Where to Stay with Kids in Tokyo [Hilton Tokyo Bay Review]

Posted in Holidays, Japan, Reviews, Travel with Kids by jahbella

After the tough decision of having to decide which flight configuration and flight timing would work for us, I had another dilemma looming in the horizon..where to stay in Tokyo?

Here are some of the options we had and the rationale/ pros and cons behind each one.

Stay at a Disney Hotel for 11 days.

🙂 Minimize the need to move hotels and keep us really close to Disney on the 4 days we were intending to visit (perfect for going back for afternoon naps!)

😦 Visiting Tokyo on the other 7 days would be a hassle, with multiple train stops and at least 45 minutes travel time each way.

Stay at a Disney Hotel for half our trip and move to a city hotel for the other half.

🙂 Minimise travel time on a day to day basis

😦 Lose one entire day when we change hotels and we would have to visit Disney over a weekend and battle the crowds. [Read about our tips to surviving Disneyland Tokyo with kids]

Stay at a City hotel for 11 days

🙂 Easy travel for most part of our 11 day holiday

😦 Almost impossible to go back for afternoon naps on our 4 Days at Disneyland and lose out on a lot of the Disney experience

So which would you have chosen?:)

We eventually chose Option 1 which I know is probably not the most popular choice but we really cherish our naptimes :p (well rested kids = happy kids = happy parents) So yes we chose to struggle on most days and manage our itinerary within means.

We ended up booking a room at Hilton Tokyo Bay which although is not an Official Disney Hotel (The Disney hotels are connected to either Disneyland or Disney Sea) but it was fairly well-connected by a monorail line which served the Disney area (think our local LRT).

The hotel provided a free shuttle service to the nearby Bayside monorail station. We would usually take the shuttle bus to and from Bayside except at night when it tends to get really crowded. For those peak times, we would opt to take a nice slow 5 minutes stroll to our hotel.

Disney Shuttle to Bayside Station from our hotel

With Mickey design and interior

Jah enjoying his front row seat everytime we took the Disney shuttle

Bayside monorail station would bring you to 3 other stations – Disneyland station, Disney Sea station and the main Maihama Station which would connect you to the greater Metro lines. The monorail takes about 15 minutes to complete an entire loop so it was really convenient and fast!

We bought a 3 day monorail pass which gave us unlimited rides (only adults need to pay)

The Disney monorail

Enjoying the view of Disneysea while enroute to Disneyland

All smiles for Disney!

The hotel also provided a direct shuttle service to Maihama Station for those who are heading out to the city. This was how we travelled out to the city on the other 7 days. This is also where you would find Ikispiari Mall, where we settled a lot of our meals when we were not heading out to the city.

Maihama Station

The Hilton Tokyo Bay had several room types – 1 of which was the Happy Magic Room. The Happy Magic rooms are situated on their own level which was decorated in a Magic Forest Theme. It was a real treat for the kids and they would ‘greet’ the little dragon 3D holograms found near our lift lobby every time we took the lift.

The room we had was really awesome for 3 main reasons. The room was HUGE compared to many of the city hotels in Tokyo and honestly even Singapore!!! Yes, we had 3 queen sized beds put side by side and so we didn’t have to squeeze or worry about rolling off the bed. There was also ample playing space for the kids and our huge suitcases.

Huge Happy Magic Room!

Wondering what to do with themselves in this big room

There were little tricks in the room to entertain the kids, like a magic mirror and a giant key to unleash the ‘magic’.

Magic Mirror and his princess friend

We also enjoyed our 180 degree sea view which offered us a glimpse of Mount Fuji on a nice clear day.

Brother and sister enjoying their seaview in the mornings

View of Mount Fuji from our room

While the hotel does not offer room service, it does have a well-stocked convenience store where we would purchase our daily beverage and snacks replenishment. They also have a take-away deli which sells hot food, pastries and desserts, and they offer room delivery for an additional 20% charge. This was how we settled our dinner upon arrival and the food was pretty decent (tasty spaghetti bolognaise, curry rice, kiddy bento). The photo doesn’t do the food justice because I was too famished to take a good shot :p We ordered from the deli every time we were too lazy to eat out and the kids even requested to go back to the hotel for the deli food on a few occasion. 🙂

Well-stocked minimart at our hotel

Our hot food upon arrival..takeaway from their Deli

While it was really quite a hassle to travel out to the city from the hotel (for 7 days!!) Reality was a lot tougher than what I imagined in my head :p That being said, I would definitely still choose to stay at this hotel, the next time we visit Tokyo Disneyland (unless of course we decide to stay at the Official Disney Hotel 😉 )

The Hilton Tokyo Bay is a real value for money hotel especially if you book early..:) (Think $300 a night vs $900 a night!) It is after all a Hilton right?

JahBella’s Mummy

30Sep2015

ZooMoo TV on StarHub 306 + an App + a Giveaway!!!!! [Review]

Posted in Media Invite, Reviews, Weekend activities with kids by jahbella

I will be the first to admit that I have no qualms about allowing my kids to watch TV or play with their iPads. I know that there are lots of debate/ school of thought on this topic but both Joel and I maintain that we do what we have to do and hopefully that is enough or well in this case not too much :p

That being said, I of course do experience abit of guilt when I feel that I have allowed abit too much screen time for the day (especially when mummy just needs to snooze alittle more or need a few moments of peace. And then there are also the hazy days (i.e the last month and ongoing!) where we can’t do our usual outdoor activities which we thrive on. Honestly there is only so much drawing/ colouring/ arts and craft or play fight that a kid can do in his 12 waking hours before he goes nuts within 4 walls (even the parents feel like they are going nuts!). :p

While we do monitor and control the material which they are exposed it, it absolutely helps to ease the ‘mummy guilt’ when I know that they are exposed to premium educational content such as the ZooMoo TV and the ZooMoo app.

ZooMoo

ZooMoo is a new network for children aged 3-7. Its mission is to create a safe and exciting environment across multiple screens, to stimulate young bodies and minds.

Opening their special ZooMoo Gift pack..thanks Zoomoo!

For more details on how to join the giveaway to win one of these fun gift packs, read on.

ZooMoo TV

The ZooMoo program lineup comprises of 1,500 self-contained shows, combining footage of wildlife with a range of puppetry, animations, and narrative techniques. Its programming schedule is packed into 1 hour blocks, organized in 5 themed strands- explore time, create time, play time, puzzle time and quiet time

The series shown in 1 hour blocks is repeated throughout the broadcast day on StarHub Channel 306.

Check out this link to watch some of the videos.

While JahBella were alittle unsure of the characters and the story line when they watched the show for the first time, they soon started ‘getting it’.

Flash! The engagingly good-natured photographer

ZooMoo App

The ZooMoo app opens a world of interactive activities, where the tablet becomes an extension of the television screen, enhancing the viewing experience. Children and parents engage in a world of games, puzzles and activities – a concept wholeheartedly approved by world-leading educationalists.

Through the app, kids can look after 150 different animals on the secluded Zoomoo Island. Feed them, keep them clean, watch 150 real life videos, learn their names and sounds as well as take photos!

I would have to say that the ZooMoo App held an immediate appeal for JahBella especially for Jah. This was even when he was unfamiliar with the concept or characters from the show.

The app taught him about the different animals and through feeding the animals he learnt which animals preferred/ disliked which type of food. The concepts were easy to grasp for a 3.5 year old but at the same time had enough substance to keep him interested and learning new things.

The wonderful part of the app at least for the parents, is the fact that it doesn’t have any third party advertising within it or any in-app purchased required. You only require an internet connection when downloading the app for the first time and then you are good to go! Perfectly safe for the kids to explore without me having to worry that they will chance upon something inappropriate.

Learn more about the app at this link

Showing his little sister the ropes..

Getting the hang of it

If you are looking for good educational content on TV or on the tablet for your kids then this would be a really good option. Definitely haze resistant! 😉

GIVEAWAY

The kind folks from ZooMoo will be giving away a ZooMoo Gift Pack to 1 lucky reader of Jahbella.net

And our winner of the ZooMoo Giveaway is Sandra New!!!!! Congrats Sandra! We will be contacting you shortly for your details. 🙂

To join the giveaway, just complete all the steps below.

Like Growing up with Jahbella Facebook page
Like and Leave a comment on our original Facebook post and Tag 3 Friends.

The giveaway will end on 6 October 2015 2359hrs.

Terms & Conditions:
1) Contest ends on 6 October 2015 2359hrs (Singapore timezone).
2) This contest is opened to Singapore addressees only.
3) Limited to one winner per household.
4) Winners will be announced on Jahbella.net and we reserve the right to select another winner if the selected winner does not reply within 24 hours. Particulars of the winner will be given to the sponsor for the purpose of sending out the prize.

Good luck!

JahBella’s Mummy

17Sep2015

Baby Looney Tunes Micro Satin Bedsheets and Blanket [Review + Promo Code]

Posted in Media Invite, Reviews by jahbella

Putting my kids to bed has come down to a ‘science’ especially for Jah. The room has to be dark and quiet. He has to have his bear and his personal soft pillow. And last but not least his bedsheet and blanket/ comforter has to feel just right. After all he is my highly sensitive boy who can feel almost every ‘prickle’ in his bed and clothes (yes read t-shirt tags and ‘sandy’ bed sheets)

So when I was told that there was a new launched series of Bedsheets Sets, made of Micro Satin (380 thread count per 10cm square). I figured why not give it a try, after all Micro Satin does sound pretty comfortable right?

The Fitted Sheet Set contained a fitted sheet, a pillow case and bolster case. This set is available in both Single and Super Single sizes. We also tried the Summer Blanker which is only available in Single size however I would have to say it is pretty generous.

Jah was really excited to have new bedsheets and a huge new comforter (he has been using a small fleece blanket for the longest time) and it definitely helped that the set came in an adorable Baby Looney Tunes design.

The bedsheet and summer blanket was really soft and plushy and while we weren’t able to use the pillow case or the bolster case as Jah has his own Junior sized pillow, I would be willing to bet that there were just as soft.

In fact I don’t know why but the material of the bedsheet reminds me of those little furry stickers that I used to collect as a kid. :p

As part of our sleep routine every night, Jah would always insist on lying on my lap and his little fleece blanket would only be enough to cover him! 😦 No more problems now, with a comfy full sized comforter that fits him + me and is soft and super cosy under the covers.

The Baby Looney Tunes Fitted Sheet and Summer Blanket are available in several designs.

Visit the Product Catalouge Link for more info on availability and price.

Our sponsor has kindly offered a special deal for JahBella’s readers!

Enter the promo code – JAHBELLA upon checkout and you will be entitled to free delivery on your Baby Looney Tunes product and a free Baby Looney Tunes pillow case worth S$3.90.

Purchases over S$120 will be given an additional free Protect-A-Bed Pillow Protector worth S$25.

More details on the Protect-A Bed Pillow Protector can be found at this link

I also hear that the sets are going at promo prices now so what are you waiting for?

I’m going to pick up a few more sets myself…:)

JahBella’s Mummy

Disclosure: JahBella received the Baby Looney Tunes Micro Satin Bedsheet and Summer Blanket product for the purpose of this media review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

4Aug2015

Drypers Drypantz Staycation Contest and Review

Posted in Media Invite, Reviews by jahbella

Jah and Bella have been using the same diaper brand since birth (from newborn diapers all the way to the ‘pants’ version) and I have to say I have been rather happy. Up until of course when I started getting ‘complaints’ from both JahBella’s Papa and the helper which meant that I had to spring into action to see if there was another brand that would fit our needs better. So it was timely that Drypers was also looking for families to try out their Drypantz range and I figured where’s the harm in trying. 🙂

My first impression of Drypantz was the fact that it looked a lot softer and less stiff than the brand I was previously using. Plus the fact that I didn’t have to buy two different ‘gender’ pants when they wear the exact same size, was a huge upside for me. (Shopping woes!)

JahBella’s Papa loved the fact that the sides of the Drypantz were stretchy which meant that he didn’t have much difficulty in trying to put them on for Bella. He was convinced a week ago that Bella needed to upgrade to XXL because he was having trouble pulling the pants up for her. Stretchy Drypantz waistband to the rescue and now everyone is happy! 🙂 I think Drypers was not bragging when they said its Comfort Fit™: New soft outer cover and Comfort Fit™ in waist provide softness feeling and greater comfort for baby. It really is so much softer than what we are used to so now I kind of feel bad for the scratchy waistband I have been making them put up with.

Our helper also gave Drypantz the two thumbs up when she fed back that ‘the diaper is not wet’. What she meant was the fact that you can’t feel the wetness even after the child had peed. So no more damp feeling for the child and in my opinion, it probably meant that it was well-absorbed and so less likely to leak. (It is one thing to wake up to a diaper that has leaked all over your bed and it is another thing to find out that said diaper has also leaked all over the heavy weigh-a-ton car seat). According to Drypers, this is due to its Activ-Core™: Specially designed absorbent core helps to quickly absorb urine, prevent flow-back. It also provides up to 10 hours of longer-lasting dryness which is perfect when your kids put on their diapers at 9pm and are expected to only wake at 7am.

From Jul onwards, Dryper Drypantz is available in Mega Packs – with pack counts as follows – M-60pcs, L-48pcs, XL-42pcs, XXL- 36pcs

Looks and feels pretty soft + it looks smaller than an XL but fits really well because of its stretchiness

If you are looking to try a new brand or if you are about to upgrade your child to diaper pants then there is no better time to try out the Drypers range than now.

Drypers is giving consumers a chance to win a 2 day 1 night staycation in the first-ever Drypers Rock Themed Room at Hard Rock Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa!!!

Drypers will be selecting 6 lucky winners (1 per week) to enjoy a 2 day 1 night stay at the Drypers Rock Themed Room, filled with a whole load of Drypers goodies.

Drypers cushion which the winners are free to take home with them

Bath items specially prepared for the baby!

Baby cot is available too if you need it and oh yes and winners are also free to bring home that cute little guitar there 🙂

More goodies for the winners to bring home! Daddy, mummy and child rockstar t-shirts as well as all the selfie props! How fun!

Tempted yet?

Head to Drypers Facebook Contest Page- http://drypersfacebook.com/RockerBaby/ and follow these 3 easy steps to stand a chance to win!

Take a rock themed photo of your baby (0 – 36 months at time of submission of photo) in Drypers Drypantz.
Include a creative caption for your photo along with #Drypantz and #diapers
Submit the photo via Drypers Singapore Facebook campaign tab.

1 winner will be selected per week to enjoy the staycation at the Hard Rock Hotel Singapore while 3 other winners will walk away with a designer’s bag worth $162 every week.

Winners will be notified via facebook on a weekly basis.
Contest period: 13 July 2015 – 23 August 2015

More details on the staycation can also be found on Drypers Singapore facebook page!

Good luck! And enjoy the little dry bottoms! 🙂

JahBella’s Mummy

Disclosure: JahBella received the Dryper Drypantz product for the purpose of this media review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

2Jul2015

Katong Kitchen Buffet @ Katong Village Hotel – Review

Posted in Food, Food Journey, Reviews by jahbella

The last weekend was quite the week of feasting in fact we decided to attempt something which we have never done with the kids before. A buffet!!!!! Ok to be fair this was their 2^nd buffet but their 1st with just us and with no aunties or uncles to distract them while mummy and papa gets to eat. So I was abit apprehensive because I really really needed both kids to be cooperative, like the food and the environment and allow us to at least have a decent shot at the buffet table. It didn’t help that Jah was being extremely disruptive just before lunch and Joel had suggested no less than 5 times that we should perhaps postpone the buffet lunch to another day. I was determined to have my Nonya buffet lunch that day but I was also really stressed out and worried that I was going to end up with an “I told you so” from Joel. Thankfully it turned out fine..better than fine.

We made a reservation for 12pm at the Katong Kitchen located on the 4^th floor of Katong Village Hotel. We were 10 minutes early and asked to sit around and wait while the staff continued to prep the buffet table. Jah was immediately drawn to the seafood table when he saw the mussels and Joel and I were really surprised that he actually went on to eating quite a number of these cold mussels.

Eager for 12pm to come

The spread was mainly Peranakan cuisine ranging from hot food buffet spread to a laksa stand as well as a DIY Rojak and Kueh Pie Tee. However they also injected alittle variety by having a seafood table, sushi area, salad bar, waffles stand and a dessert table which had a mix of nonya desserts as well as your regular cakes.

Cold Seafood Spread

Normally the first thing I go for but I didn’t even get the chance to eat these because the rest of the spread was just too good!

Hot food spread

DIY Rojak

DIY Kueh Pie Tee

I have to say I was very impressed with the quality of the food! While I probably would not equate it to the standard of a Peranakan restaurants. It was nevertheless a good variety of food with decent quality and priced very affordably. I usually don’t like going for buffets because 1) you don’t get to eat leisurely with kids and 2) it is always a struggle between variety and quality but I would say the buffet at Katong Kitchen hit the spot. There was really something for everyone! Even my pickiest child (Jah) ate…a lot!

Sure there were a few spicy dishes which the kids could not take but there were more than enough kid friendly items to keep them full and enticed. Jah enjoyed his silverfish fried rice with freshly bbq-ed satay as well as his cold mussels. He also enjoyed freshly baked waffles served with chocolate soft serve ice-cream that he got to decorate with toppings and drizzle with chocolate sauce and he got to make his own ice-kachang as well (ok mummy made the ice kachang). Bella savoured her ee-fu noodles and well ate everything else including tons of keropok (minus the sambal which was available in abundance).

Everyone had their own waffle with soft serve ice-cream

Ice-Kacang Machine!

Keropok with an abundance of sambal

Nonya Kuehs!

Super spoilt for choice

The adults ate everything and I even got to make rojak and kueh pie tee for the family by following the simple instructions they had on display. We spent a leisurely 1.5 to 2 hours at lunch which is unheard of in our family but everyone had so much fun and the staff were ever helpful and always on hand. Oh and before I forget, do order their own fruity ice tea concoction! It was simple thirst quenching with a little fizz..totally love! In fact Jah loved it so much that he was competing with us for refills.

Easy Peasy!

Mummy makes awesome rojak! 😉

Loved the laksa!

Yummy too!

At $38++ per adult and $19++ per child (above 6 years old) for a weekend buffet lunch (which ends at 4pm!), we will definitely be back for more! Yes and kids below 6, eat for free! 😉 so even more reason to try right? 🙂

JahBella’s Mummy