Thailand advice - sorry for long list of questions!

[scattygirl]

We're going to Thailand in Oct with our DS who will be 20 mths by then. Our plan is to spend a few days in Bangkok before flying to Koh Samui for a wedding then maybe another resort before heading home. Any help on the following would be really appreciated (sorry, it goes on!)

What airline do you recommend? I understand BA provides a car seat if you're lucky to get a bulkhead seat but I am contemplating paying for a child fare as it's such a long flight, or do we chance it and hope the flight isn't full and DS can sit in a spare seat? Thai Air have a good deal at the mo but not sure if they supply car seats. Any ideas?

Can you recommend a decent child-friendly hotel for us in Bangkok? Should we stay in a 1-bed suite which will be handy after DS goes to bed? (hotel in KS is sorted)

What should I do about travelling in taxis without a car seat? Surely people don't lug one around with them? Are taxis generally safe, and have you just sat yours on your laps?

How about a buggy, is it practical to push one around Bangkok or is a sling better (although more sweaty I'm sure!)? I'm thinking it will be handy for airports and the odd night out so DS can sleep in it.

If we are lucky enough to fit in one more resort which one would you recommend (and hotel). Thanks for any help.

We just spent nearly 3 weeks in Thailand en route to Australia with our three children (13, 8 and 4). I would seriously recommend the Lebua Hotel in Bangkok - it't an all suite hotel. We had 2 bedrooms but if you had 1 it would give you all loads of room. The staff are fantastic, lovely with children and it's a really luxurious experience. Bangkok is pretty full on; I certainly wouldn't want to be pushing a buggy on the pavements and be careful with taxis. Many "meter taxis" flatly refuse to turn on the meter once they see westerners. Car seats don't even come into the equation - no, it's not safe but you just have to accept that different standards apply. We spent 11 nights on Kho Tao - I've heard that the Kho Phangang full moon parties are for serious party animals so it may not be the best with a 20 month old. Kho Tao is lovely - very child friendly. Personally I think you are being a bit ambitious with the internal transfers but that's just me! Kho Samui and Koh Phangang or Kho Tao are linked by a short ferry journey which is easy, but you might be better off just trying to do one other area as well. If you want any more info on where we stayed on Kho Tao/internal transfers/anything else feel free to CAT me. Thailand is amazing - you'll have a great time.

We punish taxis that won't turn on the meter by getting out and leaving the back doors open, so the driver has to get out and do it himself, getting honked at by the rest of Bangkok. I've also paid for a taxi that took me the very, very long way around entirely in coins, which I threw all over the cab before stalking off into the crowd.

If you get a taxi from a stand at any hotel it won't be a problem - the porter will tell them to put the meter on.

agree with sunnydelight, perhaps bit ambitious. Maybe if leave out the south west coast and head straight up to chiang mai

taxis are a little difficult i agree ninedragons but rarely has the long way round cost more than an extra 20 to 30p! is it worth the hassle? i have always asked nicely for them to turn meter on, if i forget i give them about 50p to a £1. it annoys me when you se westerners beating them down for a few pence, the average daily wage is a dollar a day.

You 'punish' them Ninedragons??

FFS

If you lived and worked in Asia, as I do, you'd get pretty sick of taxi drivers making you late for work because they thought they'd just take the opportunity of picking up a foreigner to bump up their income for the day. Would you be defending London cabbies if they decided you looked rich and refused to turn the meter on thinking they'd take you for whatever they could get? Would you think oh well, the poor little thing is just supplementing his income if a London taxi drove you miles out of your way?

The ones who won't turn on the meter (a minority in Bangkok) are committing a criminal offence, and I dare say most of them would rather the inconvenience of having to get out and close their back doors than deal with the Tourist Police.

I lived in Thailand with DD for a while when DD was around 15 months.

I flew out with her car seat and used it in the plane and then taxis. I also took a travel buggy that I could easily carry up and down stairs. That was a double edged sword really as it was difficult to maneuver up and down kerbs but not too heavy to carry on the skytrain.

During my time there I lived in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Surat Thani. We also visited Koh Samui. I usually stayed in either suites or serviced apartments, otherwise you're a bit limited once they go to sleep (when I couldn't find suites I'd end up in the hotel bathroom after DD went to bed doing painfully slow dialup to communicate with the outside world!)

I did a lot of flying up and down with DD and aside from having to lug the suitcases/buggy/car seat/DD it wasn't too bad. It's very cheap to fly business with Thai internally, which makes life a bit easier. Take care that you have enough stuff for DS in your hand luggage in case your suitcases get left behind on one of your transfers. Whether your itinerary is too much with DS I suppose will depend on your DS. If he settles easily then why not, but it's quite a bit of travelling, which is very hard work and tiring.

I liked Chiang Mai and would go back. Koh Samui was very touristy but the resorts are gorgeous. If you're going to buy stuff do it in Chiang Mai not Samui or Bangkok.

I was really worried about supplies for DD when I went, but it was really easy. There are massive Tescos full to the brim with nappies/milk etc (prob not the brands you are used to) and pharmacists are very helpful. Take some calpol sachets and basic supplies. A good hand cleaner too (there are some pretty scary loos that I had to do emergency nappy changes in). Don't let DS drink the bath water.

Have fun!!

ninedragons, i have been to BK loads, if i want to get somewhere i tell them one of the main routes, then i know they arnt going long way around, tou are probably earning at least 50 times more than them, spread the wealth!

Well some of you have confirmed my suspicions that I was being a bit too ambitious (getting carried away in my excitement) so I think I will have to cut out the sw bit shame really but I guess I will be doing the whole beach thing in Koh Samui/Pangnan/Tao area. Any recommendations on where to stay here? (not in KS though as hotel already sorted)

SunnyD I would love some advice on Koh Tao and anything else you can tell me but I will have to contact you once I've figured out how the CAT thing works first!

Arfishy (and anyone else) can you recommend somewhere to stay in the Chiang Mai area suitable for 20mth old ds? What are the places to go and things to see?

Luckily ds is quite easy going, I think he will love the experience and trying different foods, being fussed over, seeing animals et etc and generally running around like a little lunatic!