Friendly and fun-loving, full of history and culture, Thailand is a great holiday for families. Read our list of the best resorts in Thailand to start planning your next getaway.
Friendly and fun-loving, full of history and culture, Thailand is a great holiday for families. Read our list of the best resorts in Thailand to start planning your next getaway.
This deluxe beachfront hotel, a one-hour drive from Phuket airport, has six swimming pools, four toddler pools, three Jacuzzis, two bubbly water springs and a mini water slide. Woah… now that’s water fun!
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort also has a world-class 18-hole golf course just a 30-minute drive down the road, and a ‘nail cottage’ for manicures and pedicures on site. Several of the rooms and suites offer sweeping views of the Andaman Sea and they’re large enough to accommodate big families. Head to Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant to devour fresh grilled seafood and drink cocktails as the sun slides into the horizon.
Just steps from popular Karon Beach in Phuket, Mövenpick Resort & Spa is all about comfort with a side of luxury. Several of the resort’s gorgeous family villas come with private plunge pools, while others have direct pool or stunning garden access. No matter which you choose, all ages will love this retreat, with its three gorgeous swimming pools set among pretty tropical gardens and The Play Zone, for kids. Highlights include Thai cooking classes in the OrientAsia restaurant and the lavish breakfast buffet at Pacifica.
Parents love Club Med because it’s all-inclusive and jam-packed with kid-friendly activities. Once you’re on holiday, you don’t have to worry about your budget. Young travellers will go crazy for the pools, archery school, flying trapeze school, scuba diving, Thai boxing classes, tennis courts and basketball, while parents will love the cocktail-making (and -drinking) classes, and the on-site kids’ club and childcare services. Club Med Phuket offers several interconnecting rooms so you can easily fit large families or big groups of friends
Thailand is known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, and Holiday Inn Resort Phuket has decided to weave that into the fabric of its design. The free kids’ club has a TV and Xbox360 and an arts-and-crafts area. Children aged five to 12 can join in on three daily activities, although some adventures incur an additional fee. The club is open three nights a week so a romantic dinner, or a few hours of extra sleep, are definitely on the cards.
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket at Karon Beach offers a quiet and relaxing holiday away from the bustle of Phuket Town. Little kids (and big kids) will love the resort’s lazy river and water park. Centara also has three outdoor pools and a dedicated ‘cliff jumping’ platform for adventurous guests. Families can take dive lessons, then try windsurfing, kayaking, tennis or yoga. The kids’ club has a dedicated teen zone – so the teens won’t be ‘bored’.
A resort holiday destination is often judged by its pool – if we use that measure for Angsana Laguna Phuket, it’s a strong indicator that the rest of the retreat is incredible. This free-form, 323-metre pool winds through the property and includes a lazy river, an activity zone and an artificial beach. If your little ones finish exploring this watery wonderland, drop them off at the Treehouse Kids’ Club where they can play all day and even visit the kids’ spa.
Steps away from the Andaman Sea and popular Surin Beach, Novotel Phuket Surin Beach promises beautiful sunsets and blissful relaxation. Designed to impress the whole family, it boasts a spa for you and the Siam Adventure Club for the kids. Take advantage of Kids’ World, an exclusive clubhouse for young travellers, or visit the arcade, a state-of-the-art cinema room, or the delicious ice-cream shop. Twice a week, the hotel hosts an hour-long foam party in the pool, with dancing encouraged – it’s guaranteed to tire out even the most energetic of children.
Inspired by Asia’s rich maritime heritage, Meliá Koh Samui Beach Resort comes with many rooms that resemble a traditional Thai boat, complete with luxurious finishes. Set on the shores of Choeng Mon Beach, north of Koh Samui, this waterside retreat comes with an inviting choice of pools and stylish dining areas serving up a mix of Thai classics, international favourites and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Spend your day trying out all the yoga, Muay Thai and cooking classes, or pamper yourself at YHI Spa while the kids engage in entertaining activities at Kidsdom.
This is kid-heaven Sunwing Kamala Beach has EIGHT swimming pools, including a dedicated children’s pool and a swim-up bar for mum and dad. It also has direct beach access and you can hire a cabana for the day for an extra charge. Families told us they loved the family rooms because they can fit up to six guests. The smaller Royal Studio, which fits four, has direct pool access. Head to the on-site spa for a relaxing Thai massage.
At Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa you can float your days away in a luscious pool overlooking the Andaman Sea before Patong’s notorious nightlife kicks off. The resort has 600 spacious rooms and suites, most of which feature a private balcony with sea, garden or pool views and have two beds – making them ideal for families. There are four pools, including kids’ pools, Jacuzzis and pool bars. Then there’s the bowling alley, kids’ club and spa. While you’re checked in, be sure to try a cooking class to master traditional Thai dishes.
Soak up the peaceful serenity at this beachside retreat while still being just minutes away from the entertainment hub of Patong Beach. Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa offers spacious suites with generous living areas and balconies with pool, garden or beach views. Resort days can be spent lazing by the three pools or Tri-Trang Beach, or indulging in a spa treatment then sampling a range of cuisines from nine restaurants and bars. Kids will love the engaging conservation activities at the coral reef education centre and Merlin Butterfly Sanctuary.
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