Staycation at Katong (Part 1)

One of my favourite places to hang out is probably Katong. It has so much good food, I probably can eat there for days. Hence, it is my ideal place for a staycay. We were back at Village Hotel Katong because we really love the location and its spacious room. You can read our previous review here. For those who don't know, it is linked to Katong V mall. 

Katong V Mall itself has a good selection of food and most importantly - Fairprice Finest. For every item which we forgot to bring, we would just get it there. It was just so convenient. This time round, we did a 2D1N, mainly to eat around. Here's what we did: 

Day 1

• Lunch at Cheeky Bee Hoon
• Trial Classes for the children at The Music Circle (Katong V Mall) - Read our review here!
• Check-In at Village Hotel Katong
• Swimming
• Tea at Lim Cha - Read our review here!
• Coffee from June
• Dinner at Yun Ga (Katong V Mall)
• Cakes from Ree Connect (Katong V Mall)

Day 2

• Breakfast (Village Hotel Katong)
• Bubble Bath in Bathtub (Village Hotel Katong)
• Wan to Play (Read our review here) and shopping (i12Katong)
• Lunch at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery - Read our review here!

We will do our top 3 food finds and the activities we did on a separate post. Otherwise, this will be way too content heavy. As for the complimentary buffet breakfast at Village Hotel Katong, I found it to be really yummy. It even had a Japanese section and Tea Eggs. It doesn't have a huge variety, but I find the quantity at the sweet spot and has what everyone in the family likes and needs to start the day right. It probably serves one of the best breakfast in the hotel chain's Singapore operations.

This might now be my yearly staycation spot given how much I love the stay and the food. Unlike other staycations, this is not what I would consider a "recharging" session. It has a lot to do, look and see, for you to behave like a tourist at home. :D Next year, more food reviews. There is only that much I can eat each round. Haha. 

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Taipei Itinerary - Toddler's Edition

Recently, we went on a terrible family trip to Taiwan. It was traumatic, the driver deviated from my itinerary and I was forced to check in at more places than required. I ended up reaching the hotel late, exhausted and with children to feed/bathe and wind down. I know I was an anomaly, Taiwan is touted to be extremely family friendly.

Given the number of numerous places we went, I decided to consolidate a series so that families with young toddlers could take reference and have a real good time. Rolling off with Taipei. 

Hits

1. Shifen Old Streets - Release of Sky Lanterns (~NT250)

This is probably one of the better spots to release the sky lanterns. The last time, I came to Taiwan I also released my lanterns here but in the night. I always had the impression it looked better at night but actually there can be quite a lot to see during the day. This area also serve as a teahouse but the menu is really expensive. It is a great pit stop because the toilet is really well maintained :) 

The kids also enjoyed feeding the fishes and checking out some of the owners' exotic pets. This is a great activity for the young and the old. Beware of the calligraphy ink as it stains the clothes. The kids got a few stains on their nicer clothes which I am still figuring out how to remove. 

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Passes

1. YehLiu Geo Park (~NT120)

This is also not my first time there. To clarify, I think it is definitely quite a must-see for adults given how unique it is. The whole area isn't shaded. I went during summer the last round and I could remember myself holding an umbrella. For children, it is going to be a tall task to appreciate rocks under the hot sun. With our driver, we didn't go into the park but a photo spot beside. It was a bit of a climb and my daughter slipped. The view is decent but I wouldn't recommend. Just want an easier and more relaxing family trip. 

2. Prince Creative Stationery Kingdom (~NT200)

We were only here at explore because we went for Wu Fu Yang Sock Factory (open only during weekends) and it wasn't open. Crayon Factory (read here on the review) is way better. Honestly, I am starting to have doubts on the reviews for Taiwan attractions. I think it gives a deeper appreciation and understanding on how erasers are made but not much of a must-go. The whole factory tour could be completed within 15 mins for the uninterested. The place is quite run-down and the redeemable DIY activities were pretty average. The kids had fun shopping for the cute-designed erasers. 

3. YangMingShan National Park

This is my 2nd time there and still I don't find it impressive. Even when without kids, I couldn't take the heat and I think I have seen quite enough of volcanoes this lifetime. This time round we actually hiked up to find XiaoYouKeng (a dormant volcano group). I thought it was quite ridiculous because there was actually a parking lot right in front, which I thought would be better for families. Climbing up while carrying toddlers is just another level of exhausting. The toddlers hated the Sulphur smell too. The trip may be more worth if it Make your driver drops you right at the doorstep then maybe you can consider if it is the season of cherry blossoms. 

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Oasia Hotel Novena Staycation

My very privileged kids got another staycation with their grands at Oasia Hotel Novena. Because my mother fell sick, I got lucky too haha and earned myself an overnight stay. For a staycation option, this place was awesome. It was convenient located above Novena MRT station and was surrounded by lots of malls. It also gave me a really good opportunity to explore this area. 

The hotel room isn't fantastically big (without a sofa), but there was enough space to dump our stuff. As we don't intend to spend much time indoors so that didn't bother us too much. The high-rise view was spectacular. For its price range, this place provided one of the most beautiful views. 

As usual, my kids were wild about the pool and just chilling around it was all they wanted to do. I really liked the fact that they had a shallow pool for the children to play in. I doubt the adult pool was a full lap pool, but my kids sure enjoyed floating (with assistance). Oasia Hotel Novena is not entirely branded to be family friendly, so don't expect floats/ indoor playrooms etc. My kids brought their own water gun and was shooting around the shallow pool (which they were the only kids.)

But what really surprised me about this place, was the club lounge, which was exclusive for the Club members. If you were staying on the club floor or suite, you would automatically gain access to it. Otherwise, you could pay an additional S$300 to enjoy the privacy and facilities. That's pretty steep in my opinion because you could actually stay another night there with that amount. 

Sheltered from rain, the jacuzzi was warm and the infinity pool's was alright. But you had to be really prim and proper here. My kids struggled with that. There was also an exclusive dining area for the breakfast buffet. But for families with young toddlers, such luxuries were difficult to be enjoyed. We ended up having a great time at the places for the masses. 

Novena is undergoing some constructions so it can be pretty difficult to travel on foot with a stroller. But there is United Square nearby which had lots of children-friendly stores. Lots to do and shop. It was a great recharge. Would really recommend it for any parents!

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Rendezvous Hotel - Review

 

The other day, the kids tagged along my parents for a staycation. Generally, I don't really bother to review these because I don't stay overnight. But for this one, we decided to upgrade to the family suite which came with an extra bed. So, I slept overnight. Personally, I thought the location was really good. There was a lot of good food / things to see in the district. 

Rendezvous Hotel though a little on the older side, I thought had a character. No photos on the lobby, but it left an impression because of the interesting art pieces. The building had a little of the Great Gatsby vibe. Glad that we grabbed a stay before it was refurbished, cos otherwise I doubt the $ per night would be as attractive for 3A + 2C.

Around the hotel, there was Chjimes, Raffles City, Capitol and Funan, just to name a few malls. In terms of food selection, there were plentiful too. The buffet breakfast despite its gorgeous-looking restaurant was horrendous. (Usually, I would never say that so you can totally imagine how bad it is.) My kids actually spat out the food and refused to eat. My suggestion would be to skip the breakfast and just try out all the nice eateries outside. 

In terms of play area, if you are Singaporean, you should check out the Children's Museum which is free and well within walking distance. You can read my review here. For foreigners you can purchase tickets. Overall, I really liked the hotel spacious room and its location. Would really recommend it for those who is just looking for a quick respite within Singapore. 

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Review: Picnic Buzz-kets by Bee's Knees

Back to my Novotel Staycation last quarter! So for one of the days we took the free shuttle bus out and made our way to Botanic Gardens. It was a spur of the moment decision but we ended up deciding to have a picnic there. Bee’s Knees at The Garage is one of the place we would always pop by when we are in the vicinity. I think we never ever took up their picnic basket because you needed to book 3 days ahead. This time round, we asked while we were there and we got lucky :D

It was a great experience for the children because it came with a wagon which the children could pull around as they hunt for the perfect picnic spot. For the parents it was great cos I could skip the prepping and clean-up altogether. The food was really delicious and was something I could never put together myself. 

To be rather frank, before this, I am never a huge fan of picnics in my home ground because I hate bugs and my skin tends to flare when I come in contact with grass. But somehow the grass patch near Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage was very curated really nicely. It is unnatural but it is ants-free. We actually had a great time just lazing around and the children had fun just running around. 

To get there, it was a bit of a challenge because there was no walking path so we carried our wagon and stroller down. The weather was pretty good that day because it was cloudy. We were a little worried about rain, but thank god it only rain after we were done. We paid about S$78, but I would do it again because it was just so fuss-free. I get an IG-worthy set-up along with comfy cushions. Because there is someone doing the clean up for me, I am less tense with the kids making a mess. :P

We didn't stay particularly long because the children wanted to swim after, but if you want to find out cool places to explore at Botanic Gardens, you can check my posts here! Just a note to myself, my husband was teasing me that I would things I wouldn't do in Singapore, overseas even if the conditions were way worse there. All I needed was a mindset change actually to bring the adventurous spirit in me to my homeland. Even picnics can be found, I just needed the right "ingredients"!

Yummy Food at Novotel@Steven

During our staycation, most of the food we had were at Food Exchange, where breakfast was served. The items being served at breakfast generally doesn't change much. It has a decent variety that allows you to remain curious about the items over the 2 mornings without over-stuffing yourself. It has all my staples including - congee and salad. I like my congee to be topped with cooked food as you can see. 

For the children, they are happy with waffles, cereals and fruits. There was also a good choice of eggs - boiled, poached, half-boiled. The kids also had juices to go along, so that really made their day.  Food Exchange is right beside the pool so the view was pretty awesome as well. :)

For one of our meals, we tried out the Sunday Brunch ($98 per pax). If you look out for some discounts, you probably can get at an even better deal. The variety was a lot greater than the breakfast for the brunch. Most importantly it had a lot of fresh seafood - with the crustaceans being their highlight. Their lobsters were probably one of the best tasting in many of the buffets I went. And there was so much variety in the sauces they were prepared with. Yums!

If you do the maths and just spam on lobsters and oysters, you would probably get your money worth. It also explains that was quite a decent number of people dining. It doesn't get too surfeiting because the seafood was prepared in different variations so you feel like you trying different dishes. Apart from the seafood, I would need to give a special shoutout to the beef - it was the best ever. The meat literally melt apart in my mouth. 

The icing on the cake had to be face painter that day. We got the kids fried rice and satay (which we knew they would savour), but they slurped up their food faster that day because they wanted to get some face painting on themselves. To be quite fair, the face painter - Artsyfleur was extremely talented. She was very fast and her pieces were beautiful. Even I got myself one <3

Overall, I thought the Sunday Brunch would be a great gathering point for mini celebrations (we saw a few tables celebrations) because you do get access to the pool if you are keen for a deep. The food was also suitable for the young and old. With some discounts here and there, you get quite a good steal. 

One of the other food we had in the vicinity was - Smiths Fish and Chips, who claims to be super authentic and British. The exterior is nothing fancy, but the food was pretty impressive. Especially the chips which was hand-peeled and chipped. My only regret was that I was kinda of full so I didn't try more of the food on the menu. 

It was a pretty rainy day so I tried the soup, which was served in a cup. Sounds kinda of authentic already, haha. It was filled with lots of fish and ingredients. In terms of price, I initially felt it was kinda on the high side. But after tasting the ingredients, it seems justifiable. I did survey some other friends who live there on Smiths Fish and Chips, but it seems like they have not been consistently good in the past. Maybe it is time to give them a 2nd chance, plus their waiter is kinda of cute *winks*

Novotel @ Stevens Staycation Part 1 - Room and Facilities

If you have toddlers like me, and really need a recharge, I would say a staycation would do the deed. I always feel a lot more fresh and less stress after one. This time round we went to Novotel @ Stevens! We always go past it a few times and was always curious. I am glad we made the visit because we were so blown away by the design and the hospitality. 

Our room came with a toilet with glass walls. A blind could be lowered for privacy. For parents, this room worked really well cos we could keep an eye on the other children while showering one. And the kid left in the bedroom didn't feel too left out, so there were no fusses. However, if you are staying with a friend of an opposite gender, you must have a lot of trust. Otherwise, you might want to pick something which provides more privacy. 

We had the Premier Room which came with access to the exclusive Novotel Premier Lounge service at L’Apéritif Lobby Bar with cocktail and light bites from 6:00pm to 7:30pm and also complimentary access to the fridge in my room. If you are on business travel, the lounge is great because there are meeting rooms and printers available. 

As the first day was very gloomy, we ended up checking out the Kid's Room at Level 2. It is not really a drop-off place. The kids were tickled when the staff allowed us to bring some orange juice (in takeaway cups) from the Lounge. They felt so much like little adults. 

The facilities were also pretty awesome. I thought it was cool that the place held a tennis court and foosball table. As I didn't bring my sportswear, I didn't had a go at their gym but I loved the fact that the treadmill had a great view of the busy roads. We spent quite a good amount of time at the pool. There was a lap pool, infinity pool and baby pool. The kids adored just splashing around independently at the shallow baby pool. As the infinity pool had such a pretty view, we couldn't resist taking a dip there as well. 

The place also came with a laundromat. I took a peek at the prices and found it pretty affordable. I have so much photos and things to share that I would need to split this post into parts, LOL. In any case, I spent 3D2N there and this is our itinerary.

Day 1: Check In at 3pm

• Checking out the Lounge and Kid's Room 
• Free Shuttle Bus to Orchard to check out the X'mas Lights (Read Post here!) and Christmas Village (Read post here!)
• Dining and Shopping at Orchard because there is a lot to eat and shop there!

Day 2: Full Day of Fun

• Breakfast at Food Exchange (Read our post of food here!)
• Picnic at Botanical Gardens  (Read our post  of the experience here!)
• Swimming at the pool
• Dinner at Smiths Fish and Chips (Read our post of food here!)

Day 3: Late Check Out

• Breakfast at Food Exchange (Read our post of food here!)
• One last Swim because the kids loved it!

You can book a stay with Klook here! Or direct from their website to enjoy exclusive promotions!

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

D'Resort Leisure Review

A while ago back, we spent a 2D1N at D'Resort @ Downtown East. It has been a while since I went there so it was pretty exciting. By the end of it, I was quite bummed because there was quite a lot to do internally and even more to do, should you be travelling out (you can refer to this post if you need to find things to do). I definitely will be going back soon. 

The room was really nice and spacious, but a bit poor on lighting at the table. So I couldn't really work at night. It is definitely nothing like a hotel in terms of its amenities, but it was clean enough and we don't really spend much time indoors. There were also a lot of BBQ pits. By evening, you could smell the aromatic grilled food.  For the price of less than S$200 a night, depending on what promo is on, it was really value for money. 

I think it would have been way better if it had been a 3D2N. Here's how we would have planned for a 3D2N.

Day 1 (Check in at 3pm): 

• Gallop Stable 
• BBQ at night (wish we had done that)

Day 2: Full Day at Wild Wild Wet (can tap in and out)

• Meals at Downtown East Shopping Mall 

Day 3: Check out at 12noon

•  Cycling Trail

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Staycation at The Bus Collective

If you are into novel travels or parents whose kids love "The Wheels on the Bus", this is a "hotel" you should not missed. It is quite new so it is relatively unknown, but somehow the husband spotted this and I found a good deal on Klook. Currently Klook offers the lowest price. With the discount code "Babynfamklook",  I managed to get it at a more reasonable price of "below S$300 a night", so off we were. 

We have read a few reviews ahead, so we kinda of had some expectations. We knew there will be frequent planes flying ahead (but no, the soundproofing was pretty good at night), we expected the ants/ bugs (so we brought our own mozzie patch, insecticide spray) and we anticipated the poor ventilation (just on the aircon throughout noon to keep your bus cool). To be honest, none of these were deal-breakers or even much of a big deal. 

We took a 4-bedder bus so we could squeeze more people in it (more value for money). :P Mandatory thing we did was to do our check-in photos! Whether in the day or night, the kids were clamoring over the bus seat. Although the bus was no longer functioning, most of the buttons could still be jabbed on and the steering wheel could still be turned. Even at night the photos turned out great!

We were assigned the bus closest to the restaurant area. It was not the most private bus but we suspected that the discounted Klook buses were a reserved few, that were not as premium in their location . Not that it was a problem because there were not many who patronised the inside dining area. Given that we had a stroller, the less aesthetic cement path was easier to navigate instead of a pebbled path. And we always had a clear view of the sky at our outdoor deck when the planes flew by. 

If you have checked on their location, you will know how isolated this place is. True enough, there is nothing much within walking distance in that area. Within half day, we knew we have exhausted the "things to do" around there. We did a 3D2N and basically, we still found enough things to do, just that most were day activities. There was a playground right at the doorstep but it was pretty worn. The one at the Pier is way better. 

Because I think we have quite a solid plan, I am going to share our itinerary here:

Day 1:

- Lunch at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant (Singapore's only kelong)

- Check in at The Bus Collective

- Prepare for BBQ in the afternoon

Day 2  - Realised Pulau Ubin was not very suitable for the kids and replaced with horse riding at Gallop Stable (read or review here) instead.

- Explore Changi Village Hawker Centre

- Explore Pulau Ubin and the pier area

- Dinner at Cosford Container Park 

Day 3

- Breakfast at Changi Village Hawker Centre

- Check out at 11am

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

As for the playground, there is one right at the doorstep of The Bus Collective. However, I found it a bit old. The playground at the pier was definitely worth a walk to. As for the BBQ, you should opt for it if you don't intend to go out. Most reviews were not very informative on this. Basically, you could either bring your own food/supplies or purchase from the restaurant within or  the BBQ store at the Changi Village. 

The staff will not help you to set up the pit (not electric by the way) whether or not you purchase from their restaurant. The items sold within are quite limited though very reasonably priced, so consolidate a list and purchase from the BBQ to prevent multiple times there (My husband went there 3 times LOL!)

Generally, our staycay to The Bus Collective was a good recharge as it felt like we went overseas without the over-zealous packing. I would describe it as an atas chalet which also came with a novelty factor. I think we might actually go again, but with a few years break in-between. To note, there can be quite a bit of ants because it is quite an outdoorsy thing and  especially if you bring food/ milk (like us). It was still bearable but you just need to remind yourself not to leave food out in the open. 

Another thing I did was to toss food waste (and diapers) into our outdoor bin instead of our indoor bin and that helps greatly. And for those who wonder, every night I would collapse the stroller and park it within the bus. Lotsa space! Hope this review helps those who are planning a trip there!

Momentus Hotel Alexander Review (Part 2) - Things to Do

Our staycation at Momentus Hotel Alexander had been a ball of fun. You can read our Part 1 here. Because of its location, we actually managed to explore quite a few interesting places. 

1. Alchemist Coffee at The Mill

A gothic tower in the middle of a factory area, I have to admit that this blown me away. It helps that there was a nice coffee joint within the building. So you don't have to make your way here just to only enjoy the architecture and take a few photos. We went during the offpeak period but it was still pretty crowded. We managed to snag a nice comfy and private couch seats to ourselves. My kids were terrors there but the service staff were really sweet and even gave them a cup of complimentary babyccino. 

I would be back again because it gives a nice respite from the city life. It makes me feel as though I am overseas, but hey I am just in Singapore :P

2. ABC Birds Centre

This is pretty fascinating for me and the kids because we don't see this often now in Singapore. The kids were really intrigued with the number of birds. As for me, I am so tempted to be owners of a pair of lovebirds. But realistically I know I don't have time to care for them. Maybe for retirement, hehe. Worth a visit cos it is on route to a lot of yummy food within the area. 

3. Ikea

You can't really forget Ikea which is right beside the Hotel. In fact, we went there at least once every day. The kids liked it because you could "somewhat" operate the ice cream machine. The kids area was super family-friendly. They could play at the room mock-ups and pretend play without judgement if your kids are below the age for their complimentary indoor playground (FYI, they do check their IDs). If we wanted light bites or was at a loss at where to go for a meal, the bistro was always an option. We grabbed quite a bit of snacks, toys and improvement stuff for the house. It was a very productive place to be. Tons of photos captured, but I only used the best. Hehe. 

4. Comic Library (Anchorpoint)

This is the first themed library. If you are a manga lover, this is probably the place to drop by for a visit. If you have a NLB membership, you can just proceed to borrow the books. It was a nice place to chill because we were waiting for some of the shops to open. The nearest grocery store is at Anchorpoint, so this is already a place you would have dropped by. Other things which we love about Anchorpoint includes its good restaurant selection and Cotton On drop-dead prices. I always end up with a tons of new clothes when I pass by. 

5. Gilman Barracks 

Gilman Barracks was quite a disappoint for us, either that we are exploring it wrong. I think it depends the number of art galleries ongoing. While we were there, barely anything was open. We went to the one of the few opened galleries to enjoy aircon from the hot heat. Quite fortunately, the curator was kind enough to have a banter with with so that I could understand the trade for fine arts. There was a playground but they kid didn't really like it because there was too much nature element for his comfort - giant ants! I think you can give it a pass if you already have a packed schedule.

Momentus Hotel Alexander Review (Part 1)

For any of you who knows Ikea in the west, Momentus Hotel is one place you are bound to keep walking past (simply because it is beside Ikea).  This Hotel went through quite a bit of ups and downs, changing through hotel operators' hands. However, the curious explorers in us really wanted to give it a go, especially since the location of this place was pretty good, with lots of good food around it. 

Generally, the hotel touts itself for its gorgeous infinity pool and not really much for its kids-friendliness. But I do think they can try to market themselves on the latter. They have lots of shallow waters (around 0.3m) that also boasts magnificent view and both my kids could freely wander with parental supervision. Bring your own floats to enhance your stay. Note: Duck float is of our own. 

We did a 3D2N stay and ended up swimming for 2 days straight. For our 2nd swim session, we indulged in some poolside dining. The food at Verandah was pretty affordable and as residents of the hotel we got an additional 20% off. We didn't try out the highly instagrammable Bali Basket (S$98) because we reckoned the 2 kids were bound to overturn the basket or splash water into the basket thinking that it is a toy. Special shout-out to their oysters which was going for 3 for $18. It was so delightful we ordered 4 sets in total during out stay there!

For one of our dinners, we had the semi-buffet at Verandah. There was no additional resident discount available but we found the spread extremely value for money. It is called a semi buffet because we can order only one main. The ancillary food all falls under the buffet spread. The food was of good quality and standards. Our kids who were both under 5 got to eat free. It was also from the dinner we knew the food served at their restaurant were good and if we were too lazy to step out for the day, we could also rely on the hotel restaurant to satisfy our hunger :)

I don't have any good photos of the hotel room, but generally it falls on the small side. There was only a Queen sized bed and it was difficult for a family of 4 to squeeze. If we ever extend our family in future, we might have to go for the suite hehe. There was no bath tub as well. No complaints still because we found the room very clean and compact. We got all our needs within the room. 

The staff were also very hospitable. My son locked the security box twice and they unlocked for us, assuring me it is fine and stuff like that happens. I don't know why but he was just obsessed with it. And every time I turn my head, he would lock and forget the password. I was quite paiseh by the 2nd time. I am definitely coming back because I had such a relaxing time there. Look out for Part 2 where we share on the good food around the area!

Village Hotel Katong Review

Lately, we have been crashing a bit of staycations so we thought we will do a post about it. Katong has always held a special spot in our hearts, it is ideal for exploring if you ask me because of the variety of food available. The street shops are also very random, meaning there was more to see. If we had to do a staycation, that's where we would choose to be. 

We were extremely excited to crash my parent's staycation at Village Hotel Katong simply because of its location. It was right smack in the exciting part of Katong. There was also i12 katong in the vicinity which had an indoor playground. Some good finds we found was Cheeky BeeHoon (you must try it, it is really good!) and the original Birds of Paradise gelato. The Micro bakery despite its interesting exterior was a disappointment. 

The rooms at Village Hotel Katong were really spacious too. If you have kids like us, the biggest problem you would face is the pool. There is no kids pool and it was pretty deep. We had to swim with the children in our arms (the lifejacket float came in handy) and we had to be vigilant at all times. Still the toddlers had lotsa fun. 

There was a bath tub in the room so that was round 2 of water fun for them. Apart from that, we also like the fact there was a grocery store connected to the hotel. That means we could get our children's supplies quite conveniently. Overall, we thought this was a pretty value-for-money hotel. It was in a great district, with awesome food options and the room was spacious and clean. Nothing to complain and we would come here again!

Staycation at Conrad Centennial

One of the perks of having a child still on formula milk is that he can bring you on staycation. This staycation at Conrad Centennial was kinda of provided by our kid. We thanked him when we stepped in the hotel because this place is gorgeous. As a 5-star hotel, Conrad has this old grand vibe which I dig at. The room had a superb view (heard you can even see national day fireworks and the F1 race if you go at the right period) and was incredibly spacious with a sofa, bathtub, shower area and 2 basins!

Most of their clients are business travellers so I won't exactly catergorise this as a child-friendly hotel. During the pandemic, they did open a Kid's Club but it is no longer there. Still, my kid was very excited about the room. Some momento they provided include a rubber duck and a bear which my kid couldn't get enough of. He insisted on bathing with the rubber duck and fell asleep hugging the tiny bear.

Conrad is so conveniently located in the city centre that we ended up spending most of our time outside the hotel. The husband initially wanted to make a trip to GBTB, but my kid wanted to spend his time in the free playground at the child-friendly mall - Marina Square. I was fine with it because there were quite a lot of shopping centres/ shops for me to pass time. And my husband was happy with food selection and coffee joints. So basically, everyone had their needs met, haha. 

My son was so excited about the bathtub we decided to go to Lush and grab a bath bomb as well to enhance his bath experience. Usually, my husband would have forbid me from splurging on bath bombs but I guess if the user is my son, things are different. We ended up having a soak as a family (fully dressed, we are not as open-minded as the Japs, haha), so I guess that made the bath bomb very value for money!

Good thing I brought a duck float along (the duck float is coincidental, not planned) because the pool is at least 1.1m deep. Initially, the husband was complaining about me packing the swimming gear and floats, which I have no idea why since I do the post-staycation cleaning anyway. But in the end, he conceded it was a good call on my side because our boy asked to go swimming (at least once every day). 

He was so excited to see the float being pumped up that he went to sit in it immediately. LOL! It took quite a while to convince him that we were going swimming and she should get changed. He spent most of his time asking his father to push him in his float or playing at the steps/ sides of the pool. As Conrad was fully occupied, we could only extend late check-out for an hour, but that was sufficient to make swimming possible. 

I read some reviews which spoke highly of their breakfast and I agree! Even my husband who scorns hotel breakfast admitted this had standards. I wish I had more stomach because all their food tasted so yummy. There was even waffles and ice-cream! The apple and celery juice though interesting was too healthy for me to down it, haha. 

We only spent 2D1N at Conrad but I had such a great impression of them I told my husband this would be our choiced hotel moving forward so that we can accumulate the max number of points with them. Haha! I will miss you Conrad, but we will be sure to visit your other hotels around the world! 

Interestingly, this luggage was also a free gift from Aptamil! Haha. 

Kids-friendly Staycation: Village Hotel Sentosa

This wasn't our first staycation so we more or less had a sense of what we are in for. I have heard a lot of good things from parents who have stayed at Village Hotel Sentosa, but after staying there ourselves, I would agree it deserves every compliment it receives. 

1. Just because it is child-friendly doesn't mean it compromised on the resort vibes. The truth is I haven't been overseas for a real long time (first Covid then pregnancy) and I really miss the feeling of being thrown to a nice chillaxing place. This place is awesome because it has this nice lush greenery, colonial buildings, beautiful pools. I just felt so fuzzy, it felt it was for me as well as my kid. 


2. The room is spacious, clean and still aesthetics pleasing. The last staycation scarred me, there were cobwebs in the boiler and we had to rush out to buy packet milk and mineral water. This was very clean. We took the family room (2 rooms connected), there was enough space for a tiny cot. We didn't need it, so we place our stroller there instead. 


3. It was well located, just a 5 minutes walk to the monorail. This meant that we were not just trapped in the hotel. We could go to Vivocity (back to the mainland) or just explore the rest of the Sentosa island. My kid was wild about the MRTs so the multiple rides pleased him endlessly.





4. The pool is made for kids. There were like 3 pools of 0.5m depth, so super safe! It is a bit double edged sword for the husband because he wanted to do some laps. Since he is looking after the kid at the pool most of the time, there isn't really spare time to do other stuff. Separately, I forgot to bring our "insanely large" floats but thank god Village provided floats for the kids and adults alike, so our fun was not compromised. 


5. There are lots of in-house activities planned. This was really good for rainy days contingency plans. We didn't really do most of it cos our boy was too small to sit still for moderate periods...even though the Hotelier Experience seems really intriguing. Our kiddo does get involve in a lot of cooking and cleaning at home, so we thought this may not be as interesting for him. 


6. My only grouse would be the food. The breakfast was horrible. Aesthetically, Native Kitchen looks beautiful and they serve mini size food that was adorable. But I did find myself struggling to find food that I like. Even the bacon was too salty. There were enough food to feed a toddler, cue scrambled eggs, pastry, yoghurt, porridge, waffles,  nuts and fruits. 

Nonetheless, the overall experience was AWESOME! And the effort taken to surprise the 2 birthday people (yes there was more than 1 in our pack) was very much appreciated. There was truly a surprise element. Will do another post on the food and activities outside Village Hotel otherwise the post will be too content heavy hehe.