& why we chose Nirup Island 🇮🇩✨
1. Ease of travel
It was only about a ~50 min ferry ride from Singapore.
No stress about flights, no turbulence, no ear pressure worries for baby. It felt like a very gentle introduction to travelling with an infant (much needed for us as first time parents!)
2. Lots of nature
Coming from the fast pace of Singapore, we wanted a complete change of scenery. We really enjoyed our days taking slow walks with baby along the paved routes. To our surprise, baby napped soooo well too!
3. Activities available (but better for older kids)
There were exercise classes and kids’ activities included (but personally, I felt most of them were more suitable for children around 3 years and up).
Woke up bright and early for a sunrise yoga class which I found to be so much more challenging than some classes I’ve done in SG. Was a good sweat & glad to have gotten some movement in at 4 months postpartum :-) We also brought baby for a swim & went for a walk at the beach.
4. Baby-friendly hotel amenities
The hotel provided a crib & baby tub. When already packing half our house for trip with baby (diapers, change of clothes, disposable changing mat etc etc), not needing to bring these made travelling so much lighter.
5. Convenience when baby gets fussy
We were in the restaurant when baby was over-tired and could not be soothed. Restaurant staff kindly helped send our food over to our room & we could easily retreat and continue our meal in the comfort of our bed.
Diaper changes were also just a quick walk/buggy ride back to the room. Having everything within walking distance took away so much stress and made going out feel easy.
One thing to note:
There are no shops on the island, and when we visited, there were only 2 restaurants available, so food options are quite limited. I’d pack cup noodles if I had known that there were no convenience stores on the island.
This was an eat-pray-love kind of weekend, and was really more about resting & enjoying time as a family of 3!! With this trip completed, we’re definitely ready for trips & flights further from SG.
For parents wondering if Nirup Island is suitable for kids, especially infants, I can share from experience that while the island offers a calm and nature-filled environment perfect for little ones, the activities are generally more tailored for children aged 3 and up. If you’re traveling with a baby, packing essentials like diapers, a portable changing mat, and favorite snacks is still important since the island lacks convenience stores and only has a couple of restaurants with limited options. We found bringing some simple meals helpful, as it gave us flexibility during fussier moments. One tip is that the island’s manageable size and quiet atmosphere make it easy to retreat quickly if a baby becomes overstimulated or overtired. The hotel staff were kind enough to deliver our meals to our room when our baby got cranky, and having a crib and baby tub provided really lightened our packing load. While the island might not have extensive kid-specific entertainment, the gentle pace, nature walks with built-in white noise, and the wide open spaces offer a soothing setting that encourages naps and family bonding. For slightly older kids, the organized activities like exercise classes and kids’ events could add to the experience. Overall, Nirup Island is a great introductory trip for families adjusting to traveling with infants before planning longer flights or busier vacations. It allows you to unwind, enjoy nature, and learn the rhythms of traveling with a baby in a baby-friendly environment.
