Although best known as a destination for backpackers and retirees, Thailand is also an excellent location for a family holiday. It’s full of resorts and hotels with great facilities, it’s warm all year round, and its beaches and jungles are some of the most beautiful in the world. But these things alone can’t guarantee you a great holiday. You also need to plan things carefully, especially if the kids are coming along.
From finding a family hotel in Pattaya to understanding the country’s public transport system, here are some top tips to make planning a breeze.
Learn About Popular Destinations
Thailand’s visitors tend to stay in a handful of cities and islands located in different spots around the country. A good way to start planning your trip is to choose one of these as your base. Then, once you arrive, you can explore the surrounding areas and attractions. Below, we’ve covered the main destinations and some of the things they are best known for. Use them as starting points for your own research.
Bangkok is the country’s capital. It’s a sprawling concrete jungle and home to some of its most famous temples and museums. Just a short drive away is Pattaya, which has a long beachfront promenade and plenty to see and do. Chiang Mai is the largest city in the north of Thailand, surrounded by hills, jungles and nature, while southern destinations like Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui are home to the most photogenic beaches and islands.
Pick the Right Accommodation
No matter how many activities you plan to pack into your family holiday, picking accommodation that you like is crucial. If it rains or something else leaves you stuck inside, it’s best to be somewhere with all the amenities you need. Plus, Thailand’s hot and humid climate can be exhausting, and your family might need an unscheduled rest day to just relax around the resort. Spend some time getting this choice right.
A pro tip is to search for accommodation in the local language, too. There’s no guarantee, but it does sometimes reveal hidden options and better prices. Just translate your search, like “family hotel in Pattaya,” into Thai (โรงแรมพัทยา เหมาะกับครอบครัว). Click on a few results, and check the corners of the webpages for a button to translate them back into English. Google also usually offers to do this for you.
Look for Age-Appropriate Activities
Family holidays can be challenging because you need to find activities that appeal to all ages. It’s best to make sure that there are a few of these around when choosing the main destination for your stay. Fortunately, there are usually many options available in the locations we outlined above.
Bangkok has everything from aquariums and zoos to river boats and floating markets. Pattaya has things like the Art Paradise 3d gallery, Pattaya Beach, and the popular Terminal 21 shopping mall. In the north you can see elephants in their natural environment, while in the south your family can go island-hopping, snorkelling and more.
Familiarise Yourself with the Transport Options
Travelling around in Thailand isn’t always easy, especially with children. However, when you familiarise yourself with your options and prepare what you can in advance, you shouldn’t have much trouble. The experience most people have is that travelling between major destinations in the country is pretty easy, because there are planes, trains and buses. But getting around within places is more difficult.
Bangkok has both a metro (MRT) and monorail (BTS) system, but other destinations lack an organised public transport network like this. Most have buses, but these are often hard for foreigners to use because the information is usually in Thai. One of the best things you can do to prepare is to download the Grab and Bolt applications. These are popular ride-share apps used widely around the country.
Ensure Everyone Has Vaccination and Insurance
Thailand has a tropical climate and all the insects that come with it. That includes mosquitoes. Cases of serious diseases like malaria and dengue fever are still very rare, but you’ll be able to plan a lot more confidently knowing that your family is protected against them. That’s why it’s essential to consult with your local physician before you travel and to have any vaccinations they recommend.
The other thing you’ll want to prepare in advance is insurance, and you’ll need to make sure it covers all of the activities you are planning to do. You can plan things that are much more fun and exciting when you’re not worried about a potentially large medical bill. It will also allow you to enjoy a much more relaxed break.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a luxury experience, a relaxing beach break, or some family thrills, these tips will help make planning your Thai holiday easy. By putting them into action, your family will be able to make the most of their time in Thailand’s travel-award-winning cities and come back with memories that’ll last a lifetime.
