Thailand’s Best Family Resorts

The results are in. Here are the best family resorts in Thailand as voted by our readers!

Friendly and fun-loving, full of history and culture, Thailand is a great holiday for families. Our list of the best resorts in Thailand is a great place to start planning your next getaway.

Discover oceanfront resorts with giant water playgrounds, private plunge pools, free kids’ clubs and all-inclusive packages. These Thai resorts place you in the best locations to enjoy authentic cuisine and explore beaches that feature on magazine covers.

Read: Thailand travel guide

1Katathani Phuket Beach Resort
PHUKET

Once again voted as one of the best family resorts in Thailand, Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is located on the beautiful Kata Noi Bay and is a haven for families. As if the six swimming pools, four toddler pools, three jacuzzis and a mini water slide weren’t enough to keep the kids entertained, there’s a soft playroom, outdoor playground, edutainment games, kids’ books and toys, plus the Chang Noi Kids’ Club. For parents, there’s a ‘nail cottage’ for manicures and pedicures, or you can enjoy a massage in the garden. Rooms and suites are generous in size and some offer glorious views of the Andaman Sea.

2Meliá Koh Samui
KOH SAMUI

This beachfront retreat is the stuff dream Thailand family holidays are made of. Start with water sports and snorkelling in the pristine ocean. Then little ones can make a splash at the mini water park or float along the meandering lagoon-style pool. Young guests can also indulge in all-day fun at the Kidsdom kids’ club. The whole family will love cooking classes, fitness sessions or pampering at YHI Spa. Meliá Koh Samui Beach Resort‘s spacious family suites provide a comfortable space for the whole family to relax, and come equipped with fun games.

3Club Med Phuket
PHUKET

The all-inclusive (and newly renovated) Club Med Phuket is easy to love. It is surrounded by jungle-clad mountains, treasured sites and sparkling blue sea. The Thai resort is bursting with kid-friendly fun including resort pools, archery school, flying trapeze school, Thai boxing classes and sports courts, while parents can make the most of the kids’ club and childcare services to enjoy cocktail making (and drinking) sessions or classes instructing on the art of preparing Thai cuisine. The property offers a variety of accommodation including interconnecting rooms that cater to large families or multi-generational holidays.

4Centara Grand Beach Resort
PHUKET

Another one of the best Thailand family resorts is Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket. Located at Karon Beach, it 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 even has a dedicated teen zone.

5Holiday Inn Resort Phuket
PHUKET

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.

6JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
PHUKET

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is where Thailand family holiday dreams are made. This five-star resort is just steps from Mai Khao Beach and provides easy access to the islands of Phang Nga Bay, Old Town Phuket and the Royal Phuket Marina. Splash around in one of the three pools, take a Thai cooking class, or relax in a room, suite or villa with views of tropical gardens or the ocean. If you’re looking to really spoil the family, book a room with a whirlpool tub or private pool.

=7Angsana Laguna Phuket
PHUKET

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.

=7Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort Hotel
PHUKET

Steps away from the Andaman Sea and popular Surin Beach, Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort 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. You can also visit the arcade, a state-of-the-art cinema room, or the delicious ice-cream shop. Everyone will love the foam dance parties in the pool area!

8Sunwing Kamala Beach
PHUKET

This is kid-heaven. Sunwing Kamala Beach has EIGHT swimming pools, including a dedicated children’s pool and a swim-up bar for the parents. 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.

9Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach
PHUKET

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. Laze by the three pools or Tri-Trang Beach then indulge 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.

10Soneva Kiri
KOH KOOD

One of the best luxury family resorts in Thailand, Soneva Kiri is nestled within tropical rainforest on the island of Ko Kut, the gateway to some of the most dreamy beaches in Thailand. Kids are at the forefront at this resort, which offers complimentary ice cream rooms and two dedicated child care spaces: The Den and the Eco Den for one to five year olds. The Den is a giant moulded bamboo playground shaped like a manta ray, where professional child-minders will teach your tribe to play Thai instruments and unleash their creative talents with painting and visual arts activities.