I spent $290 to stay in a tiny house on a remote island in Singapore

During my three-day visit in August, I stayed one night in a Tiny Away home.

Launched by Singaporean startup Big Tiny last May, Tiny Away features five tiny homes that measure approximately 139 square meters each — or slightly smaller than an average parking space.

Adrian Chia, co-founder of Big Tiny, told me that Tiny Away aims to offer guests the opportunity to stay in unique accommodations while being close to nature.

“Being close to nature doesn’t mean you have to make trouble. You can have hotel-like amenities and facilities during your stay,” he said.

The homes are also equipped with sustainable features. They are made of environmentally friendly materials, powered mainly by solar panels, and include a compost bin.

After cleaning and taxes, the stay costs S$380, or about S$290 per night – comparable to the prices of 5-star hotels in Sentosa, Singapore’s nearby island resort.

The house felt spacious despite its small size.

When I arrived, I was impressed that so much could fit into a 139 square meter house.

The house didn’t feel claustrophobic, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a view of the Singapore Strait. With air conditioning, guests can feel connected to nature while sheltered from Singapore’s humid climate. It was 89 degrees outside during my stay.

The room includes a queen-size bed, a sofa bed, a small kitchenette with a microwave, and a large bathroom.

Each house in Tiny Away has a theme based on a time period, and the room I chose was inspired by the 1980s. It featured mid-century furniture and retro decorations like vinyl records from the ‘ 80 as wall art. These decorations added a sense of novelty to the otherwise empty interior.

“We wanted to show guests that each tiny house can have its own unique character,” Chia said when we asked about the rationale behind the theme in early August. Different eras of Singapore’s growth are represented in each house, he added. In addition to the 1980s retro house, there is a 1900 house that resembles a traditional black and white colonial house, and a 2017 house.

But as I settled into the space, I spotted a mosquito buzzing around. As soon as I hit it, I spotted another zipper across the room.

They were everywhere. When I stepped outside, my legs became a buffet for mosquitoes. As a result, I spent most of the afternoon indoors.

Fortunately, the space inside was comfortable. It was also clear that the staff tried to alleviate the mosquito situation by providing a can of bug repellent and a small portable bug repellent – which unfortunately wasn’t entirely helpful.

However, I knew I was defeating the purpose of the stay by being closed. After spraying myself with bug spray, I took a short walk to Lazarus Beach, which was only a three minute walk away.

Although it was a weekday, all five houses were booked

While walking to the beach, we met other guests – a couple with their horseman and their friend, who brought their cocker spaniel. The group had booked two houses to celebrate the knight’s birthday.

The owner of the cocker spaniel, who is in her 30s and works in a bank, said the accommodation was spacious enough for her and her dog.

“The concept of this place is to disconnect from the busy life and be close to nature. It’s a good message. The way the facility is located, you can constantly look at nature,” she said.

And although every room has a TV with a Netflix subscription, she tried not to watch it. Instead, she brought a book. “I’ll try not to think about work,” she said.

Opposite my house was a family with two boys. While swatting away the mosquitoes, the father, a doctor in his 30s, told me he found out about the accommodation through the local press. As the place was popular, he had to reserve it months in advance.

He enjoyed the quietness of the island and said the beach was suitable for children, with gentle waves and fine sand. However, he felt that the tiny house was too small for his family of four.

“I will definitely come back with my wife, hopefully when our parents take care of the kids,” he said.

Word to the wise: There are very limited food options on the island

The island has a convenience store, but it is closed on weekdays. Guests can pre-order ready-to-eat microwave meals for $6 – which I chose – or bring their own food.

But when night fell, my food had not arrived. After contacting customer service, I found out that the staff forgot about my table and went back to the mainland at 18:00.

Fortunately, each room was stocked with snacks and instant noodles. As I poured hot water into my chicken-flavored noodles, I felt a long way from being on the mainland, where you can find food options at any hour and have them delivered within minutes.

I woke up to the sounds of a common gecko and birds chirping in the distance

I intended to spend the morning exploring more of the island.

But this time, it wasn’t the mosquitoes that kept me inside. Dark clouds loomed over the small houses and soon it was heavy rain.

By the time the sky cleared, it was 11am and almost time to check out.

Being in the little house allowed me to recharge

Tiny house living has spurred a movement that promotes a minimum standard of living and sustainability called the tiny house movement. While the trend has taken off in countries like the US, it’s new to Singapore, with Tiny Away being the only option for those who want to try tiny house living without going abroad.

Prudence Lai, a consultant at market research firm Euromonitor, said travelers have become more experience-driven after the pandemic and are now looking for authentic local experiences instead of just spending on tangible goods.

The desire to seek out unique accommodations is reflected in the demand for Tiny Away. Since its inception, Tiny Away has operated with an average occupancy of 90 percent, Chia said, adding that most guests are local.

Chia said many guests were unaware of how peaceful it is to stay on Lazarus. “They always enjoy the fact that it allows them to leave their phones and laptops behind and recharge,” he said.

I felt the same way. Although WiFi was available in the rooms, the connection was unstable. I didn’t need it anyway, as I found myself enjoying the view of the sea and forest in the distance instead of checking my phone for notifications like I usually do at home.

Given the premium price tag and range of similarly priced luxury hotel options in Singapore, I would not return. But Tiny Away might be ideal for guests looking for solitude or a chance to experience the city-state minus all the tall buildings. Just be ready to fend off the mosquitoes at the door and pack extra food.

Business Insider covered the cost of the author’s stay.