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Are you ready to visit Singapore with kids? LAX to Taipei to Singapore. Singapore Changi Airport to the hotel. Try to stay awake until “normal, local” bedtime. It’s a long travel day (which can actually span three calendar days)!
But, here’s what you can expect flying EVA Air with kids and how you can maximize your short layover in Taipei. I’ve also thrown in some tips for getting settled upon arrival in Singapore.
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Family Trip to Singapore
You may ask the question: Is Singapore good for families?
Whether you've traveled extensively, or you're planning your first trip abroad, Singapore is a great entry point into Asia. Share on XFor such a small country, Singapore is one of the main hubs in southeast Asia.
It is widely known to be clean and safe. English is widely spoken, so it is easy to communicate and find your way around.
Singapore is enjoyable for all ages, with a good mix of unique and familiar. What is there to do in Singapore for families? Zip down to the end of our post for links to our 1-day and 2-day Singapore itineraries!
Getting There
While it is relatively easy to get to Singapore with kids, especially from the west coast of the U.S., it definitely takes some time.
Here’s a rundown of how long it took to get from our home driveway to our hotel room in Singapore:
- Home to LAX = 1 hour, 22 minutes
- Check-In & wait for flight at LAX = 4 hours, 53 minutes
- Flight from LAX to Taipei = 13 hours, 2 minutes
- Wait for next flight in Taipei = 2 hours, 29 minutes
- Flight from Taipei to Singapore = 3 hours, 54 minutes
- Customs, public transportation, check-in at hotel, & in hotel room = 2 hours, 34 minutes
- TOTAL = 28 hours, 14 minutes
Smooth transitions between flights, no flight delays, and reliable local transportation provides less drama, but takes no less time.
The International Date Line (and the Lost & Found Day)
The International Date Line is a funny thing. You will lose a day going west and find it again going east.
We drove to LAX on a Monday, were on board our long flight from LAX to Taipei on Tuesday, but arrived in Taipei on Wednesday. Why’s that, you ask? Well, it’s due to crossing the International Date Line!
On your way back to the U.S. from Asia, you might even arrive BEFORE your departure time!
Layover in Taipei – EVA Air’s Hub
Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE) has many themed gate areas that interest kids and parents alike during your layover in Taipei. And, let’s face it, after being on a plane for 13 hours straight, a little walk-about is a great idea. Plus, I like exploring international airports anyway!
Unique Gates
The favorite of our girls was the Hello Kitty-themed area (Gate C3).
(Did you know EVA Air even has Hello Kitty-themed planes?!?!?)
There is also a gate that details the history of Taiwan’s postal service. Boring? No way! There’s a lot to look at, and it’s quite interesting.
Free Tea Tasting
We also happened upon a tea-tasting area, where free samples are on offer. A lovely finished driftwood table and chairs invite you to take a seat and have a sip or two.
Free Half-Day Tour
If your layover is between 7 and 24 hours, you can apply for a free half-day tour, provided by the Tourism Bureau.
Our layover in Taipei was only around 2.5 hours, so we couldn’t go on the organized tour. What I really wanted to do, but we didn’t make it happen, was take the tram from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 to visit the Illy Coffee Shop! Maybe next time!
Flying EVA Air with Kids
With 28 hours and 14 minutes of travel time, you’ve got to keep your kids appropriately occupied, amiright?
Our girls were each given a Frozen-themed activity book with colored pencils, by the flight staff. It was cute, but along with the backpacks full of activities that I packed, it paled in comparison to the draw of the seat-back entertainment system. I’m telling you…in-flight entertainment has come a long way since my first international flight in 1988!
Child Meal on EVA Air
The option to pre-order special meals on long-haul flights has been around for quite some time. Child meals are usually one of the options available. What’s great about special meals is that they’re often served prior to the general meal service. With kids, this is great. They get their food sooner, and you can help them get started on their meal.
We found the child meals on EVA Air to be quite substantial. In some cases, I would’ve preferred the child meal to the standard meal!
Arrival in Singapore
Crime & punishment are no joke in Singapore. The Welcome to Singapore form handed out on the plane before arrival stated in RED, ALL CAPS, BOLD letters: “Warning – Death for Drug Traffickers Under Singapore Law.” Welcome to Singapore, indeed!
Singapore is serious about safety and cleanliness. We saw several commercials in the subway system warning against crime, and remember the “no gum” rule?
Weather
On this particular May 24, the weather looked like this in Singapore:
- Max Temp = 86°F
- Average Humidity = 90%
Singapore was totally cloudy upon arrival, and we experienced light rain showers while we were out walking. To be prepared for the tropical weather, make sure to pack all your UPF protection clothing and check out our Ultimate Packing List for everything you’ll need.
And don’t worry about what to do in Singapore on a rainy day. You just put on your rain coat or open up your umbrella, and stay the course!
Transportation
We’ve found that there’s not much reason to rent a car in Singapore. Public transportation is plentiful and economical. Our sole mode of transportation while in Singapore was the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system, even from and back to the airport.
We purchased a 3-day tourist pass. Note that, at the time, the only credit card accepted for payment was MasterCard. The cost includes a refundable deposit, if you return your tourist pass before you leave Singapore.
The 3-day tourist pass covered the day of our arrival and the two full days that we were in Singapore. As such, we purchased one-way tickets from the MRT station near our hotel to get back to the airport, on our departure date.
Family Room Hotel
After much pre-trip research, we (and a family of 4 traveling with us) booked a Family Quad room at Bliss Hotel Singapore. It’s literally right across the street from the Chinatown MRT station and is the best hotel in Singapore for families.
I really do believe this is the best area to stay in Singapore with family. An affordable family room, near a major MRT station, near a large grocery store, and near restaurants…the location can’t be beat.
After checking-in, we went out for a little exploring (and to try to stay awake until a reasonable bed time!).
Groceries
One major benefit of our hotel’s location was its proximity to Chinatown Point, which houses a full grocery store (called Fairprice). We stocked up on water and yogurt, as well as some toiletry items, for our few days in Singapore.
Dinner-ize Close to Your Hotel
Find a restaurant or food stall near your hotel. At this point, we had traveled over 28 hours and kept ourselves awake for a few more hours. We were tired!
Two of the four kids in our group fell asleep at dinner. By 8:00 p.m., our girls were fast asleep at our hotel. The hope was that we wouldn’t be waking up at 3:00 in the morning! Spoiler Alert: I woke up at 4:00 a.m. the next day! Thank you, jet lag.
Things to Do in Singapore with Kids
After getting there and getting settled, your first full day in Singapore is yet to come. Check out our one-day Singapore itinerary, as well as our 2-day Singapore itinerary! They will fill you in on all the best things to do in Singapore with kids! Some highlights include:
- Breakfast at Toast Box
- Singapore River Cruise
- Night Lights at Clarke Quay
- Supertree Grove
When you’re ready to start packing, download our FREE Ultimate Packing List. Then, check out this list of many of the useful items we took with us: Items to Pack for SE Asia
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