Thailand, Japan and Singapore: Top Mother's Day Destinations
With the holiday just around the corner, spoil your mom to the max with one of these weekend getaways fit for a queen.
Pattaya, Thailand
Craving sun and sky? Book the Mother’s Day Spa-rkling Escape at Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya for the ultimate tropical vacay, including accommodation in a Premium Sea View room, breakfast for two and a 60-minute spa treatment.
Once you’ve checked in to the oceanfront resort, say goodbye to aches and pains at the award-winning spa, with signature treatments such as the Oriental Body Wrap, featuring the spa’s signature body butter. The expert Mövenpick masseurs know just how to relieve those pressure points—the perfect remedy for mom’s sore limbs. Afterwards, laze around the lagoon-shaped swimming pool with a glass of champagne in hand, or take a walk along the palm-fringed beach as the sun dips below the horizon.
After you’ve dried yourself to a prune under the sun, head indoors and feast on authentic Thai eats at Twist Restaurant, with five live cooking stations to fire up your appetite.
To round out your itinerary... Cruise along the Pattaya floating market and sample sweet snacks like mango sticky rice from the riverside vendors, or head to Silverlake Vineyard for a sip of Thailand’s best wines. How much? From $1,300 per room per night for the Mother’s Day Spa-rkling Escape (minimum two nights). 55 Moo 2, Na Jomtien, Sattahip, Chonburi, Thailand, (+66) 33-078-888, movenpick.com
Noboribetsu, Hokkaido
There’s no better way to coddle your hard-working mom than to treat her to a spring detox in Noboribetsu, the largest hot spring town in Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido. Check in at the Dai-ichi Takimotokan, a serene, tatami-matted resort surrounded by volcanic hot springs.
Once you’ve settled in, slip on a pair of geta traditional Japanese flip-flops and head to the hotel’s onsen bathhouse—the largest in Hokkaido. Feel your troubles float away in the aged cypress bath tubs as you drink in the beautiful, hill-covered scenery. The “Demon Spa” onsen features warm water pumped directly from the boiling hot springs of Hell Valley, while the “Cure Spa” is designed to rehydrate your skin with a gentle mix of calcium and chloride. End with a steam bath to open up your pores and give mom’s skin a lasting, healthy glow.
After the relaxing spa sesh, head back to your room and indulge in the complimentary crab kaiseki dinner, where you’ll dive into a parade of dishes made with sweet crab meat from the fishing port at Noboribetsu: think piping hot snow crab tempura and hot pot bubbling with king crab and veggies.
After dinner, wrap yourself in a kimono and explore the Yunomachi Gift Shop for local Hokkaido souvenirs, or head to one of the karaoke clubs for a mom-and-daughter duet.
To round out your itinerary... Shop for cute cartoon-shaped souvenirs on the age-old Paradise Road, or head to the steamy Sengen Park to watch the geyser spout hot water eight meters high. How much? $2,684 per room per night. Includes breakfast, crab kaiseki dinner and accommodation in a standard room. Package available through Oct 31. Dai-ichi Takimotokan, Noboribetsu-onsen, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, (+81) 143-84-2111, takimotokan.co.jp/english
Singapore
Why not use Mother’s Day as an excuse for the whole family to take a quick holiday? Mandarin Oriental, Singapore’s “Breakfast in Bed for Mum” package is just what you need to unwind, with plush accommodation in a five-star room furnished with tasteful accents and a dazzling city view.
Remember waking up to the aroma of mom’s scrambled eggs and bacon? It’s her turn this time. While mom breathes in the floral aroma of her welcome bouquet, you’ll be downstairs with the hotel’s chefs whipping up a surprise breakfast in bed for Mom, complete with a fluffy heart-shaped pancake.
In the afternoon, cool off in the stunning 25-meter outdoor pool, then pop over to poolside restaurant Dolce Vita for delicious, organic Italian cuisine, or head to the Mandarin’s Melt Café for a sweet or savory late-night snack.
To round out your itinerary... You could get lost all day in the city center with the sheer number of shopping malls and exotic food markets to explore in Singapore. At Marina Bay Sands, shop till you drop in over 300 stores. A few minutes’ walk will take you to the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum, where the Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition (through Aug 14) might just be the perfect thing for jewelry-loving moms. How much? $8,650 for a family of four per night. Available from May 7-9. Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square, Singapore, (+65) 6338-0066.
