With school holidays approaching, don’t worry if you haven’t made travel plans, mama: we’ve got heaps of fab staycations at the ready right here at home!
Living in a place like Singapore – with its year-round beach weather, world-class museums, amazeballs food, and all manner of other attractions – we’re basically half-way to a holiday every day of the year. But of course, stuff like school and work gets in the way, and even makes us forget to see the amazingness right before our very eyes.
So next time school holidays (or some much needed annual leave) roll around, mama, why not take a Singapore staycation? Whether you’re keen to explore a new neighbourhood (ever wondered what all the fuss on the East Coast is about?), drop the kiddos off at a rad kids’ club, or simply go on vacation without the hassle of flights, here are Singapore’s most kid-friendly hotels (equally ideal for friends visiting from out of town!) with the best family suites, swimming pools, and kid-friendly amenities.
Let the wanderlusting commence!
Lead image via Orchard Rendezvous Hotel
As we detailed in What’s New Mama a few months back, glamping is a super unique way to enjoy a beachfront stay in Singapore. Go Glamping will kit you out with a fully-equipped waterproof bell tent including air beds, indoor and outdoor seating, and twinkly fairy lights. They’ll even help you set up a picnic for parties of up to 25 people! Whether you want to ease yourself into taking the kids back to nature, or you want to throw the coolest birthday party ever, they’ve got you sorted, mama.
NB: Glamping City, also located in East Coast Park, is offering special 30% off discount for bookings in the month of March! And their reasonably priced Family Suite can sleep up to 6!
Go Glamping, Tel: (+65) 8530 9667, www.goglampingsg.com
Glamping City, Tel: (+65) 9651 1114, www.glampingcity.com
Perhaps you’re catching a show at the gorgeous Capitol Theatre, or you’re planning a special day out with the kiddos at the National Gallery or Asian Civilisations Museum. Whatever the reason, these hotels are all perfectly placed in the heritage district within walking distance of museums, the Padang, and heaps of great restaurants.
Among our fave features at each:
As we discovered during a recent staycation, the Capitol Kempinski has absolutely stunning rooms — and due to its heritage bones, no two are exactly alike. We found that the layout of many of the Grand Deluxe Rooms – which can come with massive bathrooms – would be conducive to a stay with kids. And of course 15 Stamford by Michelin-Starred Chef Alvin Leung has also just opened up!
Along the same lines for foodies, SKAI on the 70th floor of Swissôtel the Stamford offers delectable grilled steaks and killer views. And the Fairmont – which also has beautiful rooms, a gorgeous pool, and a wonderful spa – also happens to serve up one of our favourite Afternoon Teas in Singapore (and one of the kid-friendliest!) at Anti:dote!
Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, 15 Stamford Road, Singapore 178906, Tel: (+65) 6368 8888, www.kempinski.com/en/singapore/the-capitol-singapore
Swissotel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178882, www.swissotel.com/hotels/singapore-stamford
Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore 189560, www.fairmont.com/singapore
One of our own Sassy Mamas got to take an overnight staycation at Park Regis Clarke Quay a few years back and raved about its yummy food and massive swimming pool. If you’re simply in the mood to not worry about cooking, cleaning, or picking up after your kiddos – it’s an affordable option that’s super convenient to all the riverside action (and fab restaurants) at Clarke Quay. They even offer a special Family Room!
The “Roarin’ Kids Kingdom” suite at Novotel Clarke Quay comes with a King Bed, children’s bed, and a trundle bed and also offers fun amenities like a pillow menu and children’s books and DVDs.
Park Hotel Clarke Quay, meanwhile, has a wide variety of room type options, and is home to the super yummy Porta. They’ve also got a poolside bar and grill, which is basically a requirement for a good staycation, right?
Park Regis Singapore, 23 Merchant Road, Singapore 058268, Tel: (+65) 6818 8888, www.parkregissingapore.com
Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay, 177A River Valley Road, Singapore 179031, Tel: (+65) 6338 3333, www.novotelclarkequay.com
Park Hotel Clarke Quay, 1 Unity St, Singapore 237983, www.parkhotelgroup.com/en/clarkequay
Image by Park Regis Singapore
Ever noticed that everyone who lives on the East Coast is obsessed with it? Here’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about, mama!
Newly opened a couple years ago in the old Joo Chiat Police Station, Hotel Indigo is firmly ensconced in the heart of Katong at the nexus of Joo Chiat and East Coast Road. If you haven’t explored these neighbourhoods on foot to discover their myriad charms – Laksa! Peranakan shophouses! Street mural art! – a staycation is the perfect chance to do it, mama. Hotel Indigo is super colourful and filled with Peranakan charm, and has a gorgeous rooftop pool to boot!
A block away, Grand Mercure Roxy is a bit lower-priced, and also offers convenient access to Parkway Parade if you want to get your shop on!
Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong, 86 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428788, www.ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/singapore
Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy, 50 East Coast Road, Roxy Square S428769, email [email protected] or Tel: (+65) 6340 5665, www.grandmercureroxy.com.sg
Image by Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong
Perhaps even more than glamping, this is as back to nature as you’re likely to get in Singapore. These rustic, basic villas and family suites (with up to four bedrooms available, so great for big families!) are located in the Kranji countryside – perfect if you’ve been wanting to explore Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve or visit Bollywood Veggies but have put it off because they seem so far away! You can also take all manner of farm tours, take pony rides, and cool off at a water playground.
Gallop Kranji Farm Resort, 10 Neo Tiew Lane 2, Singapore 718813, Tel: (+65) 6898 9228, [email protected], www.gallopresort.com
Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, formerly Orchard Parade, has reinvented itself as a haven for families with no less than four different Family Room options – the spacious, colourful Family Room with Bunk Bed gets our vote for the most fun-looking. There’s also a newly-upgraded outdoor swimming pool, and then of course you’ve got Orchard Road shopping at your doorstep (starting with The Forum right across the street!).
Hotel Jen OrchardGateway also has a Deluxe Family Room option (a King Bed + a 2-seater sofa bed), along with a clever “Family Value” rate that gives families 50% off when booking a second room. They’ve also got a beautiful rooftop pool and poolside cabana massages (whaaa?), and kids will love that BOUNCE trampoline park is just a short walk away.
Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, 277 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238858, www.hoteljen.com/singapore/orchardgateway
Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, 1 Tanglin Rd, Singapore 247905, www.rendezvoushotels.com.sg/en/hotels/orchard-rendezvous-hotel
Image by Orchard Rendezvous Hotel
Robertson Quay is one of the most underrated spots in Singapore, in our opinion, especially for families. You’ve got tons of great restaurants (Super Loco, Summerlong, Supermarkt, and Publico for starters…), and all that riverside frontage that’s perfect for scooting. We think a Saturday staycation + Sunday morning brunch at Rob Quay would be a pretty sweet way to while away a weekend.
For the style set, M Social is a cool spot – though as Editor Beate noted when she went for a staycation, it’s not the most kid-friendly (though she did have a good time with her foodie 4-year-old).
Newly opened in 2017, the sumptuous InterContinental Robertson Quay is a bit more luxe, with rooms designed to have a comfy, residential feel. We also can’t help but notice that their “Suite Life” package come with a complimentary bottle of French Champagne upon arrival…
M Social, 90 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238259, Tel: (+65) 6206 1888, www.msocial.com.sg
InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay, 1 Nanson Rd, Singapore 238909, www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/singapore
Our MD Emilie and her kids had a ball visiting the Ritz last year thanks to their amazeballs “Ritz Kids Night Safari” package, which includes an in-room tent, special kids’ pajamas, a passport and discovery map, and more edible goodies throughout the stay. (Note that the hotel has also introduced a fun new “Family Game Night” weekend package that we’re dying to try out when our kiddos get a little older!)
Right down the street, Marina Mandarin Singapore offers a plethora of kid-friendly features, including interconnecting Family Rooms; a beautiful outdoor mineral water pool; and a children’s playroom. It’s also connected to Marina Square Mall, which happens to be home to Pororo Park (one of our kiddos’ favourite indoor playgrounds in Singapore)!
Marina Bay Sands is naturally popular with high rollers and the glitterati, but the hotel also has multiple Family Room configurations. Kiddos love their famous rooftop pool as much as anyone; the adjacent Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands are home to some of our favourite kid-friendly restaurants, including Yardbird, Black Tap and Din Tai Fung; and the awesome ArtScience Museum is just across the way.
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799, www.ritzcarlton.com
Marina Mandarin Singapore, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square Singapore 039594, www.meritushotels.com/marina-mandarin-singapore
Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, www.marinabaysands.com
With its beaches, restaurants aplenty, and attractions like Universal Studios, Adventure Cove Water Park and S.E.A. Aquarium, Sentosa is a no-brainer for staycations (or visitors keen to keep their kiddos occupied). But where to stay? Here are some of our tried and tested faves:
Capella is super luxe (if it’s good enough for Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump…), with a lovely pool, huge rooms and villas, lush grounds, and an incredible spa.
Equarius is close by to Adventure Cove, and also has family-friendly layouts with direct pool access. It’s also quite close to ESPA (definitely not a bad thing, mamas!).
Festive Hotel is the only hotel at Resorts World with a dedicated kids’ pool, and also offers up easy access to all the island’s most popular attractions. And their colourful Deluxe Family Rooms come with bunk beds that are sure to be a hit with kiddos.
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa is Singapore’s only beachfront resort, and every room has a private balcony or terrace overlooking the ocean or lush gardens. It’s definitely a great substitute if you had your heart set on a big resort in Bali or Phuket; there’s even a sea sports centre and kids’ club and the children’s swimming pool (including water slide!) is always a hit with kids. Plus they’ve just rolled out Nestopia, an open-air play space with 17 different play sections, including netted obstacle courses and two super-long slides.
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa has some truly delicious dining options (we love the brunch at Kwee-Zeen), along with an array of spacious family accommodation options. The Prestige Family Suite is the way to go in our opinion, with two separate sleeping areas and turndown service with signature sweet treats. We also love their on-site kids’ club!
While massively popular for a kids-free staycation, the W Singapore – Sentosa Cove is great for anyone who loves lounging by the pool. Because their pool? Is AWESOME. The rooms aren’t super kid-friendly, but they do offer Twin set-ups that can sleep 4, and have a fun weekend staycation package where you get the second night at 50% off.
And finally, if you really want to splash out (pun intended), check out one of eleven exclusive Ocean Suites, deluxe two-storey townhouses where the lower level looks out on the world’s largest aquarium with an underwater view of over 40,000 marine fishes!
Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098297, www.capellasingapore.com
Equarius Hotel, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269, www.rwsentosa.com/en/hotels/equarius-hotel
Festive Hotel, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269, www.rwsentosa.com/en/hotels/festive-hotel
Ocean Suites, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269, www.rwsentosa.com/en/hotels/ocean-suite
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, 101 Siloso Road, Singapore 098970, www.shangri-la.com/singapore/rasasentosaresort
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, So Spa, 30 Allanbrooke Road, Singapore 099983, www.sofitel-singapore-sentosa.com
W Hotel Singapore – Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way, Singapore 098374, www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sinwh-w-singapore-sentosa-cove
My daughter Maggie has been lucky enough to stay in amazing hotels all over the world, and yet, if you ask her her favorite hotel? It’s the Shangri-La Singapore. It made a pretty big impression on her when we went for a staycation last year, what with the rocketship bed and unlimited access to Buds. And I have to agree; the Family Suites are amahhhhzing and unlike anything else I’ve seen in a city hotel (I still cry thinking about that stocked family pantry!). Plus the tropical pool and lush greenery create a total resort-like ambiance (even though you’re not too far from Orchard), and the food options are all spot-on. — Kate
Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350, Tel: (+65) 6737 3644, www.shangri-la.com/singapore
