Vacationing as a parent of young children is almost not a vacation — you’re still an around the clock caretaker and the children’s tantrums are amplified by exhaustion and new experiences.
Having recently taken a trip to Singapore’s Sentosa Island, I believe I’ve found an ideal location for a family holiday that will be an enjoyable experience for both the children and parents.
Sentosa Island is located south of the main land and about a 15-minute drive from Singapore’s central business district.
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It’s well known for Resorts World, which is the home of Universal Studios, S.E.A aquarium and Adventure Cove water park.
When I last travelled to Singapore and visited Sentosa Island, it didn’t have much appeal for me as someone who doesn’t like the feeling of their stomach churning on an amusement park ride.
But my perspective has entirely changed after seeing more of what’s on offer, including an elevated night-time experience with the launch of a new immersive attraction that combines nature, architecture, and technology.
Sentosa Island during the day
This trip, now the mum of a two-year-old, I travelled alone but with an eye to assess whether the attractions and facilities of Sentosa would be somewhere I would recommend for families like my own to visit.
I stayed at Outpost Hotel, an adults-only hotel in the heart of Sentosa and walking distance from the bus and train station, the central beach bazaar and Palawan Beach.
Connected to the Outpost is The Village Hotel and both share the same lower-level leisure area with several different pools.
There is an infinity pool overlooking the Singapore Strait and a pool with a children’s play area that would mean never-ending and easily accessible fun for the family.
During the day on Sentosa there are a range of activities to try depending on whether you feel like having a slow-paced day to unwind or something exhilarating to make your heart race.
At the beaches, there are inflatable obstacle courses and water sports such as stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, or hop on an inflatable donut or banana boat.
There are adventurous activities such as bungee jumping, zip lining, a tree-top obstacle course, an indoor go-kart course, and three major amusement parks.
At Scentopia, you can create your own signature scent.
The perfume-making workshop caters from preschool-aged children to adults and is designed to encourage visitors to appreciate the importance of smell in a world that’s become focused primarily on visual stimulation.
Reopening in 2024 is also an indoor city for children called Kidszani popular in Japan and South Korea, where children can role-play more than 100 different careers.
At Madame Tussauds take a selfie with a wax replica of an A-list celebrity or jump on the SkyHelix for panoramic views of the city.
For parents looking to be pampered away from the chaos, there are also a number of day spas on the island that offer massages, facials and yoga.
A number of beach clubs by the foreshore cater for adults only, while others have been designed to be child-friendly.
Night-time experience
Night-time activities with children are often the hardest to find but on Sentosa Island the night-time experience has been enhanced with the opening of Sensoryscape.
Sensoryscape is a 350m walkway that connects Resorts World in the north with the southern beaches.
It’s been designed to combine nature, architecture and audiovisual technology, so visitors can engage all their senses as they take in the marvels of the $A102 million project.
Along the walkway’s southern end, as the sun goes down, a display of glowing flower stalks come alive and rhythmically shift colours with the synchronised music.
As you walk north towards Resorts World, your steps are lit up with interactive projections on a bridge footpath.
At look-out loop, enjoy a panoramic view of the northern part of the island and head downstairs to relax in the cool water mist and watch the kids play in the lights.
As you head back south, you can see the main gardens up close and be mesmerised by light shows inspired by the ocean and floral gardens.
At the palate playground, visitors can try edible plants such as sweet potato, curry leaf tree, pandan, ginger and nutmeg.
The walkway loops back to the central bazaar, near a number of cafes, beach clubs and restaurants.
While you grab a bite to eat, enjoy a free 3D laser and water show called Wings Of Time which includes a fireworks display.
The positives and negatives
The biggest appeal that makes Sentosa the perfect family holiday destination is the accessibility of all things on the island.
A young family can easily fit in a number of activities and head back to the hotel for a rest or nap as most attractions are walking distance from each other or can be accessed by the free bus and train services.
Bikes can be hired for those wanting to cycle between destinations, and most of the island is accessible with a pram or wheelchair.
There are family-friendly toilets scattered through the island, free public Wi-Fi and, overall, the amenities are clean and safe.
You can easily enjoy a few days on the Island, with all the attractions only a few minutes away from the comfort of your hotel.
On the other hand, the hardest part of the trip is the heat. I travelled during the dry season, which typically runs from March to August, and temperatures peak in the high 30Cs with high humidity.
The heat does, however, make ideal weather for water activities — you can get in and out of the pool and sea without freezing.
Singapore is also not a cheap holiday. There are only a handful of free activities on Sentosa Island, and the most appealing attractions are ticketed, with prices beginning at about $A21.
If you’re looking for somewhere you can achieve both luxury and fun for the whole crew, I would recommend Sentosa Island.
This writer travelled as a guest of Sentosa Development Corporation.
