The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog

Top Family Friendly Things to Do with Kids in Singapore

by Amy @ The Q Family on January 27, 2012

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Summer break is still months away but it’s never too soon to start planning. And actually most experienced family travelers probably map out their next summer vacation and start booking their reservation. This year I hope to go back and visit Thailand with kids again. With over a thousand dollar price tag per person on airfare, I always try to maximize our trip to Thailand by planning a trip within our Thailand trip to nearby family friendly destinations and Singapore holidays seem like one of a great option.

Singapore is a popular destination in Southeast Asia. This clean and modern cosmopolitan country has a lot of fun activities for families. With Western style education, visiting Singapore couldn’t be easier. There are plenty of English signs and speakers making communication a breeze. The melting pot of Malay, Chinese and Indians, Singapore, offers the unique blend of Asian cultures. The small island is tiny in size but there are plenty of fun things to do and explore in Singapore. Here are our picks for top things to do with kids in Singapore.

Singapore Zoo & Night Safari

Locate next to each other, plan your day for a full fun day of animals. Enjoy Singapore Zoo in the morning at this “Open Concept” zoo where kids will have a chance to experience the zoo in a less cage-like environment. Also don’t forget to pack extra set of clothes or swimming outfit because I’m sure kids won’t let you skip the Singapore Zoo’s Rainforest Kidzworld.

Then at night check out one of the best Night Safari in the world at the Night Safari where you can choose to explore the park on foot via three walking trails, or by tram.

Marina Bay Sands Waterfront

The Marina Bay Sands Resort by itself is a sight to see. Three separated tall buildings connected by a long skypark looks like a scene from Star Wars. Stop by in the evening for a stroll along the Marina Bay Sands waterfront and grab a seat for the front row of Wonder Full – Light (Laser) and Water Spectacular. Best of all it’s FREE. The show time of Wonder Full (subject to weather): Sunday to Thursday: 8pm, and 9.30pm AND Friday and Saturday: 8pm, 9.30pm and 11pm

ArtScience Museum

Uniquely designed as a symbolic gesture of welcome to guests from across the globe, the ArtScience Museum, is a new top attraction in Singapore. We also love to visit museums in various cities and we definitely can’t pass up on this Lotus-inspired shape museum that hosts marquee international exhibits as well as permanent exhibits on three floors of gallery space across over 50,000 square feet.

Singapore Flyer

The world largest Giant Observation Wheel, Singapore Flyer, is the Asian version of London Eye. Out with the old day of Ferris wheel, the new generation of giant observation wheel gives tourists a better way to enjoy the bird eyes view of the city. As the wheel turns, you’ll be treated to a visual 360° feast of iconic and historical landmarks and views from the Marina Bay to the Singapore River, Raffles Place, Merlion Park, Empress Place and the Padang.

Jurong Bird Park

Another park from Wildlife Preserve Singapore boasts one of the world largest bird park. The Jurong Bird Park offers a 20.2-hectare hillside haven for 5,000 birds representing 380 species. Check out birds from various part of the world and catch one of the shows. And if your kids are too tired (or whiny) to walk, you can hop on Bird Park’s Panorail, the one-of-its-kind air-conditioned monorail available fir ferrying visitors to view the awesome Park without hassle.

Sentosa

Sentosa is the popular island resort in Singapore. With various attractions and beaches within the resort, it makes a great family destination for visitors or locals. One of a fun way to get to Sentosa from the mainland is to take the Jewel Box cable car from Mt Faber. Once arriving to Sentosa island, there are a wide range of fun things to do from Underwater World, Sentosa Luge & Skyride , Tiger Sky Tower or just simply hang out by the beaches.

With the newly open Resort World Sentosa, the integrated resort with Casino, Universal Studio Theme park, shopping and soon-to-be-open Marine Life Park, Sentosa is sure to maintain the most popular family destination in Singapore.

Singapore River Bumboat Tour

With water surrounding Singapore, one of the best way to explore the cit is to take one of the Singapore River Bumboat Tour. The bumboat is the small boat that used as water taxi or ferry in Singapore. It might look a bit run down but I think it will be fun to cruise along the Singapore river especially at night.

Shopping on Orchard Road

I still remember the bustling of pedestrians along the Orchard Road at the end of the day. This famous road lined with department stores and shops is the epicenter for shoppers. I’m a firm believer that you have to check out the shopping mall to get the feel of the local and it’s a fun way to enjoy a relaxing day in any city. Ok… ok.. I just love to shop, ok?

Singapore Botanic Gardens

A great green space in the middle of the city, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, is a favorite spot for families. With free admission, it’s also budget friendly to anyone. Bring lunch to have a picnic in this lush escape from the bustling of the city even for a short while.

Day Trip to Pulau Ubin

To experience a completely different world from Singapore city, take a bumboat for a day trip to Pulau Ubin. Once there rent a bike to explore this Northeastern coast of Singapore’s village and local living.

Have you been to Singapore with Kids? Do you have any family friendly attractions to recommend?

Photo Credit: Xoai, Ericc1, williamcho, eustaquio, cawood, kelvin_luffs, nlann, mystical-mii, anhgemus-photography, linkway88

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Phuket With Kids: 5 Family Favorite Moments in Phuket

by Amy @ The Q Family on January 25, 2012

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With the gloomy sky and low temperature we are experiencing in Atlanta, I am yearning for the warm breeze and salty smell of the ocean we had many years ago in Phuket.

It had been over 5 years since we visited Phuket with Miss J when she was just a toddle. Mr. Z has yet to visit Phuket. So our next Summer trip we might try to plan a quick trip to Phuket with him. With many Phuket Flights from Bangkok, visiting Phuket from Bangkok is easy and convenient. No wonder, Phuket is one of top family destination in Thailand.

Even though with many things that had happened since we last visited, Phuket remains in our heart as one of our first family trip to Thailand. Here are our family favorite moments in Phuket.

Lunch at Floating Village

On our way to visit Khao Ta Pu (or more famously known for James Bond Island), we stopped by the Floating Village for lunch. We had a great meal and had some little free time to walk around the village. It amazed me to see restaurants, shops and even school operated solely afloat the Andaman Sea.

Boat Ride to James Bond Island

We bought a boat tour package to visit Khao Ta Pu or more famously known as James Bond Island. I won’t lie but we had more fun on the boat ride than on the island itself. The small boat didn’t seem save to be on the open ocean but in reality we were not worried.

Beach-side Thai Restaurant

One day during lunch after a tour to Phuket’s popular spot at Promthem cape, we stopped at a non descriptive restaurant on the beach. The decoration was simple but the view was priceless. It’s not surprising to see our family favorite moments will have a current theme of food-related. :) It’s part of the culture and upbringing here in Thailand. We love our food!

Fun Night at Phuket FantaSea

A popular attraction in Phuket for family is Phuket FantaSea. Even though Miss J was still too young to remember anything. We could still remember her laugh and giggle as she watched the show at Phuket FantaSea.

Beach Time

Last but not least family favorite moment was the beach time we could enjoy as a family. The long stretch of sand beach, the wind that blow fine hair and the peace we felt as we walk along the beach was some of the moment we couldn’t wait to go back there again.

And Happy Birthday Miss J!! It has been a blast having you in our life.

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Travel Tips: How to Plan a Family Ski Trip on a Budget

by Amy @ The Q Family on January 23, 2012

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There is no doubt that family ski vacation is expensive. There is no sugar coat about it. There is only a small window each year for you to enjoy this winter sport and there are only handful of ski resorts you can visit. So when planning a family ski trip, starts with answering these three questions: What mountain should we ski/snowboard? Where should we stay while we are there? and how much we are willing to spend on lift tickets and equipment rental?

A family ski vacation can easily cost a family thousands of dollars, but there are budget tips to help family to get by on about $150 a day per person. Here are some money saving strategies for planning your next family ski trip.

Ski During Off Season

Ski resorts are busy during holidays and school break. The full peak season typically start after Christmas. So you can snag a great deal if you plan your trip before or after those peak season. A trip to Colorado mountain ski resorts after Thanksgiving or before Christmas will save you several hundred dollars on lift tickets and accommodation for a family of four.

Visit Areas with Multiple Resorts

In the areas with multiple ski resorts, the competition will drive cost down and be beneficial to us, family travelers. The Salt Lake City or Colorado mountain towns, such as Breckenridge, Vail or Keystone, have several resorts within driving distance so you will have more choices and deals to choose from.

Ski at “Low Keys” Resorts

If flying to Salt Lake City or Colorado is out of your budget, it doesn’t mean you can’t still plan for family ski vacation in other low keys ski resorts. California and Washington in the West coast have several ski resorts within driving distance and West Virginia & North Carolina offer ski slopes that can be fun for the families look for ski near Atlanta with out the high price tag.

Stay Up to Date with Package Deals

Even before the ski season starts, sign up to resorts’ newsletter to receive update and deals. Many will offer great deals for family travel like Kids Stay Free & Ski Free. Flexibility is the key to be able to take advantage of this kind of deal because most of the time the deal will have restriction and will not be available during peak season. Hence, tip #1.

Make it a Group Vacation

Most ski resorts will offer group rate if you have 15 persons or more. If you can get a group of friends together, plan your vacation together will save on lift tickets and ski rentals. Most time you can save up to 20% of the normal rate. For family of 4, you just need 3 more families to join your trip. The planning doesn’t involve more work. You will need to call ahead and make a reservation for your group.

Go with Multiple Day Passes

If you already know you want to ski more than one day, purchase multiple day pass will add additional saving to your lift tickets and rental. Most resorts will offer additional discount for multi-day passes and even upgrade option to seasonal pass. For families, most resorts will also offer free child lift ticket with adult ticket purchased.

Pack Lunch and Cook Dinner

For many families, cooking during your vacation is the last thing you want to do. But when you travel with your family eating out every meal can add up rather quickly. Instead, pack simple sandwich for lunch will save at least $30 for a family. Lunch at ski slope can be expensive and you will also be wasting time lining up with other skiers for lunch line at the food court. Bring it along if skiing with a backpack, or store it in a cooler in a locker. At dinner time, a quick simple meal will satisfy everyone and keep the money in your wallet. Staying in an accommodation with small kitchen will cost a bit more but will give you space and ways to save on food.

Family Ski Tips & Resources from Other Travel Bloggers

General Family Ski Tips

Family travel tips: How to get kids ready to downhill ski – from Mother of All Trips
Tackling Tahoe with Toddlers - from Frisco Kids.
Tips for Family Ski Trips from a Former Scaredy Cat Skier – from Travel Mamas.

Location Specific Family Ski Tips

Kids Ski – Free! If They’re In The NY 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport Program – from Albany Kids.
Review: Smuggler’s Notch in Winter with Kids – From Jersey Kids.
Slopeside Condo – From Bedroom Slippers to Ski Boots at Sunday River – From Albany Kids.
Whistler Weekend – From The Travelling Mom
Whistler Wonderland – From The Travelling Mom
Whistler Trip Report Jan 2009 – From Wander Mom

Do you have other budget tips to plan family ski vacation to share?

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Keystone Ski Resort with Kids: Wonderful Stay for Family at River Run Village

by Amy @ The Q Family on January 20, 2012

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With the amount of family ski trip posts, I hope you won’t get bored about this. We have so much information to share about our first family ski trip experience that I know other families who are thinking about it will find useful. Seeing that we don’t live in the Northern part of the country, planning a ski trip is a daunting task and it’s not cheap. However, with good pre-trip planning, you and your family can enjoy family ski vacation on a budget.

Lodging Options in Keystone Ski Resort are Endless

On our Keystone Ski trip, we stayed at the River Run Village condominium. For first time visitor, choosing the right accommodation to stay with your family can be overwhelming. Keystone Ski resort offers various type of lodging from vacation home rentals, condominiums, bed & breakfast and inn.

For family vacation, I found that renting from condominium type lodging is the best value. Not only, we have extra space for all the ski equipments, we also have kitchen that we can prepare breakfast, lunch or even dinner (if we have energy left after a long day of skiing) to help save on family ski vacation.

Inside the Dakota Lodge

Within River Run Village, there are multiple buildings for accommodation. We stayed at the Dakota Lodge that is right in front of the brand new Dercum Square outdoor ice skating rink. Unlike hotel, the setup for rooms in Dakota Lodge is more apartment type with separate living room, dining room and full kitchen. After picking up our ski equipments, the extra space came in handy. If you stay in a small room, there is also locker to put your ski equipment on the first floor.

Deluxe Mountain-Inspired Decoration

Our 2 bedroom condominium is beautifully decorated with mountain-inspired theme. Each bedroom has comfortable bed that we fell asleep as soon as we hit the pillow. All standard amenities, towels, soap, shampoo, hair dryer, are provided. With 3 flat screen TVs in our unit, everyone (for once) doesn’t have to fight over what channel they want to watch. And yes, internet connection is FREE and fast. I have to say though that with a full day of skiing, I hardly touch my computer except to check out our photo from EpicMix.

River Run Village: Great Location for Family

Within Keystone Resort, there are multiple areas for lodging. The River Run is a PERFECT location for families especially ones with beginner skiers. With its central location right at the base of River Run Gondola and the Summit Express chair lift, we don’t have to take a bus or get in a car to get on the slopes.

The Keystone Ski & Ride school and the Ski rental facility are also within walking distance from the River Run Village making it’s a breeze to pick up our ski equipments and drop kids off at their school.

All in all, the stay at River Run got a thumb up from Miss J!

Thank you Keystone Ski resort for providing our family with complimentary accommodation, transportation and some dining during our stay.

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5 Simple Ways to Make Family Air Travel Less Stressful

by Amy @ The Q Family on January 17, 2012

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Family vacations are a time for making lasting memories with the ones you love, however getting through the airport – past the gift shops and fast food restaurants – to your flight and on your way to your destination can be stressful when you have kids in tow.

Whether you’re heading to the mountains, beach, or grandma’s house, flying doesn’t have to be a dreaded hurdle to leap over on your way to vacation bliss. Follow these mom-tested family air travel tips, and you and your little ones will be airborne and on your way to having fun in no time.

1. Check-in with your airlines before you leave

Most airlines allow passengers to check-in for their flight and print their boarding passes at home, and some even offer the option of check-in using your smart phone. By checking in ahead of time, you and your family will avoid standing in a long line for your boarding passes, which is tedious for anyone, but it’s especially difficult for antsy little ones. If you don’t have a printer or forget to check-in prior to arriving at the airport, you can also use a self-serve kiosk to speed up the process.

2. Travel light

If possible, limit what you and your family brings on the trip to what will fit in your carry-on baggage. Most airlines allow each passenger one small piece of luggage and one personal item, such as a purse, small backpack, or laptop case. Tell kids that they will have to carry their own bag for the trip, so that they don’t pack more than what’s necessary. Carrying on your bags will also save your family money since most airlines are now charging fees for checked luggage. If you have to check luggage, make sure to find out your airline’s baggage limits prior to departing, since the rules vary by company. Also, make sure all bags – especially children’s – have an identification tag, whether they’re being checked or not.

3. Fuel up

Have your family eat a meal or substantial snack prior to leaving for the airport.. This is especially important if you have kids who tend to get grumbly tummies when flying. Eating beforehand will help you avoid unnecessary trips to the airport food court where the options tend to be unhealthy and pricey. If you’re going to be airborne for an extended amount of time, pack a healthy snack for your family to eat while they’re en route. You may also want to bring empty water bottles to fill once you’re past airport security, so you can avoid purchasing drinks near your gate or on the flight.

4. Be prepared for airport security checkpoints

This can be one of the most stressful parts of traveling with children since it requires showing IDs and getting through the x-ray machines. The Transportation Security Administration is required to screen everyone and their bags, regardless of age, so be prepared to show your family’s IDs and know what you can and cannot carry on to the plane. If you are traveling with an infant, you must carry him/her through the x-ray machine. You cannot leave the child in their stroller or carrier. Some good news about security checkpoints is that the TSA now allows travelers ages 12 and younger to leave their shoes on through the security checkpoint, so no more wrestling with shoelaces before and after screenings!

5. Reserve your airport parking

Online sites, such as Airport Parking Reservations, now allow travelers the convenience of pre-booking their airport parking space. With these sites you can check rates and availability for any type of parking you’re looking for – whether you prefer a garage space, covered lot, outdoor parking, or valet service. By reserving your parking space ahead of time, you save time and money, and you don’t have to stress about searching for a spot once you arrive at the airport. Plus, a reserved spot is extremely helpful if you and your family are running late for your flight or if someone has to use the bathroom!

So what other tips you have to help reduce stress on family air travel?

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