1. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Thailand
Set amongst 11 hectares of tropical gardens, freshwater ponds and natural preserved coastal wetlands overlooking the Andaman Sea, this beachfront resort is a haven for young families. The kids’ club offers free daily activities for young children and teenagers such as yoga, perfume-making and Thai cooking classes, while families participate in batik painting and sports competitions together.
Wildlife enthusiasts can visit the on-site turtle shelter to feed the hard-backed reptiles and learn about conserving their habitat. After a day of adrenaline-packed activities, head to the Mandara Spa for parent-and-child treatments such as a 45-minute junior massage with chocolate orange oil and a massage for adults that make use of Thai bergamot and grapefruit oils.
Back in the rooms, even the hotel’s housekeeping staff will delight young kids with their ever-changing towel art creations including gibbons, dogs and elephants.
Getting there: Fly SilkAir to Phuket. From there, it’s a 15-minute drive to the resort.
2. Mt Mulligan Lodge, Australia
This newly-opened resort in Queensland has the makings of an epic family experience, with history, adventure and lashings of luxury. The lodge overlooks a eucalyptus-lined weir beneath the majestic 18km sandstone escarpment of Mount Mulligan. This is gold and coal country, and there’s no better way to discover the rich mining stories of the region than on one of the daily guided tours that the all-inclusive property offers.
Take a family picnic to the base of Mt Mulligan or explore the ghost town of Mt Mulligan and the Tyrconnell gold mine, where kids can search for gold and see one of Australia’s only working 19th-century gold crushers in action.
Back at the lodge, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and fishing rods are available for water-loving families, whereas others may wish to grab a freshly baked treat from the all-day ‘snack station’ and head to their spacious timber Outback Pavilion, which feature two light-filled bedrooms and a communal lounge overlooking the mountain.
Getting there: Fly SilkAir to Cairns. From there, it’s a 40-minute helicopter ride to the lodge.
3. Medea Gedara, Sri Lanka
Being bored isn’t an option at this grand, colonial-style villa in Dikwella, just a few steps from the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Specially designed with family holidays in mind, the resort offers a whopping 74ft water slide, a cinema room for movie nights, a playroom filled with board games and cooking classes tailored for young children. In lieu of a kids’ club, there’s a beach activity programme such as sandcastle competitions and hermit crab racing.
After working up an appetite on the beach, let your private chef whip up some Lankan classics such as egg hoppers or kukul mas (chicken curry), before dozing in the colourful hammocks strung between palm trees, or indulge with a pampering massage in the yoga ‘shala’.
Getting there: Fly SilkAir to Colombo. From there, it’s a two-hour drive to the property.
To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com
SEE ALSO: 5 best cities for outdoor family activities
This article was originally published in the October 2019 issue of Silkwinds magazine