Whether your tween is obsessed with anime or your teen won’t look up from TikTok unless there’s a view worth filming, this guide to the best places in Asia for teens and tweens will make your planning a breeze. We’re talking temples, street food, snorkeling, roller coasters, and a chance to pet elephants without anyone sobbing about missing their cat back home. Let’s dive in.

1. Bangkok, Thailand

Why They’ll Love It: Bangkok is sensory overload in the best way possible. There’s a skytrain, riverboats, and enough neon lights to make them forget they’re not at a music festival.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Chatuchak Weekend Market – A shopper’s paradise and a dream for TikTokers looking for trendy souvenirs.
• Bangkok Bicycle Tour with a Jungle Adventure
• Wat Arun & Wat Pho – Impressively Instagrammable temples that even the most temple-fatigued teen will find cool.
• Thai Cooking Class – Give them the gift of pad thai-making skills. They’ll thank you later in college.
• Asiatique the Riverfront – Ferris wheel, night market, and snacks galore.

Quick Tip: Stay somewhere with a rooftop pool. You’ll need a bribe to get them out of bed before noon.

• Bangkok, Thailand Travel Tips
• Top 2 Rooftop Bars in Bangkok, Thailand 

2. Singapore

Why They’ll Love It: Singapore is the cleanest city they’ll ever see, and it’s packed with futuristic attractions that feel like living in a sci-fi movie.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Gardens by the Bay – Giant glowing trees? Yes, please.
• Universal Studios Singapore – From roller coasters to Minions, it’s pure teen bait.
• Sentosa Island – Zip lining, beach clubs, and indoor skydiving. It’s a teen adventure buffet.
• Hawker Centers – Let them discover the magic of $3 Michelin-starred meals.

Quick Tip: Get an EZ-link card for public transport. Teens love independence, and this way, they can pretend they’re local commuters.

Plan your Singapore trip with our Singapore articles:

• Singapore Travel Guide
• The Arab Quarter in Singapore

3. Sri Lanka

Why They’ll Love It: Think wildlife, waterfalls, and beaches. Sri Lanka is basically National Geographic IRL.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Safari in Yala National Park – Spot elephants, leopards, and crocodiles without needing a zoom filter.
• Surfing in Weligama – Chill beach town vibes and beginner-friendly waves.
• Train Ride to Ella – Possibly the world’s most scenic train ride, perfect for photo-obsessed teens.
• Climbing Sigiriya Rock Fortress – An ancient rock palace with views that might just get a gasp.

Pro Tip: Build in downtime. Sri Lanka is hot and full-on. Teens and tweens need their recharge time.

Plan your Sri Lanka Trip with our Sri Lanka articles:

• 10 Day Sri Lanka Itinerary
• Sri Lanka Bucket List for Families
• 10 Places To Visit In Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
• Things to do in Kandy, Sri Lanka with Kids

4. Tokyo, Japan

Why They’ll Love It: Anime, vending machines, and convenience stores with gourmet food? It’s teen heaven.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Harajuku and Shibuya – Quirky fashion, crepes, and the world’s busiest crosswalk.
• TeamLab Planets – An immersive digital art museum where no filter is needed.
• Odaiba – Giant Gundams, VR arcades, and a mini Statue of Liberty. Why not?
• DisneySea – Unique to Japan and an absolute hit with all ages.

Quick Tip: Japan’s rail system is unmatched. Grab a Japan Rail Pass and explore beyond Tokyo.

5. Bali, Indonesia

Why They’ll Love It: Bali is a mix of beachy relaxation and jungle adventure, with just enough smoothie bowls to keep teens full and happy.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Monkey Forest in Ubud – Because monkeys.
• Surf Lessons in Canggu – Teens + waves = endless entertainment (and wipeout videos).
• Waterbom Bali – One of Asia’s best water parks.
• Nusa Penida Day Trip – Unreal landscapes that make perfect phone backgrounds.

Quick Tip: Book a villa with a pool and breakfast service. It’s Instagram-worthy and makes mornings easier.

Plan your Bali trip with the help of our Bali articles:

• Is Bali Indonesia Safe To Travel To?
• 14 Best Things To Do In Bali With Kids

6. Seoul, South Korea

Why They’ll Love It: K-pop. Enough said. But also, techy experiences, quirky cafes, and beauty shops galore.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Lotte World – Indoor amusement park with ice skating and VR zones.
• K-Star Road – A must for fangirls (and boys).
• Street Food in Myeongdong – Skewered everything and bubble tea on every corner.
• Hanbok Rental and Gyeongbokgung Palace – Dress up like royalty for a day.

Plan your trip to Seoul with our guide:

• Ultimate Travel Guide To Seoul: Best Places To Visit & Things To Do

7. Hoi An, Vietnam

Why They’ll Love It: This historic town is like walking through a movie set, and there are lanterns everywhere.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Lantern-Making Workshop – A crafty keepsake even the grumpiest teen can get into.
• Tailor Shops – Have a custom outfit made for less than their latest sneaker drop.
• Cooking Classes – Vietnamese pancakes > chores back home.
• Bike Rides through Rice Fields – Yes, they still make bikes. No, this isn’t a simulation.

Quick Tip: Visit during the full moon for the monthly lantern festival.

8. Hong Kong

Why They’ll Love It: This city is a vertical wonderland with theme parks, tech, and a skyline that glows like a giant gaming monitor.

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Victoria Peak Tram – Get those panoramic skyline selfies.
• Hong Kong Disneyland – Smaller than others, but full of charm.
• Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car – See the Big Buddha and feel the breeze.
• Sneaker Street in Mong Kok – A must for hypebeasts.

Quick Tip: Take the Star Ferry at night. It’s cheap, beautiful, and oddly peaceful.

9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Why They’ll Love It: Multicultural, full of malls, and did we mention the theme parks inside the malls?

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Petronas Towers Skybridge – That view though.
• Batu Caves – Climb the rainbow stairs to see monkeys and Hindu shrines.
• Sunway Lagoon – Water rides, scream-worthy roller coasters, and even a zoo.
• Jalan Alor Night Market – Let them snack their way through satay and ice cream rolls.

Quick Tip: KL is hot. Like, melt-your-mascara hot. Plan indoor activities for the afternoon.

Plan your trip to Kuala Lumpur with our itinerary: 2 Days in Kuala Lumpur.

10. Taipei, Taiwan

Why They’ll Love It: It’s safe, fun, and full of quirky surprises (like toilet-themed restaurants and cat cafes).

Top Teen-Friendly Activities:

• Taipei 101 – That elevator is wild.
• Night Markets – Try stinky tofu if they dare.
• Maokong Gondola – Cable cars with glass floors.
• National Palace Museum – History with a side of air conditioning.

Quick Tip: Download the Uber app – it works great in Taipei and takes the guesswork out of getting around.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Why It’s Mesmerizing for All Ages: With its surreal landscapes, ancient cave dwellings, and sunrise hot air balloons, Cappadocia is straight out of a fantasy novel.

Top Experiences:

• Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise (yes, even your teen will be speechless).
• Explore underground cities like Derinkuyu.
• Hike the otherworldly trails of Love Valley or Pigeon Valley.
• Stay in a cave hotel—cooler than any Hilton.

Quick Tip: Book the balloon ride early—it’s the hottest ticket in town and fills up fast.

Plan your Cappadocia trip with our itinerary:

• 2-Day Cappadocia Itinerary: Best Of Cappadocia

Tips for Traveling Asia with Teens and Tweens

• Always have snacks. Preferably ones that don’t melt in your bag.
• Let them help plan. Teens have opinions, and involving them = less complaining.
• Break up the museums. One museum, then one pool or market. Balance is everything.
• Don’t overschedule. Teens run on vibes, not alarms.
• WiFi is sacred. Choose accommodations with strong internet. Or face the wrath.

Asia is the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure for families, and with a little prep (and caffeine), it can be an unforgettable bonding experience. Just remember: the more bubble tea and photo ops you provide, the more likely your teens will talk about it with something other than an eye roll.

So go forth, brave parent! The best places in Asia for teens and tweens are calling—and they’ve got charging stations.

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post 10 Best Places in Asia for Teens and Tweens appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Noah, Eden, and Jonah have been traveling with me their entire lives. So far the three of them have been to at least 22 countries, 4 continents, and almost every state in the United States. Needless to say, when I ask them what the best family vacations were, they had more than a few opinions! 

They quickly fired off an assortment of places we have been. It was interesting to hear what they picked, some of them I knew, but other ones were a complete surprise. After some serious conversation with them, we’ve narrowed it down to 17!

Top 17 Family Vacations You will Never Forget!

1. Singapore

Singapore is in all of our top ten picks. My oldest, Noah considers Singapore to be a utopia because of its cleanliness and orderliness. Oddly enough, we were only in Singapore for two days, making it one of the shortest stays we have done anywhere. It only took one day for us to fall in love with this city. We recommend walking around Marina Bay where the architecture is insane and definitely visit some parts of the Marina Bay Gardens. I can assure you that your kids have never seen anything else like this! The kid’s favorite hotel here is the Fairmont Singapore. For more ideas on what to do and where to find the best milkshake see my article: Singapore Travel Guide.

2. Cancun

Cancun has so much going on, and don’t worry, it’s safe. We spent a week there and basically had a non-stop adventure! The entire area is set up well to accommodate any kind of family and literally any type of budget. Families will appreciate luxurious, all-inclusive resorts with kid’s clubs and teen clubs. While the kids are off doing their own thing parents can head to a spa or the bar. There isn’t a bad beach anywhere in the area, so plan to spend at least two full days beach bumming.  While you are there, be sure to see Mayan Ruins, swim in a cenote, eat lots of Mexican food, and go ATVing. 

For a list fun family things to do in Cancun check out this post: 12 Adventurous Things to do in Cancun. I recommend staying at The Grand in Cancun or at another one of the  11 Best All-inclusive Resorts in Cancun for Families.

If at some point you head over to Cozumel (you totally should), check out my post: 13 Things to do in Cozumel. I recommend staying at Allegro Cozumel.

3. Thailand

Thailand is absolutely incredible and I wasn’t surprised it landed in my kids top three places. You can basically go anywhere in Thailand and have an interesting experience. I recommend visiting at least these three places when you go: Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. Although they each have some similarities they are completely different experiences.

Phuket

Phuket is one of Thailand’s islands and it’s extremely kid friendly. My kids thought taking a Thai cooking class was cool and they loved going to the beaches and interacting with elephants and tigers. To find the elephants on the beach check out my post: Swimming with Elephants in Thailand. And for more help planning your trip to Phuket see my article: 5 Day Phuket Itinerary with Kids.

Bangkok

Bangkok is massive so there are loads and activities. The kids loved biking through the city despite the heavy traffic and they were thrilled when we stumbled across monstrous milkshakes. To read more about taking Bangkok to kids, check out my article: Two Days in Bangkok with Kids.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is an easy city to get around and it has tons to see and do. The city has an incredible night market where you and your kids could shop for hours. Here you will find interesting things to purchase like leather journals, bracelets, and tuk-tuks made out of soda cans. There is an elephant sanctuary where families can care for elephants and of course the food is outstanding! I recommend staying at the Shangri-la and taking a food and city tour by bike. Learn more about visiting Chiang Mai with kids in my article: 4 Things to do in Chiang Mai with kids.

4. New York City

New York City is currently Noah’s #1 and in Eden’s top 3 and in my top 15. The kids love the many dessert experiences here like Serendipity and  Black Tap. Both places have outrageous over-the-top desserts. They all enjoy hanging out in Central Park and Bryant Park, both parks have lots of free activities. At Bryant Park, kids can play kubb, while parents grab a drink at the little outdoor bar there. In Central Park, there are multiple playgrounds.

Visiting the 9/11 memorial is a must and if the kids are 10 or older tour the museum. Kids enjoy touring the Statue of Liberty, but not necessarily Ellis Island. If you do, go to Ellis Island to look for your family’s name on the wall. If you want to do a bus tour I recommend The Ride, especially if your kids are teens or tweens. I think going to a Broadway show is a must, but this is expensive and not worth it if your kids hate musicals or might possibly sleep through it. Good plays for kids are Wicked, Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera.

Remember the further out you can plan a trip to New York the cheaper the trip will be. Here are 15 Ways to save money in NYC.

We’ve been to NYC more times than we can remember. Check out our New York City Travel Guide to help you plan your own epic NYC getaway!

5. Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii is another place that all three kids agree on and Oahu is their top island followed by Kauai. On Oahu, their favorite thing to do is sit at the pool or sit on the beach.

The kids recommend hanging out at the beach on North Shore to check out the waves and do some shopping. While you are up there have shrimp from Giovani’s Shrimp truck and get shaved ice at Matsumoto Shave Ice. If you feel like getting active rent a paddleboard at Sea N Surf and paddle up the Anahulu River and look for sea turtles. The last time we went we saw five huge sea turtles.

Also, fun in Oahu is parasailing in Waikiki and hiking to the top of Diamond Head. When you get done hiking Diamond Head, stop by Shimazu Shave Ice for massive shaved ice.

For more help planning your family’s Oahu vacation read our Oahu Travel Guide. 

I highly recommend staying at Disney’s Aulani if possible. 

6. Orlando

Orlando would probably make any kid’s list. With it being home to Disney World, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and Universal Studios a family could spend a month and do something different every single day. Universal Orlando is a must once each kid is tall enough to ride all the roller coasters and the new water park, Volcano Bay is fantastic. Besides the theme parks, there are all sorts of other fun things to do like swamp tours through alligator-infested waters, knight tournaments at Medieval Times, and within a short drive lots of beaches.

7. London

London also made it high on the list of the kid’s favorite places. We visited during Thanksgiving a few years ago and everything we did was awesome. There is so much to see and do that you can easily spend a week or two here and never run out of activities. Some of their favorite things were seeing the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, eating at Borough Market, and doing the Tower of London tour. Both boy’s least favorite thing to do is the bus tours. I personally appreciated how many free things there were to do in London. For more London ideas and tips, see my article: London with Kids.

8. Negril, Jamaica

Negril, Jamaica is Jonah’s #1 pick, and if I was his age, I think this would possibly be my #1 too. We recommend staying at Beaches Negril. This is an all-inclusive resort geared specifically for families. Highlights of staying here include:

• Sesame Street parade and BBQ party where families can dance with the characters, DJs lead dances, flame throwers perform, and more.
• Ice Cream Machine – The kids loved the ice cream machine which they visited a minimum of three times a day. (Don’t judge me, it’s vacation!)
• Snuba – Even kids can snuba at Beaches Negril and they do not have to have any experience to do this. The instructors are fabulous and it’s an activity the kids will never forget.
• Multiple pools, a lazy river, a water playground, and hot tubs.
• Miniature golf
• Video game lounge
• Kid’s club

9. Vail, Colorado

Vail, Colorado is another destination that is enjoyable year-round. During the summer the kids enjoy biking around town, riding horses around the mountain, and visiting the Epic Discovery adventure park set up on the mountain. In the winter the skiing is excellent. My kids have skied since they were little and appreciate the extensive skiing found in Vail. If you do not ski, this is a great place to learn.  For more info, check out our Vail Travel Guide. 

10. Silvies Valley Ranch

Visiting a dude ranch is a completely unique vacation. You can have an experience as a family that just can’t be had unless you are on a working ranch. Here you can shoot guns, interact with baby goats, hit the spa, experience gourmet dining, participate in a cattle round-up, and much more. They even have four golf courses on the ranch. Golf lovers will flip out over the reversible golf course that’s right I said reversible! With a little bit of everything, your family is sure to have an incredible time. To get a feel of the overall ranch read about our Silvies Valley Ranch Experience.

11. Greece

Greece is an epic experience because let’s face it, there’s no other place on earth like it. It basically doesn’t matter what part of the country you visit, you will never have a bad meal, you will experience history and culture like never before. I can state this as a fact because we’ve traveled all over Greece and it’s all been wonderful. 

Athens

Chances are high that one way or another a Greek vacation is going to take you through Athens at some point. Plan to spend at least a day here so you can visit the Acropolis before heading out to the islands. At night during the sunset dine at Savvas, their rooftop overlooks the Acropolis. Hotels can be difficult to get for a family, you may want to stay in an Airbnb.

Mykonos

A one of a kind city and gorgeous beaches await you in Mykonos. Teens and parents alike will love Mykonos City full of white-washed buildings. Also, if you can get a sitter or if your kids are old enough to stay at the hotel alone plan to go out. Mykonos has one of the best nightlife experiences in the world.

• For more advice, check out my post: Mykonos with Kids

Santorini 

Here you will have the opportunity to see things you’ve never see before like Red Beach. Perissa, the black beach is also worth visiting if you’ve never seen one before. There are two towns built into the sides of the island, both of which are worth spending time in, Fira and Oia. In Oia, you will see one of the greatest sunsets in the world. 

• For more things to do and where to stay check out my post: Santorini on a Budget. 

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is from biblical times and many of their historical sights have withstood the test of time. (Okay, I know what you are thinking. Yes, all of Greece is from biblical times.) They basically have ruins or a gorgeous church around every corner. The food scene is excellent here. For a list of things to see and do check out my post: Thessaloniki on a Budget. 

Kassandra

Can’t afford to splurge on the islands? Head here instead. Here you will be greeted with that famous aqua water and glorious beaches. Go shopping in Pefkochori and grab lunch at Agora Beach Bar. I highly recommend staying at Alexander the Great Beach Resort in this area. 

12. Australia

If you can get yourself to Australia, do it! Australia is just as fabulous as everyone says it is. There are so many varied experiences to be had throughout the country.  Try to plan a minimum of 9 days in the country. More than two weeks would be better. 

Whitsunday Islands

If swimming the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, then this should be your first stop. Whitehaven Beach should also be on your bucket list. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

Melbourne

If you’ve got a family of foodies, Melbourne is sure to delight. They have the most over-the-top, whimsical food creations you’ve likely ever seen. In between beautiful meals stop by the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes and the graffiti alleys. The alleys in Melbourne are really cool. 

• Where to eat in Melbourne

Great Ocean Road 

One of the top road trips in the world is driving the Great Ocean Road. Along the way, you can stop at dozens of scenic overlooks and take in the magnificent rock formations like Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles. You can enjoy one of the many nice beaches where kids can swim and play in the sand. Plus, there are animal encounters. Pull over to look for koalas in the trees and feed the birds at Kafe Koala. Be sure to stop at the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park, where you can hand-feed kangaroos. 

13. Texas

We are originally from Texas so it was no surprise that Texas made the list. The kids have been all over Texas and they recommend eating lots of Tex-Mex food and visiting the following cities: Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.

San Antonio

San Antonio has a ton of stuff for families to do. Here you will find a massive zoo, Fiesta Texas theme park, the famous San Antonio River Walk, and just outside of town is Schlitterbahn the #1 water park in the world. When visiting plan at least one full day at Schlitterbahn, half a day at the river walk, and float the Comal river. Our favorite restaurants in San Antonio currently are Ocho, Toro Kitchen + Bar, and Rita’s on the River. 

In San Antonio, I recommend staying at Hotel Emma.

Plan your entire trip with our San Antonio Travel Guide.

Dallas/Fort Worth

The Dallas, Fort Worth area is packed with stuff to do for families. Over in Fort Worth will love the rodeo at the stockyards. Be sure to go when they have bull riding. Also found in the stockyards is a fun maze and Texas-themed shopping. Plus, they do a daily cattle drive. Our favorite restaurants in Dallas include Meso Maya for dinner and El Jordan Cafe for breakfast. Just north of Dallas is Addison, TX which is jammed packed with great restaurants. 

14. Honduras

Honduras is easily one of our top vacations, according to me. Unfortunately, the kids remember very little of the trip. I recommend going to Roatan and Copan. These two places are no where near each other and two extremely different experiences. What they do have in common is affordability!

Roatan

Roatan is one of the Bay Islands and along the 2^nd best barrier reef in the world. The reef is near the shoreline making it extremely easy for kids to snorkel. Jonah was 4 when we visited and he was able to snorkel. Also fun here is zip lining and paddleboarding.

Copan

Copan is a Honduran city that borders Guatemala. Here you can go horseback riding up a mountain, go zip lining on one of the longest zip lines in the world, and visit an incredible hot spring.

15. Panama City Beach

Another family favorite in Florida is Panama City Beach. The beach has soft, powdery, white sand. It isn’t as big as many of the beach towns, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to do. Go mini-golfing and go-carting, spend the day at the beach, or shop around at Pier Park. Spend one day bopping around Scenic 30A, where you will find tiny beach towns like Seaside or Rosemary. Renting some bicycles is a perfect way to explore this area. Another interesting spot worth venturing out to is Sandestin’s Baytowne Wharf. Here, families can indulge in boutique shopping, zip-lining, ropes courses, an arcade, and unique eateries.

Use our Panama City Beach travel guide to plan your entire vacation.

16. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is super cool country with a wide variety of things to do. The food was consistently good, the activities were exciting and the people were so nice. Whether rafting down a volcano’s raging rivers in a tube near La Fortuna to chilling at a beautiful beach on the Pacific or the Atlantic everyone is going to enjoy the country. Costa Rica Travel Guide

17. La Paz

La Paz features miles of white sand beaches and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure including paddle boarding, kite surfing, kayaking, SCUBA diving, whale watching, swimming with whale sharks, sportfishing, hiking, mountain biking, and much more. If you want your kids off their devices and outside doing stuff you will love it here. Plus, the food is unbelievably good. 

Plan your own trip with our La Paz Travel Guide for Families. Plus, Best Places to Stay in La Paz, Mexico and Best Beaches in La Paz.

Conclusion:

So, there you have it, the best of the best family travel locations. There are hundreds of other places that could have made the list but didn’t. These were ones that just barely missed making our list: Las Vegas, Bavarian Alps in Germany, Paris, and house boating on Lake Shuswap in British Columbia. Like Honduras, my kids do not even remember house boating up in Canada, but if they did (well not Jonah, he had yet to be born), I am sure it would have made it onto the list.

Where are your favorite places to take your kids on vacation? We are always taking recommendations and planning our next family vacations. Yes, plural. Why take just one vacation? I think you should take as many as possible, big trips, weekend getaways, family reunions, you name it. These are all opportunities to have fun, spend time together and make the most memories possible. And don’t delay. Noah’s a high school senior and he’s about to move on with his life. (Oregon State University #Bragging) And y’all, I straight up ran out of time with him. You will run out of time, so make today count.

Read Next:

16 Insanely Awesome Girl’s Trips

11 Best Places to Snorkel with Kids Around the World

The post 17 Incredible Family Vacations appeared first on Mommy Travels.

So do we! That’s why we try milkshakes everywhere we go.

Have you ever sat and wondered, “Where can I find the best milkshake in the world?”.

I am assuming everyone sits around wondering this. I know I do, I mean, who doesn’t love a good milkshake?

In our family, a good milkshake is a good enough reason to go out of the way to eat somewhere and I mean totally and completely out of the way! This might be part of the reason I just can’t drive past a Sonic without pulling over!

Here are 26 of the best milkshakes in the world and where to find them including shakes in NYC, Orlando, Las Vegas, Brazil, Australia, Madrid, and many more! Originally this list only had 7 milkshakes, but we are happy to report that we keep finding more worth adding to the list!

Where to Find the 26 Best Milkshakes in the World

Black Tap

1. Black Tap in NYC is a burger and beer place with multiple locations in NYC and now one in Anaheim at Disneyland, Las Vegas and even in Dallas. But I must say it’s not really the beers and burgers I think people are going there for. Granted, their burgers are wonderful. Skip the salad burger, it wasn’t as good as just having a burger. Nowadays there is usually not a wait to eat here anymore, but sometimes the wait times can get bad. The milkshakes are not cheap but just look at them. Worth it! The kids and I all had burgers and split two milkshakes and dinner cost about $110.

Naughty Boy Cafe

2. Naughty Boy Cafe in Melbourne, Australia is open for breakfast and lunch. Their food looks really good, but honestly, I would just be going for their milkshakes.

Update: I finally got to eat here after salivating over their photos and it was slightly disappointing, my milkshake looked like a child had made it. It was so bad I may have to remove them from this list.

Garage 51

3. Garage 51 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a pork-free cafe with some wildly awesome milkshakes. Now, I do not know how many people are visiting Malaysia, but this definitely gives me another reason to try and make it over there!

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium

4. Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal City Walk in Orlando, Florida has incredible milkshakes. 3 – 4 people can split one of their milkshakes because they are so large and so rich. Their regular menu is full of good food too.

The Coffee Club

5. The Coffee Club in Bangkok, Thailand happens to be located in the lobby of the hotel we were staying in while we were in Bangkok. Imagine our surprise when we realized there little hotel cafe had these incredible shakes. We ended up eating here 3 times! (Yes, we are pigs. We don’t care.) Recently, during our trip to the Whitsunday Islands in Australia, I realized that they have other locations. There is one near the marina in Airlie Beach, Australia.

Mustang Sally’s Pub & Diner

6. Mustang Sally’s Pub & Diner in South Africa sets the standard for the great milkshakes. Known for their generous portions and imaginative flavors, each milkshake is a delightful blend of creamy, rich ice cream and top-tier ingredients. The diner’s nostalgic 1950s ambiance adds an extra layer of charm, making every sip a trip down memory lane. Mustang Sally’s combines traditional favorites with unique twists, ensuring a diverse menu that pleases every taste. With friendly service and a commitment to quality, their milkshakes are more than just a treat—they’re an experience that keeps you coming back for more. Located at 1319 Pretorius Street, Hatfield, South Africa, 0002.

Eis Cafe

7. Eis Cafe has multiple locations including Birmingham in the United Kingdom and in Dubai. All their shakes that look spectacular and massive. I recently looked at their Facebook page and see the milkshakes getting even bigger!

Creme Cakes and Shakes

8. Creme Cakes and Shakes in Southend-on-Sea (east of London) has your milkshake covered in cakes. I gotta say, great idea. Most people like cake too. Located at 1 Pier Arches ss91, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2EH England.

Cowfish a Burger Sushi Bar

9. Cowfish a Burger Sushi Bar in Orlando makes spectacular alcoholic milkshakes. They are not as over top as the others on this list, but they are just so good. I sucked my spiked milkshake down in a matter of minutes. All the food here is excellent. They also have locations in Charlotte and Raleigh.

Serendipity 3

10. Serendipity 3 is super famous already for their desserts and they should be. We couldn’t have a list without including their version of a milkshake: a frozen hot chocolate. You can find this at their NYC location or the Las Vegas location. If you could go to either go to both because they are completely different.

Legendairy Milkshake Bar

11. Legendairy Milkshake Bar in Nashville stands out as the ultimate destination for milkshake lovers worldwide. Renowned for their extravagant, over-the-top creations, each milkshake is a visual and culinary masterpiece. Their use of high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients ensures that every sip is rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor. With innovative flavors that push the boundaries of traditional milkshakes and toppings that range from decadent brownies to whole slices of cake, Legendairy Milkshake Bar transforms a simple treat into an unforgettable experience.

The Yard Milkshake Bar

12. The Yard Milkshake Bar in Panama City Beach have what my kids declared “The best milkshakes they have ever had!”. Considering the unreasonable amount of milkshakes we have all had I think they are experts and this cannot be ignored! I know that this place is expanding to other areas like the Alabama coast and Dallas, Texas.

Gulf Coast Burger Co.

13. Gulf Coast Burger Co., also in Panama City Beach has amazing shakes too, and they are slightly more affordable than most freakshakes we have had. They are gigantic. You will not have room for a burger and a shake here. I recommend ordering one burger and one shake per two people.

Cafe Hollywood

14. Cafe Hollywood located in Las Vegas inside of Planet Hollywood has some mighty tasty and good looking milkshakes!

12 Tastiest Milkshakes in Vegas

Ten One Ate

15. Ten One Ate is a little cafe in Melbourne, Australia and almost everything they serve is visually stunning.

JoJo’s Shake Bar

16. JoJo’s Shake Bar in Chicago has some might tasty creations including fun seasonal shakes. They also serve big hot chocolates with jumbo cookies. Located at 23 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654.

Mt. Kisco Coach Diner

17. Mt. Kisco Coach Diner is dishing up comfort food including ridiculous shakes! Some of their shakes are topped with a slice of cake! Located at 252 Main St, Mt. Kisco, New York.

Kings Dining and Entertainment

18. Kings Dining and Entertainment has lots of locations including Orlando, Boston, Raleigh, and more. Go bowling and pound shakes!

The Battlefield Country Store

19. The Battlefield Country Store in Virginia redefines the milkshake experience, earning its reputation for having the best milkshakes. Each milkshake is a handcrafted delight, featuring locally-sourced, premium ingredients that create a rich, velvety texture and unforgettable flavor. Their creative menu boasts a variety of options, from classic favorites to innovative combinations that surprise and delight. The rustic charm of the store, combined with its warm and welcoming atmosphere, enhances the indulgence of savoring these delicious treats. At The Battlefield Country Store, milkshakes are not just a drink—they’re a memorable experience that captures the essence of homemade goodness and Southern hospitality. Located at 6150 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407.

The Market Milkshake Bar

20. The Market Milkshake Bar is a food truck roaming the streets of Miami. The only thing they make are drool-worthy freak shakes. They even have vegan shakes. Find their Instagram page to find out where they are on any given day.

CREPESnSHAKES

21. CREPESnSHAKES has churro shakes. Need I say more? They are located in LA inside Tutti Frutti.

Gulla Burguer

22. Gulla Burguer down in Brazil has burgers, fries, and killer milkshakes. Located at R. Padre Pedro Pinto, 6300 – Paraúna (Venda Nova), Belo Horizonte – MG, 31615-310, Brazil.

Lara Grill

23. Lara Grill has burgers, nachos, tacos, and shakes which makes it one of the best places to eat in Madrid. Located in Barcelona and  Madrid, Spain with multiple locations.

Frostbite & Spiked Rich

24. Spiked Rich has alcohol infused, donut topped shakes in south Florida. You can get a shake without booze and without the donut. Located at 2125 S. University Dr., Davie, Florida 33324

Regrub

25. #Regrub has burgers and shakes. They’ve got all kinds of incredible milkshakes including vegan options. Harry Potter fans will love the POTTERHEAD a HOGSMEADE Shake infused with Butterscotch Topped with Sweet Spells

They have two locations in Alberta, Canada. 1) 625 11th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0E1 and 2) 901 64th Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7P4.

Brainfreeze Sno-cones and Shakes

26. Brainfreeze Sno-cones and Shakes in Pasadena, California offers an unparalleled milkshake experience that earns it the title of having the best milkshakes in the world. Each milkshake is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, blending the finest ingredients to achieve a perfect balance of flavor and texture. Their innovative menu features a wide array of unique and creative concoctions, ensuring there’s something to tantalize every palate. With toppings that range from fresh fruits to indulgent candies, every milkshake is a delightful surprise. The vibrant atmosphere and friendly service at Brainfreeze make each visit an exciting treat, solidifying its reputation as the ultimate destination for milkshake enthusiasts. Located at 2716 Preston Ave, Pasadena, Texas 77503.

Brownstone Pancake Factory

27. Brownstone Pancake Factory in New Jersey not far from New York City has insane shakes and pancakes. Located at 860 River Road Edgewater NJ. They have locations in Freehold, Edgewater, and Brick as well.

Final Thoughts

Y’all, I’m not going to lie, it’s flat-out amazing to me that I don’t weigh more. But I guess you can tell from this post why I am constantly on a diet when not traveling. I don’t exactly make healthy choices when I am eating out. I have gotten to the point I don’t order my own shake and instead share with the kids.

Where’s the best milkshake you have ever had and where can we find it? Drop your recommendation in the comments below!  My kids and I are always looking for some milkshake tips.

The post 27 Best Milkshakes in the World appeared first on Mommy Travels.

With its mix of tradition and modernism, a fusion of vibrant cultures, and its love of creating green spaces they always seem to get the balance just right. 

Although there are so many sites to explore in this vibrant city, one you really can’t miss is the glorious Gardens By The Bay.

Located in the heart of the city near Marina Bay, the gardens sprawl across 250 acres of reclaimed land. With gardens, attractions, and exhibitions for every taste and age it really is worth a visit for anyone who travels to Singapore. 

Free Gardens

Entry to the gardens itself is free and you could easily explore the themed gardens, walk along lakes looking for dragonflies, and admire giant artworks for the day without spending a cent.

One of our favorites were the Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes where you can wander along the boardwalk and find sculptures of frogs and dragonflies. The World of Plants was a close second with lots of learning experiences for both the adults and the kids. But there are plenty of other themed Garden spaces to explore too from The Sun Pavilion to The Canyon. 

There is also a special Children’s garden with a fun water play area that is a firm favorite with families visiting Singapore and locals alike. Click to find out more about Gardens By The Bay with kids.

As the area is so big it may be worth downloading the mobile app or getting a map from the information center at the start of your visit so you can plan which parts of the Gardens you want to see. 

Although a lot of the Gardens are free admission there are a few attractions that you have to pay entry, but you should definitely put them on your itinerary.

• Singapore Pass – Depending on which pass you pick, you can get into either 3 or 5 attractions. This includes Gardens By The Bay Conservatories

The Conservatories

The two conservatories are amongst the largest greenhouses in the world with over 3000 glass panels in the Flower Dome alone. 

Each dome has its own climate which means you can experience two completely different ecosystems all within a short walk.

We would suggest allowing at least an hour in each dome, but you could easily spend longer depending on your interests and what exhibitions are on during your visit. 

Flower Dome

The Flower Dome has a Mediterranean climate and here you can see flora from 5 different contentions around the world. Not only will you see plants from as far flung as Australia and Africa, but there are lots of fun details to discover too. From giant sculptures to hidden statues, there is plenty to see. 

Each season they also transform this dome with a special theme and display. We were lucky enough to see it during Harvest time, but imagine that it will look spectacular in all seasons. 

Cloud Forest

Cloud Forest has a tropical climate and is also home to a 35-meter indoor waterfall which is fun to feel the cooling spray from after the humid Singapore weather.  There are also lots of different areas to explore like Crystal Mountain and the Secret Garden.  

What makes a cloud forest different from a rainforest is mist, and you really feel that environment in this conservatory, especially when you talk a walk on the Cloudwalk. Here you can walk high amongst the mist and explore the conservatory from a different viewpoint. 

If you prefer to be closer to the ground there are also walks at differing heights where you can really explore the different plants growing in the dome. 

This dome seems to be more popular than the flower dome so you may want to visit here first if arriving early to avoid the crowds. 

Supertree Grove

The Supertree Grove is probably the most famous landmark of the Gardens. At 16 stories high and looking like they have been created straight out of a children’s book it is easy to see why. 

Each tree is a unique blend of nature and technology. Made from concrete and steel then covered with over 150,000 plants between the 18 Supertrees. Some of the trees also are used to collect solar power! 

As a whole, these trees are impressive, but they seem even more so when you take the time to explore the small parts that make the whole. 

You can admire these trees up close for free at various spots around the Gardens but paying for the OCBC Skyway is definitely worth it. 

Here you can take the 128-meter walkway between the trees and see the whole gardens set out in front of you below. At 22 meters in the air, if you are not too good with heights, you may want to admire the Supertrees from the ground as I have seen a few comments that people did not enjoy the walk when they were afraid of heights. 

Gardens By The Bay At Night

Although it’s easy to spend an entire day at the Gardens, it is worth sticking around till after dark or even going to visit the Gardens just at night. 

With the free gardens open till 2 am and the domes staying open till 9 pm there is plenty to explore in the evening. There are less crowds than during the busy daytime so you can really soak in the atmosphere of the domes and take your time to explore. 

There is also a fun night food market that offers cheap food with flavors from all across the globe. 

The real show stopper though, is the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show. This show is on every evening at 7:45 pm until 8:45 pm at the SuperTree Grove. Each show lasts around 15 minutes. 

You may think the Supertrees are pretty special during the day, but at night they really are magical. The show leaves everyone in awe from young to old. 

Be sure to make a trip to see them at least for one night during your stay in Singapore ( we have found it’s often something people love to go watch more than once during their stay ).

Entry to see the light show free, but it is worth arriving early as it can draw big crowds for the best viewing spots. 

Gardens By The Bay Information

Entry into the Gardens is free and opening times are from 5 am to 2 am daily.

Entry to both Domes and the Skywalk requires paid admission. Adults are $28 and children at $15. The domes and the Skywalk are open from 9 am -9 pm with last tickets and admission at 8 pm. 

The Gardens are easy to get to from anywhere in the city. The nearest MRT station is Bayfront and it is well signposted to the Gardens. 

Alternatively, we found the taxis to be excellent in Singapore and had our driver drop us at the Marina Bay Sands so we could take a look around at the luxury hotel and stores. 

Temperatures can be uncomfortable during the midday so we think the best time to visit the Gardens is early morning or later in the afternoon. If you can visit during the week rather than the weekend you will also find fewer crowds as the Gardens are a popular hangout for the locals. 

There are food outlets, cafes, and restaurants in the Gardens but you are also free to bring along your own food and have a picnic in the outdoor gardens. 

To enjoy the Gardens allow yourself at least three hours here, although we would recommend staying longer if you have the time or making a couple of trips during your stay in Singapore. 

I recommend staying at Fairmont Singapore. 

Guest Author: Kirsty and her family and write about their adventures at Travel With Meraki. Meraki is a Greek word that means to do something with heart and soul. To put a little bit of yourself into something. They believe that everyone should travel with Meraki. Visit them on their blog here.

Read Next:

Singapore Travel Guide

The Arab Quarter in Singapore

The post Everything You Need to See at Singapore’s Stunning Gardens By the Bay appeared first on Mommy Travels.

We’ve put together an extensive Singapore Travel Guide to make sure you know what to eat, sights not to miss, and more. Because Singapore food is all the rage right now, we will kick off our Singapore guide with Singapore foods!

What and Where to Eat in Singapore

Quintessential Singapore Foods To Try:

Singapore Activities

Considering how small Singapore is, it’s shocking how many things there are to do here. The costs can add up quickly, so you might want to try and bundle activities to cut some costs. You do not have to worry about avoiding any areas. Visitors are safe everywhere they go, because Singapore is extremely tough on crime. Everything is clean and well kept including the subway and it is remarkably easy to get around.

Singapore Pass – Depending on which pass you pick, you can get into either 3 or 5 attractions. This includes main attractions as well. 

Big Bus Singapore

Singapore Zoo

The Singapore Zoo is located near the Night Safari, so if you are already out that way, you could do both at once. In which case, you could do the zoo from 2-6pm, then night safari from 6-9pm. However, if you visit in the morning you can have breakfast with orangutangs. 

Night Safari

The Night Safari is good for just about anyone, and is popular with most tourists. It costs around US$25/person for the ticket, and is entertaining enough for several hours, from roughly 6-9pm+. Kids will the up-close encounters with all the animals. The Night Safari is located about 20-30 minutes by taxi from the middle of town, so plan to spend at least $20 USD on a taxi each way. You can take the train, but it’ll be over an hour each direction + a shuttle bus. Any taxi driver will know Night Safari.

Marina Bay

Marina Bay is an interesting area to walk around. The architecture is over the top in this area and there are all kinds of things to do and see packed into this one area. As you walk around you will see quite a bit of art. They have revolving art exhibits spread around. Race fans can see the Formula One pits and the starting line. As you walk, you will also come across their famous Merlion and the baby Merlion. The Merlion is Singapore’s most famous statue. On a nice day, which I think most days there are, they have a jumping area for kids. It’s a massive inflatable bounce playground for kids. And, if you want to do some shopping you will be happy to know that there is an over the top mall here.

This is. Great spot to take a funny photo!

At night catch the laser light show or fireworks if you’re lucky around 8pm nightly, in the harbor in front of Marina Bay Sands; you can have a nice cocktail and watch them from the rooftop bar called Orgo on the roof of The Esplanade, which is directly opposite MBS.

Marina Bay Sands

You can go up to the top of Marian Bay Sands (“MBS”). Observation tickets cost: S$23 adult and S$17 for a child, 2 – 12 years old. It’s well worth it. There are a few restaurants and bars up there, and I believe if you have a reservation at any of them, they waive the entrance fee to the observation deck. Here are the super expensive restaurants you can eat at up there:

• CÉ LA VI Restaurant and SkyBar
• Lavo Italian
• Spago 

Used to you could pay to swim up there, but now that is only an option for hotel guests. At night there is a Marina Bay Sands light show. 

Singapore Flyer

Although it might seem like a tacky tourist attraction, the Singapore Flyer certainly lives up to the hype. T Flywheel is the name of their large Ferris wheel. It reaches a max height of 541 feet. Besides a fantastic view of the country, you can also see the constructions going on in the area from an aerial view. On your next visit to Singapore, you can be sure that a new building or a new project has been completed at that construction sites so it is a unique experience to be able to watch that process at such height. To enhance your experience, get on the Flyer during dusk and watch the city turn dark with the glittering lights from all the building in sight.

Marina Bay Gardens

These gardens will impress anyone. People can walk around the gardens and if they like go up to the walkways in the sky. This is area scintillating at night. The whole area is an ideal place to snap some family photos.

Cloud Dome

There are two domes at Marina Bay that you can tour, but if there is only enough time for one, visit the Cloud Dome. It features a large indoor waterfall that will cool you off on a hot day. You can walk around different levels throughout the dome and enjoy views of the surrounding areas.

Bounce Indoor Trampoline Park

On a hot day or a rainy day families need something to do indoors. Kids will love the Bounce, an indoor trampoline park. Bounce is the largest indoor trampoline in Singapore. Kids can bounce, climb, zip line and more. Plus, parents will appreciate all the energy their child manages to burn off.

Sentosa Things to Do

Sentosa is Singapore’s island. So if you want a beach experience this is the place. They have three beaches. They’ve got water parks, cable car, and this is where you will find Universal Studios. 

Adventure Cove Water Park

Singapore is hot and humid so make sure wherever you stay has a pool. If there is not a pool consider heading out to Adventure Cove water park out on Sentosa Island.

Universal Studios

There is a Universal Studios in Singapore out on Sentosa Island. It is quite a bit cheaper to visit this Universal than the one in the United States.

S.E.A. Aquarium

One of the largest aquariums in the world featuring 800 species of marine life in a variety of habitats! Te South East Asia Aquarium was the world’s largest aquarium by total water volume from April 2013 till February 2014. The aquarium holds more than 42.8 million liters of fresh and salt water, enough to fill more than 17 Olympic size swimming pools!

Visit a Local Neighborhood

If the weather isn’t pouring rain or blazing hot, you can do a walk around Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street, Orchard Road, etc. These are all worthwhile, but may or may not be ideal if the weather’s not cooperating. Chinatown is good for food. Little India is good for people watching. Arab Street is good for chilling out at some of the cafes in the afternoon and they have great Lebanese food. Orchard Road is for shopping, eating, cafes, etc.

Just in case you run out of things to do in Singapore, here are a few more things to do in Singapore.

Museums

There is a lot of museums in Singapore. All of which are really high-tech, and pretty nice. If the kids are slightly older, that may be an option.

Science Center Singapore

Tucked away in the west side of the country, the Science Center Singapore is a great place for family entertainment and it features exhibitions relating to, yes you guessed it, science and technology. Be sure to check out the Omni-Theatre, an extension of the attraction where you get to watch films and documentaries in a huge 5-storey high IMAX dome screen.

Snow City

For those that have never experienced snow before there’s an indoor snow play place. 
https://www.viator.com/Singapore-attractions/Universal-Studios-Singapore/d18-a8733?pid=P00095795&mcid=42383&medium=link
 

Far East Plaza

Tired of department stores and luxury boutiques in Singapore? Head down to Far East Plaza where you can find a lot of small stores with a variety of apparel, shoes and accessories at more affordable prices. Eateries are also available when you need a break from shopping.

Select Books

You must visit Select Books if you are a big fan of books on Asia and Asian issues. Besides having a huge selection of (mainly non-fiction) books of various categories from or about Singapore, they also have shelves dedicated to books from around the region, particularly Southeast Asia and East Asia. Located along Armenian Street, thereís also a little cafÈ at the end of the store where you can spend quality time with your newly purchased books and sometimes they hold book-related events there.

The Arts House

If youíre around the Empress Place area, donít overlook The Arts House. Even if you donít have time to watch a performance or film screening there, there is bound to be a visual or photo exhibition going on. At the Film Gallery outside the Screening Room, you can also know more about Singapore’s film industry. Even if the Arts are not really your thing, you might still want to visit the building that used to be a courthouse and a Parliament house.

Where to Stay in Singapore

In terms of where to stay, any of these areas would be very central:

• City Hall
• Bugis
• Orchard Road
• Tanjong Pagar
• Chinatown

If you prefer an AirBnB, then you will be staying somewhere slightly out of the center of town, like:

1.) Novena

2.) Newton

3.) River Valley

 

Any of these areas are pretty central still, but aren’t quite as bustling. Beyond that, you’re getting a bit out of town, so probably not ideal.

Fairmont Singapore: This is where our family stayed and we really enjoyed it. The rooms are nice and large with patios that overlooked part of the city. We got adjoining rooms because there were five of us. It was nice to be able to spread out and have two bathrooms. Each morning we hit up their elaborate breakfast buffet with food from around the world. When the afternoons got too hot for us, we hung out at the rooftop pool. I liked how safe I felt during our stay here. My kids are teenagers and I had no issues, leaving them in the hotel for a few hours while I went out for some adult fun. If you stay here do be careful about the electricity. I was using an adaptor and thought that would be good enough. My curling iron got so hot I accidentally burnt some of my hair off.

Hotel Clover 33: – This is the other place we stayed in Singapore it was substantially cheaper. They have rooms that can sleep 4 people in the Arab Quarter. We stayed in one of their family rooms, which happens to be a loft room. It cost me right around $200 a night.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel – Stay in the heart of the action and enjoy that infinity pool!

Raffles Hotel – Historic and famous!

Singapore is expensive. Try to book in advance because the prices get insane the closer you get to the date of stay. It might be worth checking for Singapore specials on TravelZoo to try and find a deal. 

Transportation Options in Singapore

It is easy to get around using just public transport. The MRT (subway) connects all these places mentioned above with almost everywhere else.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi (which is generally quite cheap), or an Uber, which will be more expensive. If you plan to take a taxi/Uber, download the “Grab” app. It’s the slightly cheaper, more readily available alternative to Uber; during peak hours, Uber can be extremely pricey.

Day Trips from Singapore

Pulau Ubin: If you are not going to a neighboring country like Malaysia or Indonesia, and they want to see something slightly more rural (and have an afternoon to spare), you can go to Pulau Ubin. This is an offshore island that still has an old-style village on it. You can rent bikes here, and enjoy cheap seafood along the waterfront. It’s quite nice, and there’s only 1 or 2 roads around the island, so you could bike for an hour or so, and not really get lost, and end up back at the ferry pier. You’ll have to take a small boat (10 minute ride+/-) to get there. It’s pretty idyllic. That said, if you are going to Malaysia or somewhere similar, then you will see this kind of thing there, so you could skip Pulau Ubin.

MacRitchie Treetop Walk: The TreeTop Walk takes 1.5 to 2 hours to hike and is the found within the longer MacRitchie hiking route. It brings you through the different stages of a mature secondary forest. The first of its kind in Singapore and in the region, this freestanding suspension bridge connects the two highest points (Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang) in MacRitchie and offers a bird’s eye view of the community of plants and animals that live in the forest canopy. The total length of the walkway is about 250 meters and its height from the forest floor varies, with the highest point at 25 meters. The Treetop Walk gate closes at 5pm sharp. Visitors are advised to start hiking towards the bridge by 4:45 P.M. from Ranger Station to avoid disappointment.

Malaysia: Okay, that might sound crazy, but it’s right next door. 

Helpful Singapore Tips

• The water is safe to drink. 
• The weather is great all year. 
• It is illegal to chew gum, do any kind of drug, litter and smoke in public.
• Most locals speak English.
• The currency is the Singaporean dollar (SGD). Right now, $1 U.S. dollar will get you $1.35 in Singapore dollars.

If you’ve planned a full itinerary for your trip to Singapore and you cannot fit in any all the places listed, you know what that means. You’ll have to plan a second trip to discover more wonderful places the island has to offer!

Do you have any advice on what to eat in Singapore or suggested activities in Singapore? I would love to know. Just leave a comment below.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

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It was by total accident, we even ended up over here. We had to fly back to Singapore to catch a standby flight in order to get home. So, the day we left Bangkok to go back to Singapore I was scrambling to find a hotel. I was hoping to stay at Fairmont Singapore again, but they were booked. (That’s what I get for always being a last-minute planner.) We eventually booked Hotel Clover 33. They have rooms that can sleep 4 people. We stayed in one of their family rooms, which happens to be a loft room. It cost me right around $200 a night. Unfortunately, Singapore is an expensive place to visit. 

If you want to be able to leave your kids at the hotel and go grab a drink in this area then this would be a good place to stay. If you needed to, you could be back at the hotel within a 5-10 minute walk. Maybe even quicker than that. 

Singapore’s Arab Quarter

Shortly after checking in we got hungry. We decided to walk around and see if we could find somewhere to eat. Basically, as soon as you walk around the corner from the hotel you are in the Arab district.

From most of the area you can see the Sultan Mosque. All around the mosque are shops, restaurants, and bars. We found a tasty Lebanese restaurant to go to. There are many Lebanese restaurants to choose from. I think we could have picked a better one so I am not going to bother sharing the one we went to. FYI – many of the restaurants here will not serve booze. 

At night we found this street/alley to be super fun. There were lots of people hanging out having a drink. The building with the elaborately painted wall is a Mexican food restaurant. Hanging out here at night and having a drink is one of my most favorite things to do at night in Singapore. 

What is your favorite thing to do in Singapore? 

Kampong Glam aka the Arab District is a neighborhood in Singapore, located north of the Singapore River.

Prior to colonization by the British in 1819, this area was home to the Malay aristocracy of Singapore. It became prominent and more populous after the signing of a treaty between the British East India Company, Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor and Temenggong Abdul Rahman in 1819. In this treaty the company was given the right to set up a trading post in Singapore.

Later in 1822 under the Raffles Plan,  the settlement was divided according to different ethnic groups which included European Town, Chinese, Chulia, Arab and Bugis kampongs. Kampong Glam was designated for the Sultan and his household, as well as the Malay and Arab communities.

Sultan Hussein, his family and followers settled in Kampong Glam. In return, the Sultan was given large areas of land for residential use in Kampong Glam under the treaty. The land was allocated to the Malays and other Muslim immigrants to Singapore, including the Malays from Malacca, the Riau Islands and Sumatra in Indonesia. It also included the Baweanese, Banjarese, Chinese and Indians.

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links.

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We flew to Singapore just to get to Thailand because that was as close as we could get on Delta airlines. The kids have flight benefits on Delta, so whenever possible we fly Delta. I knew nothing about Singapore when I started planning this trip, but I knew we would need some sleep badly after flying over 17 hours to get there. I knew where ever we stayed needed to be somewhere we could get some sleep and that’s how we ended up at Fairmont Singapore.

Fairmont Singapore

Fairmont Singapore is a luxury, 5-star hotel near Raffles City. We had to get two rooms because we had 5 in our group. Which means staying here cost me $$$. If you can manage to get your people into one room stay here, if you have to get two rooms I would look elsewhere. Overall, we had a great stay here. We got in around 1 AM and were totally beat. We went right to sleep. Unlike a lot of hotels, there was no noise. No one woke us up from the hallway and that was a big deal to us considering how extremely jet-lagged we were. I think it is because of the circular layout in the tower we stayed in. Both of our rooms were large and we had plenty of room to spread out.

I felt totally safe staying here. I travel a lot as you know with my kids and sometimes I can feel a little uncomfortable. The entire time we stayed here I felt safe. It was no issue that I was a single mom traveling with my kids.

In fact, I felt so safe that I left my kids in the room and went to the hotel across the street for a cocktail. This hotel is directly across the street from Raffles Singapore hotel. It was over at the Raffles hotel bar that the Singapore Sling was invented sometime before 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese bartender working at the Long Bar inside the hotel. Needless to say, I went over and tried one, it is a gin-based cocktail. It was great and now I can say I have had one. Before you head there to do the same, know that they are $26 USD each.

After we had Singapore Slings we walked back over to the Fairmont and went to the bar there in the lobby. Drinks were about $10 cheaper here than at Raffles. The hotel bar, Anti:dote is nice and their cocktail menu was awesome. 

But enough about cocktails! Let’s go back to hotel details.

I enjoyed having a balcony. Our view was not the best, but it certainly wasn’t a bad view. The architecture in Singapore is incredible.

The location seemed good to me too. I am not familiar enough with Singapore to decide whether or not the location was good, but it was close to the MRT (the subway) and connected to a mall.  We could get anywhere on the MRT, so having one nearby is a huge plus. When we left, we were able to take the MRT to the airport.

I have to mention the main hangup I had here other than the price, the electricity. I have several adapters/convertors and I more or less successfully used them. However, when I used one of the plugins at the desk it didn’t work. For whatever reason, the electricity came in way too strong. I didn’t realize it and I burnt my hair off with my curling iron. I have never burnt my hair before and have used my curling iron is 18 other countries. So, I feel like the issue was with the power strip thing located inside the desk. Do not use any of those outlets! And just so you know, burnt hair smells awful.

Things I liked about Fairmont Singapore

• Childcare (for a fee)
• On-site restaurants (6 of them!)
• English speaking staff
• Tennis courts
• Swimming pools
• Poolside bar
• Felt safe
• NESPRESSO coffee machine in the room (This was my first encounter with a Nespresso machine. It was love at first sight.)

Things I did not like about Fairmont Singapore

• Having to get two rooms
• The electricity
• Wifi costs extra

See current rates.

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