Come Saturday would be the much anticipated one week vacation both parents and children have been waiting for. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 situation has caused many of our travel plans, as well as tourism, to take a major hit – especially as it coincides with the spring holidays in East Asia, like the popular cherry blossom festival in Japan and South Korea.
But that doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself at home. With plunging hotel occupancies and increased cleaning and sanitising efforts, it’s not a bad time to consider planning a staycation or visit some local attractions (but always take precautions, of course).
In fact, according to a recent Straits Times report, more Singaporeans are now opting for staycations to replace their overseas trips.
So if you’re planning to stay on the island this March and June school holidays, here are some hotels with great offerings:
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For a peaceful and fulfilling family getaway, book a stay at this lush, family-friendly resort on Sentosa Island that’ll make you feel like you’re overseas. In fact, the Capella March Family Times package lets kids below 12 years old stay, dine and play for free! Perks include complimentary lunch and dinner for two children at The Knolls (with plenty of options from an a la carte kids menu) as well as complimentary children’s amenities and toiletries, plus register for a range of family bonding activities, such as family yoga, canvas painting and cooking and baking masterclasses.
Rates start at $584 with no school holiday surge pricing. Valid until March 31, 2020.
Stay for at least two nights and enjoy 12 per cent off regular room rates and daily breakfast for up to two guests at the luxe Four Seasons Hotel, home to award-winning Cantonese restaurant Jiang-Nan Chun and cocktail bar One-Ninety Bar (where kids below 5 years old dine for free, with a paying adult). Rates for a basic Deluxe Room, which are suitable for three adults or two adults and a child, start from $370 per night.
Valid for stays until January 1, 2022.
Conveniently located at Orchard Road, shop and dine to your heart’s content before returning to the hotel to unwind. Their Family Rooms, such as the 50-sqm Family Room with Bunkbed (pictured) comfortably fits a family of four, with space to spare with separate living and dining quarters.
Book by March 31, 2020, to enjoy up to 50 per cent off regular nightly room rates, from as low as $125 a night for a basic Superior Room (Family Rooms cost from $214 a night, which is pretty worth it!). Other perks include unlimited wifi access and early check-in or late check-out.
The deal is part of Far East Hospitality’s ongoing “2020 Super Sale” across their 25 hotels and serviced apartments in Singapore.
It’s the March school holidays and this hotel at Orchard has a special promotion for Singapore residents. From $168 per night, the Premier Room comes with free Premier Lounge access and breakfast for two. A second room is available from $88 per night, with breakfast for two kids up to 16 years old. You’ll also enjoy 30 per cent off Carousel lunch and dinner buffet.
Book this Duckling Good Time for School Break package, with the promo code PRRMARCHB. It is valid for stays from March 14 to 22, 2020.
At Sentosa’s newest hotel, it puts young guests at the heart of its experience because every child is a VIK – Village Important Kid.
Three out of its four gorgeous pools are from 0.5m to 0.95m deep, which are great for toddlers and kids who aren’t proficient swimmers. The fourth pool, at 1.2m deep, is for adults only.
Until Mar 31, 2020, book its Family Room, which comprises two connecting Superior Rooms. Rates start from $336++ per night and is valid for stays up to Dec 23.
Its luxurious Themed Family Suites are bigger than a three-room HDB flat! The two-room suite allows parents and children to retreat to their own spaces, just like at home.
You’re now looking at Treetop, one of five themes which guests can choose from. The other amazing options are Safari, Space, Castle and Underwater, which allow kids to play and sleep in a “safari tent”, “spaceship”, “castle” and “submarine”.
A Themed Family Suite can set you back by $1,050++ per night. If you’re not prepared to spend so much on a staycay, book one of its 19 Deluxe Family Room (pictured) instead. It’s half the size of the suite – and less than half the rates (from $324++ per night) – but just as comfortable and inviting. The kids will love the tent which doubles as their bed.
Find out more about its Family Adventure package, which includes $150 nett dining credits per stay. Or choose the Family Fun package which includes daily buffet dinner at The Line for two adults and two kids below age six. Both packages include daily buffet breakfast and playtime at the hotel’s Buds playground.
It’s rare to find infinity pools that are shallow enough for toddlers and preschoolers. Guess what? This hotel has two.
There is one on the sixth storey that faces Suntec City, and another on the 18th storey, which has sweeping views of the Padang, Esplanade and CBD skyline. Both pools begin from 0.5m and go up to 1.2m deep.
This is Singapore’s first Philippe Starck-designed hotel, so you can expect to be wowed by uber-stylish decor at every corner.
Your kids aged seven and below will be excited to sleep in this cool camper van tent, which doubles as a play station that stretches their imagination.
Until Dec 29, 2020, book its two-night Fun for the Whole Family package – with the promo code F10 – for two adults and one child up to 12 years old. Rates start from $420++ per room per night, and includes buffet breakfast at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Beach Road Kitchen.
If you have teenage kids, consider its Premier Family Room, which is large enough to accommodate up to four adults with one king-size bed and one sofa bed. Find out more here.
Welcome to its Family Suite, which has Insta-worthy kids’ furnishing. Just how cute is the little sofa, inspired by the iconic dragon-shaped playground.
There’s also a cool house-framed bed, that’s all the rage today. It is designed with a pull-out, so up to three kids can sleep comfortably in this room while Mummy and Daddy can enjoy couple-time in a connecting room.
There are only six of such Family Suites in this centrally-located hotel.
Until Mar 31, 2020, Singapore residents can book the Family Suite at $336++ per night. There are also other room categories from $168++ per night. These special rates are for stays up to Apr 30. Find out more here.
Chill in your comfortable room, enjoy a relaxing walk along Robertson Quay and go hunt down Instagrammable murals at the nearby Tiong Bahru, one of Singapore’s oldest housing estate.
Your kids will love the experience at this river-view hotel, and your wallet will thank you. Until June 30, 2020, its Superior Room costs $198 nett per night and includes daily breakfast for two adults and $15 food and beverage credit.
If you go for the Deluxe Room ($238 nett per night), it also comes with an extra bed and breakfast for one child below 12 years old.
Located in the heart of Katong, the hotel is just 15 minutes away to Changi Airport and East Coast Park. If shopping’s your thing, Parkway Parade and 112 Katong malls are just next to it. You can also hop on the weekend shuttle service to Orchard.
Until Apr 30, 2020, book its Staycay & Explore Jewel package, which is great for two adults and one child. Enjoy free buffet breakfast, as well as admission tickets to the Canopy Park at the Jewel. The hotel also provides two-way shuttle service to Changi Airport.
Awww, that adorable bedding, teepee and kids’ amenities! Your children are sure to love the thematic rooms at Pan Pacific Singapore hotel.
Don’t just stay in the room – explore its lifestyle floor on level four and hit the pool with the kids. Every weekend, little guests under 12 years old can go on a treasure hunt and redeem a surprise treat upon completion.
Until Dec 31, 2020, book its Great Fun-mily Escapade package from $478++ per night, for two adults and two kids under 12 years old. You can also enjoy discounts at indoor playgrounds Pororo Park and Kiztopia at nearby mall Marina Square.
How many hotels can you name that have their own edition of Monopoly? This luxurious property joins that rarified group with a bespoke version of the iconic board game.
While you can buy the game at the hotel or online at $68, why not treat the kids to a Game Night staycation that enhances the Monopoly experience?
Until Dec 30, 2020, its Game Night package starts from $650++ per night for a minimum of two nights. It includes accommodation in a Grand Marina room or Deluxe Suite and daily buffet breakfast for two at Colony restaurant.
Also popular is its Ritz Kids Night Safari package where your children can go glamping – a spacious tent that can fit two kids will be pitched next to your king-size bed. Inside the tent, you’ll find a thick, cushy mattress, two pillows, a portable night light and adorable Ritz-Carlton lion plushies.
There’s so much to do at Singapore’s only beachfront resort that one night just isn’t enough for a staycation.
Besides spending time at the resort’s pools and indoor kids’ club, have fun at its new Nestopia playground along Siloso Beach, too. The mega play structure has slides up to 15m long, climbing obstacles at 7.5m tall and suspended bridges.
Until May 31, book its new Tropical Family Escapade package from $480++ per night. It includes buffet breakfast and dinner for two adults and two kids below 12 years old at the Silver Shell Cafe.
Your family also gets a lunch basket so you can have a picnic by the sea. This package allows your kids to join Toots Club’s organised activities, lunch and dinner, as well as play at Nestopia.
Text: Young Parents / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew
This post was first published on November 16, 2019, and updated on March 10, 2020.