Day 5: Mt. Aso, Helicopter Ride, Kusarenri Observatory, Mt. Aso Museum, Daikanbo Observatory. Journey to Mount Aso: A Scenic Adventure Today’s drive to Mount Aso is an exhilarating adventure, characterized by a series of steep hairpin turns over a 1.5-hour journey. This drive can be quite challenging, especially for those unfamiliar with mountain roads, so we strongly recommend that drivers ensure they are well-rested the night before embarking on this … [Read more...]
DIY Japan – 8D7N Kyushu Self-Drive Trip (Part 2: Kumamoto & Takachiho Gorge)
Day 3: Nagasaki to Kumamoto, Kumamoto Castle, Josaien, Shimotori Shopping Arcade. On Day 3 of our journey, we departed from Nagasaki and embarked on a 1.5-hour drive to Kumamoto. Kumamoto is significantly larger than Nagasaki and has a vibrant atmosphere which reminded us of bustling Sapporo. Hotel: We chose REF Kumamoto by VESSEL HOTELS, a modern, contemporary hotel in the heart of Kumamoto city, adjacent to Shimotori Shopping Arcade. We had slight difficulty locating the hotel carpark at … [Read more...]
Hotel InterContinental Khao Yai, Thailand – A Review
Khao Yai Thailand is a precinct 2.5 hours' drive northeast of Bangkok that offers a wide range of many interesting activities. While there are some that leverage on its natural beauty like walks and hikes, some of the other interesting ones border along the lines of make-believe ranging from a ‘Hokkaido’-like Lavender farm to a replica Italian town and a cowboy ranch from a Western movie. These ‘replicas’ are done so well that they effectively add to the allure of Khao Yai and is a major tourist … [Read more...]
DIY Chiang Mai Thailand with Kids – Itinerary & Tips!
Our first trip to Chiang Mai and it is more surprising than we thought! Beautiful Chiang Mai! Top 8 Exciting Family-Friendly Things to Do in Chiang Mai Here we are, soaring about a thousand feet in the sky on a paramotor aircraft, looking down at the wide expanse dotted with farmland. I cannot believe what I was experiencing and none of us expected ourselves to be doing this here in one of Thailand's popular tourist destination but here we are, welcome to Chiang Mai! Chiang Mai … [Read more...]
Review – InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Vietnam
When rain was a blessing, truly. We were looking forward to this stay at the InterContinental® Danang Sun Peninsula Resort as a respite from the hustle of touring Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during our ‘epic’ DIY Vietnam trip with kids. Even though we were really looking forward to the stay, the incessant December rain had other plans for us. Little did we know that the rain, instead of being a dampener, enhanced our experience! Here’s why: Like A Hearty Home-made Soup: The … [Read more...]
Hokkaido Hotel Review – Hinode Hills Niseko Village
One of the many reasons we are delighted about the reopening of Japan’s borders is that we can share about one of the finest hotels we have stayed-in in Hokkaido: Hinode Hills Niseko Village. We will always remember the warmth and comfort we got at Hinode Hills. Part of YTL Hotel group, we stayed at Hinode Hills Niseko Village during our very last trip to Hokkaido pre-COVID in December 2019. It was newly opened then and we were among its first guests! Unfortunately, as March … [Read more...]
DIY Nagoya Japan with Kids – Itinerary and Recommendations
We have been to Japan multiple times and have covered the ‘major’ cities, including the three major amusement parks (Click here for our post on our itineraries and experiences to 16 countries including Japan). Legoland Japan, really takes the cake with some seriously good activities. On our last trip, we decided to visit Nagoya before going to Hokkaido, as we wanted to discover a new city other than Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. We were so thrilled to find Autumn blooms at … [Read more...]
Penang Hotel Review: Courtyard by Marriott Penang
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...]
Queenstown New Zealand, 5 Must-do Family Activities.
From Bungy to Quirky…for everyone in the family. We all know that Queenstown aka ‘Adventure Capital of the World’, has tons of activities to offer the adrenaline thrill-seekers. But how about for families with young primary kids like our Buddy? As it turns out, lots! Here’s sharing our 5 must-do activities for families all in the little town called Queenstown! Shotover Jet Queenstown (https://www.shotoverjet.com/): The iconic thrill ride in Queenstown that’s been around since … [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...]