The pandemic has changed many aspects of how families approach travel. Considerations of crowds, cleanliness and convenience become even more important especially when travelling to popular tourist destinations like Penang. We stayed at the new Courtyard by Marriott Penang hotel during our first trip back after the pandemic to visit the kids paternal grandma. Here’s our authentic review. Video highlights from our stay. Location: The pandemic has amplified the convenience of … [Read more...]
DIY Family Travels with Kids – Itineraries | Reviews | Tips
16 Countries from Canada to Cambodia, Japan to USA, Scandinavia to Indonesia, Iceland, Finland, New Zealand, Thailand, (and God-willing many more 'lands'!). Cities include: Bali, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Osaka, Penang, Queensland, , Reykjavik, Siem Reap, Tokyo. Activities include: Ski lessons in Hokkaido, Self-Drive Iceland, Self-Drive Hokkaido, Farm stays in Taiwan, Northern-lights and Santa Claus Park in Finland. Theme Parks include: Disneyland (Anaheim); Tokyo … [Read more...]
Jazz Hotel Penang, Malaysia – A Review & Giveaway!
Penang is one of our favorite regional destinations. Aside from being my hubby David’s hometown, Penang has many unique experiences to offer families apart from its famous hawker fare. In this recent September trip back, we wanted to stay in the city for a change instead of the usual beachfront Batu Ferringhi area as I was keen to do some ‘café-hopping’. However, hotels downtown are not only costlier and few are big enough to fit a family of 5 (the kids' Penang Grandma usually joins … [Read more...]
DoubleTree Resort by Hilton, Penang – A Review & Giveaway
Regret… kind of… My hubby and I seldom feel like this but we leave this hotel with a slight tinge of regret. “A what Museum?” One of the regrets was that we did not spend enough time at the TeddyVille Museum. Honestly, David and I had trouble trying to prioritize the things we wanted to do on this jaunt of a trip back to Penang, his hometown. TeddyVille Museum For a start, not many hotels we’ve stayed boasts of a museum, let alone a Teddy Bear Museum. Aside from a … [Read more...]
Holiday Inn Resort, Penang: The Hotel with 2 Playlabs!
Reconnect, Relax…Repeat Over the National Day long weekend, we escaped to Penang for a short 3D2N family trip to visit the kids' paternal Grandma and took the chance to check out one of Penang's most kid-friendly hotels at Batu Ferringhi. Here's a video which gives an overview of our stay at the Holiday Inn Resort, Penang. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xtzbS6Hl0E&t=86s Not just 1 but 2 Playlabs! “The kids just don’t want to leave…they just want to play!” remarked a staff … [Read more...]
Penang…with a Penangite
I was born and bred in Penang. Spent 20 of my formative years there before I headed overseas to study. It is no surprise that Penang will always have a special place in my heart even though I've now relocated to Singapore. My family, along with many close friends, in fact, are still there. So what does a Penangite do, where does he eat and go whenever he goes back? Well, here’s taking you on our trip last Dec (Yes! This is a super late post!) when we brought Buddy … [Read more...]
Golden Sands Resort, Penang – The Grand Dame of Luxury Family Hotel True and True
Stepping into the lobby of the Golden Sands Resort Penang recently was a surreal experience for me. Growing up in Penang, THIS was the hotel where my parents would house our closest family friends visiting from afar. THIS was also the hotel which my parents would sometimes check us in for our very own well-deserved, once-in-a-blue-moon family getaway. Not surprisingly therefore, I have very fond memories of the hotel – the large, comfy rooms, the beautifully landscaped pool and the sandy … [Read more...]