The waterslides at the Shangri-la Tanjung Aru Resort in Sabah, Borneo, are loads of fun
BAZAAR
Travel The dramatic ocean view from The Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in Australia
Luxe Vacations:
HOME & Away We all want the very best for our kids, so why should vacations be any different?By Shelley Travers
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ntroducing your children to travel from an early age is a fantastic way to show them the world they live in and to get them engaged in things outside their immediate surrounds. There are unlimited options for staycations and vacations that suit the sophisticated lifestyle you had before kids, but also caters to your active offspring, gives them a glimpse into other cultures or simply lets them relax and be pampered. Lots of hotels claim that they are family friendly, so when booking your trip, think of things from your kids’ perspective. For instance, the W Singapore Sentosa Cove hits the target in that it’s central. Complementing the new hotel will be art galleries, boutique stores, a bookshop and cafés. It’s also easy to visit all the sights of Sentosa and Universal Studios. Best of all, the hotel which is hyped as the ultimate lifestyle destination for singles and couples, 68
HARPER’S BAZAAR November 2012
ensures that every guest’s needs are catered to-even the kids’. So your children can spend the afternoon relaxing in the kids’ pool followed by dinner at The Kitchen Table, which provides high chairs and child-friendly place settings. The gourmet offerings on the kids’ menu include Super Avocado, Butter Leaf and Bread Salad, Grilled Snapper with Homemade Chips and Vegetable Ratatouille in a Pot. Older children can enjoy in-room video games while you can hire a babysitter for younger ones-another big tick in the child-friendly stakes-so that you and your other half can enjoy an evening cocktail at the Woobar overlooking the marina. While you may have explored all there is to see in Singapore, your children are still learning about the world around them. A central location means that there is plenty going on close to the hotel to keep children entertained. Perfect for a one-night stay, the themed rooms at Wanderlust in Little India will surely capture the imagination of
Kids are well taken care of at the W Singapore Sentosa Cove
your child. The rooms are fun and playfully designed with trees, spaceships and more than a little personality! The Mono rooms have giant flowers, illustrated furnishings and neon lights, while Whimsical rooms have mum-and-dad sleeping upstairs in a loft bed and baby can sleep in a cot downstairs. Upstairs, the jacuzzi with nearby elephant stools is bound to delight. The boutique hotel is small but perfectly formed, and the staff are more than happy to recommend the best room to accommodate you and your child. During the day, Little India itself is a cornucopia of the exotic. Little India Arcade is ideal for picking up souvenirs you can buy for friends back home, and sari shops where little princesses can choose regal fabrics to decorate their castle at home. The ornate Sri Veeramakaliamman temple will certainly take your child’s breath away. Completed in 1880, you can walk inside to study the