Mr & Mrs Smith: Three stylish Easter escapes

Whether you fancy a beach break, city stay or gourmet getaway with the family this Easter, boutique travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith have your escape sorted. Good Friday falls on 29 March with Easter Monday on 1 April, so why not make it a four-night holiday?

 

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Style Minimalist eco-glam
Setting Indian Ocean edge

For an Indonesian idyll, treat yourself to a stay at Alila Villas Uluwatu boutique hotel in Bali, which boasts jaw-dropping sea views from its perch on the cliffs of the southern Bukit Peninsula. The 61 spacious pool villas, featuring one to three bedrooms, work well for families, with cool, contemporary design that embraces the outdoors. Throw in dreamy dining, a top-notch spa and golden beaches in reach, and you’re onto a winner.

Sleeping Baby cots are free and extra beds can be added for older kids for US$30 a child a night. For more space or privacy for a larger family, opt for a two- or three-bedroom villa. All villas boast their own private pool, so you’ll need to keep an eye on infants.

Activities Head to the clifftop Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple at sunset, where children can watch the famous kecak dance and check out the cheeky monkeys. Alila’s Leisure Concierges can also tailor family-friendly activities, from cooking classes to island trips. The beach below the resort is reached via a steep flight of steps, but nearby Padang Padang or Jimbaran Beach suit kids. The infinity pool commands gorgeous sea views and will impress the whole family.

Feasting Children are welcome in the restaurants at any time, with a choice of authentic Indonesian fare at informal the Warung or western fine-dining at Cire. There’s no special kids’ menu but the kitchen can easily whip up something to please tiny tastebuds. If you want to dine alone with your partner, affordable babysitting is available.

Sassy savings Book through Mr & Mrs Smith to enjoy the Live the Dream deal for stays in a Three-bedroom Pool Villa. You’ll be pampered with a raft of special extras, from spa, food and drink credits to your own 24-hour driver for bespoke trips, a personal butler, free cocktail bar, daily yoga, children’s activities and VIP airport transfers.

 

Oriental Residence, Bangkok, Thailand
Style Bangkok meets Park Avenue
Setting Uptown embassy enclave

Fancy a buzzy city break with some hot shopping, heaps of cultural activities and a little rooftop bar action for mum and dad at the end of the day? Then make a beeline for Oriental Residence hotel in Bangkok, a family-friendly stay in the tranquil embassy quarter. Flanked by parklands, it offers 145 chic rooms, including apartment-style suites, Chinese fine-dining and a fourth-floor pool for luxe dips.

Sleeping Thanks to the spacious two- and three-bedroom suites, with kitchen and laundry facilities, this serene stay suits families.

Activities A covered kids’ pool adjoins the sleek, cabana-lined adults-only outdoor one. Children will enjoy the well-stocked play room, or make the most of the hotel’s distracting DVD collection. For local jaunts, take a walk in nearby Lumpini Park, Bangkok’s green lungs, and home to joggers, t’ai chi addicts, yoga fiends and ballroom dancers. For a culture hit, the Grand Palace, riverside temple Wat Arun and the Erawan Shrine are a short ride away on the BTS Skytrain. If shopping’s more your passion, then megamalls Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Gaysorn Plaza and MBK are an easy walk away.

Feasting Kids are welcome in all-day Café Claire any time, and the children’s menu offers gourmet comfort foods such as burgers, ham and cheese toasties, hot dogs, buttermilk fried chicken, Nutella pizzas and waffle towers. High chairs are on offer and staff will happily heat up baby food. You may prefer to save lunch or dinner at mod Chinese fine-diner Mandopop for you and your partner. Overlooking the dim sum kitchen, its dramatic bar is perfect for champagne sessions. For more rooftop bar action, make for the Prohibition-style Speakeasy bar at nearby Hotel Muse.

Sassy savings Book at least seven days in advance and save 10 per cent on Executive Deluxe and one-bed room types, excluding breakfast.

 

Hotel Penaga, Penang, Malaysia
Style High-fashion heritage
Setting Curious Georgetown

If your idea of Easter fun is more food-oriented, then why not pop to Penang in Malaysia? Hotel Penaga in Georgetown, the island’s capital, is an intimate 45-room stay, teaming original Peranakan decor details with mid-century modern furniture. Set across a grand central building and some shophouse rows, its vibrant spaces are both cultured and current.

Sleeping The two-bedroom Penaga Suites and Clarke Terraces are ideal for families. Baby cots are free and beds for older kids cost RM105, including breakfast. Babysitting can be arranged for RM20 an hour, given 24 hours’ notice.

Activities Kids can cool off in the hotel pool, although there’s no shallow end or lifeguards. Adults should bag some time at the rated day-spa and hair salon here, known for its holistic therapies and stylish design. A five-minute walk away, the Chowrasta Wet Market is a feast for the eyes; or try a Malaysian cooking class at the Tropical Spice Garden.

Feasting Junior Smiths can join you in casual Cinnamon restaurant, where burgers, pasta and sandwiches will make up for the lack of dedicated children’s menu. They’ll love its breezy poolside location; you’ll like the Orient-meets-Euro fusion dishes, such as char siew lamb, duck with kimchi (pickled cabbage) and beef carpaccio with ginger-flower dressing.  Come evening, settle in at cosy Tanglung Bar, ideal for a signature Penaga Punch or refreshing mocktail. Penang is also renowned for its fabulous street food, such as satay, otak-otak (spiced fish mousse), laksa soup and mee goreng (stir-fried noodles). Graze your way through the hawker centres on Lorong Selamat, New Lane, Gurney Drive, Chulia Street and Padang Datuk Keramat. For a more modern take on Penang’s culinary mix, check out the China House complex of bars, restaurants, galleries and boutiques, at 153 and 155 Beach Street. It’s a must for coffee, cakes, US-style streetfood and international tapas, as well as fusion feasts.

Sassy savings Book a stay at Hotel Penaga through Smith to enjoy the exclusive Smith extra; your choice of a bottle of wine or canapés or a 15-minute shoulder and neck massage or a 15-minute foot reflexology session.

Want other stylish family breaks? Or call the expert Travel Team on 800 905 236.