With many companies continuing to adopt remote working arrangements, we do enjoy conveniences such as cutting down on travelling time and replying to emails from the comfort of our homes.
Of course, we also want to make time for bonding with our precious children, and heading out together to enjoy fresh air as well as Singapore’s sights and sounds.
Fortunately, there are many options for striking a good work-life balance on our island. For instance, parents can consider integrating work and play with a glamorous workcation!
A workcation allows you to designate time for working remotely and rediscovering Singapore’s numerous attractions with your little ones. Some attractions also let you drop your kids off with minimal parental supervision − so you can devote your full attention to work and enjoy uninterrupted time with them later.
To help you plan the perfect workcation, we've come up with an itinerary focusing on the Orchard Road precinct. Most of our proposed pit stops are within walking distance, so you don’t have to spend too much time running about.
Click on the thumbnail below to find out more about our full itinerary! Be sure to download and save the handy infographic for reference as you embark on you workcation trip around Orchard Road!
Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre
Start your day bright and early, checking in at the hotel of your choice. Hotels with attractive workcation packages include Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel ($120++ for 12 hours), Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre (from $300 nett per day, maximum 5 pax) and Ascott Orchard Singapore (from $180++ per night).
Many of these packages also come with the usage of hotel amenities, including high-speed Wi-Fi, gym & pool usage, in-room coffee and tea, free parking and even discounts for F&B outlets.
After check-in, fuel up with a hearty breakfast. You may choose to dine at your hotel, taking advantage of special food offers. For instance, Marriot Tang Plaza offers 30% off F&B (including in-room dining) with its workcation package. Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre’s package also comes with the option to add bento box lunch sets at $17 nett. Discounts may change in future, though, so do contact the hotels for updates!
Alchemist Coffee at Design Orchard
Alternatively, head to quaint cafés like Alchemist Coffee at Design Orchard. This hole-in-the-wall gem features a spacious industrial design and an airy secret rooftop garden − perfect for the kids to explore while you sip on your coffee!
For local delights, check out Killiney Kopitiam Lucky Plaza or Ya Kun Kaya Toast at TANGS basement for comfort food like laksa, mee siam and kaya toast.
Marriott Tang Plaza’s Hotel Poolside
After breakfast, work in style from your hotel’s poolside while your kids head for a dip in the pool. Once you've cleared your morning deadlines, it’s time for a family lunch!
Marché Mövenpick
Family-friendly options include Swiss restaurant Marché Mövenpick, which provides child-friendly facilities like custom highchairs and a separate changing area. The rosti is usually a favourite with kids, and there's also a wide variety of fresh items cooked on the spot like paella, crepes and pizza.
If Italian food strikes your fancy, Jamie’s Italian boasts a fantastic kids’ deal − $12 mains served with a side of salad and free-flow fruity water!
The Better Toy Store
Once you've filled yourselves up, indulge in some quick retail therapy at Takashimaya, which offers everything from children’s wear to home décor, sporting equipment and novelty gifts. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood to treat your kids, take them toy-shopping at The Better Toy Store at Paragon. We bet they’ll love their award-winning toys, many of which are specially designed to promote child development.
After lunch, it's time for the little ones to play while you work! Consider BOUNCE Singapore at Orchard Cineleisure − an uber-fun indoor trampoline park for the active kids. Do note that the minimum age for jumpers is three and up.
Arteastiq
Otherwise, let them unleash their inner Van Gogh at Mandarin Gallery’s Arteastiq, which offers fun art-jamming sessions.
If indoor playgrounds are their thing, they’ll love buds by Shangri-La− an immersive and curated play space spanning over 1,872 square metres. Buds also offers daily baking sessions, fish feedings and self-guided treasure hunts for kids at designated timings.
When you’ve dropped the kids off, continue to work at your hotel or a nearby bistro. We suggest PS. Café Palais Renaissance for its luxe interior and tasty tea time snacks like steamed puddings, pies and signature chocolate cakes. Another great working space is Tiong Bahru Bakery at TANGS, which serves up yummy bread and pastries.
Sandbox VR
After knocking off work, enjoy some well-deserved bonding time with your mini-me! One novel attraction is Sandbox VR, offering an immersive virtual reality experience. You’ll get to be pirates and battle creatures on the high seas, or even track down a lost Starfleet ship in space! And not to worry − though the experience is indoors, the venue adopts super stringent cleaning and sanitisation protocols for your family’s safety. Do bear in mind that games require a minimum height of 1.2m, and that guests under 18 will require parental supervision.
Or why not engage in an adrenaline-drenched indoor laser tag battle at LaserOPS? Suitable for kids aged 7 and up, each laser tag mission requires teamwork and tactical smarts to eliminate your opposing team. Your family is sure to work up a sweat and relish the friendly competition!
Slappy Cakes
All this activity has probably got you starving. Treat yourselves to a delicious dinner at Plaza Singapura. The kids will love making and decorating their own pancakes at Slappy Cakes, or chomping down on fluffy Soufflé rice at Hoshino Coffee Singapore.
Orchard Road Art Trail
Post-dinner, take a leisurely stroll along the Orchard Road Art Trail, filled with quirky art installations that kids will be curious about. The trail begins at Regent Singapore, and along the way you’ll find various fascinating sculptures created by renowned artists. Some of our favourites are: Mother & Child along Orchard Parade Hotel – created by late Singaporean sculptor and Cultural Medallion holder Ng Eng Teng, and Nutmeg & Mace by Kumari Nahappa – a funky, life-sized nutmeg outside ION Orchard.
After your fulfilling workcation, head back to your hotel or home for a good night’s rest!
If you’re looking for other great workcation deals, check out the SingapoRediscovers website. Some of our itinerary pit stops like Marché Mövenpick, Arteastiq and Slappy Cakes have ongoing promos available on the site too.
You’ll also find suggestions for other Singapoliday itineraries within different precincts, including bundle “Stay, Play, Explore” packages. Use these as further inspiration for planning the perfect workcation and rediscovering Singapore’s various sights with your family!
To date, more than 20,000 individual premises have been certified SG Clean by the National environment Agency (NEA), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG). These encompass hotels, attractions, shopping malls and F&B establishments.
So parents, rest assured that you and your little ones can work, play and explore our country safely!