you want to try out more food from different locations in Singapore, there’s the Let’s Go Makan tour available for $125/pax. This tour will bring you to 5 different spots around the island for their iconic dishes like Jalan Kayu Roti Prata and Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre’s Chwee Kueh and Carrot Sticks.
Within The Bus Collective, there’s a selection of bikes from GoCycling where you can rent bikes for just $8/hour.
With the bike, you can explore the nearby Changi Beach Park and Changi Bay Point, or even head to Pulau Ubin which is just a stone’s throw away.
From 7am to 7pm daily, simply hop on a 15-minute ferry ride for $4 that will take you from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to Pulau Ubin Jetty. To bring your bike along on the ferry, you’ll have to top up an additional $2. Or you can rent a bike on the island too.
Once you are at this rustic island, we suggest exploring the island on 2 wheels or taking a hike. With your bike, you can follow the cycling path that will bring you around the island to see various popular sights on the island like Pekan Quarry, Puaka Hill, and Chek Jawa wetlands.
Another option is to sign up for the Explore Pulau Ubin on Bicycle tour by The Bus Collective for $99/pax.
If you are a history buff, the Changi Chapel Museum is the perfect stop for you. This historical museum commemorates the prisoners of war who were held in Changi during World War II.
You can explore the museum yourself or opt for a free guided tour. There are 9 exhibitions here which will transport you back in time and learn about the fall and rise of Singapore in sequence.
You’ll even get to see pieces of history with artefacts like diaries of civilians, prisoner of war tags, and old prison doors.
Entry for Singaporeans and PRs is free but for an extensive fully guided tour of the place and other sites in the East, there’s the Explore and Rediscover Changi tour (from $88/pax) by The Bus Collective.
At Changi Boardwalk, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the 2.2 km coastal boardwalk, offering views of lush greenery, the sea, and scenic spots along Changi’s waterfront. The boardwalk is divided into sections, including the Sunset Walk, Cliff Walk, and Kelong Walk, each offering unique views and environments.
The Sunset Walk is a popular option for evening visits with its gorgeous sunset views over the waters. It’s right next to Kelong Walk, an area that mimics the structures of traditional kelongs – stilted fishing platforms that bring visitors closer to the water to catch sight of marine life.
The boardwalk is home to various coastal plants, trees, and wildlife so you might catch glimpses of birds, butterflies, and even otters if you’re lucky.
The Bus Collective has 2 tours that cover this area. The Changi Coastal Adventure Walk tour (from $64/pax) and the Sweat for Some Amazing Fun to Singapore Heartland tour ($125/pax).
While the Changi Coastal Adventure Walk tour is more focused on history and nature, the Sweat for Some Amazing Fun to Singapore Heartland tour has more common attractions like Changi Jurassic Mile and Jewel Changi.
Staying in one of these refurbished buses is a truly one-of-a-kind modern experience where the cosy rooms have been fitted with hotel-like amenities. Beyond admiring your unique room, there’s no shortage of activities nearby.
From learning more about Singapore’s past, taking in breathtaking views of nature or even experiencing sailing, there are a bunch of guided tours by the hotel to enjoy when staying at The Bus Collective.
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Photography by Ng Zhi Feng.
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