To ask about taking young children to far east

FishersGate · 2023-10-28T14:37:40+00:00

Hi We are looking at travelling to Thailand Malaysia next year our children will be 12 and 8. We have been to lots of Thai places, Hong Kong Bali kaula lumper pre children. I am being ridiculous but i worry about health care in some of these countries, 🤦♀️. Also we were vaccinated have you had your children vaccinated with any side effects ?, Would anyone recommend anywhere specific

Octavia64 · 28/10/2023 15:39

Healthcare in Thailand is generally quite good but you will need to pay or be insured.

I travelled around Laos/Cambodia/Thailand and was advised (by westerners who lived there) that if you needed healthcare in Laos or Cambodia you got a flight to Thailand.

Don't know about Malaysia.

imthemalaysian · 28/10/2023 15:41

OP I'm from Malaysia and TBF I'd rather be ill in my home country. You have access to state-of-the art facilities if you can pay. In the UK there's no choice but to use the NHS.
There are private clinics everywhere you can see a doctor quickly.

Have a look at the expat areas of Kuala Lumpur like Hartamas, Mont Kiara, KLCC

Onthelongroad · 28/10/2023 15:45

I’ve travelled round those countries with children much younger than that and it was fab. Just make sure you’re properly insured and vaccinated. Excellent hospitals in the region (but not nec in each country) in case of emergencies, but that’s very unlikely.

Original poster

FishersGate · 28/10/2023 15:46

imthemalaysian · 28/10/2023 15:41

OP I'm from Malaysia and TBF I'd rather be ill in my home country. You have access to state-of-the art facilities if you can pay. In the UK there's no choice but to use the NHS.
There are private clinics everywhere you can see a doctor quickly.

Have a look at the expat areas of Kuala Lumpur like Hartamas, Mont Kiara, KLCC

Edited

@imthemalaysian thank you. Any good beach resorts also you could recommend ? We looked at langkawi?

OP posts:

Globules · 28/10/2023 15:46

I've travelled to Laos/Thailand/Cambodia with my children aged 6/8. They had the vaccines. They had malaria tablets. We had the right insurance.

They had an absolute blast.

Original poster

FishersGate · 28/10/2023 15:47

Onthelongroad · 28/10/2023 15:45

I’ve travelled round those countries with children much younger than that and it was fab. Just make sure you’re properly insured and vaccinated. Excellent hospitals in the region (but not nec in each country) in case of emergencies, but that’s very unlikely.

@Onthelongroad thank you. We're vaccinated but might need to check ours and revaccinating.

Were your children ok with the vaccinations

OP posts:

Goodornot · 28/10/2023 15:48

In the UK there's no choice but to use the NHS.

What!? You can pay privately for health care in the UK too you know. There is very much a choice.

Lilly11a · 28/10/2023 15:51

Langkawi is lovely but it can be basic when I was there mobile signal only round the harbour and dirt roads but we loved the monkeys sitting in the middle of the road and the jungle noise at night .Take the kids to the aquarium.

If you stay in Penang which more westernised ( recommended Lone pine or hard rock cafe ) , you can get a 2.5 hour foot ferry to Langkawi which will add to the experience

Original poster

FishersGate · 28/10/2023 15:53

Lilly11a · 28/10/2023 15:51

Langkawi is lovely but it can be basic when I was there mobile signal only round the harbour and dirt roads but we loved the monkeys sitting in the middle of the road and the jungle noise at night .Take the kids to the aquarium.

If you stay in Penang which more westernised ( recommended Lone pine or hard rock cafe ) , you can get a 2.5 hour foot ferry to Langkawi which will add to the experience

@Lilly11a thank you

OP posts:

follygirl · 28/10/2023 15:58

We've been to Malaysia, Borneo (in the jungle), Thailand and Singapore when our kids were much younger.
My kids have had a lot of jabs as we travel a lot. They've even had rabies, tb and men B on top of the usual ones. Never had a problem and relieved that they're properly protected.

imthemalaysian · 28/10/2023 16:08

Goodornot · 28/10/2023 15:48

In the UK there's no choice but to use the NHS.

What!? You can pay privately for health care in the UK too you know. There is very much a choice.

Why did you only quote half my sentence?
I didn't say that private healthcare was unavailable here. I said, 'state-of the art' facilities.
Private provision in the UK is very limited and anything more complex is only available on the NHS. Private GP's are limited to certain areas.

In Malaysia it's more widely available, there are entire private hospitals of similar size to government hospitals and small medical centres/clinics in many areas. We have government funded cheap healthcare too but waiting lists are long.

imthemalaysian · 28/10/2023 16:10

FishersGate · 28/10/2023 15:46

@imthemalaysian thank you. Any good beach resorts also you could recommend ? We looked at langkawi?

Show quote history

Have a look at Perhentian and Pangkor

Onthelongroad · 28/10/2023 16:13

Yes, they were fine. For Laos and Cambodia I’d definitely recommend rabies, especially if you are going to be remote.