THE highlight of my recent Sentosa staycation came when a very charming young man stole my breath away with a gift of seashells.

As he made his way up unsteadily from the waves at Siloso Beach, he shouted excitedly: “I found something for you!”

My young man dropped a fragment of a seashell into my waiting hand.

“Papa and I found a shell for you, Mummy,” said my three-year-old son, Julian. “It looks like a heart.”

My own heart melted as he ran away with his little green pail to pan the sand for more treasure for me.

With the flu putting a dampener on June-holiday travel, a family stay at the Rasa Sentosa Resort Singapore by Shangri-La – sans border checks, the risk of infection and quarantine orders – promised to be a hassle-free, relaxing
 retreat.

So, when my family and I were invited by the resort to spend three days and two nights there under its Fantastic Family Fun full- board package, we were looking forward to it for weeks.

Indeed, through little moments built on seashell shards, I was to see new facets of my son on our family holiday, making me realise how much he has grown.

For parents with young children in tow, the package eliminates worries such as how to entertain frisky, distracted tykes and what to feed them. There are buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners with soft drinks for up to two adults and two children at the Silver Shell Cafe.

And children aged between five and 12 years can make use of the resort’s Toots Club, which offers activities like jungle walks, rock-climbing and kayaking.
There’s even a trapeze activity to try out.

Julian’s a little too young for those, so he spent hours in the children’s pool with its adventure slides and built lopsided sandcastles at the adjoining Siloso Beach.

Meanwhile, the Supportive Spouse hit the spa for a much-needed massage, making use of the package’s 10 per cent discount on a la carte spa treatments.

Three months pregnant, I just watched Julian at play.

And, honestly, that was enough for me.

At night, after Julian fell asleep, we sat chatting on our 11th-floor seaview balcony with drinks in hand, listening to the foghorns of nearby ships. I was awash with the feeling that this was the good life and that I never wanted to leave.

The Rasa Sentosa’s Fantastic Family Fun packages run from June 1 to Aug 31 at 101, Siloso Road on Sentosa. For bookings or enquiries, call 6235-1666.

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