Looking for some travel inspo for the school holidays? We recently checked out Genting Highlands, Malaysia on a road trip with kids! From theme parks to strawberry picking and more, here's what you can do in Genting
Want to stay chilly without having to go too far this school holidays? Enter, Genting Highlands! Located just off Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia some 6,000ft above sea level at its highest point, Genting promises cool weather, beautiful mountain views and the best part: tons of things to do with kids! I recently did a Genting trip with two young kids in tow and can safely say it’s totally kid-approved. Keep reading for all the best hotels, things to do and more in Genting!
How to get to Genting Highlands: Car, coach or flight?
How to go from Singapore to Genting
5 hours by car or coach
Car: If you’re driving into Malaysia, the trip from Singapore to Genting by car can take about five hours depending on traffic conditions. Once you enter Johor, you’ll want to head on the North-South Express Highway, take the exit at Gombak toll, then take the exit at 803A-Genting Sempah which leads you to Genting Highlands.
Coach: There are a number of bus services from Singapore that go to Genting Highlands and will often include two rest stops along the way. We took WTS Travel‘s coach from Woodlands to Resorts World Genting, which costs about $75 per person. Other coach services with similar routes include KKKL Travel & Tours and Transtar, available for booking directly or via websites like Klook and Redbus. Do note that coach services usually have morning pickup times in the wee hours, some as early as 5:30am – but this also means you’ll get to Genting around lunch time with lots of time for exploring afterwards!
HoneyKids tip: Make sure to strap the kids in their car seats, as long drives usually mean antsy kiddos and you won’t want them trying to get up in a moving car or bus! Pack a ton of snacks and activities to keep them busy. Slime, playdoh and colouring activities have worked well for us. Try not to let them read or have too much screen time in case they get motion sickness (puke in a moving vehicle? Not pretty, trust me!).
Flight to Kuala Lumpur > 1 hour taxi or coach to Genting Highlands
Not driving, and want to avoid taking a coach from Singapore so you can start the journey at a more reasonable hour? You can take a short flight to KL, then flag a taxi or coach from KL to Genting which takes about one hour.
Getting around Genting Highlands: Taxi, cable car and shuttle bus
The main transport hub in Genting is Awana Bus Terminal, located at the base of Genting Highlands. All bus services dock here, and there’s also a large carpark for those who choose to drive to Genting.
Taxi: There are a number of taxis and private hire drivers stationed at the bus terminal. Some drive larger cars or vans, which are useful for those traveling as a family. Price-wise there’s often a flat rate for certain destinations, so make sure to agree on this prior to boarding. We’ve also had luck hiring one as our driver for the whole trip, so there’s always room to discuss multiple trips during the span of your stay for ease of movement.
Cable car: Getting to SkyAvenue, which is at the highest point of Genting Highlands with a large mall, hotels and theme parks, takes just 10 minutes via Awana SkyWay – Genting’s main cable car operator. It’s directly connected to the bus terminal. Tickets start from just RM10 (~S$2.80) and there’s also the option of booking the glass-floor gondola if you want to see the rainforest beneath your feet!
Shuttle bus: Many hotels in Genting offer shuttle bus services to Awana Bus Terminal (which is also where the Genting Highlands Premium Outlets are), so make sure to check with your hotel’s front desk on their bus schedule.
Genting weather: Temperatures from 16ºC to 23ºC
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to bust out those cardigans and light sweaters… here’s your chance! The temperature in Genting ranges from about 16ºC to 23ºC, so think cool, breezy aircon weather. That said, it can get hot during midday when the sun is out in full force so it’s best to have a light layer underneath. If you’re particularly warm-blooded and can withstand moderately cool temperatures, you might be fine with just a T-shirt on.
Best family-friendly hotels in Genting Highlands
Resorts World Awana: Spacious hotel with stunning views
Resorts World Awana is one of the few hotels located at the base of Genting Highlands. The journey here from Awana Bus Terminal takes just about 15 minutes (and some coach services may drop you off here directly if you request it!). We were hosted for a stay here recently and highly recommend it for families! The Superior Deluxe Room we stayed in had all the creature comforts we needed, including two comfortable queen beds, a TV, bathroom with a hot shower and a balcony with beautiful views of the surrounding area.
The highlight here would be the restaurants, which all had great views, amazing ambience and delicious food options. The tastefully decorated AYU Awana overlooks the resort’s heated swimming pools, and features a special smokehouse and grill menu – try the truffle fries! You can also chill out at the bar with drink in hand or choose to sit at the poolside lounge. Ever had hotpot in the mountains? Awana Garden is where it’s at, boasting a farm-to-table menu of fresh produce and delectable meats. Not forgetting JOM Makan, the hotel’s buffet breakfast restaurant, made up of a sprawling dining hall offering breathtaking mountain views. Every restaurant had more than enough options for both kids and adults, so you don’t have to rely on just fish & chips or chicken nuggets for the little ones!
Resorts World Awana also has a whole host of kids’ programmes under their Chief Experience Officer (CEO) programme, which entitles kids to a CEO Onboarding Kit. In it you’ll find a CEO passport, colouring activities, stickers and badges for little ones to sport while they try the various activities in the resort. The kid focus starts right from check-in, with friendly staff on hand keeping kids occupied with themed craft activities while parents check in. During our stay we got to go on a garden tour where we looked into the hives of stingless bees and even harvested their honey by hand! The resort also offers guided hikes through the Awana Trail where you can get up close to never-before-seen natural wonders and even encounter wild Siamangs, tropical birds and endangered plants.
Rates start from about S$67 per night.
Genting SkyWorlds Hotel (former Theme Park Hotel): Most kid-friendly, great for families and big groups
If you want to stay right in the heart of the action, consider Genting SkyWorlds Hotel. Formerly Theme Park Hotel, it’s located near Genting Skyworlds theme park (more on that below) and has cute kid-friendly interiors that will appeal to families with little ones. We’re talking bunk beds, cool wall decorations and kitschy details! Staying at this hotel in Genting means everything is within walking distance, including the two theme parks in Genting, SkyWay Avenue mall and the Awana SkyWay cable car.
Rates start from about S$92 per night.
SCAPES Hotel: Affordable two-bedroom suites available
SCAPES is one of the newer hotels in Genting. On a previous trip, we booked a stay in the two-bedroom suite which allowed us to be in the same unit as a family while giving our helper her own room for privacy. The hotel buffet breakfast is great, and we liked the on-site playground for kids. The pool here is unheated though so it may be too cold for some kiddos.
Rates start from about S$58 per night.
Other Genting hotels and resorts:
First World Hotel
Genting Grand
Resort Hotel Genting
Highlands Hotel
Best attractions & things to do with kids in Genting
Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park
Want to tire the kids out with a day of thrills? Genting SkyWorlds is the spot for a day of jam-packed fun featuring rides and characters from Ice Age, Rio, Epic, Planet of The Apes and more! My four-year-old had a blast here despite being under the minimum height requirement for a few of the ‘scarier’ rides. She didn’t mind, as she still got to ride Epic Hummingbird Flyers, the Voyage to Moonhaven water boat ride, Blue Sky Carousel, Rio Carnaval Chaos teacup ride and a few others. Mum and dad took turns trying out the more thrilling rides like Samba Gliders and Sid’s Rock ‘N’ Slide – this meant riding alone but we each still had fun! Sadly my one-year-old had to sit out of every ride, but we were so glad to discover the Mammoth Fun Zone playground with slides, a climbing net, monkey bars and even a small water play area.
HoneyKids tip: Download the Genting SkyWorlds app before you go, so you have all the theme park info in the palm of your hand. Most rides are available by walk-in, but some require joining the virtual queue – this helps to control the crowd and lets you ride without having to wait in line for too long. You can also use the app to find restaurants, nearby bathrooms, baby changing rooms and prayer rooms in the theme park. No stroller? No problem! The theme park offers affordable rental of single and double strollers so you can pack light.
Admission to Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park starts from RM151 (~S$43) for adults and RM128 (~S$36) for kids 90-110cm tall.
Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park
Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park is located at First World Plaza, connected to Skyway Avenue mall, and boasts over 20 rides. You can choose to pay per ride, or get the unlimited ride pass so you and the fam can play to your heart’s content! Younger kids can ride the carousel, flying spaceship ride, train ride and teacups while older kids and adults will love the fast-paced Sky Towers or Power Surge. There’s also bumper cars here and a number of carnival games!
The 1-Day Unlimited Ride Pass starts from RM65 (~S$18) while individual rides start from RM10 (~S2.80).
Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm
If you’d like to try strawberry picking, check out Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm. Entry is incredibly affordable, which gives you access to the strawberry picking area where you can harvest your own strawberries and bring home (after they’ve been weighed and paid for). There’s also a slide and a beautiful flower garden here, making it a nice relaxing attraction to walk through for photo ops with the fam.
Admission to Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm starts from RM8 (~S$2.30) for adults and RM5 (~S$1.40) for kids.
Shopping in Genting Highlands: Best malls
Genting Highlands Premium Outlets
Want to snag a good designer deal? Genting Highlands Premium Outlets (connected to Awana Bus Terminal) is home to the outlet stores of Braun Buffel, Coach, Kate Spade, Longchamp, Timberland, Salvatore Ferragamo and more. We also love checking it out for kids’ stores like Hamley’s, Cotton On Kids and Poney. Be prepared to spend the day here if you’re big on shopping – it’s shop after shop of deals and deals galore!
SkyAvenue
SkyAvenue is like the ION Orchard of Genting. This mega mall has everything from designer boutiques to high street brands, affordable eats and exclusive fine dining restaurants. They also have decent baby changing and nursing rooms here, which are always appreciated!
So that’s Genting, folks! Make sure to let us know if you found this guide helpful, and we wish you fun family travels ahead!
