Taking the kids on vacation can be a lot of fun, but it can also be quite stressful, for both the children and the parents. When traveling with children there are a number of things to you need to think about before you go if you want to increase the chances that everything goes smoothly, the kids have fun and that you get your well deserved rest.
Thai people are famous for their warmth and love of kids, and with many hotels and resorts that take pride in the preparations they have taken to ensure that everyone in the family enjoys themselves, Thailand is an ideal destination to take the whole family.
The following are some things to bear in mind when looking for family/child friendly hotel in Thailand.
Kid's Clubs
Kid's Clubs are an integral part of any hotel or resort catering to families, in fact some even go so far as to use their kid's club as the centerpiece of the experience they offer. While most resorts offer such facilities, quality varies so it might be wise to do some research beforehand to see not only what sort of activities are available, but how much of the program is complimentary for registered guests and which ones charge an extra fee for certain activities. Some hotels offer a more extensive and varied schedule, such as the Laguna Beach Resort's rotating two week schedule (great for when you are staying longer than four or five days), while others restrict themselves to repeating similar activities each day.
Things like DVDs, video game consoles, and arts and crafts are pretty much standard fare in most Kid's Clubs, but if you are after something with a bit more variety you may be interested in any of the resorts in the Laguna complex of resorts that offers exciting activities in conjunction with the Quest Laguna Phuket Adventure facilities.
If you have teenagers, it's a good idea to find a hotel or resort that provides options for both teenagers as well as younger children.
The JW Marriott Resort Hotel has facilities dedicated to teens, including filtered internet, and activities and games that appeal to kids at that difficult to please age. Kids and the whole family will surely be enthralled by baby elephants, which can be found at some hotels including the above mentioned Laguna Beach Resort. When the elephants drop by during the day, kids (and their parents) play and swim with the baby elephants on the beach, and even ride them.
Family friendly rooms.
Having interconnected hotel rooms is standard when you vacation with kids that are old enough, yet there are hotels that take this even further offering rooms designed for this purpose. The Holiday Inn Phuket Resort offers kid`s suites, their "room within a room", providing children with their own private space with fun facilities like, bunk beds, their own TV and video games. Also available are family suites that come with connected rooms and kid friendly designed rooms for children. These rooms are available with beanbag, toy box, video games, video and TV for children's enjoyment. As the parents can relax in the room knowing that the children are safe in the next room, and the children can do their own thing in their own room,rooms like these really reduce the stress level for both parents and kids.
Child minding services
Most Kid's Clubs throughout Thailand welcome kids from four years of age. It's important to know that someone you can trust is caring for your child so that you can spend some quiet time relaxing on the beach or indulge in a lovely dinner for two with your partner. While many resorts and hotels offer child minding services, either in your room at night or in the Kid's Clubs in the mornings and afternoons, a particular standout is Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, which takes the idea to a new level by offering a slumber party-type "sleepover" service, which, as the name suggests is an overnight childminding service which is supervised closely, allowing parents the freedom the really let their hair down and perhaps have a night on the town or enjoy a romantic night in together.