How often have you heard friends come back from a vacation looking more tired than ever? Haggardly, they recount the hassles of lost luggage, delayed flights, disappointing hotels, travel sickness and more. “I wish we’d just stayed home,” they might say. Add children to the mix and the stress can compound exponentially, turning your would be getaway into an exercise in stress control.

(Short distance holidays are increasing in popularity)

Well, more and more would-be travellers are ditching jet lag and culture shock for a quiet, relaxing few days off in Singapore. And hotels here are happy to help change that vacation into a ‘staycation’.

Understanding that many busy local families have not had time to enjoy the burgeoning lifestyle activities that have popped up in their own country, hotels have created packages that allow them to take advantage of the best that the hospitality industry has to offer. While they’re not always inexpensive, the packages are often cheaper than a foreign holiday, which includes airfare and visa costs.

More and more seasoned travellers are realising the benefits of staycations. 'I didn't want to deal with the logistics of going overseas on my own with two children, so I took them to Sentosa,' says Sylvia Ho, speaking to the Straits Times. The 34 year-old housewife stayed at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort with her toddlers, aged two and four.  Choosing the resort specifically for its child-friendly features, such as a buffet with kids’ treats, Ms. Ho says the trip was a big success, both for her and her children. “My older boy keeps asking me when we will go back to the swimming pool. The kids have formed an attachment to the resort.”

Creating an atmosphere conducive to children has been a winning move for the four hotels at Resorts World Sentosa, where up to 70% of guests are families. Festive Hotel at Resorts World, for example, was built with children and parents at the forefront of the mind. Their apartments have separate rooms for parents and loft beds for the little ones. A big crowd-puller is their combination pool/playground, which boasts fun swings and water jets, perfect for frolicking.

But it’s not just Sentosa Island that has transformed itself into a family Mecca. Increasing numbers of city hotels, once best known for their business facilities, are wooing guests with attractions for all ages. For example, how about filling a young birthday girl’s room with pink balloons and presenting her with a princess birthday cake? The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore has been there, done that, says Cherly Ng, public relations director at the hotel.

Other great hotels for children include the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, where guests can purchase discounted tickets to the nearby ArtScience Museum, which features exhibitions for the grownups and activities for kids.

Want an all-day programme for your little ones? Head to Hard Rock Hotel, where their Kids Club includes arts and crafts and storytelling for children aged three and above.

Whether it’s practical features or fun activities, picking an in-country hotel stay is about maximising time together. As Mr Antoine Chahwan, regional vice-president and general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Singapore explains, holidays are about the shared experience and the good memories you create: “Travel is no longer a luxury but a norm as working parents try to create bonding opportunities with their children.”