
Are you and the fam aching for a short getaway but don’t want to stray too far from home? There are many exciting short-haul weekend trips in Asia that you should consider. Short getaways are great when you can’t take a lot of time off from work and when the kiddos have school commitments. Sometimes you just need a quick trip with a change of scenery to recharge your batteries!
Little Steps has the rundown on some of the best short haul weekends trips in Asia for you and your clan. We’ve listed family-friendly short-haul destinations ranging from Bali to Vietnam. Pack your bags and enjoy your trip!
Vietnam is one of those destinations packed with history, natural beauty, and scrumptious food. Explore the streets of the Old Town neighborhood in Vietnam’s beautiful and historic Hoi An city. Go cycling with the fam through Hoi An to take in the best of local Vietnamese culture. Pop past the vibrant Hoi An Night Market to shop authentic handicrafts, nibble on flavorsome street foods, and admire all the dazzling lanterns. Stay in luxury and comfort at The Nam Hai, offering direct beach access to the pristine Ha My beach.
Hoi An Cycling, 86/7 Nguyen Truong To Street, Phuong Minh An, Hoi An, Vietnam, +84 9198 82783, info@hoiancyclingtour.com, www.hoiancyclingtour.com
Hoi An Night Market, Nguyen Hoang Street, Phuong Minh An, Hoi An, Vietnam
The Nam Hai, Four Seasons Resort Hoi An, Block Ha My Dong B, Dien Duong Ward, Hoi An, Vietnam, +84 235 395 9879, reservations.hoian@fourseasons.com, www.fourseasons.com/hoian/
Bali is a fantastic option for a short getaway with the family. Visit the south coastal village of Canggu. Laze in the sun at the pool or on Berawa beach at Finns Beach Club. With a dedicated family area, pools, bars, restaurants, daily DJ’s, and sunset views - there’s plenty of fun to be had! For more excitement, Finns Recreation Club offers many action-packed facilities - Bounce Trampoline Centre, Splash Waterpark, Strike Bowling, and more! Stay at Como Uma Canggu, a beachfront luxury resort offering various accommodation options and Como kids club.
Finns Beach Club, Jl. Pantai Berawa No.99, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali, +62 361 844 6327, info@finnsbeachclub.com, www.finnsbeachclub.com
Finns Recreation Club, Jl. Pantai Berawa, Canggu, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali, +62 361 848 3939, info@finnsrecclub.com, www.finnsrecclub.com
Como Uma Canggu, Jl. Pantai Batu Mejan, Echo Beach, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali, +62 361 620 2228, como.uma.canggu@comohotels.com, www.comohotels.com/en/umacanggu
Looking for more things to do in Bali? Check out more Bali blogs by Little Steps here
Just a short ride away from bustling Bangkok is the secluded island paradise of Koh Kood. Get a van from Bangkok to Laem Sok Pier to ferry directly to Koh Kood. Take the fam on a snorkeling tour with BB Divers to get up close to the stunning reef life in the area. Wander through Koh Kood’s untouched rainforests and go on an easy hike to the majestic Khlong Chao Waterfall. Stay at eco resort Soneva Kiri offering a Spa and 33 super-luxe villas nestled in a lush tropical rainforest overlooking a white sand beach.
BB Divers Koh Kood, 43/8 Moo 2, Koh Kood, Trat, Thailand, +66 82220 6002, kohkood@bbdivers.com, www.bbdivers-koh-kood.com
Khlong Chao Waterfall, located a few kilometers inland from behind Khlong Chao beach on the northwest coast of Koh Kood, Trat, Thailand
Soneva Kiri, 110 Moo 4, Koh Kood, Trat, Thailand, +66 82208 8888, reservations-kiri@soneva.com, www.soneva.com/resorts/soneva-kiri/
It’s no wonder why families flock to Cebu. Budget airlines make getting there easy and affordable! This breezy resort destination also has enough beautiful beaches, water sports, and good food to cater to your family’s every whim. For accommodation, the Shangri-La Mactan Resort is a fantastic choice. It offers family-friendly facilities and a prized beachfront location. Pop past the Tops Lookout for the most spectacular 360-degree view of Cebu city. Stroll with your clan through the beautiful Temple of Leah. It’s definitely the place for a fab family photo sesh!
Shangri-La Mactan Resort, Punta Engano Road, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, Philippines, +63 32 231 0288, mactan@shangri-la.com, www.shangri-la.com/cebu/mactanresort/
Tops Lookout, 9VCC+68X, Tops Road, Cebu City, Cebu,
Philippines Temple of Leah, Garaje Roosevelt Drive off Cebu Transcentral Highway, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, +63 933 113 1755, TempleofLeahCebuCity@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/TempleOfLeah/
Want a quick getaway with the fam, but prefer a bustling and vibrant destination? Visit Seoul. This massive metropolis has tons to see and do - modern skyscrapers, k-pop culture, high-tech subways, beautiful buddhist temples, palaces, and buzzing street markets. Head to the Myeong-dong shopping district for shopping sprees! For thrill-seeking, spend a day at Everland Resort amusement park. Ride a cable car up to Seoul Tower to enjoy stunning city nightscapes. Stay at the Golden Seoul Hotel, perfectly located to access all Seoul’s city attractions.
Everland Resort, 199, Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, +82 31 320 5000, www.everland.com
Namsan Cable Car, 83 Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82 2 753 2403, www.cablecar.co.kr
Golden Seoul Hotel, 663 Gonghang-daero, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, South Korea, +82 2 3397 2000, book@goldenseoul.com, www.goldenseoul.com
There are many five-star resorts that dot Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo Island. But, for those who want the road less travelled, try hopping over to Gaya Island. Tune-out and enjoy quality time as a family. At the Gayana Marine Resort you may think you’ve been transported to the Maldives, boasting over-water bungalows set above clear, turquoise waters, and a powdery beach. Go on an underwater sea walking marine excursion at nearby Sapi Island, or immerse yourselves in island culture on a Mari Mari Cultural Village tour.
Gayana Marine Resort, Malohom Bay, Gaya Island, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, +60 88 380 390, rsvn.gayana@echoresorts.com, www.echoresorts.com/gayana
Adventoro Tours, 27C, Jalan SS 22/19, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, +60 10 468 8011, info@adventoro.com, www.adventoro.com
Travel Yamu, Block B3-1-27, Jalan 1/152, Taman OUG Parklane, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +60 19 696 9325, customercare@travelyamu.com, www.travelyamu.com/home
Take a dip into the mineral-rich waters of Taiwan’s natural hot springs. On your next family trip to Taipei, bring the whole loveable crew along! Stay over at one of the hot springs resorts like SweetMe Hotspring Resort. It’s located in the heart of the Beitou volcanic region, an area prized for its stunning natural landscape. Visit the charming ancient Lungshan Temple in Taipei City. Cook up a storm with fresh ingredients you select at a local fresh food market, in a Taiwanese cooking class through Ivy’s Kitchen.
SweetMe Hotspring Resort, 224 Guangming Road, Beitou Chiu, Taipei, Taiwan, +02 2898 3838, service.sweetme@msa.hinet.net, www.sweetme.com.tw
Lungshan Temple, No. 211, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan, +886 2 2302 5162, BCS.CS@lungshan.org.tw, www.lungshan.org.tw
Ivy’s Kitchen, 4F., No. 446, Sec. 6, Zhongshan N. Road, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan, ivychen999@gmail.com, www.kitchenivy.com
Fly over to stunning Singapore for a fun short haul getaway. This cosmopolitan, green, and luxurious destination will energize your soul! The kids will absolutely love a night stroll through the futuristic and vibrant garden display at Gardens by the Bay. For an extra dose of fun, take your fam clan to Singapore’s Universal Studios for an epic day out! Round-up your troop for photo-opps with Singapore’s iconic mascot, the mythical Merlion at Merlion Park. Stay at the luxurious Capella Singapore hotel, where mom can enjoy some pampering at the Hotel’s Auriga Spa.
Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore, +65 6420 6848, feedback@gardensbythebay.com.sg, www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore, +65 6577 8888, enquiries@rwsentosa.com, www.rwsentosa.com/en/attractions/universal-studios-singapore
Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore, +65 6377 8888, gr.singapore@capellahotels.com, www.capellahotels.com
Looking for more things to do in Singapore? Check out more Singapore blogs by Little Steps here
Enjoy Tokyo’s ultramodern city vibe and take-in the breathtaking neon-lit skyscrapers at night. Relax with the fam in hot springs at one of Tokyo’s onsen bathhouses like the Okutama Onsen Moegi no Yu. There’s so much to see and do with the family in Tokyo. Have a picnic and relax in one of Tokyo’s beautiful botanical gardens like the Koishikawa Botanical Garden. Admire the spectacular cherry blossom trees in full bloom in April, or see the magnificent Autumn foliage from October. Book your stay at the classic and luxurious Tokyo Station Hotel.
Okutama Onsen Moegi, no Yu, 119-1 Hikawa, Okutama, Nishitama District, Tokyo, Japan, +81 428 82 7770, www.okutamas.co.jp/moegi/
Koishikawa Botanical Garden, 3 Chome-7-1 Hakusan, Bunkyo City, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 3814 0138, koishikawa_bg@ns.bg.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp, www.bg.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/koishikawa
The Tokyo Station Hotel, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, +81 3 5220 1111, info@the.tokyostationhotel.jp, www.tokyostationhotel.jp
Nepal is a place of untamed beauty and spirituality, offering families a fabulous opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city-living. Connect with nature in the Himalayas. Roam about this diverse location with charming hill villages, beautiful golden temples, and exhilarating subtropical jungles. Get a spectacular view of Mount Everest with the fam on an Everest Base Camp helicopter tour. Go on a jungle safari to experience the magic of Nepal’s tropical jungles. Rest well at the charming Hotel Portland in Pokhara, offering a magical view of Fewa lake.
Himalaya Holiday Service, Ward No 26, Mhepi, Kathmandu, Nepal, +977 98 51214548, himalayaholidayservice@gmail.com, www.himalayasguide.com
Chitwan Jungle Safari, Ring Road Kathmandu, Nepal, +977 98 63599717, info@chitwanjunglesafari.com, www.chitwanjunglesafari.com
Hotel Portland, Lakeside 06, Pokhara, Nepal, +977 61 457756, info@portlandpokhara.com, www.portlandpokhara.com
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