The girls in my family usually have a trip or staycation every year to hang out and be our strong, opinionated selves without any judgment 🤭
Since we can't travel this year, we decided to book a staycation at the airport and feel like tourists in our own home country.
I booked the
Stay, Shop, Play Room Package at
Crowne Plaza Changi Airport from the IHG website because it's cheaper than other websites and you get to enjoy benefits like late check out.
Don't forget to sign up for FREE as an
IHG Rewards Club member so that you can get extra privileges for every booking (I think it's double points and free 1 night stay for every 2 nights booking before end of the year, but do confirm it with IHG Rewards Club). Hotels under the IHG group also include Regent, Intercontinental and Holiday Inn.
[STAYCATION at CROWNE PLAZA]
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Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
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We arrived at 2pm, earlier than the 3pm usual check-in time to try our luck in case the room was ready. If it wasn't, we can always have lunch at the nearby T3 or Jewel while we waited. Fortunately for us, we could head to the room!
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So thankful for Jewel, which gives you almost the same magical feeling as travelling overseas
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So beautiful! ❤️
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By the time we finished buying our dinner, we had missed the evening cocktails at Azur restaurant! So sad! 😞
The next morning, we had breakfast at the Azur restaurant.
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Clockwise from left: Scan the QR Code to order from the online menu; Poached eggs, pancakes and croissant; Laksa! |
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Various dim sum, scrambled eggs, etc
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We ordered so much that the whole table was filled with food! There were hits and misses but was decent overall (though I preferred the Line at Shangri-La).
Our package came with a possibility of extended check-out at 4pm if available and as we stayed during the off-peak period in October, our room was available for late check-out (honestly, no one else booked the Pool Terrace Room when we were there)!
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Matching family t-shirts! |
Overall, we had a very relaxing staycation! Looking forward to our next staycation as a family (in December to celebrate mum's birthday 🤭)!
[JEWEL]
Our staycation package actually included 2 adult and 1 child tickets to Jewel's Canopy Park. However, as the tickets are valid till end of December, we decided to utilise the tickets at a separate time so that we can spend more time in the hotel itself.
Instead, I will share our previous experience when the hubby and I brought the kids to Canopy Park and Changi Experience Studio before Circuit Breaker even started!
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At Jewel before Circuit Breaker
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CANOPY PARKThe first thing that the kids wanted to do was head to the relatively smaller kids playground in Canopy Park that we didn't have to pay extra (you need to pay extra for the Manulife Skynets).
CHANGI EXPERIENCE STUDIO
Each person will receive a board at the counter after you have purchased your tickets. The board allows you to interact with the various exhibits and play games!
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Very cool interactive board
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Using the board to find out more about Changi Airport
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Using the board to find out about different countries in the world
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At the heart of the Studio is a large arena filled with many stationery bicycles. The goal is to pedal as fast as you can in your groups to power your car or plane (depending on which group you belong to) and see who wins. The aim of this is probably to get your heart pumping and legs moving!
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Amazing runway (If you can't pedal with legs, there's also the hands version. Very inclusive!)
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There is also an area where visitors get to play interactive games using the board!
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The boy and I love this game where we had to put the luggage on the correct conveyor belt. Super fun! |
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This game requires you to push the airport trolley left and right to pick up stray trolleys in the airport and collect them all! Kids love this game!
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There were games for everyone in the family! The hubby liked a game where the player has to use the board to manoeuvre a butterfly through the obstacle course without hitting anything while the mum-in-law played the "what's not supposed to be in your luggage" game. We spent a surprisingly long amount of time playing all the games!
The family also took on the Smile Challenge. Guess who won? 😉
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Taking on the Smile Challenge
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Who won? Me of course! I achieved 98.84% high score (Number 1 of the day) without even really trying 😄😁
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At the end of the Studio was an arena with an interactive light and music show.
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Steps for guests to sit and enjoy the show
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Interactive lights and effects!
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More opportunities to interact with the display
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When you think that it was time to go, head to the Finale for a show on the story of Changi Airport.
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Finale
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The screen is curved, which gives you the feel of a mini omni theatre
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History and evolution of Changi Airport
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Our package for 2A2C also included a complimentary photo, which can be taken at the self-activated photo booth within the Studio itself.
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Our photo keepsake!
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We also bought some nice souvenirs at the gift shop! 😊
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Ending our day at Jewel with afternoon tea at Fun Toast ☺️
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Until the day that we can go to Changi Airport to board an aeroplane to another country, we will just have to settle with going to Changi Airport for a short stay and act like a tourist in our own country! 😁