It’s official, you can have everything you want and more on a family holiday in Thailand, and the possibilities are practically endless. Here’s where we recommend you start.
Mu Ko Similian National Park, Thailand
Some family holiday destinations offer world class beaches. Some offer rich cultural activities and historic sites. Others have world-class theme parks, while some are just full of nice people and great vibes. But why compromise with just one?
You can have it all in Thailand, and whether your children (and you!) love dinosaurs, waterparks, wildlife that’s really wild, or temples that glow at sunset, everything is perfect for family holidays.
Surf’s Up, Columbia Pictures Aquaverse, Na Chom Thian ©Columbia Pictures
A family holiday in Thailand scores high on theme park thrills
With the opening of Bangkok’s Jurassic World: The Experience theme park, hot on the heels of the Jurassic Park: Rebirth movie – filmed largely in southern Thailand’s Krabi province – the country has now secured its spot in the major league of family destinations.
The park is set in the heart of Bangkok, next to the wide Chao Phraya River, meaning there’s a wide range of accommodation nearby to suit all budgets and tastes. And remember, in Bangkok, budget doesn’t need to mean a lack of luxury. Even at lower prices, families can expect warm Thai hospitality and thoughtful service, and many mid-range hotels still have treats like rooftop pools. Teens especially will love sundown pool selfies with the city’s nightscape glittering in the background.
Although it’s easy to find ways to enjoy your savings, with world class shopping malls throughout the city, as well as every dining option from Michelin stars to street food, and exhilarating tuk-tuk rides to take you around.
One of the great attractions of family holidays in Thailand is its variety of landscapes and experiences, many reachable on short trips from Bangkok.
Slimer waterslide, Columbia Pictures Aquaverse ©Columbia Pictures
Don’t miss Columbia Pictures Aquaverse: another Thailand first
Why not continue the theme park mood with a short trip to lively Pattaya and the Columbia Pictures Aquaverse: the world’s first Sony Pictures water and theme park.
There are highlights for all ages here, including the Ghostbusters Zone, where you can step into the famous firehouse entrance, zip across ghost traps and slip down waterslides chased by Slimer and his ghostly pals. Zomebieland Zone, lets movie fans brave a 12-metre free-fall to conquer Asia’s steepest body slide, before facing the horrific Zombie Clown. And it’s all just a short drive from Bangkok: hiring minivans with drivers and aircon is inexpensive across Thailand and ideal for days out.
Phuket FantaSea, Phuket, Thailand ©Phuket FantaSea
Thai heritage and stellar tech make Phuket FantaSea another must-see
An easy flight away from Bangkok, in Phuket, the 60-acre cultural theme park of Phuket FantaSea is where Thai heritage meets advanced tech. Traditional dance, music and martial arts are mixed with special effects to create shows that rival the best in the world, only at a fraction of the cost. Also, with a shopping street and restaurants on site, it’s an attraction that keeps everyone in the family entertained.
Krabi Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
Add some of the world’s loveliest beaches to your family holiday in Thailand
If you need something less stimulating, or want a complete change of scenery, Thailand’s excellent network of domestic flights can also whisk you an hour or two south to the cinematic landscapes of Krabi and Phang Nga. Here, limestone cliffs, golden beaches and lowland rainforest might seem familiar: this region has starred in James Bond films, as well as cult classic, The Beach, before becoming location of choice for the latest instalment of the Jurassic Park franchise.
We predict you’ll quickly agree with location scouts that this is a very special place, with attractions like the Beyond Skywalk Nangshi, and longtail boat trips to the Phi Phi islands where the snorkelling is some of the best in the world. It’s also an area known for natural waterfall spas, and counts elephants and monkeys among its amazing wildlife.
Beyond Skywalk Nangshi
Find paradise places to stay that fit your family holiday mood perfectly
Some of the world’s best hotels and resorts are located on this coast too and, continuing the movie theme, you can even stay at Ritz-Carlton Reserve Phulay Bay, where Scarlett Johansson was a guest while filming Jurassic Park: Rebirth. This extraordinary resort features oversized architecture, private butler service, bespoke dining options, luxury spa treatments, and both private pools and children’s pools.
Alternatively, if affordability is a priority, the options are almost endless, with Thailand’s reputation for safety, hospitality and a child-friendly culture meaning you’ll find a version of paradise to suit your budget.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Head for the hills and add remarkable to Chiang Mai to your adventure
Aside from beaches, jungle and mountain adventure is another option thanks to Thailand’s incredibly diverse landscapes.
Head north to the mountain city of Chiang Mai, where temples, markets, and friendly local villages give an authentic taste of Thailand’s unique culture, whether viewed from a family bike ride, a trek, or, if you’re feeling intrepid, from a kayak or white-water raft on the region’s famous Mae Taeng River rapids.
Hug Elephant Sanctuary, Chiang Mai
Make time for ethical wildlife experiences on your family holiday in Thailand
As well as its remarkable landscapes, mesmerising cities and high-octane thrills, Thailand is also where you and your kids can get up close to wildlife, and stay ethical.
Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is one of the country’s best known sanctuaries, where these glorious creatures are cared for in a natural environment and you can watch them play, bathe, and eat, knowing they will never be tethered or ridden.
Bringing elephants home to the forest is the mission statement of Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary, also in Chiang Mai. You can book a one or two night stay here, which is an unforgettable experience, especially for older kids.
Then, further south, at award-winning Elephant Hills in Khao Sok, families can stay in a luxury tented camp and interact with rescued and retired elephants now living peacefully and safely just outside Khao Sok National Park.
And of course, whichever sanctuary you visit, seeing elephants in the semi-wild while supporting conservation efforts will give your kids the best type of bragging rights back home.
How to choose an ethical elephant sanctuary on your family holiday in Thailand
Street food, Yaowarat Road, Bangkok
Nothing tastes as incredible as authentic Thai food served in its home country
Wherever you go in Thailand, there’s one thing you can be sure of and that’s delicious and healthy Thai food that makes every mealtime an adventure. Thai cuisine has taken the world by storm, so you’re probably familiar with classics like green curry, and Pad Thai, so a family holiday in Thailand is an opportunity to expand the adventurous theme and try something new, like Mee Krob crispy fried noodles, or Som Tam: a crunchy, vibrant, green papaya salad that’s on almost every restaurant menu.
With Thailand well-attuned to the needs of visitors, and having a very child-centred culture, people here understand little palates take time to develop, so you’ll almost always be asked you how spicy you want your food. Try saying ‘mai pet,’ if you or your children prefer your food mild. It means ‘not spicy,’ and you’ll get a dish that’s tasty without being fiery, and a smile of appreciation for trying the language.
Don’t worry if your little ones prefer to keep their adventures physical and their plates predictable; options abound. Sticky rice is a delicious staple you’ll find everywhere as are plain noodles, and a simple meat dish like fried pork belly is tasty without being too much of a novelty.
Cooking class, Surat Thani
Take away some new skills with Thai cooking classes
Why not go one step further and arrange a Thai cooking lesson for the family? With the worldwide popularity of their cuisine well established, many locations across Thailand now offer this fun and educational experience that will give you the skills to recreate favourite dishes when you reluctantly return home.
Food can be part of your journey of discovery in Thailand as well. From strolls around night markets garlanded with bags of fruit you won’t see at home (mangosteen or rambutan, anyone?), to Bangkok’s Chinatown fried scorpions, the food options are as exciting – or safe – as you feel like being.
Sing Buri, Central Thailand
Find a festival any time you take a family holiday in Thailand
You’ll be welcomed into Thai culture whatever time of year you go, but there are some special festivals to look out for if you want to deep dive into authentic Thailand.
Try April’s Songkran, which offers family-friendly water fights with a purification theme. Or there’s Loy Krathong full moon festival, a beautiful lantern-floating spectacle where krathongs —woven offerings usually made of banana leaves and flowers— have candles lit in them before being set adrift on rivers and lakes in honour of Buddha, ancestors, and other gods.
Thailand’s custom of welcoming visitors means it’s easy to get to and easy to enter. You’ll find direct UK flights to Bangkok year-round and easy connections to both the north and the south of the country. And once in Thailand, transport is inexpensive and reliable, from private hires to sleeper trains to domestic flights.
In short, a family holiday in Thailand offers affordability and an easy blend of reachable, fascinating and incredibly friendly, with a world-beating range of dramatic landscapes, a child-centred culture, and a well deserved reputation for one of the warmest welcomes in the world.
Follow @fanclubthailand on Instagram for more ideas, then visit Fan Club Thailand to plan your family holiday