Singapore Baby Friendly Short-Haul Holiday Suggestions?

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Hi there Singapore mums,

We're recently newly arrived in Singapore and are finding our feet after having our baby DD in November.

Keen to get away for a week over the February Chinese New Year... Prices seem to be pretty high at places like Bintan. Keen to not get on a plane with baby just yet ideally.... perhaps drive or ferry instead so we can take all our extra baby-kit. And also looking for somewhere we can self-cater and relax by a beach/pool, rather than attempt hotel restaurants every night.

Any suggestions for destinations or resorts under 3 or 4 hours drive or ferry?

Thanks so much!

Could you consider driving over to Malaysia? The monsoony weather should be coming to an end by then (or so I'm informed).
Langkawi would be nice. The only problem is, you can't actually drive onto some of the islands. You'd need a ferry and they are only passenger.

Also, have you got a passport for your baby?

There are quite a few interesting places to visit over the causeway into malaysia, and driving yourself is straightforward or you can hire a long distance taxi. Tiger rock on pangkor island looks gorgeous, and family friendly, they do a residents rate for expats. Penang- straits collection for your own apartment or clove hall, the hyatt at Kuantan, or any of the ytl resorts, eg pangKor laut, Cameron highlands or the beautiful tanjung aru on east coast... Lots of possibilities, though cny does tend to get booked up quickly.

Malaka in Malaysia would be accessible and child friendly.

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. Yes, DD has her passport so we're good to go. Will check out these suggestions over the next few days. But you're right CNY gets booked really quickly and is v. expensive, which is why we're struggling to find something! Fingers crossed!

Port dickson and rawa are very popular beach destinations reasonnably priced and within 4 hours drive.
Am sure rawa will already be booked solid though.
I think you can get a ferry to tioman too.

It is really just as easy flying somewhere within 1:30mn as the airport is so efficient.

We've just come back from Langkawi with baby and toddler (well, 3 year old). We did fly, but it was lovely. What one earth you would need to take that is more than we took I won't know! We had 20kg each and room for booze. :)

Really, really lovely. :)

Haha loops, you are my kind of girl!
20kg for parents ( 2 swimsuits each, shorts, Ts, flimsly dresses, flimsier nightdress, 2 bottles of wine each)
20kg for baby stuff which gives you ample storage for everything!
Enjoy!
Langkawi is gorgeous.

Avoid Port Dickson. it's mucky and has chuff all to do.

Langkawi is duty free isn't it?

I'd fly frankly. It's super easy with little ones and many family friendly hotels will give you all the baby stuff you need.

Best holiday DH and I had recently was in Bali. I know it's not glam and can be grotty but everywhere and one is quite happy for wee ones to be there even some smarter restaurants.

We stayed at www.balivillas.net which was great. It is a resort of small villas so breakfast was cooked daily in your villa, its cleaned daily, It had its own pool so we could both swim whilst dd napped, and we were across the road from Bali Deli so we could dyi lunch in the villa. Loads of restaurants near by too and all had high chairs.

I'd also say fly. It's much easier before they start moving around and you have to walk the aisles to your destination . It also opens up a lot more places. Thailand is great with lots of options and family friendly hotels (both Phuket and Krabi are great and out of rainy season). Unfortunately though it is very late in the day to book anything for Chinese New Year.

We loved Bali villas- and Bali deli- too. A very relaxing, easy hol. Kl always a possibility, close and easy to get to. Or somewhere like Fraser's hill, less well known, so may not be as booked up. A peaceful contrast to singapore life, and cooler temperatures, not loads to do but nice for a quiet wk end, walking and reading? There are self catering bungalows to rent, or some slightly quirky 'English' hotels.