Even the shortest of holidays to the closest of destinations sometimes require more planning than it’s worth. Add the entire family into the mix and the amount of prep work doubles or even triples. Which is why we’re all for easy, breezy staycations that require almost zero planning. Even better if they let you feel like you’re a tourist in your own country. Enter the Village Hotel at Sentosa, the first — and largest — of Far East Hospitality’s three new hotels on the island (the five-star Outpost Hotel and luxury heritage hotel The Barracks are set to open later this year). The two-week-old four-star hotel doesn’t just aim to bring you the perfect family staycation, it also wants to help you switch into vacay mode just. Like. That. Does it live up to its claims? We find out.

The spacious Family Room (from $370++ a night), comprising two connecting rooms, can accommodate up to four. It’s up to you whether you want to staycay with a family of four, or round up three other pals eager to graduate from chalet sleepovers.

Family rooms come with kids amenities— baby cots, baby bathtubs, toys and books are all available. You just need to indicate your child’s age when you’re making your booking and the staff will make the necessary arrangements.

The rooms, like the cosier deluxe room pictured here, adopt a bright, summery décor theme that isn’t too different froma newlywed’s dream interior for their BTO. One thing to note: drawing the translucent curtains doesn’t give you total privacy — there are blinds for that purpose. It may sound like we’re stating the obvious, but tell that to the couple in one of the rooms by the pool who were oblivious to this fact during their, er, couple time.

Why pollute our planet with more plastic bottles when you can get it straight into your glass from this tap that dispenses filtered water? Hydrating has never been cooler.

But if you’re craving for a hot beverage, don’t panic if you can’t find tea or coffee sachets in your room. They’re kept in a drawer next to the lifts so you can get one whenever you need it. The aim is to reduce wastage, we’re told, so don’t be kiasu and nick the entire drawer’s contents. That’s not cool.

There are, not one, not two, but four pools at the 606-room hotel’s expansive lush Pool Deck. Here at the Adventure Pool, movie screenings also take place at certain times of the day. Yup, you can choose to float around and watch The Avengers (among other family-friendly flicks) if you so wish. Or if you’d rather keep dry, lounge on beanbags poolside and munch on popcorn and sip booze at wallet-friendly prices ($5 for a glass of vino).

Seasoned parent staycationers know that not even the best kids clubs in hotels can tire the little tykes out quite like a fantastic hotel pool does.

No need to bring your own, or go through the hassle of pumping it up. Yay! Warning: these get snapped up really fast so it pays to go early.

Reserved for guests aged 16 and older, the multi-tiered Pamukkale Pool is a slice of tranquility that also happens to be the best spot in the hotel for that envy-inducing Instagram (that’s what infinity pools are for, no?). What’s even better? You can swim right up to the pool bar for a tipple, or three. Or if you'd rather focus on working out, sign up for Aqua Zumba classes that happen here. Check the activity schedule in the hotel lobby for details.

Sentosa's Wings of Time show happens right next to the hotel. While the outdoor nighttime display isn’t visible from the Pamukkale Pool, the fireworks finale at the end of every show are. Showtimes are 7.40pm and 8.40pm daily, and the fireworks light up the sky at about 7.55pm and 8.55pm respectively.

There’s an IG-worthy food truck by the pool which hawks reasonably-priced nosh like hotdogs ($11), burgers ($17) and even fruit popsicles ($5).

The Native Kitchen is the hotel’s only full-service restaurant (the other is a grab-and-go snack bar). It’s spacious, which makes it especially useful for kids not bumping into other kids at the breakfast buffet. Speaking of which, the breakfast spread is a decent one, stocked with hotel breakfast staples and some local faves like prata and congee. A slew of new restaurants is slated to open in the neighbouring heritage building complex later this year — an Indian restaurant and a café are among the new openings in the pipeline.

Going out or sightseeing with kids in tow can be, er, challenging at times. But the hotel’s prime location makes it so much more fuss-free. For starters, it’s right next to Kidzania and Palawan Beach. Wanna venture further around the island? The monorails at Imbiah Station are but a two-minute walk away, and will take you to Resorts World Sentosa and the Beach Station within minutes. But if, like us, you fancy upping your step count for the day, RWS is about a seven minutes away by foot, while ambling along the Merlion Walk to the resto-bars on Siloso Beach only takes about 15 minutes. After all, what better time than a staycay to be a tourist in your own country?

Village Hotel at Sentosa is at 10 Artillery Avenue, #02-01, Sentosa Island. More info at www.VillageHotels.com.sg/Sentosa.

Photos: Village Hotel at Sentosa, Jasmine Teo