The Shangri-La Hotel needs no introduction; it is well known for its grandeur and traditional opulence so my expectations were high. 

True enough, we were welcomed warmly by a doorman and were able to check in swiftly. As we checked in on a Friday morning, the lobby was relatively quiet—and this was great as I was looking forward to a peaceful weekend.

I loved that the hotel seamlessly managed to merge class with safety and appreciated how defensive screens were put up to protect customers and staff at the reception. 

We were given an early check-in time of 11 am and the hotel was well prepared for our arrival as we were quickly escorted to the lush Garden Wing to begin our stay.

When you book the Häagen-Dazs Staycation at Shangri-La Singapore, you will get to enjoy a free upgrade to its Garden Wing Deluxe Room that overlooks the glistening pool and while we already knew this, we did not expect the room to be as luxurious as it was. 

With a nature-inspired interior, marble-clad bathrooms that featured double sinks, a bathtub and a glass-enclosed shower as well as a living area and spacious balcony, I was immediately transported back to the days when travel was as easy as the click of a button. 

I won’t lie, even the smell of the hotel room made me yearn for a vacation and I thoroughly enjoyed lounging on the day bed and soaking in the tub (for a very long time, if I do say so myself) especially when it unexpectedly started to storm in the middle of our stay. 

We also loved that our room was on the ground floor, which meant that we could access the lobby and the beautiful gardens easily.

Of course, the room is more than just that. In fact, I was thrilled to find that the hotel had included many little (and big touches) in our room to make our ice cream staycation even more indulgent. 

The first thing I noticed when I walked into the room was a huge personal mini-freezer stocked full of Häagen-Dazs pints, stick bars and mini cups.

I was extra thrilled to find my favourite flavour, Belgium Chocolate, in an extra large tub. There were also smaller cups of other flavours such as Cookies and Cream, Macadamia Nut and more. I was so surprised by the number of tubs that I had to double check with the staff if everything was really for us. I suppose calories don’t count when you’re on holiday, right?

The next surprise was waiting on the plush, and very inviting King-sized bed. On it, we found an array of exclusive and thoughtfully considered Häagen-Dazs collectables that will delight any ice cream fanatic. 

From an adorable teddy bear to a custom strawberry and vanilla-scented Häagen-Dazs bath bomb, this staycation was indeed different from others. I may have received a mini-freezer stocked full of ice cream but that did not stop me from celebrating the voucher that came with my room; it entitled me to a complimentary ice cream creation at any Häagen-Dazs outlet.

We were definitely spoilt for choice when it came to deciding on a meal at the hotel. There is Nami for Japanese cuisine, Waterfall Ristorante Italiano for Southern Italian classics and The Rose Veranda for its iconic afternoon tea. But we wanted to pull out all the stops so we chose to head over to The Line for an a la carte buffet that is offered every night. It has over 88 delectable choices such as fresh seafood on ice, sushi, authentic Thai dishes, freshly-baked naans from the tandoor oven and more.

That night, The Line also served hawker classics and we very much enjoyed the char kway teow and satay sticks. 

Needless to say, we were stuffed by the end of our meal but the fun was far from over because the waiters brought out a special dessert that is reserved just for Häagen-Dazs staycation guests. 

The Shangri-La x Häagen-Dazs Delight Sandwich is an elevated take on the classic ice cream sandwich and features a generous serving of Häagen-Dazs salted caramel ice cream sandwiched between two slices of moist banana butter cake. The dessert is topped with tangy pineapple and vanilla bean compote, fresh strawberries and housemade oatmeal and roasted pecan streusel crumble.

This was the perfect way to wrap up a delicious meal even if we were mentally calculating the distance we needed to run to burn off these calories.

If it was not clear already—be prepared to throw your diet out the window during this Häagen-Dazs staycation. I know I certainly did thanks to all the sweet treats I had at the tip of my fingers. This package is highly recommended if you have Tatlings because they will definitely enjoy the fun little thrills that come with the stay.

The hotel also provides a comprehensive programme of child-friendly activities and facilities. 

The Shangri La Singapore x Häagen-Dazs staycation is available from now till November 18. More details here.

Don’t miss: Staycation Ideas: The Best Hotels in Singapore, including Sentosa

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