Holidays in Thailand with children

One of the best destinations for a family holiday can rightfully be called Thailand. It is easier to get there than to many other countries of the world, and therefore Russian tourists are happy to choose such a route. How to plan a vacation in Thailand with children, how to prepare for the flight and what to take with you - read about these and many other important aspects in our article.

The fact that Thailand is summer all year round, everyone knows. In this regard, many tour operators say that you can fly here at any time and even with the smallest children. However, this is not quite true. If you plan to leave with young children - 3-5 years - you need to be very careful when choosing a season.

It is very important to go on holiday to Thailand with children exactly in that season when the difference between the weather at home and at the resort is minimal. So, the high season in Thailand is from November to March: during these months dry and hot weather keeps. Based on this, it is logical to assume that April is optimal for a trip with a baby. However, in some regions of Russia at this time the temperature can reach up to –10 ° С, whereas in Thai exotic resorts it already reigns + 30– + 35 ° С. Such a temperature difference threatens the baby severe acclimatization.

Many parents vacationing in Thailand with their children are proposing to consider traveling in the summer months. Tourists are frightened off by the rainy season, which lasts there from May to October. But few know that this weather can only be on hand if you have to relax with small children. Judge for yourself:

• the average air temperature in this period in Thailand is + 25– + 30 ° С, which is more easily tolerated by a child’s body;
• protracted tropical rains, which everyone is so afraid of, are only observed here at night, and in daylight hours there can be only short and warm precipitation, and even then not every day;
• The water temperature from May to August does not differ at all from that of April and is + 28– + 30 ° С.

However, it is worth noting that during the rainy season only the continental rest in Thailand is shown. Going to the islands at this time is not desirable. A great option for a holiday in September - the northern regions of Thailand, for example, the city of Chiang Mai.

Of all Asian countries, Thailand is the leader in hosting children. Every resort here has all the conditions for living and recreation with a child of any age. However, sometimes such a big choice and baffle, parents find it difficult to understand the variegated variety of proposals. To find a suitable place, you need to take into account the peculiarities of each famous resort and choose the one that will best suit the individual expectations from the rest.

There are two incredibly popular mainland holiday destinations in Thailand with children that are worth considering in detail.

This resort city is located in the province of Chonburi (165 km from Bangkok, the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand). Here you can not only live comfortably with your child, but also captivate a young child for the rest of your time.

The advantages of a family holiday resort include:

• a wide range of entertainment (water parks, animal farms, entertainment complexes);
• a rich menu in which you can meet the familiar cuisine, as well as the presence of Russian cafes and grocery stores with familiar products;
• a large selection of beaches for every taste, as well as many parks for walking.

A big disadvantage of this resort for families with children is the city center: Walking Street has always been focused on entertainment for adults.

This town is located 220 km south of Bangkok. A picturesque place for a quiet holiday: in the distance from the bustle of the city, all conditions for a comfortable family holiday are created here. Among the advantages are clean beaches, no crowds of tourists, plenty of options for entertaining children.

The only significant distance from the main sights - Monkey Mountain (6 km) and Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park (40 km) - can be a significant disadvantage of a settlement in Hua Hin. For those who are looking for a measured beach holiday, this is an ideal option.

A more exotic and varied holiday awaits guests of Thailand on its famous islands.

If you come here in April, you can truly enjoy the paradise island life: an incredibly beautiful sea, white sand, palm trees ... The five-star beaches that you can go to with your children are Kata, Patong and Karon.

Not far from Karon beach is the club Dino Park Mini Golf. It is decorated in the style of the Flintstones Family, which delights any kid who comes here. So, not only parents, but also their children will be keen on playing mini-golf here.

There are no cars on this island, and therefore there is an opportunity to plunge into absolute privacy with nature and your family.

In addition to a beach holiday, which, by the way, is organized at the highest level (here there is Hat Phra Nang - one of the best beaches in Thailand, the pearl of Krabi), the island is a expanse for walks in scenic places. The whole family can go fishing or kayaking. Older children can go climbing.

Something in between Phuket and Krabi. The island’s advanced infrastructure is still far away, but it’s not as far from civilization as the second. In addition to the beautiful beaches and opportunities for fishing, kayaking and diving, Samui is notable for the possibility of making a day trip to the National Marine Park. You can book it directly from the hotel. The tour is a tour of 40 wonderful islands past crystal clear beaches and unique scenic cliffs.

Another attraction of the island, from which both adults and children will be delighted, is a trip to the Muang Falls, part of which tourists ride on elephants.

On this island you can safely go with children of any age. The beaches here are clear water, white sand and shallow sea. There are very favorable conditions for tourists from Russia, especially if there are problems with foreign languages ​​- there are many Russians on the island.

Among the entertainment for young tourists here is worth noting the sports and educational spectra: children's yoga and gymnastics, drawing and vocal classes, master classes in needlework and quizzes. There are many local children in Phangan, there are several kindergartens and schools, and therefore the infrastructure for kids is very well developed.

This is not the most entertainment rich island. At least, the range of children's institutions here is quite poor.

In addition to recreational areas organized at family hotels, on Chang, young children will be interested in visiting the Monkey School and admiring rare elephants, while teenagers can be carried away by sports (diving, snorkeling or quad biking), or educational tours.

This island is part of a large archipelago of the same name. Of the 52 islands of Lanta is the largest and most developed. But children's entertainment in the traditional sense is not here. This island is good for combining beach and outdoor activities. Here you should visit the National Park, go snorkeling and wander around the area, admiring the natural sights.

These islands became known to the whole world after they turned into the set of the film “The Beach”. And although the story, twisted around this place, is entirely the fiction of the author, Phi Phi quickly settled in the minds of tourists as incredibly beautiful islands, on which everyone dreams to visit. There are six islands in the archipelago, the largest and most famous of them are the two islands between the mainland and Phuket - Phi Phi-Don and Phi Phi Le.

Contrary to popular belief, these islands are quite suitable for holidays with children of different ages. True, there is no large range of entertainment, as in other resorts in Thailand. As on the famous Maya Bay beach (the main scene of the movie “The Beach”), located on Phi Phi Le, the rest of the local beaches have all the conditions for recreation with young children. Specialized clubs for young tourists, swimming lessons and fun games on the beach will not let your children be bored!

The distance between Phuket and the capital of Thailand is considerable - 674 km. Therefore, it is better to go on vacation there directly from Russia - by plane, because the island has an international airport. If you still travel around Thailand and there is a need to get to Phuket from the mainland, you can also do this from Bangkok by plane, or by train, bus, car. The first option will take several times less time, but it will cost much more.

On the island of Krabi tourists carries a boat from the town of Ao Nang. On Samui, the most popular route lies on the ferry from Bangkok. Koh Phangan can be reached fairly quickly if you first fly from Bangkok to Surat Thani by plane, and from there take a boat or ferry ride.

The island of Koh Chang can be reached by bus or taxi from Bangkok. Near the city of Trat there is a ferry, on which regular crossings to the island take place.

Lanta Island is 100 km from the resort town of Ao Nang. You can get from this settlement to the island by a rented car, motorbike or by public transport - land or sea.

It is most convenient to get to Phi Phi Islands from Bangkok by public transport - boat or ferry. Choosing for yourself such a way to travel around Thailand, it is important to know that the timetable for the movement of vehicles may constantly change, so you need to specify it all the time.

If in European countries you can afford an economical holiday in a three-star hotel, then in Thailand, as in most Asian countries, you should try to take a hotel room with a maximum star rating.

Here are the best (guest reviews) options for accommodation with children:

• Grand west sands resort & villas Phuket 5 * (Phuket);
• Crowne plaza Phuket panwa beach 5 * (Phuket);
• The diamond cliff resort & SPA 5 * (Phuket);
• Sunset beach resort 4 * (Phuket);
• Kirikayan luxury pool villas & SPA 5 * (Samui).

The main rule that should be guided: the higher the better. To live by the sea is, of course, incredibly romantic, but when it comes to Thailand, it is, first of all, unsafe.

A few more important aspects when choosing a hotel for families with children:

• maximum distance from the city center (as a rule, the nightlife of resorts is in full swing);
• availability of conditions for comfortable living of the child (children's menu, high chair, playground in the shade, babysitting services);
• the size of the room (since tourists are forced to stay in their room during the hot time of the day, the child will need a place to play).

An alternative to hotel accommodation is more and more popular among tourists - renting private housing without intermediaries. On specialized Internet services, you can find a suitable option and book an apartment or house in the private sector.

The most economical option for a family going to rest in Thailand with comfort will be an apartment in a condominium or a small house away from the sea (this is cheaper, and the location of the urban infrastructure is more convenient).

Many tourists, going on vacation with children, choose the most obvious and simple directions. So, for many, a trip to Thailand is a visit to Bangkok. In the capital, you can really relax with the whole family as well as at any Thai resort. From the most children's entertainment here it is worth noting:

• Children's Travel Museum;
• the huge aquarium "Ocean World of Siam";
• Zoo Dusit.

A fine tour for the whole family will be a tour of the canals of Bangkok. However, it is necessary to recognize that in the capital you will find just a good rest. If you are looking for something the same thing, then it is better to go to other resorts, each of which is focused on something special.

If for adults tourists priority in beaches and infrastructure, then children on vacation are important water parks, zoos and other similar joys of life. In search of the best zoo in Thailand, go to Chiang Mai. Here kids will meet with giant pandas, giraffes and tigers. It is possible to make an excursion in the close time of the day to observe the life of nocturnal animals. And for the most daring - night safaris - an exciting ride through the park on a special bus among dangerous predators - lions, tigers, crocodiles, rhinos and other wild animals.

• Leoland (Bangkok, roof of the shopping complex Central City Bangna). There are not many attractions here, but the favorable location of the water park implies a pleasant rest after shopping.

• Siam Park City (20 km from Bangkok). Water park and amusement complex in the same area. Designed for guests of all ages: there are areas for the little ones, and there are - for older children and adults (extreme rides).

• Centara Grand Mirage (Pattaya). Many attractions for every taste. As well as breathtaking water slides. Large and interesting water park.

• Coco Splash (Samui). One of the young water parks in Thailand. Founded in 2011 right on Lamai Beach. For tourists without high expectations, this is a great place for entertainment.

• Splash Jungle (Phuket). A lot of rides, all of them are decorated in a variety of styles. Adults here can pamper themselves with SPA services.

The tropical sun for a European, and even more so for a Russian, is the most real latent threat. Once under it, at first everyone thinks that it is not very different from our own sun. But this is a terrible delusion.

It is better to sunbathe on the beach with children of 3-5 years from 9 to 11 in the morning or after 16 hours. This must be done with protection.

Main rules to avoid sunburn:

• Specialized creams need to be bought in Thailand, the level of protection - SPF50 – SPF70 (in Russia it is almost impossible to find such);
• sit on the sun loungers under the umbrellas, and not on the towels, which are laid directly on the sand, otherwise no cream will save;
• choose a wide-brimmed hat as a headdress for yourself and for the child.

Try to take only the essentials: medicines, documents, clothes and favorite toys (wherever without them). If your baby needs a stroller, take a lightweight folding option. Any children's food is in every store. A strategic reserve will be needed only if you go to an island remote from the benefits of civilization, but this very reserve can be done already in Thailand.

No compulsory vaccinations are required to enter Thailand. If the ADM-S vaccine (from diphtheria and tetanus) is more than 10 years old, it should be done before the trip. Hepatitis A and B vaccinations, if for some reason they have not been given, will also not be superfluous. And also from typhoid fever and polio. Children at the time of departure are required all the same vaccinations plus against whooping cough.

Among the misconceptions about vaccinations - injections against dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis. There is simply no vaccination from the first ailment, and there is no need to defend oneself while going to Thailand — there are no sources of this disease found in the resort areas of the country and no cases of the disease have been recorded.

Depending on the age and individual characteristics of the child, acclimatization can last from two to four days. In older children, it may occur without bright symptoms for the first day or two, and then become more pronounced. These signs can be easily mistaken for poisoning or sunstroke: weakness, dizziness, vomiting, fever.

In Thailand, everywhere there is an opportunity to eat European cuisine, familiar to our children. An older child can offer Thai cuisine. In any case, with food from family tourists there are no problems.

In recent years, Russia has significantly reduced the number of parents who are wary of family holidays in Thailand with children. Of course, most of the tourists who prefer this direction are representatives of the younger generation (25-40 years old). Among the advantages they note a good infrastructure - both entertaining and hotel. Many parents believe that traveling to a tropical country with a child of 2–3 years old is an excellent quenching of his immune system.

Among the downsides, tourists with children mark a long acclimatization, problems with exotic insects and the inability to visit excursions with a small child: because of the heat, long tours are unbearable for young travelers.

What to consider when planning a vacation in this exotic country, see the following video.