Asia: Shangri-la Hotels And Resorts Family Programs

This information about the family facilities available at one of Asia's leading hotel chains is provided courtesy of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

Many of the deluxe Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts of Asia offer a number of services to make traveling with children a joy for both children and their parents. The resorts offer kids clubs, activities, and babysitting among other services . Properties include Mactan Island Resort in the Philippines, the Fijian Resort, Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore, and Rasa Sayang, Golden Sands, and Tanjung Aru Resorts in Malaysia.

All Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts provide the following family courtesies:

• Children up to the age of 18 stay free of charge when sharing the same room as their parents.
• At all City hotel properties, children under the age of 6 enjoy complimentary buffet meals in coffee shops and pool cafes when accompanied by registered adult hotel guests. This courtesy is extended to children up to age 12 at the resorts. For children ages 6-11, a 50% discount is extended when dining with adult guests at City hotel restaurants.
• Special children’s menus are available at all restaurants and through room service.
• Baby beds and cribs are available in all Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts on request, as are high chairs in the restaurants.

In addition, many of the hotels, and particularly the resorts, offer specially tailored facilities for children and toddlers. In addition to amenities such as miniature bathrobes in rooms, kiddie pools at hotel fitness centers, and courtesy snacks and beverages for the premium Horizon Club guests, here are some of the services resorts offer for families.

Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort
Punta Engano Road
Lapu-Lapu, Cebu 6015
Philippines
63 32/231-0288
$$
Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort in the Philippines offers the Adventure Zone for children 4 years and older. This indoor playground covers 20 separate modules on 3 levels, including the Drop Slide, Spinning Discs, Bash Bags, and Swing Over Nets. The whole area is designed to provide a challenging but safe environment for active kids. Kids ages 3 and younger have their own Toddler’s Zone with age-appropriate toys and activities. Guests in different age groups can participate in face painting, t-shirt coloring, cooking, movie making, and more. Room rates include breakfast, dinner, and use of non-motorized sports.

Shangri-La Fijian
Yanuca Island
Cuvu, Sigatoka
Fiji Islands
679/652-0155
$$$
Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort on Yanuca Island, Fiji offers the “Little Chief’s Club” for children aged 2-12 years. Open daily, the Club is fully supervised and membership is free. The Little Chief’s Club Bure is located behind the Lagoon Block, right next to the children’s park. Activities such as building sand castles, face painting, visits to Fijian villages, boat rides, mini golf, and crab hunting are organized throughout the day. Children receive the Little Chief’s Club daily activity schedule when they first check in to the resort.

Fijians adore children and love taking care of them. In fact, you can leave your little one with the resort staff for a day if you like. For children under 2-years of age, babysitters can be arranged through the housekeeping department. The resort also operates a “Kids Stay and Eat Free” program for up to two children per room. Children 12-years-old and under can have free meals so long as they dine with their parents. Free lunch for kids is served between noon and 1p.m. at selected restaurants, and children have the option of ordering half-portions for half-price from any of the available a la carte menus. Additional children 12 years and under are charged extra. The “Kids Stay Free” program also entitles up to two children under 17 years of age to stay in a room free of charge, using the existing bedding. Room rates include breakfast and dinner.

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort
101 Siloso Road
Sentosa 098970
Singapore
65/6275 0100
$$
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore provides a specially equipped nursery and playhouse for children between the ages of 5 and 10. Children’s bicycles and a pool with waterslides are also available to all ages. Yet with these family-welcoming facilities, Rasa Sentosa is preparing to renovate in 2008, to make the resort even more family-oriented.

Currently, the resort also offers a circus school where children from 4-years-old can learn to fly on a trapeze, which is located 100 meters from the resort. The trapeze instructors are also available onsite to teach juggling and acrobatics for those who are interested. During the weekends or busy holiday seasons, a free scoop of ice cream is available to children while their parents check into the Resort. In addition, the hotel’s Toots mascot will make guest appearances at the Silver Shell Cafe during breakfast or the busy lunch hour to entertain the children while parents enjoy their meals. Something to look forward to is the opening of Universal Studios theme park in Sentosa, scheduled for 2010. Note that babysitting is available for a fee, and room rates include breakfast and dinner.

Shangri-La’s Golden Sands Resort
Batu Feringgi Beach
11100 Penang
Malaysia
604/886-1911
$$$
Shangri-La’s Golden Sands Resort in Penang, Malaysia has the Starfy’s Kids Club for children from age 4-12 years old, offering daily recreational activities. Covering nine acres, Starfy’s offers an organized activity program customized for each age group, including “circus school” (trampoline, flying trapeze, and juggling), a multi-purpose court for sports and team games, arts and crafts, and pool games. During the daytime, babysitting can be arranged with the housekeeping department at a charge. Room rates include breakfast and dinner.

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort
20 Jalan Aru, Tanjun Aru
88100 Kota Kinabalu
Malaysia
6088/225-800
$$$
Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia, is the proud winner of the PATA Gold Corporate Environmental Award 2004 and 2006 for “Excellent Achievement in Environmental Performance” in its efforts to sustain the region’s environment while promoting tourists’ comfort. This beautiful, 25-acre resort offers a Kids Club (the largest in Sabah) especially for children ages 4 to 12 years old, while children under 4-years must be accompanied by an adult. The Club organizes activities throughout the day including coloring, picking shells by the seaside, feeding the fish, and much more. A supervised Kids Pajama party is held every Friday evening, giving parents the opportunity to be on their own for an evening. A covered baby pool, a safe playground, and tricycles are available for children looking for outdoor fun.

The resort provides babies and toddlers below 4-years with babysitters around the clock, if required, and the service is charged by the hour. Room rates include breakfast and dinner.

Details, Details

Please note that Shangri-La’s Value Rates, available for families on a seasonal basis, include a number of complimentary value-added benefits, including:

• Breakfast and dinner
• Laundry
• Non-motorized watersports
• International phone calls and faxes charged at cost
• Late check-out (6 pm)

Reservations for all Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts can be made online, by calling 866/565-5050 (from U.S.), 866/344-5050 (from Canada), 800/942-5050 (from Mexico) or by contacting a travel professional.