Thailand with 8 & 5 yr old in January - stressful?!

[Farrings]

We’ve got a month in Jan to travel with our 5 and 8 yr old, and are contemplating Thailand. I’m reading as much as I can but am muddled about whether it’s too stressful/unsafe and therefore tiring for young kids?

We would love quiet calm beaches, and family friendly activities, such as a visit to a water park, elephant sanctuary.

Bit worried about vehicle safety (lap belts only?), excessive transfer times from place to place, safety for kids generally?

Are their things to do have a safer trip or do you just have to accept the risks?

Of course it looks like a stunning, friendly place so I hope we can make it work :)

It’s been a long time since I was in Thailand but I’d say if you were going to a resort by coach etc and not travelling around much you’d be fine.

However backpacking around with children I’d say you’d need to accept that health, safety and hygiene standards are light years away from what we’re used to. I’m sure it would be fine but not without careful consideration of the things you’ve mentioned as well as other stuff. For example a ferry crossing we did that I thought was my last in ridiculous weather and waves, would never have sailed here in a million years. I helped do the dishes one night in a restaurant and it transpired they had no hot water. Sink was filthy. There were often cats in the fridges in restaurants, “kids” driving mini vans in the mountains way too fast on steep edges, etc. Great fun and thrilling for adventure seekers but proceed with caution with kids. I’m not saying don’t go, it would be a wonderful experience for them but your concerns are valid in my experience

I adore Thailand! Khao Lak is great for families and I would look at Khao Sok too. We had a lovely time in Hua Hin which has water parks but it is more developed.

When DS was 1.5 we hired a FF car seat from an agency in Phuket. For the trip when he was 6 we took a trunki boostapak. For the upcoming trip we won’t use anything aged 9 as he’s 134cm so 1cm off the UK height limit.

Thailand is very safe and has excellent healthcare should you need it.

I've been to Thailand as an adult and with my kids, it's fabulous and you just gave to accept that safety standards are different and go with the flow.

We're going to Thailand for a month in December with a 4 year old.

We're spending a week in each place pretty much.

Couple of days in Bangkok
Flight to Chaing Mai
Week in Chaing Mai
Flight to Krabi
Week in Koh Lanta
Week in Koh Lipe
A few days at Railay Beach before going home.

I think it would be great, but if things like lap belts only will worry you, you may not enjoy it.

As a pp said you need to accept that health and safety standards and road safety are just not the same as here. (although Thailand is better than many other SE Asian countries!).
You may decide the experience is worth the risk or you may not.

You can get good advice from Tripadvisor forums or guidebooks about specific risks to avoid. For example, I would avoid any nighttime drives. Trains are a better bet. Boats in bad weather as a pp said - don’t assume that just because it’s running it must be safe. Street food only if freshly cooked in front of you. Etc.

@Thickasabrick89 where are you staying in Koh Lipe?
We have booked our hotels for Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta. But struggling for Koh Lipe

@Farringsif you're on Instagram check out a family called brittonadventure. They have travelled with their 2 boys ( aged 6 & 7 I think) all around Thailand ( plus Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bali, Japan and Australia) from January until October this year and have embraced it.

I miss their daily posts now they are back in the UK.

The elephant sanctuaries are really zoos. Not great. Take booster seats for taxis? Otherwise it’s what you find.

Thanks so much everyone. I think my hunch is, we’d survive and have nice times, but there is also higher than average potential for things to go horribly wrong, and getting medical care in remote places is hit and miss?

I looked at the Britton instagram @BG2015 , it is inspiring!

I think the road safety is still my biggest worry

After everyone’s input I looked at Khao Lak, it looks wonderful 🏖️, really dreamy… I just wish I could guarantee that we could find a taxi firm for the airport transfer that has proper seatbelts, never mind car seats! My googling has so far not found me any :(

Thailand is not the uk is it? Why don’t you book through a recognised agent who will get you a car with seat belts? We always got seatbelts abroad. We took dc to India, Kenya, Peru and Ecuador to name just a few. Not Thailand I have to say but there’s always taxis with seatbelts for good tour operators. If it’s a deal breaker, go somewhere safer.

Oops just seen this. We booked 10 moons sunset villas. Admittedly we did this back in March though