Thailand FAMILY HOLIDAYS


A dozen great reasons


Once a family has picked Thailand, they’ll never look back. Nominated for the Travel Agents Choice Awards’ long haul destination of the year for family holidays, Thailand’s a great first long-haul holiday with kids – a touch of the exotic with all the comforts of home. Family facilities are widely available and parents will never hear “I’m bored” in a country with elephants, water parks and festivals


FanstaSea, Phuket This spectacular cultural show includes special effects, acrobatics and a cast of elephants. It is situated in a cultural theme park which also has games, handicrafts and shopping.


Siam Park City This amusement park in Bangkok has water slides, a giant wave pool, roller coasters and other rides aimed at children and adults.


National Elephant Institute Watch elephants bathing and showing off their skills, take a ride and tour the hospital at this government-backed camp at Lampang near Chiang Mai in the North. An overnight homestay programme is also available.


Why choose Thailand for a family holiday? • Well established tourism scene with English widely spoken in resorts


• A good choice of night flights • Most entrance fees, drinks and snacks are great value


• Friendly locals who love children • Plenty of kids’ clubs and babysitting services, even in upmarket hotels


• Koh Samui is one of the few places in Asia at its best during the school summer holidays


• European as well as Thai food is widely available and some family- orientated resorts have kids’ menus


• Plentiful villas and apartments as well as hotels


• A wide variety of both natural and cultural attractions


• Lots of family activities such as water parks, cultural shows, go-karts and


16 Thailand Travel Guide 2012 theme parks


• Elephants to ride in the North • A good choice of eco-retreats to ease your carbon footprint


• Major resorts have plenty of close-by restaurants and attractions – no need to stick to the hotel


Where to go • Koh Samui for the best summer weather, all other resorts for Christmas and spring half term


• Pattaya, Hua Hin and Cha Am for beaches without flight transfers


• Phuket and Pattaya for a glut of family hotels and attractions


• Krabi for a laid-back holiday, families, stunning waterfalls and clear water for snorkelling


• Chiang Mai for elephant camps and cooler weather


• Hua Hin and Cha Am for a quiet midweek ambience


• Samui for wildlife and waterfall attractions off an easy ring road.


Attractions Rose Garden: This cultural park is about an hour from Bangkok and offered on day trips from hotels. It puts on cultural, elephant and martial arts shows and lets visitors try arts and crafts activities. The Rose Garden can be combined with a visit to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.


Bridge over the River Kwai Bring history alive for older children with a visit to this infamous structure at Kanchanaburi which carried the so-called death railway to Burma. It was built by the Japanese in World War II using Allied prisoners of war, many of whom are buried in a nearby cemetery.


Flight of the Gibbon These jungle attractions situated near Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya have tree-top zip wires and wildlife park safaris which will appeal to older kids.


Sanctuary of Truth, Pattaya An intricately carved wooden temple, cultural shows, elephant rides and dolphins is the unusual combination at this park.


TOP TIP Bangkok needn’t be a no-go with kids.


Look out for hotels with babysitting and good pools; take boat rides and visit the glittering Grand Palace, the snake farm and Siam Park. Take a day trip to the Rose Garden.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36