Media Invite
I have a soft spot for anything Peranakan because my nanny who took care of me for many years as a kid was a Nonya. I have fond memories of hanging out at her Peranakan house along Joo Chiat and enjoying all the Nonya cuisines she whipped up for me whenever I stayed over at her place during the school holidays. So when I knew we were invited to Village Hotel Katong for a staycation to review the all-new Throwback Family Weekend Package, I was elated! I knew the hotel took on a modern twist to Peranakan-inspired decor and furnishings, and couldn’t wait to indulge myself in the Katong neighbourhood, where many Peranakan traditions and heritage can still be found today. The day we checked in was also Joey’s 11th birthday, and that made it a very happy & special day for the whole family. :)
Absolutely LOVE our Family Room, which was spacious, beautifully-furnished with a tinge of Peranakan inspirations, yet retaining the contemporary and modern feel. It’s magical how the two contrasting elements came together seamlessly with a harmony that I cannot quite explain. Our room came with two double beds (perfect for a family of four!) and the hotel kindly put in an extra single bed so that my mother-in-law can join us for the staycation as well. Joey has been very close to her grandmother since she was born, so this meant a great deal for her on her birthday! Thank you Village Hotel Katong for being so accommodating!
That feature wall of mirrors was beautiful – I like how the motifs resemble that of mosaic tiles but there was an edge added to the overall feel.
Mosaic tiles can be found elsewhere in the room of course – So vintage and classy all at the same time.
The bathroom was lovely – no bath tub, just standing shower area, but the rain shower more than sufficed. Coupled with warm lightings, the bathroom was a very cosy place to linger in.
Lace curtains are absolutely my kind of thing. I like things that are vintage with a feminine touch, and yet not being overly girly, if you get what I mean. These curtains complete the look of the room, in my opinion.
Right outside our room is a huge balcony and it stretches all the way round the corner to the other side of the room. The view from there was awesome, needless to say.
Our room also came with a mobile phone, provided for convenience of the guests. The phone has dad connection and is preloaded with information useful for tourists – Places of interest, ticket booking sites, ongoing promotions etc. You can also use the phone to make phone calls and do research online absolutely free-of-charge. This is such a blessing for foreign visitors, don’t you think? Wonderful initiative by the hotel.
One of the things my girls would always do on a staycation is to go swimming. The swimming pool at Village Hotel Katong is kid-friendly enough, with one end as shallow as 1 metre. There are no baby wading pools in this hotel though, so families with babies, do take note. There are no lifeguards on duty as well, and towels are provided on the side, self-service.
My girls enjoyed every bit of the swimming pool of course. When we were there, they were the only ones in the pool! =D
When the clock struck 4pm, I hurried my girls to leave the pool and go back to the room to bathe because some sweet treats were going to be delivered to us! As part of the hotel’s Throwback Family Weekend Package, one set of Peranakan high tea and local desserts would be delivered to your room. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE nonya kuehs??! These were perfect for a pre-dinner tea break! Happiness on a plate. :)
Along with the treats also came some vintage collectible game sets that we played as a kid, and that got us very excited! It was the first time my kids saw Happy Family & SNAP card games, and I couldn’t wait to show them how awesome I was at them. =P
Turned out the girls enjoyed the card games tremendously and kept bugging me to play game after game! Haha! So glad that my childhood simple fun gave my kids hours of fun as well. Beats spending time looking at electronic devices anytime!
If you plan a staycation at Village Hotel Katong, there are so many things you can do and places you can explore in the Katong neighbourhood. We had only a couple of hours, but we wondered around and had lots of fun. Just some snapshots of what we did and what we ate that afternoon to give you some inspirations!
Katong Laksa (Of course!) and delicious otah
Traditional dumpling stall – My fav are nonya dumplings!
Traditional Peranakan shops selling all things peranakan – Those beaded slippers and metal tin tingkats are pure love.
Everywhere our feet treaded, there were pretty mosaic tiles! Love again.
A very vintage & cute cafe to check out while you are there! Not cheap, but a joy to be in, really. Just check out those rubber string chairs. Oh gosh.
Just a few of my personal recommendations – There are many more to check out in the vicinity, and with several shopping malls such as Parkway Parade, i12 Katong, Roxy Square nearby, you have more than enough things to pass time. If nature is more of your kind of thing, East Coast Park is just a short distance away, accessible by one of the underpasses behind Parkway Parade.
As part of the Throwback Family Weekend Package, buffet breakfast at Katong Kitchen is provided for everyone the next morning. Take your time to have a leisurely and relaxing breakfast here – The spread may not be super big, but it’s pretty good!
Village Hotel Katong’s Throwback Family Weekend Package is available from $250++, and the package includes the following for 2 Adults & 2 Children:
- Accommodation in a Family Room
- Buffet breakfast at Katong Kitchen
- One set of Peranakan high tea and local desserts in Lapis Lounge, located at the hotel lobby
- Collectible Singapore traditional Family Game set
- Kids Pack & AmenitiesPackage Price: 2D1N: S$250++ / 3D2N: S$400++
Book Period: 17 March – 29 December 2017
Stay Period: 24 March – 29 December 2017Rates are subject to 10% service charge & 7% GST
Thank you for hosting us, Village Hotel Katong! See you again soon. :)
Disclosure: The J Babies was sponsored a complimentary Throwback Family Weekend Package for review purposes on the blog, and all photos & opinions are our own as usual.
