Staycationing at home
Updated: 2013-09-22 07:58
By Donna Mah(China Daily)
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Resort destination Auberge's Bounty Kids' Club offers activities for children 4 to 12 years old. Donna Mah / for China Daily |
Eschew the holidays' crowds, headaches and haggling by staying in town and enjoying the delights of the new Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, Donna Mah recommends.
The concept of taking a staycation - staying home for a vacation - was at first a bit foreign to me. But I now embrace the idea and have come to appreciate the undeniable sense of excitement and joy it can bring.
Staying in town during the holidays means that the stress of packing for different weather, airports and the logistics involved with traveling with young children can, for the most part, be avoided. It's getting away without having to get away.
We were booked for a staycation at the new Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong. Just one night, but we were all looking forward to it. Children seem to love staying in hotels.
Located in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, the Auberge is a resort destination less than an hour away from Hong Kong Island.
It boasts stunning sea views from its 325 rooms and suites, and has The Bounty Kids' Club that runs activities throughout the day for kids four to 12 years old. It's perfect for families as it allows parents to have some alone time while the kids are being entertained.
To get to the hotel, go by sea by taking the Discovery Bay ferry from Pier 3 in Central, or by land by taking the MTR (Mass Transit Railway subway system)and then a public bus.
The ferry ride is pleasant and takes just 25 minutes to reach Discovery Bay. From the ferry pier, there is a free shuttle bus to the hotel. By land, take the MTR to Tung Chung or Sunny Bay station on the orange line and then a public bus to Discovery Bay.
The resort is on the same island as Disneyland, so some guests choose to stay here instead of the Disneyland resort hotels. The hotel has an "Explore and Escape" summer deal that features accommodation from HK$1,240 ($160) per night (plus service charge). There were many families with young children staying in the hotel.
We stayed in a two-bedroom suite with a gorgeous sea view. In the distance, we could see the Disneyland hotels and a bit further Hong Kong Island was visible.
The suite had a decent-size kitchenette, including an electric hot plate, microwave/grill, and fridge with freezer. A list of grocery items that the hotel could supply to stock the cupboards was also provided.
We checked into our room on a Friday afternoon. After spending a bit of time getting settled in, we headed to the pool for the children's snorkeling class, a scheduled activity with The Bounty Kids' Club.
My 4-year-old daughter, though very excited about the class beforehand, didn't end up joining the group. She is a shy child and was a bit intimidated by the other older and more outgoing participants.
The instructors were very patient and the kids that joined splashed around happily in the training pool before moving into the big pool. The giggles and laughs made me want to join but, alas, my daughter's decision to opt-out could not be swayed.
Something for a future visit, perhaps. The kids' magic party in the evening was much more successful and had her smiling, laughing and happily explaining things to me.
A couple of the kids had spent most of their day at the club or participating in the outdoor activities. The staff members at the club interacted well with the children, providing a friendly and welcoming environment.
The kids' club is open on weekends and school holidays and provides a variety of games, educational activities and creative arts and crafts. Aside from snorkeling in the pool, there are nature walks, kite making and cupcake decorating.
For our family staycation, we had three kids with us: one teenager, one 4-year-old and a toddler. The Bounty Kids' Club was a great place for the 4-year-old, and with breathtaking hikes nearby and an outdoor pool to hangout by, we weren't really worried about running out of things to do.
Several hours were spent in or by the pool, or rather, pools. There are two shallow pools, one round pool with massaging water jets and a larger deep pool.
Lounging by the pools with a book was my preferred way to enjoy the area. But the kids and my husband immersed themselves in the various pools, keeping cool on a sweltering summer day.
The idea of enjoying the breakfast buffet at Cafe bord de Mer in the morning was enough to motivate the teenager to rise before noon.
He was also encouraged by his 4-year-old sister's constant nagging for him to get up because we needed to go eat. Her energy was infectious and we all hustled downstairs to dine in the restaurant with the amazing panoramic view of the South China Sea.
We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with a generous selection of hot and cold dishes - both Asian and Western. The outdoor area saw a steady stream of guests with their cameras capturing the gorgeous seascapes.
For guests who would like to soothe their bodies and souls, there are private yoga and meditation classes available, as well as all the pampering spa treatments at Spa Botanica.
Energizing massages, body scrubs and rejuvenating facial treatments all sounded heavenly at this well-appointed and professional spa. The Sea Dream treatment package sounds gloriously relaxing and includes a 90-minute "sleep deeply massage" and 30-minute "radiance facial treatment" for HK$1,590.
Those who want to get their hearts pumping can choose to join the endurance-testing boot camp or take a hike along some of the island's most breathtaking trails.
Lantau Island is about twice the size of Hong Kong Island, and more than half of the island is lush green country park. The many beaches on the island are also popular with visitors and locals alike.
A staycation is an escape without having to really leave home. Our staycation at the Auberge Discovery Bay was a world away from the mainly concrete jungles of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. It was a relaxing escape from the fray.
Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.
(China Daily 09/22/2013 page15)