Any recommendations for Thailand with three kids?

[sunnydelight]

DH and I "did" Thailand 18 years ago on the usual backpackers' budget. We are hoping to spend 2/3 weeks there on our way to Australia in June - has anyone got any up to date information in terms of must sees, great places to stay, ways to travel etc.? Obviously the place has changed hugely so there is no point trying to recreate our trip. Kids are DS1(13), DS2(8) and DD(4). At the moment it looks like we will be flying in and out of Singapore so we're totally open to any suggestions about going overland and stopping off in Malaysia on the way.

Unless things have changed dramatically since I was there I would not recommend going overland via Malaysia. Buses are slow and I wouldn't drive very far unless I had a death wish! Much better to get a flight to Thailand from Singapore (or fly via Bangkok in the first place)

I'd agree with KTP on avoiding the buses (especially "private" minibuses) used by some travel agents out there. Pretty hairy IME. Flights between bangkok and Krabi/Phuket and Koh Samui are all pretty cheap.

Agree about avoiding the buses. You could take the train - but the South of Thailand isn't very safe at the moment.

Thailand has changed so much - we first went in 1995 and then back last year (with kids). Unfortunately I spent most of the time I was there (3 weeks) barfing because I was newly pregnant. We had to spend our time in Bangkok for several reasons - it's not a bad city but not great either.

Lou33 has spent a lot of time there recently, she might be able to point you in the right direction.

Oh - I should have mentioned that Air Asia are very competitive for short-haul flights (the local budget airline). We paid $40 for four of us to fly from KL to Kota Bharu (E.Coast of Malaysia) and $75US for all of us to fly from Bangkok to KL (one way).

So envious of you! We just spent 15 months living in Thailand with our daughter and I would go back there like a shot!
Trains are brilliant and great fun for the older kids. You can book adjoining 1st class sleepers for around 40 quid. You can get to Chiang Mai in the North or Surat in the South very easily, but would have to bus it over to the coast or the ferry to the islands. The unrest in the South is restriced to Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces, none of which are tourist destinations and the problems there have not affected the resorts such as Phuket, Samui, Krabi. Bangkok is surprisingly good for kids. The tube and the Skytrain mean you can get around without having to get involved in the traffic situation. Try Jatujak Park where you can hire bikes, and buy a picnic lunch, have a swim and relax in the shade. It is just around the corner from Mo Chid train station and the famous weekend market. Parts of the market are open in the week too (I think Wednesday was plants day - amazing experience to see the market transformed by huge trees), with a nice air con plaza which is very child friendly.
I had spent a lot of time in Thailand before I lived there with children and I can honestly say that having our daughter with us really made it such a wonderful experience. The Thais dote upon kids so get used to naa-raak, suay and dukadaa (cute, beautiful and dolly!) being chorused everytime you walk past anyone. No exaggeration.
Very enthusiastic about this as you can tell! Any more specific tips please ask.
Hotels can be booked very cheaply in Thailand. Amari have places all over (Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Trang, Samui) and are always good value. Book direct through them: they have lots of good packages Otherwise try Asia rooms, who have great offers.

Thanks for the responses. I wasn't aware that there was unrest in the south at the moment!! TBH we was thinking of train rather than buses if we did overland (I have experienced Thai buses before!), but DH is the one who really wants to do this - I'm quite happy to fly. The kids loved Singapore when we were there in November and we've promised them we'll go back, hence going via Singapore rather than via Bangkok. I'll check out Air Asia, and your hotel recommendations peasholme. Might pick your brains again nearer the time!

I live in Phuket if I can be of any help! Have been here 10 years...

Hi

This is probably too late but we went to Thailand with our twin boys last August. We had an amazing time and I can really recommend Le Meridien at Khao Lak. They had a fab children's club, dvd's in the room, a children's playground and two kids pools with slides etc.The beach is absolutely beautiful too. It was amazing and we got a great deal booking through the hotel directly. Khao Lak was really damaged during the tsunami but was bad to relative normality. We also stayed in Bangkok and Krabi at great family hotels - email me if you want any other info

NicMac