Planning a Southeast Asia holiday with kids? Look no further

Thinking of heading on a Southeast Asia holiday? You’ll find majestic rainforests, endless golden beaches, ruins of lost civilisations and living cultures that seem almost magical.

Imagine a holiday so diverse that one day you may wander through palaces, jungles-shrouded ancient ruins and temples. The next could be filled with breathtaking natural landscapes or immersed in oceans teeming with marine life.

Perhaps a day racing through the streets of boisterous modern cities, or charming towns filled with colourful, chaotic markets and fragrant food.

It might sound like something out of a storybook, but Southeast Asia’s heady blend of old and new is beguilingly real, and family-friendly adventures that encompass all that and so much more await.

singapore

Singapore

With its East meets West vibe, great green spaces and staggering surplus of family attractions, Singapore is a destination that offers families a taste of Southeast Asia in a safe and easy-to-navigate package.

Packed with iconic architecture, state-of-the-art attractions and action-packed theme parks, there’s also gorgeous green space, and an incredible diversity of culture and tradition. Boasting one of the world’s best public transport systems, the island-wide MRT is the easiest way to explore this constantly evolving and captivatingly creative city.

Singapore’s top attractions

Must-visit attractions include the dazzling Gardens by the Bay, an urban oasis of futuristic-themed gardens including a grove of steel Super Trees – awe-inspiring artificial trees standing between nine and 16 storeys tall that are bewitching by day or night.

Shop up a storm on Orchard Road shopping district or the hipster shopping enclaves of Haji Lane and Tiong Bahru.

The Marina Bay Sands complex is also known for its excellent shopping but is most famous for the iconic SkyPark Observation Deck and infinity pool. Only hotel guests are allowed to use the gravity-defying pool, but all are welcome to visit the observation deck. Marina Bay is also the location of the lotus-like ArtScience Museum, an immersive, imaginative must-visit for families where the wondrous worlds of art and science collide.

Steamy Sentosa provides an entire island of fun for families, while Singapore’s zoos and wildlife parks are renowned the world over for their innovative and ethical practices.

The Children’s Museum Singapore is a first-of-its-kind museum dedicated to kids under 12 years old. Housed in a historic building near Fort Canning, the newly opened centre boasts a wonderful array of play and learning experiences.

Overflowing with parks, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens is a must, but for something different hire a bicycle and hightail it to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park to ride alongside the long, meandering canal.

38 brilliant things to do in Singapore with kids

Singapore family hotels

Shangri-La Singapore

Shangri-La Singapore is a tranquil hideaway surrounded by tropical gardens, minutes from busy Orchard Road. With three distinctive wings offering hotel rooms, serviced apartments and residences, the hotel is ideal for families. Guests of themed or family rooms have access to a family concierge to assist with all their needs. Kids will love the interactive play space, family pool and Splash Zone with its lazy river and thrilling vertical drop water slides.

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore

The only beachfront resort in Singapore, Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore offers tailor-made fun for families with family rooms and activities galore. The private beachfront resort is an aquatic paradise, with watersports, an enormous lagoon pool, daily family activities, animal-themed water slides in the children’s pool and a splash pad, plus Nestopia, an outdoor play space on Siloso Beach. The resort’s Cool Zone kids’ club provides supervised age-appropriate entertainment.

Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre

Conveniently located in the heart of Orchard Road close to Chinatown and Little India and just a stone’s throw away from the subway, exploring Singapore with kids has never been so easy. Guests can enjoy a choice of delicious dining and there’s a scenic rooftop pool to cool off after a day exploring steaming Singapore. Best of all, kids at Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre stay and eat for free when travelling with their parents.

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malaysia

Malaysia

Located on the southeastern edge of the Asian continent and separated into two by the South China Sea, Malaysia offers double the delights for families. The peninsula, stretching from Thailand to Singapore, is all rugged rainforest-clad mountains overflowing with forest life and warm sandy beaches, fantastic festivals and skyscraper-smattered cities.

Its other half, Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, is home to wild jungle, remote tribes and incredible cultural and wildlife experiences.

Read: The 6 best places to visit in Malaysia

Malaysia’s top attractions

Families should look to add the following stops to their Malaysia itinerary. Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi Island for ocean fun, Malacca for history and culture and Taman Negara National Park for one of the oldest rainforests. Taman Negara is home to tigers, elephants, and rhinos and offers jungle trekking, river rafting, and canopy walks. Malasya has a number of theme parks from LEGOLAND Malaysia, Sunway Lagoon and Genting Highlands Theme Park.

Legoland Malaysia Resort

Take a side trip to the Malaysian city of Johor Bahru for a visit to Legoland Malaysia Resort. With multiple themed lands, stores and themed cafes, kids can enjoy more than 70 hands-on rides, slides, shows and attractions. Enjoy even more adventures at the Legoland Water Park. Kids can surf the wave pool, float along the Build-A-Raft lazy river, and roar down epic water slides.

Malaysia family hotels

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is just 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport and the city centre. The oceanfront resort is perfectly located to explore the best of Sabah and the tropical coral islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

Home to a 2,000-square-metre swimming pool and water play area with water slides and dedicated areas for everyone from toddlers to teens. The kids’ club offers hosted daily activities to keep little ones entertained while parents indulge at Chi, the resort’s spa.

Shangri-La Golden Sands, Penang

Paradise meets family fun at Shangri-La Golden Sands, Penang. The resort has 387 comfortable guestrooms and suites complemented by two swimming pools, the Splash Zone mini water park, Adventure Zone and endless activities. Perfectly located on Malaysia’s stunning Batu Ferringhi Beach, just a short walk from Batu Ferringhi’s night market, and a 25-minute drive from central George Town, visitors can expect warm service, sensational sea views and sunsets, along with incredible cuisine.

LEGOLAND Hotel at LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort

Make your brick-filled break even more magical with a stay at the Legoland Hotel with a dragon-guarded entrance, loads of interactive features and Lego-themed bedrooms that will inspire little imaginations.

thailand

Thailand

Australian families have long flocked to Thailand. Often putting it at the top of the Southeast Asia holiday list. Thailand offers many experiences. Its landscapes vary from action-packed cities, jungle adventures and idyllic islands. Families can visit temples, street markets, amusement parks and world-famous beaches.

Follow the well-trodden path to boisterous Bangkok for its collision of modern city living and ancient culture – and soundtrack of tricked-out tuk-tuks.

You’ll find unforgettable experiences dotted throughout cities and towns across the country. Explore ancient ruins or trek through lush mountains and jungles in the north. Head south for idyllic islands, clear blue seas and secluded beaches. Alternately, immerse yourself in one of the many cultural experiences and festive celebrations that occur nationwide. Whatever you do, Thailand will weave its magic on your crew.

Thailand family hotels

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is located on the beautiful Kata Noi Bay and is a haven for families. As if the six swimming pools, four toddler pools, three jacuzzis and a mini water slide weren’t enough to keep the kids entertained, there’s a soft playroom, outdoor playground, edutainment games, kids’ books and toys, plus the Chang Noi Kids’ Club. For parents, there’s a ‘nail cottage’ for manicures and pedicures, or you can enjoy a massage in the garden. Rooms and suites are generous in size and some offer glorious views of the Andaman Sea.

Meliá Koh Samui

A beachfront retreat is the stuff dream Thailand family holidays are made of. Start with water sports and snorkelling in the pristine ocean. Then little ones can make a splash at the mini water park or float along the meandering lagoon-style pool. Young guests can also indulge in all-day fun at the Kidsdom kids’ club. The whole family will love cooking classes, fitness sessions or pampering at YHI Spa. Meliá Koh Samui Beach Resort‘s spacious family suites provide a comfortable space for the whole family to relax, and come equipped with fun games.

vietnam

Vietnam

Vibrant Vietnam boasts some of the most breathtaking landscapes of places in Southeast Asia. Discover soaring limestone cliffs, bone-white beaches, emerald-green rice paddies and the vast maze of rivers, swamps and islands that make up the Mekong Delta.

Add a diverse heritage and history, a unique culture and some of the world’s tastiest food and you have the recipe for a perfect family holiday.

The Southeast Asia destination has a rich culture that reflects the heritage and history of the country. Its colourful traditions are a nod a past filled with ancient glory and modern tragedy. From the fast-paced, frenzied chaos of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to the atmospheric beachside towns of Hue and Hoi An, the tropical island of Phu Quoc and the ethnic hill tribe villages clinging to mountains, every part of Vietnam has a charm uniquely its own.

Read: The best beach towns in Vietnam

Vietnam family hotels

Alma Resort Cam Ranh

Alma Resort Cam Ranh has an incredible list of attractions. There is a science museum, 12 pools, art gallery, waterpark, 13-treatment room spa, cinema, convention centre, amphitheatre, youth centre with virtual reality games, kid’s club, water sports centre, gymnasium and yoga room and an 18-hole putting green. Splash Water Park will be the highlight of your children’s stay. It has a wave pool, kid’s pool, water slides and lazy river. You can grab an inflatable ring and float down the lazy river in the Vietnamese sunshine.

Mövenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc

Step into paradise at the five-star Movenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc, located on Ong Lang beach on the west coast of Phu Quoc Island. You will find everything you need for a family holiday at this Vietnam beachfront resort.

cambodia

Cambodia

The enchanting Kingdom of Cambodia is the stuff of kids’ Indiana Jones and Lara Croftinfused fantasies. The cultural country should be on your family holiday hit list.

While still in recovery from its turbulent past, Cambodia is a country on the rise. Along with the famous temples of Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, this little country punches way above its weight when it comes to family adventures.

From the buzzing capital, Phnom Penh, with its treasure-filled museums and ornate Royal Palace to the pretty rural provinces dotted along the Mekong, jungles in the northeast and white sand beaches in the south, there’s so much to explore.

For more Southeast Asia trip ideas read our Cambodia family-friendly travel guide.

laos

Laos

Nestled between China, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, Laos is renowned for its vivid natural landscapes and rich traditions.

An untainted destination for adventurous families looking to explore the outdoors and experience a timeless Southeast Asia. Laos offers families adventures in underground river caves, jungle ziplines and also ancient temples, wildlife and cultural encounters.

The quiet capital, Vientiane, is dotted with Buddhist temples and monasteries, museums, cultural centres, parks and markets. The city is a charming introduction to the country. Then magical Luang Prabang, with its ribbons of saffron-robed monks, is the place for spiritual nourishment. Laos is also home to many national parks and nature reserves. Get outdoors and immerse the family in adventure as you explore the lush forest and stunning scenery.

Southeast Asia tour map

This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue here.

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