4 family staycation destinations

Luxury in the heart of the city. An urban oasis amid lush greenery. A farmstay vacay. Kids utopia on Sentosa. These thematic staycations meld luxury with history, nature and novelty, promising much fun and many rich experiences for your little ones.

A perennial hit with families, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa's Cool Zone is a paradise for play. Drop your kids off at the Toots Club, featuring a giant indoor treehouse slide ending in a ball pit, or the Mini Toots Club (for under 5 years), a jungle-themed play area that features a giant block puzzle, coloured ball pits and baby rockers. There’s also the Fun Zone where your little ones can go wild over Xbox1s, race car simulators and air hockey machines, or enjoy a game of foosball or table tennis just outside. For a splashing good time, head to any of the three canopy-covered water slides or to the outdoor playground with spring riders, a merry-go-round and seesaw for some good ol’ fashioned fun. The hotel’s beachfront location is also perfect for some fun in the sand. Book the Family Fun Package (from $485 per night), which includes complimentary access to the Toots Club and Mini Toots Club and an hour’s worth of selected water sports while you enjoy 15% off at the spa plus other perks.

Where else can you give your kids a novel camping adventure while indulging your need for luxury and pampering but The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore? Pitch a tent for your little tykes to sleep in right in the comfort of your Premier Suite with the “Ritz Kids Night Safari Adventures” (from $780++ per night). It comes with a night lamp, activity books, a limited edition plush Ritz-Carlton “Explorer” lion beanie and other fun stuff, while the “Star Gaze” experience will captivate them with a simulated starry night view above their tents, as if they were outdoors. As part of the Ritz Kids programme, your child will also receive upon check-in an adventure passport, discovery map, and an ice cream pass that entitles them to a complimentary scoop of ice cream daily. With map in hand, they can embark on an expedition to collect all six animal stamps at various checkpoints around the hotel, redeemable for a polaroid photo as a memento of their stay.

Fancy some quiet respite amid lush greenery instead? Retreat to Hotel Fort Canning in Fort Canning Park and opt for the Weekend Indulgence Package (from $850++). It includes a two-night stay in the Deluxe Room featuring luxurious Jim Thompson silk fabrics and Poltrona Frau designer furniture, a gourmet four-course set dinner, and a lovely picnic basket to take to the park to enjoy, comprised of teatime nibbles and a bottle of wine (child-friendly baskets available to add-on). Immerse your little ones in a heritage walk through the park as they discover the area’s rich flora and fauna as well as the storied past and significance of this “Forbidden Hill” where Majapahit royalties and Sir Stamford Raffles once roamed. Then steep them in more history and culture at the National Museum of Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum just a stroll away. Back at the hotel, soak up some sun in one of two mineral swimming pools, or keep your little ones entertained indoors with Xbox Kinect (upon request), DVDs, storybooks and fun activity booklets.

For the ultimate digital detox, book a stay at Gardenasia Farmstay Villas to introduce your family to a dose of modern rural living. Recalibrate in nature without having to forego the creature comforts you’re used to. There are only four one-bedroom villas on this exclusive property nestled in the heart of the Kranji Countryside, each modelled after the black-and-white British colonial houses and styled in English, Oriental, Balinese and Contemporary décor themes. Life slows down as you experience idyllic farm life. Wander through the gardens of the two-hectare property with fresh fruit for the picking. There’s a tennis court, swimming pool, children’s playground and mini putting green for some family bonding time or hop on the Kranji Express to explore the surrounding area as it takes you to Bollywood Veggies, Hay Dairies Goat Farm, Jurong Frog Farm, Kranji Marshes and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.