Kid-free for 48 hours: Five quick getaways near Singapore

Travel search engine KAYAK.sg reveals its top five off-duty getaways for anyone who needs a 48-hour break from parenting

Many couples take a honeymoon or babymoon before starting a family and worry that the fun of kid-free travel will stop completely once their little bundle of joy appears. Of course, sharing your love of travel with your little ones is a wonderful part of raising a family in Singapore, but occasionally every parent deserves a child-free getaway. Please welcome the travel experts at KAYAK.sg to share their top five destinations for recharging your batteries in 48 hours or less without the kids (and all of their luggage) in tow.

1. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
French colonial architecture, tranquil pagodas and fashionable restaurants are just a few of the delights the Cambodian capital has to offer parents on a child-free weekend. Celebrate two days of freedom by people-watching and street food snacking along Sisowath Quay. Engage in a bit of retail therapy in the designer boutiques on Street 240, where you can browse for locally-made, fair-trade clothing and home goods. For couples who fancy a tipple, the city has wine bars and rooftop cocktail lounges in spades and you won’t believe the happy hour prices (US$2 for a martini?!).

Flight time from Singapore: 2 hours
How to get there: We found flights to Phnom Penh from S$193.
Where to stay: Nightly prices for a double room at the hip Plantation Urban Resort and Spa start at S$82.

2. Cebu, Philippines
Sun, sand and surf are just what the doctor ordered for stressed out mamas and papas. Cebu and its neighboring islands, famed for their white-sand beaches, dive sites and water sports, are a great choice for a mini-break. Most Cebu-area hotels are family-friendly so for more of a honeymoon vibe, head to one of the boutique resorts on Mactan Island. After a weekend of island hopping, sun-chair napping and SCUBA diving, you will return to Singapore completely refreshed and ready for the Monday morning school run.

Flight time from Singapore: 3 hours, 45 minutes
How to get there: We found flights to Cebu from S$330.
Where to stay: Nightly prices for a double room at Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan start at S$225.

3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
For many parents, coffee is a necessary daily ritual. Take your coffee drinking to the next level in this highly caffeinated metropolis. Whether you like it black or sweet, iced or steaming hot, the multitude of cafés in Vietnam’s biggest city have you covered. Find the perfect spot – preferably in a leafy courtyard away from the constant buzz of motorbikes – and settle in with a cup of joe and a good book. When was the last time you were able to finish your morning coffee uninterrupted?

Flight time from Singapore: 2 hours, 5 minutes
How to get there: We found flights to Ho Chi Minh City from S$143.
Where to stay: Nightly prices for a double room at Sofitel Saigon Plaza start at S$159.

4. Khao Lak, Thailand
If you’ve managed to score a child-free weekend, avoid the tourist throngs in Phuket and head 70 kilometres north to the lovely white-sand beaches of Khao Lak. A haven for those seeking peace, quiet and natural beauty, Khao Lak has all the amenities required for a comfortable weekend away and makes a good home base for easy day trips to the Similan and Surin Islands. While you’re there, go ahead and book in that four-hour spa appointment. You’ve earned it.

Travel time from Singapore: 2 hours, 45 minutes (including flight + 1-hour drive)
How to get there: We found flights to Phuket from S$178.
Where to stay: Nightly prices for a double room at Pullman Khao Lak Katiliya Resort And Spa start at S$107.

5. Yogyakarta, Indonesia
It’s clear that your munchkin is very advanced for their age but they still might not be old enough to appreciate the historical and religious significance of the ancient temple complexes near this arts and culture hub on the island of Java. Reason enough for culture vultures to leave their little one at home for a weekend of serene temple sunrise at the Buddhist complex of Borobudur and a night of ballet under the stars at the Hindu monument of Prambanan.

Flight time from Singapore: 2 hours, 10 minutes
How to get there: We found flights to Yogyakarta from S$251.
Where to stay: Nightly prices for a double room at The Phoenix Hotel start at S$88.

Top travel tip: KAYAK.sg’s travel tool Explore enables Singapore travellers to gain travel inspiration and find flights within their set budget during their preferred travel month of the year to various destinations around the world.

KAYAK is the leading travel search engine. To search and compare prices for flights, hotels, car rentals and much more, visit KAYAK.sg or download the app at KAYAK.sg/mobile.