Beach resorts near Singapore for an easy getaway to surf and sand

You’ll instantly feel yourself relaxing when you arrive at the five-star InterContinental Bali. Hugging a serene stretch of white sand, this luxury beachside retreat tempts guests with its range of bespoke villas and suites.

Check into the Imperial Villa, where the 378 square metres of opulent Balinese décor create a space big enough to turn cartwheels in. Choose between two ensuite master bedrooms and look forward to splashing into the cool waters of your own private swimming pool. And when the sun starts to set, your whirlpool tub will be ready and waiting for a long bubble bath while you toss up a film on your bathroom’s flatscreen TV.

Take your breakfast at one of four different restaurants, then seek out Spa Uluwatu and try a traditional Balinese massage with soothing Pevonia Botanica Aromatherapy face oil. Afterwards, rest in the company of stately marble statues or venture to the calming on-site Bonsai Garden to take time out on a sunbed.

If you want to soak up some local culture, there are trips to Gunung Kawi, a series of 11th-century memorials hewn from a staggering rock face as a tribute to the Balinese royal family of the time. On your return to the hotel, stop into Bella Cucina for a satiating dinner like mouthwatering Lombok lobster, then call at the Sunset Beach Bar & Grill for a minty mojito as the moon rises over the ocean.

Situated on the dreamy Indonesian island of Lombok, you’ll find The Chandi Boutique Resort nestled in a tropical coconut grove just off bright blue shores lined with soft sand. Check in to an Ocean View Villa for a minimalist space accented by vivid greens, and drop your travel bags in favour of a lounge on your private terrace with eye-popping views over the water.

After a breakfast of fluffy pancakes with zingy fruit coulis in the sea-facing MERU Restaurant, you’ll want to stop at leafy MANDRI Spa as your next port of call for total relaxation. Indulge with a calm-inducing shiatsu massage, which can also be taken in your room or on the white-sand beach. For an adventure instead, consider hiking trip to Mount Rinjani – an active volcano with spectacular photo ops over its crater lake – or make the short journey into tourist hub Senggigi to browse local shops for souvenirs.

After your trek or shopping spree, you can soothe tired muscles in the refreshing waters of the hotel’s swimming pool. You’ll rinse off the day to a serenade of evening birdsong in your villa’s tropical open-air shower before slipping out for casual tapas at laidback QURI Beach Bar as the moon rises into the inky sky.

For beachside bliss, you’ll want to head to Thailand’s five-star Santiburi Samui. At this effortlessly elegant Koh Samui resort, you’ll enjoy 300 metres of private beach and 23 acres of green botanical gardens.

For extra seclusion, splash out on a villa with a private pool where you’ll rest beneath the gentle whisper of swaying palms. Brew your own super-strength coffee in your in-room machine for a morning buzz, then pad barefoot across soft sands to Mae Nam’s calming waters to idle in the tranquil bay before returning to shore to dry off in the sun. The Santiburi Beach Butler signature service ensures you always have ice cream on tap and a comfortable sunlounger to rest on. When you’re ready for shade, head back to your villa for a soak in your freestanding tub.

As dinnertime approaches, spicy aromas from on-site Sala Thai Restaurant will tempt you in to sample a nutty massaman curry chock full of succulent beef pieces. Finish off the indulgence with a pineapple Ja Dej cocktail at The Beach House as the sun begins to set. When you finally drift to bed, you’ll dream of coconut-scented Thai massages at Santiburi Spa, a space adorned in intricate carvings influenced by the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya.

The Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa is a sparkling gem on Penang’s northern coastline. Steeped in Malay history and shrouded by exotic rain trees, this hotel on Batu Ferringhi Beach houses beautifully appointed rooms with traditional Minangkabau-style accents.

Wake up in a Rasa Wing Deluxe Suite and slip on your complimentary bathrobe and slippers to take in the morning air on your private balcony – which comes complete with a soaking tub! After freshening up with exclusive Shangri-La toiletries, head down to Feringgi Grill for a filling breakfast of options like hot, fresh waffles straight off the griddle.

After breakfast, a tantalising experience awaits at CHI, the resort’s signature spa. Treat yourself to a Rasa Sayang Tropical Journey, which combines a deep cleansing facial with a massage using aromatherapy oils, then recline in lush gardens for some R&R perfumed by tropical flora.

If you’re handy on the fairway, tee off at the pitch and putt course, or join in on daily activities like walks through the jungle and volleyball competitions in the water. And for an idyllic finale to a fulfilling day, you can feast alfresco on juicy beef burgers in Pinang Restaurant and Bar as the sun slips below the horizon.

A quick glance at the five-star Montigo Resorts Nongsa might just convince you to spend a long weekend on Batam Island. Browse the luxury resort’s impressive range of one- to five-bedroom villas, then book one with a captivating view over the South China Sea.

If this is a full-family trip, gather in a Premier Five-Bedroom Villa and spend time together on your spacious beach-facing lounge patio with a game of cards, or splash into a group game of Marco Polo in your private infinity pool. Each generous bedroom is ensuite – and stocked generously with complimentary Bvlgari toiletries – and guests in the master room will have a soothing Jacuzzi to sink into.

Keep your younger ones happily occupied with in-room video games, then head to open-air Pantai Restaurant for a decadent grown-up lunch of options like Szechuan sea bass fillets with a spicy kick. Save room for refreshing desserts like chilled lychee and tofu, which will see you through the afternoon’s fascinating mangrove tour.

Or to just chill out and unwind, stop in for a deep massaging TIIGO Maika’i treatment at Montigo Spa while the rest of your brood embarks on an organised Tilo Treasure Hunt. Reconvene in time for a dinner of deliciously textured gado gado salad, made up of steamed vegetables, boiled eggs, fried tofu and tempeh, followed by a refreshing Bintang beer (for the adults, of course) at nautical-style Tadd’s Restaurant.

Resting on the sands of Bangtao Beach, you’ll find the five-star Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort. Set your bags down in an Oceanfront Terrace Room and drink in the views of the glittering bay from the plush comfort of your king-size bed. Use your in-room coffee maker to brew a steaming cup of aromatic java, then freshen up with premium toiletries in your expansive ensuite.

It’s easy to spend each day on the beach listening to the waves here, but it’s also worth booking a private cabana to lounge in a bit of shade by the shimmering pool. Or if the nearby palm tree-lined islands have taken your fancy, ask the staff for help booking a Laguna Phuket Tour so you can breathe in the sea breeze from a private yacht.

On your return, check out the resort’s Banyan Tree Spa for the signature Royal Banyan treatment. You’ll undergo an invigorating blend of coriander and cucumber before melting under a massage, facial and a herbal bath to leave you floating on air. Cleansed and refreshed, you’ll be ready to take on an early dinner at Metzo’s, where you’ll drool over luscious dishes like spice-laden lamb shank tagine with fluffy couscous (it pairs beautifully with a smooth Malbec) as daylight fades. Retire to your room to unwind in your sunken Romanesque bathtub, then end the evening on an outdoor lounger to watch the twinkling stars come out.

The Indonesian island of Bintan is just a short ferry ride from Singapore, and it’s here that the four-star Banyu Bira Villa makes its home. Set in rolling grounds festooned with colourful gardens, this newly refurbished resort has plenty of space for holidaying families or groups of friends.

Start your day with an easy breakfast prepared in the fully-equipped kitchen of your three-bedroom villa to ready yourself for a session on the green at the local Laguna Bintan Golf Club. Alternatively, head down to the water for a truly laidback morning in the open air, then enjoy a complimentary game of bowling at nearby Nirwana Resort Centre. Round off the activities by calling in at Nirwana Gardens’ highly acclaimed restaurant Neydles House for melt-in-the-mouth salmon ramen with salty wakame and egg.

To top off the relaxation, you’ll want to luxuriate with a massage at Anindya Spa. Continue the royal treatment back at your villa with a soothing cuppa on your private balcony as tropical birds flit through the trees. You can feed your whole brood with home-cooked fare at dinnertime by hiring one of the hotel’s barbecue pits, or take advantage of the 24-hour in-room dining service if you’d rather keep your feet up. Evenings here end with lazy swims in the outdoor pavilion pool (though the kids might want to squeeze in a last-minute jet ski ride), followed by a cosy movie night in front of your own 60-inch LCD TV.