For those intrepid parents considering visiting Thailand with kids, we share our top tips, highlights, and a selection of different itineraries for families.
Thailand is a fantastic destination for an intrepid family holiday and it’s easily one of our favourite family holiday destinations in Asia. We return here time and time again as a family as it ticks so many boxes: exceptional value for money, welcoming locals, fascinating culture, stunning beaches, mouth-wateringly good food, and it’s a handy destination for us as we live in neighbouring Malaysia. Sometimes we visit for to backpack between destinations, and other times we arrive to the one location and stay put (often for half term holidays).
Bangkok is typically the main gateway to the country and many visitors base themselves here for a few days to get acclimatised before striking out into the rest of the country, often towards one of the family-friendly beaches or, for the slightly more adventurous, heading to the Andaman Sea for some Thai island hopping.
READ: Guide to visiting Bangkok with kids
But there’s more to Thailand than just Bangkok and the beaches, with fascinating towns and cities, national parks, religious monuments and thousands of years of culture and history waiting to be discovered.
In this Thailand with kids guide we share three different family itineraries, as well as discussing safety, visas, immunisations, getting around, and our top tips.
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Our top three Thailand family itineraries
Here are our top three tried-and-tested Thailand itineraries for families. Each is a separate 9 to 14-day route, but they can easily be combined into one longer trip. None require internal flights, with all travel between destinations relying on local transport.
THai Island Hopping
BANGKOK, AYUTTAYA, KANCHANABURI
BANGKOK, CHANTHABURI, KOH CHANG
Is Thailand safe to travel with children?
Thailand is a safe country to visit with children, with extremely friendly locals and a low crime rate. You’re highly unlikely to encounter any incidences of violent crime and the standard of healthcare (especially in the larger cities) is amongst the highest in Southeast Asia.
As with most countries in Southeast Asia, there’s an intermittent risk of petty theft, particularly in busy streets or train stations when pickpocketing or bag-snatching can occur, but it’s fortunately something we’ve never personally experienced. These types of crime tend to very much be opportunistic so just take a few sensible precautions and avoid having your phone or cash on display.
The overall standard and maintenance of electricity cabling is low throughout the country, so keep an eye out for exposed wires and sockets. Similarly, it’s not uncommon to find holes in the pavement, missing handrails, trip-hazards, etc, around the country, so keep a close eye on children as they wander around.
We often hear from families who are concerned about the potential for food-poisoning on their trip but we’ve had virtually no issues on all our trips to Thailand. The street food is nearly always safe to eat as long as it’s freshly prepared and the same applies to restaurants. We do tend to avoid salads, but that’s a personal choice based on some bad experiences in Morocco!
How to get around Thailand with kids
Thailand has an excellent long-distance train and bus network, including sleeper buses that make for an exciting method of travel as a family, although road conditions can be less safe during the evening. Try to travel during the day if you can.
A long-distance, overnight sleeper train is one of family travel’s great adventures. The second-class carriages are ideal for a family, with bunk beds across the corridor from each other and feel totally safe at night. Note that under-12’s are technically required to only sleep on the lower bunk, but this isn’t always enforced. Tickets can be booked easily via the excellent Baolau website.
For train routes, timetables, and ticket prices, see this comprehensive guide: Thailand Train Travel.
Thailand also has a comprehensive low-cost airline network, linking most of the major cities with each other, plus a useful connection to Koh Samui.
Bangkok and other large cities have good bus and metro networks. For shorter trips around towns and cities, we’ve started using Grab taxis more and more often as they avoid haggling for fares and save you from trying to explain where you need to go. In some Thai cities, taxi drivers will use the meter but not always, but Grab taxis completely avoid this problem. Install the app before you arrive and start using it straightaway.
If you’re planning on embarking on some Thai island hopping with the kids, you’ll of course need to take to the seas. Luckily, Thailand has an safe, reliable and well-run ferry network, linking the major tourist islands in the Andaman Sea, including Phuket, Koh Lanta, Koh Mook, Koh Lipe and Langkawi (in Malaysia) during the high season (running from mid-October to mid-May). Outside of these dates, the ferries still run, but the schedule is vastly reduced.
The ferries are slightly more functional than you might expect, less about the views and more about getting you from A to B quickly, but it does give you more time on the beach. Booking can be done in person at a travel agent on the islands, but our recommendation is to book your tickets using 12Go, an easy to use and reliable website that also lets you check routes, timetables and availability.
Visas for Thailand
Citizens of most countries (including the UK, USA, Australia, NZ, and the EU) don’t need a visa to enter Thailand for visits up to 60 days and are given a 60-day stamp on arrival. The entry process at immigration is usually smooth and hassle-free.
If your country isn’t part of the Tourist Visa Exemption programme, or you wish to stay for longer than 60 days, you’ll need to apply for an e-visa in advance via the official website.
You’ll also need to complete a digital arrival card in the three days before you arrive. Internet signal can be patchy at borders so it’s best to complete the form online in advance.
Immunisations for Thailand
As always, it’s important to check with a medical professional before travelling to Thailand to check which vaccinations you may need.
In the UK, the excellent Travel Health Pro website from the NHS has all the information you’ll need. Make sure you plan ahead for any vaccinations, as some require a longer course of injections over a few weeks.
Our top 12 tips for travelling Thailand with kids
- Don’t try and fit too much into one day. The heat and noise can be too much of a sensory overload. It’s best to plan your main activity early in the day; not only will you beat the heat, you’ll also beat the crowds.
- Keep everyone hydrated, but don’t drink the tap water. Only drink filtered water and avoid ice cubes in your drinks. Coconuts sold at street stalls are a tasty way to hydrate.
- Leave the buggy at home and instead use a carrier for younger kids.
- Allow for some beach time to relax and unwind at the end of your trip.
- Be prepared that young kids (particularly if they’re fair-haired) will get plenty of attention from locals. Thai people love kids, so go with the flow when they want to play with your kids and enjoy the parental downtime.
- Book accommodation with aircon and (ideally) a pool. Aircon really is a must in Thailand, especially to help ensure everyone gets a good night’s sleep. The pool is just another way to cool off and allow the kids to play.
- If your kids don’t like their noodles too spicy, ask for it nid noi (not spicy).
- Car seats aren’t common in Thailand. If this is something that concerns you, take a travel car seat such as the Bubble Bum Inflatable Booster Car Seat with you (see underneath).
- Nappies and milk can be bought from 7-Elevens across the country. They can be found everywhere. Although do note that larger nappy sizes are difficult to come by.
- Don’t bring toys with you. There are lots of markets where toys are sold around Thailand. Give your child some pocket money to find a new toy, and the novelty value will mean longer play time.
- If you’re intending to do a long bus or train journey, check Baolau before you book. There are so many low cost airlines operating within Thailand, you may find it more cost effective to fly.
- If you’re planning on some Thai island hopping, which will undoubtedly involve lots of snorkelling, we recommend bringing kids’ snorkel sets with you. From personal experience, hired snorkels aren’t always up to the job.
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Top 10 things to do in Thailand with kids
- Visit Bangkok, the city full of surprises and experiences, and the place many an adventure has begun.
- Head to one of Thailand’s beautiful islands, for a blissful escape full of sand, sea and sunbathing. Koh Lanta is one of our favourite for families.
- Check out the gem capital of Thailand in Chanthaburi, itself a pretty riverside town off the tourist trail.
- Visit the ancient ruins in Ayutthaya, a mini-version of Angkor Wat with a chilled-out vibe.
- Hone your cooking skills at a culinary class in Chiang Mai.
- Take an overnight sleeper train and experience a night on the rails.
- Learn the tragic history of the Bridge Over the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi, perhaps via a side trip to the waterfalls and jungles nearby, staying on a Jungle Raft.
- Relax with a Thai massage in any town or city; parents will love it but it’s also a great place to introduce kids to this local speciality.
- Take a Muay Thai class at one of the many kid-friendly gyms across the country and witness Thailand’s national sport in action at the iconic Rajadamnern Stadium.
- If the kids are old enough (over 10), take a Discover Scuba Diving course in Koh Lipe, one of the best places to learn in Thailand, with excellent instructors and reasonable prices. Kids aged over 9 can do a Bubble Maker course instead. Otherwise, dive in with the snorkels!
Check out our Southeast Asia packing list for families
FAQs
Yes, Thailand is a fantastic destination for kids of all ages, with plenty of activities to keep them occupied.
With friendly locals and a low crime rate, Thailand is a very safe place to bring kids.
As an introduction into Southeast Asian life, Bangkok is one of the best places to bring kids. The city is well-used to welcoming tourists and there’s a good balance between chaos and fun. There’s also a huge range of affordable accommodation options to suit all budgets, giving you the option of a safe retreat when you need it.
Thanks to its combination of activities, resorts, infrastructure and beaches, Koh Lanta is the best Thai island for families.
Although flights can be quicker, an overnight sleeper train is one of Thailand’s quintessential experiences and should be your default option for longer journeys. For shorter hops, day buses work well too. Book via Baolau.
Two or three days is a good length of time to spend in Bangkok with kids. This gives you enough time to see the main sights, get used to the Thai heat, and plan your next destination.
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