Traveling with children through Thailand?
Dear readers,
As a young guest I had already seen a piece of the world, but parenting has put a pause on long journeys simply because it is less practical to be on the go with young kids. Jutje my daughter turned 8 this year and Neo my son 11… so time to let them explore the wide world and let them taste other cultures.
Initially, the plan was to go to Sulawesi, but due to a well-known illness, this plan had to be adjusted. In January I booked tickets for my 2 kids and wife through Finnair: June 26 Brussels – Bangkok and October 16 back. While organizing the trip I came across a few questions…
Since the kids are of school age, we have opted for the summer period, we then have to bridge a period of about 6 weeks from home education ourselves. (By the way, should I vaccinate the kids against rabies? And what about malaria prophylaxis). In that period, however, it is also the rainy season and I am also guided by the weather statistics per region when organizing the trip. For example, we will stay in Bangkok for 4 days at the end of June and then fly on to Koh Samui. I still have to book those tickets, do you have any tips for this, do I have to do this long in advance?
Once on Samui we will hop towards Koh Tao. The intention is to do about 14 days of beach/island life. Afterwards it will go to Surat Thani where I would like to rent a small to medium size (2 adults, 2 kids and 3 travel bags) 4×4 with which we want to cross the rest of the country. The intention is to arrive in Koh Chang the last week before departure and to deliver the car just before. I searched to rent a small 4×4 type Suzuki Jimny, but didn't really find anything in the Surat Thani region. Also the fact that pickup is in the east and drop-off near Rayong doesn't make it easy. Do you have tips?
From Surat Thani it will then go via Khao Sok via Huan Hin towards Chiang Mai along the west side of the country. Despite the fact that Krabi and Phuket are very appealing, I read that you should avoid this during that period due to the bad weather… is this correct?
From Chiang Mai we will probably do a border crossing to Burma or Laos to top up the visa and stay there for a few days. I assume also with the accompanying corona rules, also when returning to Thailand…
Although the hunger for adventure is great, we will travel to the rhythm of the kids and the focus is mainly on family bonding. For the trip back south to Koh Chang from Chiang Rai, it is not yet clear to me where the path will run.
If you have any tips, suggestions, comments or recommendations… feel free.
Regards,
Luc
Editors: Do you have a question for the readers of Thailandblog? Use it contact form..
(By the way, should I vaccinate the kids against rabies? And what about malaria prophylaxis).
I would not recommend malaria prophylaxis.
Unfortunately, side effects are common.
Rub well with DEET, long sleeves and long pants in the evening and use the mosquito coils that you put under the table when eating outside.
I have taken rabies injections myself.
But I think given you're going to the more touristy places and going for 6 weeks, it wouldn't be my first choice.
The vaccination in the Netherlands starts long before departure (3 injections) and the price I paid for me was 185 euros per person.
I would also personally use public transport. train and bus.
These are excellent in Thailand. and cheap.
The car gives a lot of freedom, but the traffic in Thailand is dangerous and you have to be used to driving in a hilly area.
For your information. They go back from Brussels – Bangkok on June 26 and October 16.
6 weeks only refers to homeschooling
Thank you Ronny,
I had read his long message too quickly.
So they go 3,5 months.
Seems like a race against time to me.
Big plans for next summer, but unfortunately like you, the commenters here don't have a crystal ball.
Just a few points:
Have you ever been to Thailand and are you familiar with the traffic there?
Myanmar is currently closed to foreigners, Laos is still closed I think.
When Laos is open again, I don't know if you can cross the border from the north of Thailand as a foreigner and certainly not with a Thai rental car.
It is better to go to Nong Khai, park the car there, and from there cross the border to Vientiane. Visas on arrival can be arranged there and there is plenty to do for a few days.
Myanmar will probably remain closed for a while. Code red currently applies to a large part of the country. Also for the border region with Thailand. If it opens again and changes to code orange (it will never be yellow or green there), you can only go to the Myanmar border town of Tachileik from the north of Thailand. And just walking across the bridge. There you will get a visa for one day. You are not allowed to go outside the city and you must return to Thailand before sunset. Back in Thailand, they then start counting those 30 days visa-free again.
Like I said, no one has a crystal ball. No one can really predict what the situation will be there from June to October. With a bit of bad luck every time a test on arrival (or return) in Thailand and the risk of a quarantine.
Luc I quote you… Although the hunger for adventure is great, we will travel to the rhythm of the kids and the focus is mainly on family bonding. For the trip back south to Koh Chang from Chiang Rai, it is not yet clear to me where the path will run. To get the Thailand feeling, it is better to stay in a few places. I stayed in Prachuap KK with my then 5 year old daughter for two months. Great experience going to the beaches every day and eating fish on the boulevard in the evening after first playing with the local youth on a playground a little further. Family bonding is not seeing as much of Thailand as possible. That is always possible. To really experience some of the Thai culture, you have to become neighbors for a while, I think. That strange man on the blue bicycle with his daughter on the back I called work. I got the bicycle when I rented the room in a house that slowly became a guesthouse. Let your kids set the rhythm. Not your thirst for adventure. I have traveled in about 70 countries myself. Traveling with my daughter initially along with her mother was very different. More planned and less wandering. She has experienced more of Thailand and perhaps seen less. She is now 13 and still thinks our PKK is very special. In 2014 very few farang came there 🙂 George
Dear Luc, no matter how well-intentioned, not one child will be happy sitting in a car for 1 to 5 hours every day.. And then I don't want to talk about the danger that Thai traffic entails, especially if you have no experience yet !!.. What you could do after the islands in the Gulf [ Samui and Tao ] via the mainland , Surat Thani , fly to Bangkok . There is plenty to do for children for a few days. From Surat Thani you can also take a bus to Khanom, to see the pink dolphins in the wild .... In Bangkok you can take the night train to Chiang Mai [ is really an adventure ]. After Chiang Mai you can take trains and buses back to the south. From Bangkok you can then, possibly with intermediate stops, take minivans or buses to Trat, where you cross over to Koh Chang. Take your time , take a few days on each stopover and enjoy ! Crossing the whole country becomes a stressful situation, especially with children! And that can't be the intention...
Take a look at the Green Wood Travel site. Is a Dutch travel agency that has been in Thailand for 20 years and specializes in Family travel…
Lots of luck and fun!!
Good morning I have been living in Thailand Chiang RAI for a few years now.
It's wonderful to live in, I enjoy every day, but I think the traffic is a drama.
It doesn't seem smart to rent a car.
You can travel on various marinas.
What my friends here in Thailand.
When friends and family come over from the Netherlands, they offer themselves.
To take them to beautiful places.
It is safe and reliable otherwise you often pay a lot for travel agencies and I don't know what.
It's a win-win situation my friends come in a reliable place and my friends here in Thailand have an extra income.
But I don't know if you know Thailand well or if you have been there before.
Or that you have friends in Thailand.
Good luck with your journey if there is anything I can do for you just let me know.
By the way, the population is always very kind to children and also to me
Regards, Sheila
What a cool plan. As a young daddy, I'll manage you a little. I hope I also have the perseverance to do something cool like this. Don't be fooled by traffic stories. Yes it takes some getting used to, yes it is more dangerous than at home but if you drive calmly and defensively you will be fine. Although the rainy season has already started, I still think the north west region is a beautiful part of Thailand. I can definitely recommend the so-called Mae Hong Son loop. Perfect with your own transport and a quiet and very beautiful part of Thailand. Koh Chang catches a relatively large amount of rain relatively early in the rainy season. If you avoid Phuket for that reason, I would definitely not go to Koh Chang. So maybe back to the south…. Return rental car at the same place and then Phuket, possibly. In combination with krabi and Koh Lanta it is great to do. Yes it sometimes rains but prices for accommodation are good and there is plenty to do.
Possibly arrange vision in advance. If that is really not possible, previously given suggestion for vientiane is your best option. If you were to go for Koh Chang, that is also a logical route. From Chiang Rai to Nan and then continue to follow the Mekong and down the Isaan at ease.
Wish you a great time!
All well and good, but just go to Thailand and plan something new every day. It's better to stay in one place for two weeks and explore every now and then than to cram as much into a package as possible.
Don't listen to those who advise against renting a car. Just do it. Traffic in Thailand is not that bad, if you adapt a bit and don't let it drive you crazy.
I would avoid public traffic and also places with many people. Covid is not gone and you wouldn't want to be quarantined in Thailand. That can become an expensive joke and also a waste of time.
That is why, in my opinion, it is not wise to see as much as possible. Keep it as simple as possible and you'll enjoy it the most.
You can still plan via the internet and if you have your own transport drive so far that everyone still feels like it. You can always find nice hotels locally and search and book via agoda or booking com.
Border runs are still not possible. There is talk of Malaysia that will allow this. Not yet.
Rainy season is the time when there is slightly more rain than in the dry season. Don't let that discourage you from going anywhere either. Even in the rainy season the sun shines more than in the Netherlands in the summer.
Whichever car you rent, make sure it has good air conditioning and has an automatic clutch just because of the left-hand traffic. Saves weather and a few strange hand movements, especially in critical situations.
Nice plan!
I would consider a rabies vaccine, but in Thailand you are always reasonably close to medical facilities. So not necessarily necessary. I wouldn't do malaria if you don't stay in jungle areas for too long.
Pickup 4×4, we once rented via budget car, picked up at Pattaya and returned to Phuket.
You do not need to book in advance. You always have flexibility for a few days.
Flights are still not full, and hotels and resorts are mostly empty.
You can go in any direction along the way, and it is also rainy season.
Thai people love children, they will have a great time here.
I think that Greenwoodtravel also has advice on this, traveling with kids.
Success!