Are you ready kids? Aye Aye Captain!
As ‘kids’ and ‘play’ go hand in hand, it is no surprise that kids-friendly hotels are usually located within the vicinity of amusement or theme parks. However, there are also a number of hotels that take it up a notch and create their own mini ‘theme parks’, right within their premises. As we usher in the end-of-year school holidays before we welcome the year 2020, we’re pretty sure you’re looking for that rewarding holiday or that sweet escape for your whole family – before the same routine begins again!
We have covered our top picks for the best theme parks here,
so
this time let’s zoom in on the hotels that can best accommodate you and your
children’s needs as we enter the holiday season right here in Malaysia.
1. Sunway Resort Spa, Selangor
Armed with a series of awards and accolades, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park is arguably the best theme park in Malaysia, boasting a variety of attractions namely Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, Extreme Park, Scream Park Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon.
To cater for travellers from near and far, Sunway has 3 different
hotels that are located within walking distance from the theme park, one of
which is Sunway Lagoon Hotel Spa, where you can play all day and then
retire to the fabulous rooms come night time.
This 5-star hotel is ideal for the whole family not only because
it is located next to the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, it also has a connection to
the Sunway Pyramid Mall which is one
of the premier shopping malls in Malaysia. What’s more, Sunway hotels are always
offering great deals for family packages such as this Family Fun Package, which
is valid until year end.
If you’re looking for more than the theme park and the swimming
pool, you can just walk to the Sunway Pyramid Mall and bring your kids to skate
at the Sunway Pyramid Ice, one of
the favourite hotspots for the young and the young at heart. It is a
world-class skating rink with an open view where you can skate for fun, or even
join the skating programmes available.
Credits : Sunway Resort Hotel Spa Official Website
2. The Andaman, Langkawi
Unlike the hyper commercialised theme parks and the lure of
digitalised gaming, the Andaman takes a different spin to define itself as one
of the best kids-friendly hotels, and that is to invite guests and their
children to be one with nature. Flanked
by the 10 million-year-old rainforest, Datai Bay with an 8,000-year-old coral
reef, far away from the hustle and bustle of city life lies the Andaman, a
resort that dedicates itself to the conservation of the coral reef that was
damaged by the tsunami in 2004.
Aside from providing the amenities for families with children such
as the family-friendly swimming pool with wading pool for toddlers, baby cots,
connecting rooms and babysitting services, The Andaman offers unique activities
for both kids and adults which include the Private
Guided Snorkel, Coral Nursery Feeding and Coral Reef Walks as part of their conservation efforts. There is
also the Marine Life Laboratory
where there are interactive presentations on marine life and guests are invited
to join lab activities like scrutinising minute marine life under the
microscope. The best part is – all of the activities above are free of charge!
One of the unique experiences that
Andaman has to offer is the Young Marine Biologists Programme, where
children aged 8 and above are given the golden opportunity to experience a day
in the life of a Marine Biologist. If you have budding marine biologists in
your midst, this programme is exclusively structured to give young talents the
right exposure into marine life at a fee of RM99 per child. As prior
reservation is required for participation, you are advised to get in touch with
the resort for more details.
On top of that, The Andaman also has a kids’ club, known as Young
Explorers’ Club where fun and educational activities are tailored to your kids.
You may also enjoy a number of water-related activities such as kayaking,
jet-skiing, sailing, snorkelling, boating and if you are keen to get closer to
nature, you can also enjoy hiking, biking or just walking through the nature
trail.
As if we cannot gush more about this 5-star nature haven, check out our feature article on The Andaman for more information: Paradise for Families
Credits: The Andaman Langkawi Official Website
3. Hard Rock Hotel, Penang
Up in the northern region, we have Hard Rock Hotel in Penang,
which is located along the scenic route of Batu Ferringhi. This 5-star hotel
chain is famous not only because of its brand name, but this particular chain
in Penang goes the extra mile to provide a luxurious getaway that is family-friendly,
accommodating the needs of toddlers, kids, teens and all the way to adults.
If you fancy a room that can comfortably fit you and your kids,
you can opt for the Roxity Kids Suite
that has a separate TV and bed for your kids or even the Roxity Kids Suite that
comes with its own courtyard! Each Roxity Kids Suite comes with a Play Station
4 with 2 controllers plus a number of PS4 games, a selection of soft toys and
kids’ books in the room, Mini-bar range for kids and Roxity branded kids’
bathrobes. Within the suite, there is a sliding door between the Master bedroom
and the Kids’ bedroom which allows parents to supervise their children while
also affording them a little bit of privacy.
Click here for a cool 360 degrees view of the Roxity Kids Suite with
Courtyard: https://www.panomatics.asia/nextgen/my/hardrockhotel/roxitykidssuitewithcourtyard.html
Games session, arts crafts,
puzzles and hand painting activities await your kids at the Roxity Kids’ Club, where they will have
the chance to mingle with Roxtars, the cool and fun characters that will be
there to hype up the energy in the club. As no adults are allowed, your kids
will also have a chance to maximise their experience with their peers. That’s probably
a good time for you to have some private moments with your partner or just wind
down without the kids around.
There’s pool, foosball, video
games such as Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation®4 to entertain your teens at the TABU Teens Club where youngsters have
the space to mingle with their peers. If they are more of the adventurous type,
they also have the option of renting a bike to explore Batu Ferringhi.
Not forgetting parents with little
ones, Hard Rock Hotel has a Lil’ Rockers
Infants Club designed for kids aged 3 years and below. The club operates in
an indoor play area located in the TABU Teens Club
equipped with a mini playhouse, mini slide
along with educational toys games and soft toys.
One of the coolest events for kids in town, the Ultimate Kids’ Foam Party is organised at
the hotel’s poolside on every first Saturday of the month. The ticket is RM20
each but in-house guests enjoy 2 complimentary tickets per room.
While the kids have plenty activities to keep them entertained,
treat yourself to the spa, yoga or the gym facilities provided by the hotel.
Head on to their website : Hard Rock Hotel Penang Official Website
4. Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort Spa, Langkawi
Fancy a beach vacation with the
kids? Make your way to Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort Spa in Langkawi for
that unforgettable family vacation you deserve. Your kids will definitely enjoy
Kiki Kids’ Club where they will go on scavenger hunts and swimming, create art,
face painting and handicrafts, and play traditional games.
The hotel has a mini water playground for the kids,
complete with a mini golf adventure park
and Kiki’s Animal Farm for the kids
to get up close with the animals.
Take a couple of hours off and
spend at the Pelangi Spa, state-of-the-art fitness centre or head on to the
beach for some water activities. And fret not, babysitting services are
available at the resort upon request for that much needed me-time!
With all the amenities that cater
to the whole family, it is no wonder that they are the top choice as a family
friendly destination as voted by travellers on TripAdvisor.
To encourage family with kids to
stay at Meritus, the resort gives out exclusive offers like the Family Fiesta
package that can save you some bucks.
Check out the details on their website here : Meritus Pelangi Resort Spa Official Website
5. Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort and Spa, Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia is known for its
pristine beaches and tropical forests and one of the best ways to experience
both is by staying at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in Kota Kinabalu, which
is neatly tucked in a tropical rainforest that fronts the ocean. There are many
activities offered by the resort for its guests that are made possible due to
its geographical location like parasailing, jet skiing and walking in the
jungle to name a few.
Known to be a golfer’s heaven
where you can enjoy your game amidst the stunning views of Tambalang and
Mengkabong rivers, the resort also has admirable facilities for your kids.
Shangri-La has an active kids
club and children’s pool for the young ones, along with a myriad of other
activities that are not only fun but also eco-friendly. Let your kids
experience firefly watching, traditional fishing, paddock ride, twilight river cruise, bird
watching at canopy and being a
Ranger!
For a comprehensive list of the activities offered that are categorised as either sports or nature, kindly visit the resort’s official website : Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Kota Kinabalu Official Website
6. Club Med Cherating, Pahang
Popular amongst beach lovers,
Club Med Cherating needs no further introduction. Voted as the Travellers’
Choice Award 2019 by TripAdvisor, this resort has all you need for a perfect
vacation, including kids and family-friendly activities that can help you
create wonderful memories with your loved ones.
Located in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, the resort is a
premium all-inclusive family holiday package where it covers everything – from your
accommodation, Childcare for kids from 4 years to 17 years old,
all-inclusive dining that is available at any time, a premium open bar, and up
to sixty different sports and activities – so you can just enjoy your holiday
with your family without the hassle of planning every little detail!
ClubMed isn’t kidding when they say their resorts are built with
family in mind – they organise activities
for both adults and kids to enjoy, like water games, sand castle
competitions, Giant Jenga, archery and many more!
For an intimate evening out with your other half, you can drop off
your kids into the capable hands of the qualified childcare providers at the Pyjamas Club. Amenities for kids are
all accounted for, like the 24 hours
baby feeding and equipment room, playground, free access to tennis court,
sailing and even a Club Med Baby Welcome package that includes baby foods and equipment
so parents can travel stress-free.
Check out their list on the full amenities and services provided at the resort:
7. Legoland Hotel, Johor
Did anyone say Lego?
We cannot sum up this list without mentioning this iconic brand
hotel whose attraction is not only in its fun-tastic
theme park, but also in the structure of the hotel itself. Designed with
children’s imagination in mind, everything about the hotel reflects its colourful
bricks like the themed rooms, themed lifts
and interactive LEGO features
that will certainly excite your kids. Get your kids involved in choosing the
theme of your room from a selection of Pirate, Adventure, Kingdom or the latest
-NINJAGO for your stay.
In addition to the swimming pool, LEGOLAND Hotel steps up their
game by inserting LEGO themes wherever possible, by providing interactive
activities for the kids like the puzzle to access their own LEGO treasure (available in all rooms),
featuring a special wall with 12,528
LEGO minifigures and spreading out the buffet at the restaurant with its
organised LEGO chaos.
Your kids will be entertained with the daily activities scheduled
such as the Meet Greet, Magic Class and of course the Building projects which will help unleash
their creativity. LEGO bricks and Xbox 360 Kinect are also available at the
children’s play area if you can’t get enough play time during their scheduled
activities.
We are pretty sure a stay at the
Legoland Hotel is not complete without a visit to the theme park, so we would
recommend you to check out the special rates offered for the hotel and Legoland
Park Entry. While you are
in the area, check out the SEA Life
which is another great attraction for the kids. Expose your kids to ocean life
where 13,000 fishes and 120 types of species are on display in 11 different
habitat zones.
For more information on the theme park experience, click on our article here
Check out more awesome LEGO details here : Official Legoland
Malaysia Website
These are just a few of the best picks for kids or family-friendly hotels in Malaysia. If you have more suggestions, let us know in the comments. Happy holidays!
Written by Athirah Idrus; Information and Photo Credits to each respective hotels.
