SANDS forever

Since opening its doors in 2010, Marina Bay Sands has cemented itself as both an architectural feat and the undisputed crown jewel of Singapore’s skyline. Fifteen years on, it’s still the city’s ultimate flex — home to some of the world’s most dazzling dining, shopping and entertainment experiences, all under one impossibly iconic roof.

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Once dubbed a “surfboard on stilts” by the internet, Marina Bay Sands has long since shrugged off the memes to become a modern icon. It helps when you've got Crazy Rich Asians and Coldplay's Man in The Moon music video using your silhouette as shorthand for opulence and celebrations. Sitting pretty above the Singapore skyline, the triple-towered marvel isn’t just a place to stay — it’s a destination designed to keep you there.

Attached to a glimmering mall that could double as a designer fever dream, the complex includes restaurants for every mood (and Instagram story), a casino if you're feeling lucky, a museum for your cultured side, and a theatre for when you want to pretend you're in The Great Gatsby. Also: a gym. Because balance. But let’s not kid ourselves — the showstopper is the infinity pool. Suspended 56 floors above the city, it’s less a pool and more a rite of passage. That said, the rooms with skyline or bay views? Not far behind in the bragging rights department.

Marina Bay Sands counts around 1,850 rooms and 775 suites, ranging from sleek and sensible to “Is this a penthouse or a private island?” territory. Those craving a little more pageantry can opt for the Sands Collection, where local craftsmanship and international flair collide in curated perfection. Or, for the full Bond-villain-on-holiday experience, there’s the Paiza Collection: their top-tier suite line, complete with a private butler and access to a club lounge. The Paiza Family Suite, in particular, has all the trappings of a place where you arrive with luggage and leave with stories.