Keeping kids entertained goes a long way in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable holiday for the whole family. Hotels – whether in cities or resort destinations – are stepping up with family-friendly offerings that go beyond the basics. From cultural workshops to thoughtfully designed play areas, these properties create safe, engaging environments where kids can play, explore and even learn something new. Here are 10 hotels that strike the right balance – delighting younger guests without compromising the comfort and downtime parents crave.
1. Singapore: Marina Bay Sands
Singapore’s most-photographed hotel has introduced 51 new family suites designed for longer stays. Each suite includes a dedicated kids’ room with bunk beds, beanbags, books and toys. Bathrooms come equipped with stools and mini amenities, while kids’ cutlery and robes are standard.
Two new spaces – The Play Den and The Hideaway – offer entertainment with a learning twist, with activities linked to sustainability. Parents will appreciate The Pantry, a butler-accessed service with baby wipes, swim diapers and loaner strollers. With laundry facilities and access to MBS’ attractions, it’s an easy base to explore Singapore.
2. Phuket: Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort & Spa
This elegant, low-rise resort just an hour north of Phuket sits in Khao Lak, which offers a more rugged and quiet landscape compared to the rest of the island. The resort features 283 room types, with many offering direct pool access.
Kids will enjoy the Aqua Play Zone with water slides and a fountain trampoline, plus the JW Boat serving coconuts in floating market style. Parents can sneak away to Quan Spa or the 24-hour gym, while the whole family can enjoy the JW Garden, a full-working farm that offers tours and opportunities to get up close with the animals, as well as a bamboo shark nursery for hands-on learning.
3. Koh Samui: Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach
With a sea-themed splash park, multi-level indoor playground and themed dinner nights, this three-year-old property is made for kids. The family suites come with a bunk-bedded kids’ room and thoughtful bathroom additions like stools. And in some cases, a balcony that looks over the playground.
Beyond the resort, Bophut Beach offers local dining at Coco Tam’s (complete with fire shows) and a bustling night market – all just steps away. The beach, while a bit rough, is still a great break from swimming in the pool and gives the whole family a lovely sun, sea and sand holiday.
4. Hong Kong: Island Shangri-La
This centrally located luxury hotel puts Hong Kong’s top attractions within reach. Inside, family suites reference the city’s trams, while a two-storey kids’ club and pantry of essentials make stays seamless.
Guests who book the family suites are also able to access The Hangout, where they can enjoy refreshments and snacks as well as activities for children throughout the day. It’s an easy walk to Hong Kong Park, the Peak Tram and the Star Ferry, creating the perfect blend of play and exploration.
5. Phuket: Club Med Phuket
Club Med Phuket takes the stress out of family holidays with its seamless all-inclusive experience and upgraded family-friendly offerings. Recently introduced family suites are located in the dedicated Family Oasis, with deluxe rooms that open directly onto the Splash Park – a thoughtfully designed water play area with both wet and dry zones. It’s a safe space where kids can burn off energy while parents relax nearby at the adjacent café with coffee or snack in hand.
The resort’s kids’ clubs cater to various age groups and offer a full schedule of engaging activities – think archery, trapeze, arts and crafts and even impromptu foam parties by the pool. In the evenings, expect lively entertainment and shows designed to bring the whole family together. With meals, snacks, and activities all taken care of, Club Med Phuket offers a fuss-free, sun-filled getaway where every family member can relax and recharge.
6. Bali: Ayana Bali
Set on Bali’s scenic Jimbaran coast, Ayana Bali is an expansive integrated resort made up of Ayana Resort, Villas, Segara and Rimba – all offering family-friendly room options. Guests can enjoy the shared amenities across all four properties, including access to 14 different pools scattered throughout the lush grounds.
Rimba is the most family-focused area and home to the newly opened Rimba Jungle Adventure, an imaginative outdoor playground. Here, older kids can tackle Sproutworks – a nature-inspired zone with climbing structures and ziplines – while younger children enjoy Lumincave, a soft play space designed to stimulate the senses. Indoors, Whisperwood hosts puzzle-solving games, storytelling sessions and nature-themed activities.
More is on the way, with the soon-to-open Ayana Ocean Adventure water park and Tevana Playground – a treehouse in a six-hectare garden. The on-site Green Camp also offers nature-based classes where children aged seven to 12 can try bamboo crafts, coconut tree climbing and more.
7. Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo: Mimaru Apartment Hotel
In a country where hotel rooms are often compact, Mimaru Apartment Hotels stands out by offering spacious, apartment-style stays ideal for families of four or more. With essential amenities like washing machines, dryers and kitchenettes, these accommodations take the hassle out of travelling with young children, especially after long days of sightseeing. Mimaru is also a KrisFlyer partner hotel, meaning KrisFlyer members can earn miles when they stay.
Mimaru has locations in major Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, and each property incorporates playful cultural themes. At Mimaru Osaka Shinsaibashi North, a full-size Samurai armour greets guests in the lobby, while the nearby Shinsaibashi East is styled like a traditional izakaya and serves locally brewed sake and wine.
In Tokyo, the newly launched Pokémon-themed rooms in Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro bring the franchise to life with character décor in every corner. In Osaka, the boardgame-themed rooms at Mimaru Namba Station feature family-friendly touches – including a bed-to-floor slide for kids to unwind in style.
8. Johannesburg: &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge
Located within Kruger National Park, &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge offers families an immersive and responsible safari experience just a short domestic flight from Johannesburg. The newly renovated Family Villa sleeps up to six guests, with two adult bedrooms and a children’s room – each with its own ensuite – plus a private pool, dining area and exclusive use of a safari vehicle, ranger and tracker team.
Other options include thatched cottages and family suites ideal for smaller groups. Regardless of accommodation, all guests have access to the lodge’s dedicated WILDchild programme, which encourages kids to learn about the African bush through interactive and age-appropriate activities.
&Beyond Ngala also holds exclusive traversing rights to 14,700 hectares of wilderness, offering the chance to spot Africa’s legendary “Big Five” – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo – under the guidance of expert trackers who ensure low-impact, off-road game viewing.
9. Male: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, combines luxury and learning in a setting that appeals to both children and adults. At the heart of its family offering is Ritz Kids – a thoughtfully curated programme for children aged four to 12 that revolves around four pillars: land, water, environmental responsibility and culture.
Daily activities include arts and crafts, cooking sessions and outdoor sports, all set in an airy indoor-outdoor clubhouse with a playground and water zone complete with slides and jets. A highlight is the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment Programme, which introduces children to marine conservation through activities like studying beach micro-organisms with an on-site marine biologist – the first initiative of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.
As part of the Fari Islands integrated resort, guests also have access to seven restaurants and bars across neighbouring properties. From freshly made pasta to family-style Mediterranean fare, there’s something for every palate.
10. Sri Lanka: Medea Gedara
Just two hours from Colombo, Medea Gedara offers a private beachfront escape, ideal for large families or groups, in the coastal town of Dikwella. This colonial-style villa is packed with kid-friendly activities: a 74-feet water slide, split-level pool, cinema room, board games and even cooking classes for little ones.
Instead of a formal kids’ club, there’s a beach activity programme featuring sandcastle competitions and hermit crab races. After a day in the sun, relax in colourful hammocks or indulge in a massage at the yoga shala.
A private chef prepares Sri Lankan favourites such as egg hoppers and kukul mas (chicken curry), making mealtimes stress-free. The villa has seven bedrooms of various sizes – from super-king to singles – many with ocean views, perfect for multigenerational stays.
With space to spread out and plenty to do, Medea Gedara offers a relaxed, coastal base where families can reconnect and create memories together.
SEE ALSO: 5 best cities for outdoor family activities
For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights to the above destinations, visit singaporeair.com.
A version of this article was originally published in the October 2019 issue of Silkwinds magazine by Lindy Alexander and was heavily updated in July 2025 by Karen Fong.
