YYoYo_hetaobushibaoA month before the National Day holiday, I started planning our family trip with our 2.5-year-old. He's not really suited for crowded tourist spots, and as low-energy parents, we're not up for intense 'special forces' style parenting either. So, I opted for a 'staycation,' which is super popular on Xiaohongshu (xhs). I'd bookmarked several highly-rated family-friendly hotels, and Pudong Kerry stood out as the most satisfying from my research. It offered family rooms, a kids' playground, and direct access to a mall – incredibly convenient! I quickly booked a stay on Ctrip, full of anticipation.
We checked in on the evening of the 3rd. The front desk lady was very polite and answered all my questions in detail. When I asked if an additional adult could accompany my child into the playground (the package included entry for one adult and one child, but I was worried I wouldn't have enough energy and we'd need to take turns looking after him 🤣), she agreed without hesitation. I'm really grateful for that, and it proved to be a lifesaver in the playground – we truly couldn't keep up with our child! He had an amazing time, and we parents were exhausted.
Upon entering the room, we immediately saw the special tent, a highlight of the family suite. Forget kids, even I, a 30+ adult, wanted to crawl in and hang out for a bit! For the two days we stayed, this little tent became his 'secret base.' When we were relaxing in the hotel, he'd be in there watching Qiaohu (Chuckle) or playing with his toys. The hotel also gifted him a little kangaroo plushie. Wow, it completely won him over and became his 'best buddy.' Every night before bed, he'd ask, 'Where's my best buddy?' Hahaha, the innocence of a child really touches your heart every single moment. The kangaroo T-shirt was a bit big, but that's fine; he can wear it when he's older and we can come back to the Kerry Hotel again.
During check-in, the bed rail and children's toiletries were all prepared, which was very thoughtful. The first round of the mini-bar was free, and they even provided cookies, which tasted pretty good.
The only suggestion I have is that the bed rail felt a bit unstable. At the head of the bed, it was fine because of the cabinet propping it up, but the foot of the bed felt loose; if you nudged it slightly, it felt like it would fall. Later, I was worried he might roll off in the middle of the night if the rail gave way, so I stuffed pillows along the side of the rail, which solved the problem.
Hotel breakfast is on the 1st floor. Booking a family room includes two breakfasts. The breakfast spread was extensive, with Chinese and Western options, noodles, wontons, bread, and pastries – everything you could want, and it all tasted good. Next to the kids' playground was a gym, which looked very good with plenty of equipment, but I didn't get to experience it as I was with my child.
This trip was very satisfying, and I look forward to returning to the Kerry Hotel to unlock new experiences.
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