|
Thailand
welcomes kids
 If
your kids are having fun – then you can start to have a good
time!
So which hotels can handle your kids? We’ve compiled a short
guide to some kid-friendly hotels in Thailand, based on facilities,
services, meals and accommodation geared to families.
Working in the travel industry means we’ve been able to
sample first hand, together with our kids, some of the facilities
on offer. We hope it will be useful when selecting your hotel.
Staying
in Thailand
Thailand is one of the most child-friendly countries you can
travel in and the people are hospitable and welcoming. In most
hotels, kids under 12 years stay free if sharing a room with their
parents without an extra bed. Many hotels have 2 queen size beds,
so this means in effect, sharing beds and breakfast is extra.
If you want an extra bed for older kids, hotels usually charge
at triple rate with breakfast included.
A big plus for Thailand, is that buffet breakfast tends to be
the norm with almost all hotels offering a good selection of western
and Asian breakfast items, juices, fresh fruit and cereals, so
kids can choose exactly what they like. Most hotels also have
TV, although the choice of channels may depend on the area and
the type of hotel.
Another big plus, in the tourist resort areas, many of the bigger
hotels have lots of kid's stuff going on. Activities, kid's club
and also excursions aimed at children.
So what makes a hotel child or family-friendly? Look for hotels
which offer extras or have special facilities catering to the
age bracket of your child or children. Some good child perks to
look for are:
- Kids eat and/or stay free.
- On-site children's activity programmes
- Facilities. E.g.., Games room, children's pool, kid's club
- Babysitting services.
- Special childproof or kid oriented rooms. E.g., kidsuites
- Facilities for parent's convenience e.g., baby cots, pushchairs
for hire, hot water jugs in the rooms.
- Continental or buffet breakfasts,
- Restaurants with imaginative children's menus
- Hotels which have a shop on site. (For snacks, etc.,)
Kid-friendly Resorts, Islands and Beaches
Phuket
 Phuket
has it all. Great beaches, lots of outdoor and informal restaurants,
watersports, shows, day-tours, nature tours. The main beach Patong
has a great nightlife and a 3,000 metre beach, although families
may prefer some of the smaller, less busy beaches like Kata, Karon
or around the Laguna complex at the north end of the island.
Lots of day trips operate to offshore islands like Phi Phi which
offer wonderful snorkelling in shallow water. Several local companies
offer family friendly outings to nearby islands which include
snorkelling, lunch and beach hopping. On land, eco-tours to the
national parks in mainland Phang Nga provide activities like rafting,
kayaking, elephant riding, trekking or bird watching. Phang Nga
Bay has stunning limestone scenery and trips generally include
an exiting trip on a local boat through the mangroves. A holiday
in Phuket also offers a great opportunity to learn new skills,
especially in the water. Children over 12, can take a PADI dive
course... Enough to keep everyone busy and content....
Best time to visit: Year round. Weather not so perfect
May-Oct in the low season, but great hotel deals, the sun still
shines and the beaches are less busy. For more info on kid-friendly
hotels click here.
Krabi
- Ao Nang & Rai Ley
 Krabi,
in the south, about 3 hours drive from Phuket, has lots of sandy
beaches, shallow water, safe swimming, small accessible coral
reefs for snorkelling. Activities like sea canoeing, elephant
trekking, sightseeing and rock climbing make it ideal for families
of all ages. Over 200 islands including Lanta Island, lie offshore.
Rai Ley, like many of Krabi’s beaches is accessible only
by boat which provides a much nicer way of exploring than by road!
Good year round.
Best time to visit: Nov - April. Very quiet in the low
season (May - Oct) some good hotel deals at this time. The sea
is not as tranquil making boat rides a bit bumpy, but swimming
is still safe on the main beaches.
Koh Samui
 Great
for kids as everything is centred around the beaches. Chaweng
- the main beach attracts both young travellers and families.
A long powdery white sand beach bordered by a lagoon (very safe
swimming) a small coral reef and two offshore islands. Easy kayaking
and good snorkelling. Lots of vendors wandering by selling drinks,
fresh fruit, ice cream, local Thai food and souvenirs, making
beach life very easy. For teenagers, there are lots of discos
and cafes with great music and live bands.
Lamai - the second largest beach on Koh Samui is less busy
and smaller than Chaweng. There is no reef protecting this bay,
so the sea can be a little rougher. Sports-oriented kids will
enjoy kayaking and snorkeling - equipment can be rented at the
beach. Some nice paths to explore behind the beach road among
fruit and coconut plantations, as well as trails leading into
the island's interior close by. If you plan to really relax, away
from the kids, try a foot massage or check out the meditation
centre close by.
Best time to visit: June - Sept (opposite to Phuket island
on the other coast) For more info on kid-friendly hotels click
here.
The
North - Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai is wonderful for older kids. An ideal location for
adventure activities. Whitewater rafting, mountain biking, or
elephant trekking and visits to fascinating hill tribe villages,
will keep the kids occupied. There's also a couple of cinemas,
good shopping and even an ice rink!
It's easy to hire a car and explore by yourself, but most tour
companies offer inexpensive tours, complete with transport, equipment
and guide which often include activities like rafting or trekking.
Both day and overnight tours are available. See below for details.
Best time to visit: Nov - May. For more info on kid-friendly
hotels click here.
Pattaya
Pattaya offer masses of things to do - even if it rains! No long
faces and non-stop complaining because there are lots of indoors
distractions to keep them busy. A visit to Ripley's "Believe
it or Not" museum is both interesting and educational. Plus,
a boasts a 3D cinema, Lazer Quest, arcades with computer games
and a multitude of cinemas showing the latest box office hits.
There is even a "mini fun fair" with dodgems, not to
mention the several bowling alleys, horse-riding, snorkeling,
windsurfing, day trips, and a water-park.
And don't forget the beach of course, building sand castles
and burying Dad! Good hotels offering great value and lots of
facilities, especially if your children like sports. This is definitely
a place to keep all the family happy - whatever their age.
Best time to visit: Nov- May.
Which
hotels are good for kids?
Planning to visit Bangkok and then one of the wonderful resort
areas Thailand has to offer? Click on below for a quick guide
to some of Thailand's kid-friendly hotels.
|
