- On a recent trip to Lazarus Island, a Southern Island in Singapore, I stayed in a 139-square-foot home.
- I spent $290 on the one-night stay at Tiny Away, one of two accommodations available on the island.
Growing up in Singapore, I thought I'd seen most of my country — a city-state just slightly smaller than the size of New York City.
But after a 20-minute ferry ride to Lazarus Island, one of the eight Southern Islands in Singapore, I felt like I was in another country.
The island, which is just 47 hectares big, has one convenience store, a water sports center, and two accommodations. That's it.
During my three-day visit in August, I stayed at a tiny home by Tiny Away for one night.
Launched by a Singaporean tiny home startup, Big Tiny, in May last year, Tiny Away features five tiny houses that measure around 139 square feet each — or slightly smaller than an average parking space.
Adrian Chia, the cofounder of Big Tiny, told me that Tiny Away aims to provide guests with the opportunity to stay in unique accommodations while being close to nature.
"Being close to nature doesn't mean you have to rough it out. You can have hotel-like amenities and facilities during the stay," he said.
The homes are also fitted with sustainable features. They are made with eco-friendly materials, mainly powered by solar panels, and include a compost bin.
After cleaning fees and tax, the stay costs 380 Singapore dollars, or around $290 a night — comparable to the rates of some 5-star hotels on Sentosa, Singapore's nearby island resort.
The home felt spacious despite its small size.
When I arrived, I was impressed that so much could fit into a 139-square-foot home.
The home didn't feel claustrophobic, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, which provided a view of the Singapore Strait. With air conditioning, guests can feel connected to nature while being sheltered from Singapore's humid climate. It was 89 degrees outside during my stay.
The room included a queen-sized bed, a sofa bed, a small kitchenette fitted with a microwave, and a sizable bathroom.
Each home on Tiny Away has a theme based on a time period, and the room I selected was 1980s-inspired. It featured mid-century furniture and retro decorations, like vinyl records from the '80s as wall art. These decorations added a sense of novelty to the otherwise bare interior.
"We wanted to showcase to guests that each tiny house can have its own unique character," Chia said when I asked about the rationale behind the theme in early August. Different eras of Singapore's growth are represented in each home, he added. Besides the retro 1980s home, there is a 1900 home, which resembles a traditional black and white colonial house, and a 2017 home.
But as I settled into the space, I spotted a mosquito buzzing around. As soon as I smacked it away, I spotted another zipping around the room.
They were everywhere. When I stepped outside, my legs became an all-you-can-eat buffet for mosquitoes. As a result, I spent most of the afternoon indoors.
Thankfully, the space inside was comfortable. It was also clear that the staff had tried to alleviate the mosquito situation by providing a can of insect repellent and a small portable bug zapper — which, unfortunately, was not entirely helpful.
Still, I knew I was defeating the purpose of the stay by being cooped up. After dousing myself with insect repellent, I took a short stroll to Lazarus Beach, which was only a three-minute walk away.
Although it was a weekday, all five homes were booked
While walking to the beach, I met other guests — a couple with their cavalier and their friend, who brought her cocker spaniel. The group had booked two homes to celebrate the cavalier's birthday.
The cocker spaniel's owner, who is in her 30s and works in banking, said the accommodation was spacious enough for her and her dog.
"The concept of this place is to unplug from busy life and be close to nature. It's a good message. The way the unit is placed, you can constantly be looking out 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.
Across from my home, there was a family with two young boys. While swatting mosquitoes away, the father, a doctor in his late 30s, told me he had learned about the accommodation through local media. As the place was popular, he had to book it months in advance.
He enjoyed the island's peacefulness and said the beach was kid-friendly, with gentle waves and fine sand. Still, he felt that the tiny home was too small for his family of four.
"I'll definitely be back again with my wife, hopefully when our parents can 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's closed on weekdays. Guests can preorder ready-to-eat microwave meals for $6 — which I selected — or bring their own food.
But when night fell, my food had not arrived. After contacting customer service, I learned that the staff had forgotten about my meal and had headed back to the mainland at 6 p.m.
Luckily, each room was stocked with snacks and instant noodles. As I poured hot water into my chicken-flavored cup noodles, I felt a world away 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 clucks of a common house gecko and birds chirping in the distance
I intended to spend my morning exploring more of the island.
But this time, it was not mosquitoes that kept me in. Dark clouds loomed over the tiny homes, and soon, there was a heavy downpour.
By the time the sky cleared, it was 11 a.m., and it was almost time to check out.
Staying in the tiny home allowed me to recharge
Living in tiny houses spurred a movement promoting minimal living and sustainability called the tiny-house movement. Although 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 from market research firm Euromonitor, said that travelers have become more experientially driven after the pandemic and now seek 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 run at an average of 90% occupancy, Chia said, adding that most guests are local.
Chia said that many guests had not been aware of how peaceful it was to stay on Lazarus. "They always enjoy the fact that it allows them to leave their phones and laptops behind and recharge themselves," he said.
I felt the same. 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 the forest in the distance instead of checking my phone for notifications, as I usually do at home.
Given its premium price tag and the range of similarly priced luxury hotel options across Singapore, I wouldn't go back. But Tiny Away could be ideal for guests looking for some solitude or a chance to experience the city-state minus all the high rises. Just be ready to fend off mosquitoes at the doorway and pack some extra food.
Business Insider covered the cost of the author's stay.