{"id":9801,"date":"2026-02-11T12:54:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T01:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/?p=9801"},"modified":"2026-01-17T12:56:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T01:56:02","slug":"singapore-layover-guide-families-d-resort-vs-crowne-plaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/singapore-layover-guide-families-d-resort-vs-crowne-plaza\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore Stopover Survival: Waterparks, Waterfalls and Where to Stay with the Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flying Singapore Airlines
<\/strong>Singapore Airlines is like an aviation Brigadoon \u2013 a place where flight crew smile so genuinely right through to landing that you wonder if you\u2019ve 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge of flying with kids
<\/strong>But smiling attendants aside, long\u2013haul 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crowne Plaza Changi Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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D\u2019Resort and Wild Wild Wet Rides<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

D\u2019Resort Downtown East: paradise for kids, purgatory for parents
<\/strong>So how do you make a layover exciting for kids? Make it a reward in itself. Enter D\u2019Resort Downtown East \u2013 a short, sweaty taxi ride from the airport, it\u2019s a resort built inside a giant waterslide park. Here kids burn jetlag like aviation fuel. But that\u2019s where the fun ends for adults. Disappointingly, there\u2019s no adult pool, no bar, nowhere pleasant to escape the oppressive heat except being funnelled through shopping\u2013mall\u2013sized waterslides like a peanut through a colon. Your only drinks come from vending machines, and they\u2019re non\u2013alcoholic. 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\u2019Resort is a no\u2013brainer for kids. They love it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Crowne Plaza: A Layover Luxury
<\/strong>On our return layover, we opted for luxury. Desperate for decent coffee after our long flight from Rome \u2013 spoiled by Italy \u2013 we stumbled upon the Crowne Plaza at the airport. After excellent espressos, we booked a room. By dumb luck, we\u2019d discovered that Crowne Plaza Changi Airport was named World\u2019s Best Airport Hotel and Best Airport Hotel in Asia for the tenth consecutive year at Skytrax\u2019s 2025 World Airport Awards \u2013 the Oscars of the airport industry. We\u2019d chosen well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mangrove walk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Jewel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Jewel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Later we retreat to the club lounge for free happy hour cocktails and excellent food\u2014more than enough for a light supper, saving us money and the hassle of venturing out. They even serve killer laksa. For layovers, this self\u2013contained approach is perfect. You don\u2019t want to hunt for restaurants when you\u2019ve got an early flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jewel: Singapore\u2019s Airport Spectacular
<\/strong>But what\u2019s there to do at the airport itself? Singapore likes to dazzle. Post\u2013swim, we visit Jewel \u2013 a nature\u2013themed shopping complex linked to the passenger terminals. Its centrepiece is the world\u2019s tallest indoor waterfall, the Rain Vortex, surrounded by terraced forest. We approached feeling ho\u2013hum, but found ourselves standing open\u2013mouthed in the mist, necks craned in wonder. It\u2019s one of the most remarkable things I\u2019ve seen in a retail setting outside a genuine 50% off sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writer\u2019s Tip
<\/strong>Singapore\u2019s humidity can humble even the bravest traveller. Plan your day in reverse \u2013 swim first, explore later. And if you\u2019re tempted to walk anywhere at midday, don\u2019t. Even the locals won\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Getting There and Staying<\/strong>
Flying: <\/strong>Singapore Airlines flies daily from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Singapore, with smooth connections to
Europe and Asia. www.singaporeair.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Layover Option 1 <\/strong>\u2013 Family Fun: D\u2019Resort Downtown East offers family rooms and direct access
to Wild Wild Wet waterpark \u2013 about 15 minutes from Changi Airport by taxi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Layover Option 2 <\/strong>\u2013 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What to do on a Singapore stopover<\/strong>
Jewel Changi Airport:<\/strong> Don\u2019t miss the 40\u2013metre Rain Vortex, the world\u2019s tallest indoor waterfall, surrounded by lush forest canopy walks. Shops, caf\u00e9s and late\u2013night dining make it worth a few hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downtown East: <\/strong>Families can explore Pasir Ris Park\u2019s mangrove boardwalk or hire bikes along the beach side trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting Around:<\/strong> Metered taxis are plentiful and affordable. From Changi, downtown is about 25 minutes and SGD 20\u201325.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Words by Dorian Mode Photography by Lydia Thorpe Flying Singapore AirlinesSingapore Airlines is like an aviation Brigadoon \u2013 a place where flight crew smile so genuinely right through to landing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sync_status":"none","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[116,176,181],"series":[],"class_list":["post-9801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","tag-article","tag-dorian-mode","tag-lydia-thorpe"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/Pool_Crowne-Plaza-Changi-Airport_image1.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastfamilies\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"

Singapore Stopover Survival: Waterparks, Waterfalls and Where to Stay with the Kids<\/a><\/blockquote>