Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe
Flying Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is like an aviation Brigadoon – a place where flight crew smile so genuinely right through to landing that you wonder if you’ve nodded off in cattle class and woken in business, cocooned in a pod, clutching a lobster and smelling of expensive cologne. Unlike other carriers, the crew doesn’t guard their galley like territorial cats, tutting when you dare to stretch your legs. They have the patience of Job. No wonder they consistently win best airline. Free booze all flight, too.
The challenge of flying with kids
But smiling attendants aside, long–haul flights with children are brutal. One boy on our flight was hysterical, his periodic screams piercing the cabin darkness as passengers lifted their eye masks in weary curiosity. Another tot whimpered through turbulence. Kids get stressed flying. We once gave our children Phenergan on a direct flight to London, hoping for peace. Instead, they bounced around the cabin like chimps on icing sugar.
D’Resort Downtown East: paradise for kids, purgatory for parents
So how do you make a layover exciting for kids? Make it a reward in itself. Enter D’Resort Downtown East – a short, sweaty taxi ride from the airport, it’s a resort built inside a giant waterslide park. Here kids burn jetlag like aviation fuel. But that’s where the fun ends for adults. Disappointingly, there’s no adult pool, no bar, nowhere pleasant to escape the oppressive heat except being funnelled through shopping–mall–sized waterslides like a peanut through a colon. Your only drinks come from vending machines, and they’re non–alcoholic. However, we enjoyed the tropical mangrove walks behind the resort, but it was like hiking through a Turkish bath. Even locals avoid midday heat, we learned. We were also warned off swimming at the beach (groan). Still, D’Resort is a no–brainer for kids. They love it.
The Crowne Plaza: A Layover Luxury
On our return layover, we opted for luxury. Desperate for decent coffee after our long flight from Rome – spoiled by Italy – we stumbled upon the Crowne Plaza at the airport. After excellent espressos, we booked a room. By dumb luck, we’d discovered that Crowne Plaza Changi Airport was named World’s Best Airport Hotel and Best Airport Hotel in Asia for the tenth consecutive year at Skytrax’s 2025 World Airport Awards – the Oscars of the airport industry. We’d chosen well.
Here was something for everyone: a Singapore Sling at the bar, a massive pool for kids and adults alike, expansive rainforest gardens, and an executive lounge with complimentary happy hour cocktails and snacks. In the pressing tropical heat, we beeline for the pool – the size of three tennis courts. Despite signs demanding swimmers shower first, from our lounge chair we watch a family of Aussies in floppy hats wade in fully clothed, as if stepping into a flooded shopping centre basement. Singapore is hot.
Later we retreat to the club lounge for free happy hour cocktails and excellent food—more than enough for a light supper, saving us money and the hassle of venturing out. They even serve killer laksa. For layovers, this self–contained approach is perfect. You don’t want to hunt for restaurants when you’ve got an early flight.
Jewel: Singapore’s Airport Spectacular
But what’s there to do at the airport itself? Singapore likes to dazzle. Post–swim, we visit Jewel – a nature–themed shopping complex linked to the passenger terminals. Its centrepiece is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, surrounded by terraced forest. We approached feeling ho–hum, but found ourselves standing open–mouthed in the mist, necks craned in wonder. It’s one of the most remarkable things I’ve seen in a retail setting outside a genuine 50% off sale.
After a final visit to the club lounge, we head to our room to set the alarm, knowing the departure terminal is only a groggy dozen steps away.
Writer’s Tip
Singapore’s humidity can humble even the bravest traveller. Plan your day in reverse – swim first, explore later. And if you’re tempted to walk anywhere at midday, don’t. Even the locals won’t.
Getting There and Staying
Flying: Singapore Airlines flies daily from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Singapore, with smooth connections to
Europe and Asia. www.singaporeair.comLayover Option 1 – Family Fun: D’Resort Downtown East offers family rooms and direct access
to Wild Wild Wet waterpark – about 15 minutes from Changi Airport by taxi.Layover Option 2 – Airport Luxury: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is connected to Terminal 3 via covered walkway. Pool, club lounge and award-winning comfort make it ideal for short stays.
What to do on a Singapore stopover
Jewel Changi Airport: Don’t miss the 40–metre Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, surrounded by lush forest canopy walks. Shops, cafés and late–night dining make it worth a few hours.Downtown East: Families can explore Pasir Ris Park’s mangrove boardwalk or hire bikes along the beach side trail.
Getting Around: Metered taxis are plentiful and affordable. From Changi, downtown is about 25 minutes and SGD 20–25.