Work and sleep, on repeat. Today, many of us face the stress of the fast-paced lifestyle that we have to inevitably get accustomed to. The hustle and bustle of city life may take up the bulk of our time, but we all know that although this lifestyle is needed to make ends meet, this isn’t the ideal way to spend our time.

Sometimes, all we need is a short getaway to get a breather from the strenuous amount of stress we have to leave us feeling pumped up, refreshed and more energetic than before.

Every second is important—and that is why we have compiled a list of beach destinations you can get to from Singapore within 3 hours, perfect for a short weekend retreat from the taxing and frenetic way of life.

Photo Credit: eatosphere

#1 SUGI ISLAND

WHERE IT IS: Situated just 50km away from the Lion City, Sugi Island is part of the Riau islands in Indonesia and remains as one of the hotspots for a short beach vacation today.

GETTING THERE FROM SINGAPORE: Just a 50-minute ferry ride from Singapore to Batam, followed by a 90-minute boat ride from Batam will bring you to Sugi Islands. If you have extra time on your hands, Telunas Beach Resort is just a stone’s throw away!

Photo Credit: esendy

#2 NONGSA

WHERE IT IS: Nongsa is part of the Riau Islands in Indonesia and it is home to a myriad of luxurious beachfront villas.

GETTING THERE FROM SINGAPORE: Believe it or not, Nongsa Beach Resort is only 35-minutes away by ferry from Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, making it an ideal destination be it for a weekend escape or an extended vacation.

Photo Credit: ngetrip_karimunjawa

#3 KARIMUN ISLANDS

WHERE IT IS: Just like Sugi Island and Nongsa, Karimun Island is part of the Riau Archipelago in Indonesia and it is situated just 37km southwest from Singapore. It lies between Singapore and Batam.

GETTING THERE FROM SINGAPORE: A 90-minute ferry ride from Harbourfront terminal will bring you to Karimun Islands. With 4 ferry crossings daily on weekdays and 6 ferry crossings daily on weekends, there is no reason for you to miss out on an opportunity like this!

Photo Credit: discoverunseen

#4 PULAU TIGA

WHERE IT IS: This secret island is dubbed as the Maldives of Malaysia and it is located just off the western coast of Sabah, Malaysia.

GETTING THERE FROM SINGAPORE: Take a 2h 30minute flight from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu before a 30-minute boat ride to Tiga Islands. Fans of diving and snorkelling will be pleased to hear that Tiga Islands had plenty of fringing coral reefs with beautiful colours and sea creatures.

Photo Credit: martin.puhm

#5 MANUKAN ISLAND

WHERE IT IS: Manukan Island is also part of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and it is Malaysia’s first Marine Park.

GETTING THERE FROM SINGAPORE: A 2.5-hour flight from Singapore is needed to get to Kota Kinabalu and just a short 10-minute car ride will get you to Manukan Island. Snorkel in the ocean and you’ll be amazed by the fishes that will surround you—with plenty of resorts around this island, Manukan is also a popular destination for a short day trip!

Photo Credit: joe_bighead

#6 KO SAMUI

WHERE IT IS: It is Thailand’s second largest island and it is particularly renowned for its palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves and lush greenery surrounding it.

GETTING THERE FROM SINGAPORE: There are direct flights from Singapore to Ko Samui that take just 1 hour and 50 minutes. With resorts and beachside villas ranging from budget to luxury, Ko Samui is perfect for anyone and everyone seeking a retreat from city life.

Photo Credit: wissaww

#7 KO PHA NGAN

WHERE IT IS: Ko Pha Ngan is situated just north of Ko Samui—It is the secret of Thailand as it is home to unrivalled beaches with white sands and clear water under cobalt-blue skies.

GETTING THERE FROM SINGAPORE: Ko Pha Ngan does not have an airport, and it is less commercialised as compared to Ko Samui. Thus, getting there will likely require ferries from mainland Thailand and Koh Samui.

A beach holiday is always a good idea.

Sun, sand sea. Everything we love, everything we enjoy. But it can be such a bummer if we plan for a beach holiday during the monsoon season.

During monsoon seasons, the weather can be extremely erratic with strong winds and heavy rain. And we’ve had enough of it.

We have decided to wrap up the year’s monsoon season forecasts for the popular beach destinations in Asia, so that you will not be caught in unexpected situation. No more being stuck in a beach resort and praying for the rain to go away!

MONSOON SEASON FORECASTS 2016

Philippines (Boracay, Bohol, Panglao Island & More):
The country is affected mostly by the Southwest Monsoon from June to September, so it is best to avoid planning a trip to any beach destination in Philippines during this period of time.

Some other things to note – the typhoon season mainly runs from May to October yearly, and August is the month with the worst cyclones, hence it is also not recommended to visit during this period of time for safety reasons.

The best times to travel to Philippines: January, February, March, April, November, December 2016

Indonesia (Bali, Lombok & More):
Indonesia comprises many islands, but the average rainfall period is generally during the period of November and April.

June to September are the driest months, however, also the coolest, making it the best time to visit. The busiest months in Indonesia’s popular beach destinations are around June to July.

The best times to travel to Indonesia: June, July, August, September, October 2016

Thailand (Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Krabi & More):
Weather will shift from dry to wet in May, and the main monsoon season will start in June all the way till October, with September being the worst time to visit as it is the month with the heaviest rainfall.

Thailand spans over a large area; places such as Koh Phi Phi and Phuket will have monsoon season start a little earlier around April, while places in the Eastern part of Thailand such as Koh Samui will only experience monsoon later in May or June.

The best times to travel to Thailand: November, December, January, February, March 2016

Before going for your beach holiday, make sure to include these 12 Beach Essentials in your beach bag for that wonderful day out in the sun.

There is always that question whenever you are hitting the beach, “What should I bring along?”

Sure, there are aplenty to pack, but what do you really need to enhance your experience, and to cover you for all that you need? Here, we make a checklist of the items that you should pack. These are the 12 Beach Essentials that should go into your beach bag for that wonderful day out in the sun.

Let the sea and the sunshine set you free…

FLIP-FLOPS

To move around easier on the sand, wear your flip-flops. The brighter the colour, the better! Life is colourful and fun by the beach.

TOWEL

You would need something to wipe yourself clean after your swimming and tanning. We love stripe pieces that easily makes good photo props.

SWIMWEAR

But of course, we all need to be properly clothed for the beach. Itsy teeny polka dot bikinis for you? The gentlemen shall pack their trunks. If you are planning to surf or do any massive sea sports, one-piece suits or diving suits are preferred.

SUNBLOCK

This is the most important item and the one that you should never go to the beach without. Sunblocks come in various kinds – gels, creams, sprays… Pick the texture that you are comfortable with and apply it on your entire body generously. Note that there are specialized ones for face.

When you buy your sunblocks, do also note that there are water-resistant ones and those are the ones you should get if you intend to frolic in the waters. Depending on the level of SPF you pick, reapply accordingly.

SUNGLASSES

For several reasons – to protect your eyes from the UV rays, to refrain ourselves from squinting our eyes (as it will affect our eyesight), and last but certainly not least, to look cooler in photos. Pass us that Ray Ban’s please.

ALOE VERA GEL

To soothe your skin after a session of suntanning, aloe vera gel is very important and essential. Slather it on and pat it into your skin, and the cool gel will calm your skin and minimize peeling.

CAMERA + UNDERWATER CASE

Because moments are fleeting and precious, and the way to remember them is to capture them all the best we can. Photos make the best souvenirs, so set your camera, strike a pose, and have that moment documented forever.

And if you are planning to go snorkelling or diving, make sure to get an underwater case for your camera. Another good alternative would be GoPro.

SNACKS

Munching on the beach sounds like a great idea, yes? Finger sandwiches, wafer crackers, mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes, biscuit with chocolate dips… anything. We lead the life on the beach!

MAGAZINES + BOOKS

Few things in life are as therapeutic as reading by the beach while hearing the waves crash onto the shore and watching the sun rays dance on the water. Pack your favourite reads along; well, they’d make good photo props too and you’d thank us for this tip.

FLOAT

Idyllic life on a donut, anyone?

NOTEBOOK

Be inspired by the beauty that surrounds you. Pen down your thoughts and ideas. Remember all that you’ve seen and heard. Unleash that inner poet in you. Those stanzas will be among the most meaningful in your journey of life.

BOARD GAME

If you are in a pair or a group, some board games would be fun. Scrabble’s our favourite; what’s yours?