ESPA caught my eye because in addition to your typical spa services and packages they also have day-long retreats packages. This reminded me of Destination Spas that offer a variety of packages or journeys. Since I was in Singapore for business and did not have time for a full length Destination Spa Journey, a day retreat seemed perfect. The different retreat options are:
- Fit for Life
- Weight Management
- Intro to Detox
- De-Stress
- Social Spa for Two
Each day retreat package provides full use of ESPAs facilities, including access to the fitness and leisure activities, including yoga and other fitness classes. In addition, your day retreat package including selecting one 60 minute and one 45 minute treatment from a selection of treatments oriented around your particular retreat theme. Lastly, your package also includes a three course meal prepared by the Chef of the Resorts World restaurant, Tangerine, and is specially designed to enhance your package.
Upon arriving, I was immediately escorted to a small waiting area and handed a refreshing towel and lemongrass drink while completing the intake form. From there I was escorted outside and for the tour. ESPA is actually a set up in a little bit of a quad with outdoor walkways to different areas including the main locker room facilities for men and woman, and then the retreat lounge for post spa, as well as the relaxation lounges for both men and women. You wait for your therapist in another lounge area that is co-ed and off of the main locker rooms/changing rooms for men and women.
Within each locker area there is a retreat area with outdoor water treatments as well as indoor water treatment and heat therapy such as Steam Shower, Sauna, etc. Of course there is plenty of lush tropical scenery to go with the pools. There is also an ice cold plunge pool as well.
I chose the De-Stress package — I needed it with everything that was going on for work and life. So for my treatments I chose a 60 minute custom massage and a 45 minute reflexology treatment. I had the same therapist for both treatments, which meant in reality I had a 105 minute seamless treatment, which was perfect and more like what I am used to getting back home! I definitely was relaxed and de-stressed by the time the treatment was over.
But can we just talk about Tangerine? I didn’t know what to expect. Due to the timing of my treatments, I had a later lunch scheduled at Tangerine. It was a small restaurant with plenty of windows and natural light and was set on the edge of a pond that the property has.
I was given my menu of that was selected for me to go with my package. The 1st and 3rd course were pre-selected, but I had a choice for the main entree. The portions were small and appropriately sized. And SOOO good!!!!
I have never had Faro before, so i have no idea what a faro scrip was, but look at the presentation of the Faro crisp was made to look like a stone. Set on a display with a branch, and moss and other stones!!! It was served with a passion fruit soda (juice and club soda).
Next was a gently cooked egg, and the texture of daikon, which was this amazing soup!!! Daikon is a type of radish, but looks like a root vegetable. The soup was really creamy and tasted almost like a cream of mushroom soup. Daikon is rich in Vitamin A, C, E, & B-6, as well as Potassium and Magnesium, all good for stress management.
For the main course, I chose the smoke Barramundi. The size of the fish was perfect, and was done to perfection and was served with a drizzle of chile oil. With the fish, you are getting plenty of Omega, as good to counter stress.
For dessert, it was a peanut and sesame dessert. It was an interpretation of a typical Asian dessert of Peanut and Sesame Brittle. This dessert is also popular during festivities of the Lunar New Year which was coming up in another week.
After my 105 minutes of relaxation and a wonderful lunch healthy and restorative to a stressed body, it was time for some relaxation back in the relaxation lounge. With little rooms that you can close the door, you can truly relax in your own little cocoon until you are ready to emerge and return to the world. Or in my case when the day was up and it was time to go home. 
I absolutely loved ESPA and enjoyed my stay. Even better, I have really been inspired by the meal at Tangerine to look at innovative recipes for food with the essentials nutrients that are needed to replace those that stress depletes. If you are visiting Singapore, ESPA is a must. I for one now have to check out plenty of other ESPA spas — add them to the list!
Rating: 
February 2018
Update December 2020 – it appears that ESPA has relocated to a new hotel. I have not visited the new ESPA location. It does not appear that Sentosa has opened a new spa at this location yet.
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