It can't get any easier ... Cebu

When: February 2009
Kids: Big Sister 4y9m, twins 2y3m
Flights: Hong Kong - Cebu v.v. on Dragonair
Booked through: Cathay Pacific Holidays

Our first beach trip in Asia with our family of 5. We were lucky that the kids were still small and we took our oldest out of preschool for a Wednesday through Sunday trip (4 nights) to the Shangri La Mactan Resort & Spa in Cebu. To be completely honest, I didn't research anything, heard it was good. Had stayed at Shangri La in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in the 90s as a teenager and back then it was already a well-known chain in Asia. Flight is direct and around 2 hours. We were lucky with a morning flight out and an evening flight back (depends on the days so do check to get the most out of it). Remember we were picked up by hotel shuttle, and was surprised the hotel was so close (told you, did not do my homework this time). We booked the most simple rooms, 2 connecting, overlooking the gardens in the back. I could see the not so nice looking pink Hilton from a distance. Staff was lovely, we brought the strollers, I think, mostly for the airport in Hong Kong probably, but the staff just carried the twins all the way to our rooms, and they simply let it happen!

As it was off season it was quiet, so very easy going and relaxing. We mostly ate lunch at the pool bar, or at the Italian restaurant near the Club Rooms, sharing pizza and a salad. Breakfast was terrific, remember I found it better than Shangri La Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu, not that we were slumming there though. Since the kids were still young, we got baby sitters for 3 nights. They would come at 7.30 pm and stay for 2 hours. We'd feed the kids at the buffet restaurant (free for them at that age) while we sipped a cocktail. Put them to bed, babysitter came and we would go out for dinner. Had the seafood buffet near the waterfront which was very nice, especially the atmosphere and always stayed at the hotel, but a good way to enjoy a quiet evening together. Big sister did play at the Adventure Zone by herself but twins had to be accompanied, so slightly more of a pain. Don't forget to bring socks and a long sleeve t-shirt, I know not something you normally bring to the Philippines, but you'll need, although the sell items as well.

We took one trip to one of the malls, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Not great, but at least an opportunity to get out, but nothing super special at all. The hotel has shuttle buses to the malls, so it easy to go and come back. An other, and better option is to visit some outlying islands with a boat and do some snorkeling. We didn't, we just relaxed and enjoyed our time. Cebu and especially Mactan Island is very easy break from Hong Kong, nothing super special (the Philippines have way more to offer), but good service, friendly people and overall a great resort.

Guilin, Singapore & Taipei, a 3-in-1-report ...

A small recap of a 3-in-1, as I don't remember lots of details (keeping better track these days), plus the twins were still very young so even though we traveled we didn't do as much at night in terms of restaurants, etc. 

Taipei, Taiwan

When: October 2008

Kids: Big Sister 4y5m, twins 1y11m

Flights: Hong Kong - Taipei vv on Cathay Pacific

Booked through: CX Holidays

Guilin, China

When: November 2008

Kids: Big Sister, 4y6m, twins ... almost 2y

Flights: Hong Kong - Guilin vv on Dragonair

Booked through: CX Holidays

Singapore

When: April 2010

Kids: Big Sister 5y11m, twins 3y5m

Flights: Hong Kong - Singapore on Cathay Pacific

Booked through: CX Holidays

Taipei, Taiwan

We stayed at the Sherwood in Taipei. Two large connecting rooms, great service. And very kid-friendly, remember IKEA plastic cutlery in the restaurants. We ate mostly at the hotel, don't remember venturing out much, twins still napped as well, couldn't stay up that late yet. Went for 3D/2N and had a good time. Weather was excellent. We visited National Palace Museum, Long Shan Temple, Taipei 101 and the area around it where everybody was flying their kites, the gates and landmarks, took the train / subway to the coast, Danshuei district where we had a nice lunch outside. I'd like to go back, plenty more to see, and with the kids being older now it would even be easier. With only a 1-hour flight, plenty to do (the country side is apparently very pretty too), good quality accommodation and restaurants, nice shopping, it's definitely a place to visit. 

Guilin, China

Guilin was slightly last minute, taking of the advantage of the twins not being two yet. Don't know whether it was a good idea after all, especially considering the time of year but it turned out quite nice. We had a good time. Stayed and ate in the Sheraton (things have changed over the past years) in Guilin. Walked around a little bit, but nothing very special. Yangshuo has nicer accommodation, but it's also quite touristy, but I guess nicer-touristy. Due to the water level in the river, we couldn't take a private boat and I didn't think 2 year old twins on a raft would be a good idea, so we took the tourist boat. The kids did really well, most likely thanks to the tens of Mainlanders who thought our blond haired, blue eyed boy girl twins were the best thing ever. They entertained them, and as they couldn't go very far with them, it didn't worry me too much. They were actually quite nice (have seen a lot worse during that time). Lunch was ... well, they also had steamed rice. We arrived in Yangshuo and had time to walk around, look at some stores and then we were taken back to Guilin. The next day we did a few local sights in Guilin like the Reed Flute Cave (where the twins were carried around by two Chinese ladies during the entire tour, only thing we had to do was keep up with them, strollers were obviously not an option), Elephant Trunk Hill, Seven Star Park (poor little pandas) and some of the lakes and pagodas close by. Overall, it was a nice trip, but spring may be a better time, and ideally if the twins would have been slightly older we could have taken them on a raft, which would have been more fun. However the memories we have about that trip with regards to the Mainlanders and our twins (and pictures to prove it) will always stay with me!

Singapore

We visited Singapore over Easter Break for 3 nights. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton Millenia as we got a great package deal which was cheaper than me individually booking the flights and a 3* hotel. Easy choice right? Hotel had a nice pool, large rooms with a hallway connecting the two, so even more space for families, and we had a babysitter coming one night as well. We went through ADP in Singapore (recommended by a friend who lived there), so we could have a Singapore Sling and a nice dinner (although me being unprepared didn't make any reservation so we ended up snacking mostly). Personally, I don't care much about Singapore. My husband and I had been before, prior to kids, on our way to Australia, and although it was nice, after a while I felt it was time to go home. We didn't do Sentosa or anything. To be completely honest, I am not a fan of amusement parks and everything that comes with it. We take the kids to Ocean Park and Disneyland once a year in Hong Kong and that's enough for us. They even seem fine with it too.

We visited the different quarters, like the Indian Quarter (looked at the temples), the Arab Street, went to the Singapore Zoo, including the Night Zoo, did a little river cruise (which I honestly thought was kind of a waste of money), went to the Botanic garden, which the kids enjoyed as well, walked around near the waterfront and the Esplanade, met up with an old friend in Chinatown (I used to study Japanese with her in Japan), and spend a nice amount of time at the pool. Am I dying to go back, not really. Do I think there is more to do, definitely, but for some reason, I find Singapore is nice, but nothing exciting ... I can see it's nice to live, easy to live ... but it's not my idea of a great tourist destination in my opinion. But, it's easy with kids, lots to do, especially if you do go to Sentosa, so it's definitely a must visit. But I am fine for now.