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Rise of momcations in Singapore: No kids, no guilt

[SINGAPORE] For Mother's Day, 25 mothers took a ferry to Batam and left their husbands and children behind. At Montigo Resorts, they swam in infinity pools, lounged by the beach, ate and drank like calories didn't exist, binged on Netflix, doomscrolled TikTok, slept till late, and filmed goofy videos of themselves dancing like K-pop stars. They did everything – short of legally changing their names – to forget about their families back home. For a while, it worked. Then frantic texts from husbands or domestic helpers arrived and broke the spell: 'Where's our daughter's gym clothes?' 'What time is our son's enrichment class?' 'What's the vet's number?' The women calmly, dutifully texted back – before tossing their phones aside and plunging back into their holiday bliss. More lounging, more laughter, more forgetting. Popular website for mummies, Mummyfique, organised the Montigo Resorts momcation for Mother's Day. PHOTO: MUMMYFIQUE Orchestrating the coup was Gidania Wong, co-founder of Mummyfique, a website dedicated to supporting mothers. 'Every mother deserves a real break from family life,' says the mother of two, aged seven and ten. 'I'm not talking about a quick manicure or a massage. I'm talking about days where you wake up and do whatever you want.' Wong started going on momcations – vacations without her husband and kids – only in 2024. The idea took some getting used to. 'My kids were confused at first. 'What do you mean you need a break? A break from us?' Even my husband was worried. 'Is there another man?' he asked.' But that initial awkwardness only revealed a deeper truth: society views mothers as so inseparable from their kids that the idea of them wanting to be alone – truly alone – feels almost scandalous. 'People assume if a mother wants a break, something must be wrong with her, the kids, or the husband,' says Wong. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 'I just want to lie down' Amanda Leong knows this feeling all too well. 'People don't realise that being a full-time mum is more than a full-time job. You're up at six, you don't stop until the last one sleeps, and even then, you're still managing the household.' Amanda Leong on a staycation in Fullerton Bay Hotel. PHOTO: AMANDA LEONG A mother of three kids aged nine, six, and five, Leong doesn't just advocate for momcations; she schedules them like clockwork, at least once a year, and has been doing so since 2018. Her first getaway came right after her first child weaned off breastfeeding. She booked a short trip to Bali with fellow mothers who understood the burnout. 'It was just beach, villa, spa, sleep. I just wanted to lie down, turn my brain off, and do absolutely nothing… There was no one screaming. No one needing to talk about Baby Shark all day long.' Still, it wasn't always smooth sailing. 'I once had a mini panic attack while on a momcation. I was like, what am I doing? My job is to be home with the kids… Then I realised, they were fine. I was the one being dramatic.' Amanda Leong with other pregnant mothers in Bali. PHOTO: AMANDA LEONG Across Singapore, mothers are realising that taking time away from their families isn't just a luxury – it's a necessity. The concept of a 'momcation' is gaining traction, with more women embracing the idea of escaping the daily grind to recharge and reconnect with themselves. For many, it's a radical act of self-care, a necessary pause to stay sane. Gaining mom-mentum The term 'momcation' first appeared in the 2010s, joining the ranks of portmanteaus like 'staycation,' 'glamping,' and 'athleisure.' By January 2020, The New York Times had made it official with its story: Momcations. It's a Thing. Not long after, Covid-19 swept across the globe, bringing with it months of suffocating lockdowns, round-the-clock parenting, and the complete erasure of boundaries between work and home. The idea of 'self-care' began to change – it was no longer just a quick coffee break or an hour at the gym. It became the need for real distance, the kind that allows you to breathe, reset, and reclaim a sense of self, away from family life. Ilonka Schafer's travel company, The Little Voyager, launched momcation packages in response to the rising trend. PHOTO: THE LITTLE VOYAGER Social media caught on quickly. The hashtag #momcation surged as mothers took to Instagram to share their escapes. When travel restrictions were lifted, the trend only grew stronger. By 2025, #momcation had appeared in over 84,000 posts, with a new one popping up almost every hour. Travel companies began to take notice. The Little Voyager, a Spain-based travel company, launched its momcation packages in 2020, offering getaways to five European destinations, including Ibiza and Catalonia. Founder Ilonka Schafer recalls a slow start. 'When we first introduced our packages, interest was relatively low. However, as we began promoting these offerings through social media, we noticed a steady rise in demand – approximately a 25 to 30 percent increase over time.' (She declined to give exact figures.) Asia is hard on mothers But while the concept is gaining, um, mom-mentum across the world, it remains far more popular in the US and Europe than in Asia. Scott Dunn's senior travel consultant Geraleine Yap sees an increase in solo travel among affluent Singapore women. PHOTO: SCOTT DUNN Geraleine Yap, a senior consultant at luxury travel agency Scott Dunn, attributes this to cultural differences. 'There's a stronger culture of wellness in Europe and the US, and a wider social acceptance of women taking time for themselves without guilt compared to Asia. However, we are seeing the trend gradually picking up here, especially as cultural expectations shift,' she explains. Yap notes that in cities like Singapore and Hong Kong, affluent women are leading the way. 'We've seen an uptick in bookings from women travelling solo or with their girlfriends. More are prioritising self-care and viewing travel as an investment in themselves.' Unfortunately, the idea of Asian mothers stepping away still clashes with deeply rooted cultural expectations. Clara Chow camping on her own on Hwasun Beach in Jeju, South Korea. PHOTO: CLARA CHOW Just ask Clara Chow. The acclaimed author of Modern Myths (2018) and New Orleans (2020) has had to leave her two sons – now 19 and 15 – for extended periods of solo travel to finish her books. While her husband Francis has always been understanding, society often isn't. When her older son began experiencing anxiety, Chow and her husband sought advice from a child behaviorist. 'The behaviorist suggested my son's issues stemmed from my absence,' Chow recalls. 'She said mothers shouldn't go away, that children need their mothers more than their fathers… She hadn't even spoken to my son yet, but she was ready to cast judgement.' The experience laid bare the double standard. 'Everyone questioned my choices, but no one asked if Francis could step up instead. Why is it assumed that the mother is the only one responsible for holding it all together?' Clara Chow planting corn as part of her writer's retreat at the Toji Cultural Centre. PHOTO: CLARA CHOW Thankfully, Francis did step up during her absences, encouraging their sons to be more independent. 'He was the one telling the boys, 'You've got to start taking care of yourselves.' Honestly, he deserves a prize for being a good partner.' How Singapore lags Globally, solo travel among women has surged in recent years. Data from 2024, gathered by sources ranging from Condor Ferries to Road Scholar, show that between 60 to 80 percent of global solo travelers were women. But in Singapore, the trend tells a different story. According to only 35 percent of Singaporean women traveled alone in 2024. 'Their reasons for travelling solo ranged from the desire to create their own itinerary to the hope of finding time for self-reflection,' says Anthony Lu, regional director of Southeast Asia & China. He adds that most women still prefer to travel with family members or friends. Amanda Leong (in black) on a ski-ing momcation in Japan. PHOTO: AMANDA LEONG Still, women-led travel is gaining momentum. Cyndi Hui, Skyscanner's travel trends and destination expert, sees this as part of a broader movement. 'The momcation trend is part of a wider shift… women are finding empowerment in exploring the world on their own terms – whether solo or alongside like-minded women. Globally, there has been a growing appetite for tours, expeditions, and communities designed by and for women.' Rebecca Van Roo took her first momcation three years ago – a quick getaway to Bali with her girlfriends. Her daughter was just three, her son five. 'The ride to the airport was always the hardest part,' she recalls. 'But by the time I'm on the plane, I'm fully relieved and relaxed.' Knowing her children were in the capable hands of her husband, her mum, or their helper made it easier to embrace the time away. Her husband, she says, is incredibly supportive. 'He thinks it's really important for me to have some time away, especially because I'm a stay-at-home mum,' she explains. 'I've been one since they were born. He believes everyone needs time to themselves or with friends, just to relax and feel like themselves again.' Rebecca Van Roo on vacation in California. PHOTO: REBECCA VAN ROO That encouragement gave her the freedom to explore. Since that first Bali trip, she's ventured to Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea – trips that have become part of her rhythm of self-care. Momcation tips Getting away wasn't always seamless. In the beginning, Van Roo meticulously mapped out every detail on spreadsheets – school activities, groceries, meal plans – because, as she puts it, 'There isn't one single person who knows everything I do.' But over time, her support network grew more adept. 'Now, I don't have to do any meal planning anymore. My helper handles it, makes the menus, and everyone knows the kids' schedules. It's getting easier and easier,' she says. Her advice for mothers hesitant to take the plunge? 'You'll always feel guilty. That doesn't go away,' she says. 'But trust the process. You'll come back better and happier. And your kids will grow too. If you're always there to remind them of everything, how will they learn? Sometimes, space is the best teacher.' Mummyfique's getaway at Montigo Resorts for two dozen mothers. PHOTO: MUMMYFIQUE Wong agrees but offers a practical first step. 'If you're nervous, start with a staycation,' she says. 'Just one night away. You'll be surprised by how much difference a little space can make.' Chow is even more blunt. 'Momcations aren't luxuries – they're survival strategies. You're useless if you're burnt out.' Leong's final word of advice? 'Don't go with your single friends. They'll want to party. You'll want to sleep. Trust me on this.' Recommended destinations Here are 12 great places for mums travelling solo or in a group, as recommended by Scott Dunn, , Skyscanner, and the interviewees. Daegu, South Korea Okinawa, Japan Langkawi, Malaysia Hangzhou, China Hobart, Australia Bangkok, Thailand Bali, Indonesia Hakone, Japan Taipei, Taiwan Catalonia, Spain Tulum, Mexico Pre-Saint-Didier, Italy