5 Reasons to Plan Your Next Family Getaway to Genting

Resorts World Genting’s multi-billion-dollar revamp turns the charming old hilltop destination of Genting into the perfect family getaway

Favourable exchange rate, amazing cool weather, a short(ish) drive away from home… There are so many reasons to take the fam to Genting in Malaysia, mama. Famous in the last 5o years for its theme park, casino and the fact that it hosts the world’s largest hotel, Resorts World Genting (RWG) is now going through a major overhaul to make the hilltop resort an even more inviting place for families in the region!

If you need convincing, check out the top 5 reasons why you’ve gotta make a trip to Genting, stat:

1. It’s just under 2 hours away from Singapore

Gone are the days of driving up the mountain on a winding, zig-zaggy road for 2 hours because now, your entire journey from Singapore to RWG could be even faster.

Let’s break down the travelling time:

• Direct flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur: 60 minutes
• Express bus, car or taxi ride from KLIA Bus Terminal/KL Sentral to Awana station: 45 minutes
• Gondola ride from Awana Station to SkyAvenue station (the peak): 10 minutes

Flights to KL have become so affordable nowadays that they’re sometimes even cheaper than taking a coach – and it’s faster! From the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Bus Terminal, take a taxi and settle on a fixed fare (last we checked it costs about RM200 to get to Genting Highlands) OR hop on a Genting Express Bus for just RM10.30/adult and RM9.20/child (inclusive of a Genting Express Bus ticket and an Awana SkyWay ticket!).

2. Glass-bottom gondola rides with incredible views

If you’re driving up from Singapore or KL, park your car at the new Awana SkyWay Car Park and head to the Awana SkyWay to take a speedy 10-minute gondola ride to the peak – tickets start from just RM8/person for a standard gondola pass, RM40/person for an express boarding pass and RM50/person for a glass floor gondola pass.

3. Burger & Lobster (+ multiple hawker and world-class dining options)

We’ve heard of folks flying to London just to get their fix of Burger & Lobster, but no more, mama! The UK restaurant chain has finally made its Asian debut and we’re simply chuffed. Located within SkyAvenue mall (the Genting equivalent to Marina Bay Sands or ION Orchard), expect the same premium Nova Scotian lobsters (flown in weekly to the hilltop from Canada) in their classic steamed or grilled forms, in a lobster roll with the most amazing freshly-baked Brioche bread or in any one of three burgers paired with 100% Australian halal-grade beef. Plus it’s not an Asian debut without a truly Asian touch – expect only the best with the flavourful Chilli Lobster and Chilli Lobster Roll, exclusive to Burger & Lobster Malaysia. Our tip? Don’t skimp on the heavenly lemon butter sauce. And be sure to get there early – the line gets really long during lunch and dinner.

Other mouthwatering food options include Malaysian Food Street, much like the one we have in Resorts World Sentosa. The food court houses over 20 stalls, including famous local hawker stalls that were handpicked across the country for their signature dishes like laksa, nasi lemak, chicken rice and more.

For more world-class dining: Motorino (a Sassy Mama fave here in Singapore) will have pizza-crazy kiddos filled to the brim; Café Richard caters to the coffee aficionado’s expensive taste; and gourmet restos like e18hteen Inspired Cuisine and Tapas & Wine make for a great night out without the kids.

4. Rainforest Wildlife in the Awana area

Check yourself into the 5-star Awana Hotel if you’d like to be away from the crowds at RWG, but still want its convenience and amenities. The area surrounding the hotel is one of the most important bird migration spots in the world, and hosts activities like night herping (searching for frogs and reptiles), bird watching and jungle walks – perfect for enjoying the crisp, fresh mountain air with the little ones!

5. 20th Century Fox World

Malaysia’s answer to USS is almost here! Replacing the Genting Highlands Theme Park will be a total of 25 rides themed after various 20th Century Fox movies like Rio, Ice Age, Night at the Museum and more. Sit tight, mama – the park is set to open sometime between the second half of 2017 and early-2018, and will be even more convenient once the famous Theme Park Hotel reopens with fun, brightly-coloured themed family rooms and bunk beds for kiddos!

If I had to pick my faves, I’d say they were the experiences at Burger & Lobster and the glass floor gondola ride. The food at B&L was amaaazing. It was my first time having proper lobster and I don’t think I’ll have it anywhere else! Plus despite having special utensils on hand, they make it so easy for you to get the meat out because they’ve pre-cracked the hard shell – you just have to gently peel it off and tuck into the juicy lobster meat… *wipes drool*.

I’m usually not great with heights, but the gondola ride was a real treat. Most of the time you’re not that high up above the ground, so looking down isn’t too scary, and you’ll be too distracted by the gorgeous view to notice anyway!

Keep a lookout for updates on the Resorts World Genting Facebook and Instagram pages, mama!

www.rwgenting.com