Traveling to Aus with 4 & 2 year old, ? stop over in airport

[Isabel12345]

We're travelling to Aus with our 2 very busy children (2 & 4 yrs). I've had someone mention that there are hotels within the airports which you could stop over for a bit in. I'm thinking that we could do a night flight then stop over in a hotel inside the airport to allow the kids to stretch and let off steam (hopefully with a pool), then get on another night flight. Has anyone done this and if so which airport? Does anyone know with the hotels if you still have to go through baggage check or can you're bags still be transferred onto you next flight? :)

You'll want to transit through Singapore - the Aerotel hotel is inside the terminal and has an outside pool. You don't need to pick your bags up or do security, and Changi is in general an epic airport

Another recommendation for Changi airport in Singapore. This should suit you perfectly.

I travelled solo with a four year old and two year old twins from Australia to the Netherlands (And several times a year for the next 9 years). Singapore is brilliant for this. If you are going straight through, you usually have time to go and have a shower and get changed. (You pay for those facilities, but it's absolutely worth it to make you feel a bit human.). I have also travelled through Dubai, but Singapore Airport is much more child friendly. (So much to do while there as well)

Singapore. Theres a butterfly garden too!

Definitely Singapore! It's really child friendly and there's so much to do.

If you are travelling from Europe then another vote for Singapore...

As others have their whole airside set-up for transit passengers is excellent.

www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/transit-hotels.html

Sorry coffee...that was meant for @Isabel12345

Hi OP, we have done this trip (to NZ) many times - definitely Singapore and stay at the Crowne Plaza Changi. It’s a really nice hotel with a great pool and is within the terminal - you do leave the transit area but it’s literally a 5 minute walk max with your trolley to the hotel lobby.

i recommend getting a suite - they are huge and have a separate bedroom, so that if one of the kids is awake with jet lag in the middle
of the night you can decamp to the lounge area and leave the others sleeping in the bedroom. The hotel will provide a fit for the 2 year old and a rollaway bed for the 4y.o.

we always do a Singapore stop - it’s lovely to have a day or 2 to be warm, eat laksa and swim before the second long leg. We recently stayed at the ParkRoyal Pickering which was great too if you have a bit longer (say 48 hours) and want to head into Singapore proper.

crowne plaza changi also does day rooms which we’ve done before too - arrive around 8am, sleep for 4-5 hours after hellish cattle class, have room service and a swim and then get back on the plane about 6pm

Thank you so much, that's all such helpful information

Can I double check with crowne plaza changi do you have to go through bagage check? Ideally I'd like to avoid leaving the airport to minimise time waiting around?

I may be wrong but as I recall it (2 years back) the Crown Plaza is "landside", but within the airport complex. So yes, you have to go through immigration and collect bags. Ready to be corrected.

The airside transit hotel is the Aerotel.

You do need to go through, but if your bags are checked through to your final destination you wouldn’t need to collect them (we’ve done this). Just make sure you pack your togs in your cabin luggage (we have also managed to forget to do this.) Changi is so efficient and well organised it might take you an extra 10 minutes to get through to landslide.