Thailand with small children

[superduperdo]

Hello,
I'm planning a long haul holiday for my 40th, which isn't until 2020 so thinking slightly ahead here! DSs will be 7 and 4.
I'm considering Thailand, having been twice before pre-kids and loved it, but wondering if I'm slightly mad? DH has never been. I was thinking a few days in Bangkok with some local trips, maybe going up to Chiang Mai via the overnight train, doing some sort of ethical elephant tourist activity, and then flying south to finish the trip on a beach somewhere... I remember Ko Samui and Ko Tao as being nice, also Krabi. But not sure if I'm being completely insane to plan a "travelling" type Holiday with small kids - I did a lot of backpacking in my 20s but that's quite a while ago!

We went to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Koh Lanta with our 4 year old. Did it all independently and it was fabulous. We have also taken her to Phuket and Hui Hin on later holidays. She is now 9 and thinks Thailand is the best place ever to go on holiday. I've also taken her on my own to Penang in Malaysia and we had a fabulous holiday.

We've never got sick, she's never got sick and we've eaten in the beach bars and local restaurants all the time.

I think going to Thailand often ends up cheaper then a holiday in europe as the hotels are good value and eating out is mega cheap. I did find Phuket more expensive than say somewhere like Koh Lanta though.

Chiang Mai is lovely, fantastic night markets, great temples but depending on the time of year can be super hot and sticky but i defo prefer it to Bangkok as it's smaller and not so in your face. Go you won't regret it, you'll only regret not going sooner!

Hi - we've been lots of times to SE Asia both before and after kids, tbh I find it easier than Europe. We first took DD1 at 2, backpacked (flashpacked) for 6 weeks. Took DD2 at 9 months but stayed on mainland, avoided remote islands. Been to BKK with them, lots to do with kids, Chiang mai, pai and then all through the islands Samui, phagnan & tao (hated Tao although loved it in 1999, hideous in 2014). Then on other side Phuket (nai yang beach - away from hoardes but accessible to the fantastic Phuket elephant sanctuary and John gray sea canoe day trip). Khao lak (dive at similan), then Krabi, railay and more recently Ko Lanta to Lipe and all the islands in between. Honestly it has been such a joy. We loved Vietnam and Bali with kids too, not ventured back to Cambodia yet. Go you will have an amazing time. PM me if you have questions on resorts etc