SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
October 2019
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach Presents Fun for the Whole Family! (Review + Giveaway)
Situated in downtown Singapore, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach is perhaps best known for its Philippe Starck designer furnishings. It’s also popular among business travellers and well-heeled jetsetters. But did you know that it recently launched a Fun for the Whole Family staycation package? Yup, it’s a new family-friendly package especially designed to delight families with kids up to 12 years. We check in to the stylish hotel to bring you this review. Oh, and read on to find out how you can win this staycation package for your family too!
Checking in at the chic hotel lobby was a breeze. For one thing, we were engrossed in gawking at unique LED flickering candlelight installation above the reception. Or picking which of the oh-so-cool Philippe Starck chairs to perch on while the friendly staff explained the ins and outs of our stay. Even the elevator ride to the 15th floor was a mind-boggling experience — changing coloured lights made the marine life artwork on its four walls come to life!
Rooms with a View or Two
We were ushered into our digs for the weekend — a spacious Premier room that’s minimalist and plush all at once. The first thing that caught our attention, however, was the one cheery pop of colour in the room — a camper van! But more on that later. There were also horizontal blinds keeping the sunlight at bay and we discovered that these — and the drapes — were controlled automatically by wall switches. How neat is that!
The blinds lifted to reveal a panorama through the wall-to-wall windows on adjacent sides of the room. It was a stunning and almost unfettered view all the way to Marina Bay and beyond. The light streaming in bounced back from a mirrored wall, which turned out to be a shiny treasure trove. They hid a wardrobe, chest of drawers, coffee and tea making facilities, mini bar and fridge with snacks and drinks.
(See also: 7 Family Cruises in 2019 Sure to Float Your Boat!)
The marble bathroom is perfect for family living. For one thing, it’s huge, and features a lovely bathtub, separate toilet and shower. Hate having to go pee in the middle of the night and the seat is freezing? Then you’ll love the heated seat, complete with remote-controlled bidet! Oh, and it’s got a motion sensor, so the toilet cover raises to greet you when you enter! Fancy!
Family by JW
The staycation package builds on JW Marriott’s latest initiative, Family by JW. The experience starts upon check-in, where kids are given an activity guide and exploration map. It takes them on an exploratory adventure through the hotel and they get rewards for completing tasks. In the room, they’ll also find more fun stuff including stickers, name tag, crayons and postcards to colour in.
But of course, one of the highlights of the kids’ stay will be that camper van. How cute is it?! By day, it makes for fun pretend play. By night, it doubles up as a bed for one child up to seven years old. We think even older kids would probably be happy to curl up inside anyway. If not, you can request for an extra bed instead.
(See also: 8 Strategies You Should Adopt to Stop Bedtime Battles with Your Tot)
From a parent’s point of view, we love that the hotel truly thought about tiny guests when designing this package. For instance, there is a sturdy stool in the bathroom so little ones can reach to wash their hands and brush their teeth. Speaking of brushing teeth, the kids get their own set of toothbrush and toothpaste. And we love the set of Le Petit Prince toiletries they get too. Oh, and they even prepared bedroom slippers in Daddy, Mummy and Kiddo sizes — love!
Later that afternoon, we were also surprised with an adorable platter of sweet treats for the kids. More fun to be had with an extra sugar kick! The grown-ups aren’t left out either, with elegant chocolates being our turn-down treat.
Stay and Play
After settling in, it was time to head out to explore the rest of the hotel. There’s nothing conventional about the layout and styling of JW Marriott Singapore South Beach. It’s part of a mixed-use complex that was launched in 2015. A landscaped pedestrian avenue weaves between conserved historical buildings and brand-new builds, which meld together seamlessly under an undulating canopy.
Our favourite spot is up on the 18th floor — a pair of sky gardens perfect for lounging around in. The immaculate landscaping, quirky paintings and unmatched views come complete with couches, rocking armchairs and hammocks. We recommend bringing your favourite book or a family board game to take advantage of it. You can also play a game of pool, foosball or ping pong, although keeping the ball in play might be tricky considering how windy it gets up there!
(See also: The Best Board Games for Kids, from Age 3 to Teens)
Or take a dip in one of the two pools, Ebb6 and Flow18. The latter has a kiddie pool to keep your little ones occupied while you relax in the jacuzzi area. Not content with the usual seats, this one has lounges built right into the pool! You can also order up a drink from the pool bar while you’re at it. The water felt a tad chilly — it was really windy! — after a while, so we decided to dry off.
Other facilities include a well-equipped 24-hour fitness centre and Spa by JW for some pampering. The complimentary Wi-Fi is also seamless throughout the hotel room, lobby and public areas, ideal for all your Instastories! Need more? No problem, since you’re literally a stone’s throw away from Suntec City, Marina Bay and the historic Civic District.
Dining Options Galore
In the morning, the usual hotel buffet breakfast gets magnified at Beach Road Kitchen. The spread is huge and there’s something — and more — for everyone in the family. If you’re staying on a weekend as we did, try to go before 9am. Latecomers to breakfast will have to contend with a queue, especially at the live stations. But we have to say that the service was impeccable and the staff were really accommodating and kind.
Other restaurants within the hotel include Japanese diner Akira Back, and modern Cantonese cuisine at Madame Fan. There are also a number of venues for grown-ups to enjoy live music and adult drinks. One of these is the famous Fish Pool, where you can catch live mermaid performances on Friday and Saturday nights. Pssst! We hear there’s a Family by JW Mermaid Staycation package available too!
Lots more dining options abound within the South Beach Avenue retail complex. These range from Fynn’s Cicheti to Real Food, and from Lady M to the ubiquitous Starbucks. During our stay, we decided to revisit an old favourite of ours, Vatos Urban Tacos, for some Ko-Mex cuisine. You’ll find it in one of the conservation buildings, together with The Armoury gastrobar.
All in all, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach certainly gets our stamp of approval. It not only offers a fantastic stay complete with all the modern conveniences you could want, but the Family by JW initiative adds tons of value for families with kids of all ages. And they certainly know how to make you feel welcome!
(See also: Fruit and Pregnancy: Which are Best for You and your Baby?)
:: GIVEAWAY! ::
We have a 2D1N Fun for The Whole Family staycation package at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach worth at least $420 to give away to one lucky winner!
How to win:
- Like and Share this article on Facebook with the hashtag #SMgiveaway (make sure your share is set to ‘public’)
- Like JW Marriott Singapore South Beach’s Facebook page and follow its Instagram account @JWMarriottSG
- Leave a comment on our Facebook post to let us know that you’ve done the above
- Sit back and relax. We’ll be in touch if you’ve won!
Terms and conditions:
- This giveaway (including its letter certificate) is non-replaceable, non–refundable and is not redeemable for cash. The letter certificate is not valid without the Hotel’s authorised signatories, and not applicable for use with other promotions, offers, letters or discount cards.
- The original letter certificate must be presented upon check-in, is valid for one-time use only, and is valid till 31 March 2020.
- Blackout dates apply; advance reservation is required.
- Hotel check-in time is after 3pm, and check-out time is at 12 noon.
Closing date: 12 noon, 25 October 2019
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