I stayed in a $290-a-night tent near the beach in Singapore to put the ‘slow living’ lifestyle to the test.

Ray Lee and Sam Wong, the founders of the Into the Woods team and a couple, said they wanted to create a place for people to relax without worrying about following a trip and filling their days with activities.

The founders enjoyed camping with their children while living abroad in the US and Australia. Although they had no experience in hospitality or real estate, they were eager to start something similar in Singapore.

During the outbreak, they had a government initiative to promote sustainable tourism on Lazarus Island. Lee and Wong eventually won a three-year tender to open Into the Woods on Lazarus Island in March 2023. The couple estimated they invested about $800,000 in the project – half of which came from their savings.

“We want guests to go home with the feeling, ‘It looks like I did nothing, but I feel like I accomplished everything,'” Wong told me.

Can it be satisfying to do nothing? I wanted to know.

I stayed at Into the Woods on a Sunday night in August

When I got to Lazarus, a worker took me in a boat from the dock. We passed a small resort – the only accommodation on the island, and where I spent the next night – passed every shop on the island and arrived bright tents on Lazarus Beach a few minutes later.

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There are nine tents, including six that can sleep two guests and three that can sleep up to four. The tents are fully air-conditioned and sit two meters from the water.

This was no ordinary tent.

It has a queen-size bed, a kitchenette with a microwave and refrigerator, and hardwood floors. Location too it includes the essentials for a day at the beach, from a mat to delicious snacks and a beach bag.

Slow living on the island

After packing, I went out to the beach to explore. But apart from trying to row a boat at the only water sports on the island, there was nothing to do. So, this is living slowly, I thought.

I sat on the beach and took in the surrounding area. It was nearly five o’clock in the evening, and the beach was full of life. Teenagers blasted pop music from their portable speakers, toddlers built sandcastles, and dogs ran free in the sand.

Around 6pm, the last boat left the island, and except for the sound of the waves lapping against the sand, the beach fell silent. At the time, it felt surreal; Singapore has one of the most populous countries in the world. It was incredibly comforting to have such a spacious space for myself – well, 10 other guests on the beach.

Since there is no restaurant on the island, guests can cook their own food or pack food. I ordered a steak set for $52 at the island restaurant. It came in enough for two to three people and included a spread of meat skewers and sausages, as well as mac and cheese and otah, a grilled fish dish.

It was a rare opportunity to cook for myself on the beach, so I took the time to taste every now and then and relax.

When guests are encouraged to wash their own dishes, I set the dirty dishes and pans aside to drag them to the communal kitchen sink the next morning.

With no TV and spotty internet connection, I found myself deciding how to spend my evening. Fortunately, each room has a doodle book and reflection journal, and I was grateful for the opportunity to explore.

That night, with the latest Netflix series blaring in the background, the sound of waves lapping against the shore lulled me into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the beach was still empty

I saw a couple who brought their Maltipoo and Toy Poodle for a hassle-free getaway.

“Even though we have WiFi here, I don’t like to work or check emails,” said Peiling Kong, a financial consultant in her 30s.

He added: “It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Kong is not the only one with a desire to escape. Interest in luxury experiences has increased after the pandemic, Mike Harlow, general manager of luxury travel agency Scott Dunn, told me after I returned from the trip.

He said: “Because we are in a very stressful situation, often at work, we see people wanting to see wider areas, to be more in nature, and away from the hustle and bustle of crowded tourist areas. “

Glamping has become popular in Singapore over the past few years, with several companies offering tent-setting services at beaches and public parks. Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which manages the zoos in Singapore, even offers zoo-goers the opportunity to try wild game hunting near the lake and the Singapore Zoo or the penguins in its bird park – for about $1,300 per tent.

In America, hotel chains are also getting in on the action. Earlier this year, Hilton announced a partnership with AutoCamp, which allows members to use Hilton Honors points to book luxury campsites. Similarly, World of Hyatt members can spend points at other Mr. and Mrs. Smith properties – which include several of the world’s best resorts.

Walking around the house was not a luxury

Although the comfortable beds and air-conditioned area provide a high-class experience, some aspects of the stay did not feel luxurious.

For example, the tents did not include an en-suite bathroom. Guests must share a public toilet a three-minute walk away. It’s not a problem, but it’s an inconvenience – especially in the area of ​​resort prices.

“Reminds me of my army days,” a visitor in his 50s told me jokingly.

When I returned from my trip, my colleagues told me that they cannot build en-suite toilets because of cost and time. They said that Lazarus Island is a “light-touch” area, so they did not want to destroy its natural state by installing pipes and installing a sewage system.

All in all, Into the Woods is a great option for those who want to try camping in Singapore without dragging it out. Don’t expect the luxurious experience you’d get at a five-star hotel.

Of course, there wasn’t much that could be done. But that was it – I left feeling exhausted and ready to get back into city life.

Business Insider covered the writer’s living expenses.