Family Thailand
I have visited Thailand several times over the years as a stopover and on work trips visiting hotels and was keen to take the kids and Sally as they had never experienced Asia. I wanted the kids to see a different culture, experience new foods, sights and sounds that they will have never encountered before. Thailand could give us all of this and is perfect at Easter
But Sally had some of the concerns that I hear a lot when I’m discussing Thailand. Is it safe? Isn’t it going be more expensive than Europe? The elephant in the room question - what about the lady boys and all of that ‘stuff’?
So, I thought I’d take the opportunity in this blog to answer those questions honestly and explain how we did it, so perhaps it can answer the questions you have for you and your family.
Is it safe? Simple answer: yes. The Thai people are amongst the friendliest, most polite and helpful I’ve met on my travels. Tourism is their main business, and this coupled with their cheerful disposition is the perfect recipe. It’s not just safe it’s caring and thoughtful. Thailand looks after you to make sure you have the best time. Everyone might all work for separate companies, have different angles but they all seem to have an unwritten rule that you must have the best time. When we visited a night market Sally was worried that we would get hassled and ripped off, like in so many markets the world over. Not in Thailand. Respectful, helpful and genuinely happy to be part of your experience.
Will it will cost more than Europe? It depends, but if you book early enough, it certainly can present far better value for money. This is particularly the case during the Christmas and Easter School holidays when the weather is at its best, and not guaranteed in Europe. The cost of living when you are out there is also significantly cheaper. Eating out for a family of four set us back between £25-£50 in total. This is almost impossible to achieve in some of the more established European resorts.
We stayed at the amazing Sands Resort in Khao Lak. This was just the most perfect place for families. Thailand seems to be alert to the need for bigger family rooms, at reasonable prices. It’s not just the Sands but the Centara and JW Marriott as well as many others in Khao Lak have family rooms, restaurants, kid’s clubs and can accommodate families of four or five comfortably, which is a rarity.
I love Thai food and always have done. However, another worry was the kids and particularly if you have a fussy one like we do. The Thai’s haven’t taken offence, they don’t judge and the just seem to understand. So, on most menu’s you’ll see the expected Pad Thai’s, green curries and Tom Yum soups. But to cater for the kids you’ll also see plain pasta, garlic bread and nuggets. Many also offered kids curries and non-spicy versions of their traditional dishes. This just showed to us that they weren’t judging or snotty but just understand that some kids just won’t eat. It’s not bad parenting, it’s just fussy kids that use food as a weapon to make you feel inadequate in restaurants. But not in Thailand. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lucy eat as much.
So back to the elephant. I’m sure you weren’t expecting me to mention the ‘ladyboy’ thing in a family blog which has the aim of encouraging you to take your family to Thailand. There are very defined areas in certain cities and resorts, such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Hua Hin that are notorious. So my advice is to speak to me and we can avoid it. There are resorts like Khao Lak and Krabi that are entirely family focused, so there are no issues. There are plenty of hotels in areas well away from the evening scene in places like Bangkok and Phuket that you won’t have to worry about explaining awkward sightings to your wide-eyed children. Let me find the perfect hotel and resort that takes this worry away!
But back to the actual Elephant. Thailand is also waking up to the West’s thoughts and beliefs regarding the treatment and use of their national animal. It was great to see a real change in the advertisements and language being used, different to my first trip 20 years ago. No more riding, more ethical and sustainable tours and trips that were proud of their conservation work. You still have to do your research but places like Elephant Hills are wonderful examples of how to embrace tourism and conservation.
The elephant trip we did was an undoubted highlight, as was the superb morning spent at the Sea Turtle conservation centre. The Thai’s believe that the safety of their sea turtles is so important they entrust the Thai Royal Navy to protect them. This has increased the odds of turtle’s eggs surviving from 1% to 90% since their involvement.
But the undisputed highlight of our trip was a boat ride to the stunning Similan Islands, an hour off the coast of Khao Lak. A protected national park with beaches of such beauty that were hard to believe. The sea was as clear as the Maldives, the reefs as good, if not as big, as the Barrier Reef in Australia and the day out ranked as the best by our family.
When we were waiting in the airport for our unwanted flight home, we had the usual Maslen post-holiday debrief. Having been to Disney last year I was hoping that Thailand would nestle into a comfortable second place. I was very pleasantly surprised when all three Maslen’s responded with variations of it being the best holiday ever. Isabelle says that nothing will ever beat walking an Elephant. Lucy thought that the turtles and the food were the best and Sally could happily still be on Island four of the Similan’s now.
If your thoughts are starting to turn to next Easter already, and my advice is always to book as early as you can, then why not consider Thailand. It can offer so much. From beach holidays to the sightseeing of Bangkok and cultural experiences in Chiang Mai. You can easily mix it up and combine it with other places and stopovers, it really has so many possibilities. I’ve concentrated on families as it’s a great alternative but it’s great for couples and honeymoons as well. Get in touch and let me help you put together your perfect Thailand adventure.