Travelling to Asia with young children

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Travelling to Asia with young children

1 | 2 | 3

Mad Scientist
29761 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1652084 17-Oct-2016 07:31

I was in Thailand and while in Bangkok there were scammers everywhere working in a network. Not sure what their end point was but my wife saw right through them and we declined all their offers and advances.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29761 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1652085 17-Oct-2016 07:33

Hard to explain, but lots of blogs and YouTube videos that do a better job of explaining what i mean. Outside of Bangkok no scammer network that tried it on us.

lagbort

263 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1652097 17-Oct-2016 08:46

My parents took me to Singapore and across the bridge to Malaysia when I was just slightly older (about 8 I think) and my abiding memory (apart from the amazing difference in cleanliness between Singapore and Malaysia) was random people stopping me to pat my head, apparently something to do with blond hair being good luck or some such. Was slightly off putting as a small child.

Handle9

11387 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1652802 18-Oct-2016 12:36

Well we're off to Thailand in July! We are very excited, especially the kids.

Dulouz

883 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1652813 18-Oct-2016 13:03

I've travelled a bit with young kids in Asia and the conclusion I've come to is a family-friendly beach resort is the best and most relaxing option i.e. Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, South Pacific. Even the most hardy kids can only put up walking around a city for so long. My Asian urban city holidays have been spent mainly navigating public transport, trying to find a clean toilet and trying to find a hygenic restaurant that's not going to give the kids dysentery. While all the time all they are whining about going back to the hotel pool or the air conditioned room.

Amanon

Batman

Mad Scientist
29761 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1653088 18-Oct-2016 17:57

Can't agree more

itxtme

2102 posts

Uber Geek

#1653119 18-Oct-2016 19:26

Thailand is a fantastic country. Assume you are going to beaches, they have some of the best in the world. The resorts are world class but very cheap - just compare somewhere like Rarotonga (value for money). They are also setup for kids, with kids pools, kids clubs etc. You will have a great holiday with young kids! Where in Thailand are you planning on going? I used to live there so am somewhat biased.

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

Handle9

11387 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1653122 18-Oct-2016 19:34

The only definite destination is Hua Hin but only because my Mum is going there to play golf at the same time. We're there for two weeks so still playing around with destinations. Any suggestions?

itxtme

2102 posts

Uber Geek

#1653193 18-Oct-2016 22:19

Bangkok is great for shopping and eating, stay central there, so you can use any option to get around (Sky train/Underground or taxis). As far as beaches go have been to HuaHin, assume you would get a driver from Bangkok. Its nice, warm but has nothing on somewhere south of the gulf. I personally love Khao Lak, its got the good name resorts but is much quieter than Phuket itself. Much less touristy. Thailand is very cheap to fly around, we have used Air Asia mostly. They base themselves out of the old Bangkok airport. What time of year are you going?

stocksp

708 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1653195 18-Oct-2016 22:22

joker97:
Just be careful in 3rd world Asian countries, child trafficking for purposes of *too graphic to type* is rampant. Don't be a statistic. Hold on to them the whole time.

o

Really ? Any evidence / examples to back up,this very broad statement ?

Handle9

11387 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1653197 18-Oct-2016 22:41

itxtme:
Bangkok is great for shopping and eating, stay central there, so you can use any option to get around (Sky train/Underground or taxis). As far as beaches go have been to HuaHin, assume you would get a driver from Bangkok. Its nice, warm but has nothing on somewhere south of the gulf. I personally love Khao Lak, its got the good name resorts but is much quieter than Phuket itself. Much less touristy. Thailand is very cheap to fly around, we have used Air Asia mostly. They base themselves out of the old Bangkok airport. What time of year are you going?

The plan was to get a driver to Hua Hin. It was cheaper and easier than any other option. We're going in July.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29761 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1653204 18-Oct-2016 23:03

stocksp:
joker97:

Just be careful in 3rd world Asian countries, child trafficking for purposes of *too graphic to type* is rampant. Don't be a statistic. Hold on to them the whole time.

o

Really ? Any evidence / examples to back up,this very broad statement ?

LMGTFY

Dratsab

3946 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1653211 19-Oct-2016 00:13

Hua Hin is quite nice. Lots of German restaurants there! There's some really good beachside restaurants where you'll get stuffed full on far too much food. Make sure you have a mussel 'omelette' (or 3), probably the best way I can write it for you pronounce it fairly closely is Hoy Dtord (hard 't' sound at the beginning of the second word).

I haven't been back to Khao Lak (as itxtme suggests) since the tsunami so my abiding memory is working amongst thousands of bodies. I'm sure it's very nice again now, I should make myself go back there one day.

Bangkok has loads of awesome experiences. Lots of different places/areas you can stay - just make sure you're really handy to a Sky Train stop. There used to be a restaurant not many foreigners (farang) knew about on the waterfront of the Chao Praya river called Studio 9. It was run by students of the Patravadi Theatre Company and you'd get a nice, well priced dinner as well as an amazing live theatre performance. It's still around but not owned by Patravadi anymore and is called Mangosteen but I've heard there's a still a good show going - may pay to google that one. Asiatique is a fun place to go. Massive ferris wheel, kids rides, all sorts of shops and restaurants. One particular restaurant contains a traditional Thai Puppet theatre, with each puppet being controlled by three people (dancers). You can go to a proper theatre show and/or just have a dinner in the downstairs section and a see a mini show. Shopping malls are HUGE!! The tallest building in Thailand (MahaNakhon) is open now, I call it the Lego Building for obvious reasons. River cruise dinner, temple visits, Bayoke sky tower... I haven't even started to scratch the surface here - do plenty of online searching. If you do stay in Bangkok I can highly recommend Viva Serviced Apartments.

Also, if you go to Bangkok, take a trip to the old capital, Ayutthaya, and have a look around the ruins.

Chiang Mai, way up north, is an awesome place to go to, so many things to see/do in and around the city. Doi Suthep, elephant rescue centre, tiger visit, silk worm farm/factory, night markets... And if you head up that way take a day trip to Chiang Rai to see the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun).

Or you can just go to the tourist spot beaches and chill. Or to the not quite so touristy White Sands Beach on Koh Chang. Chang = Elephant but you won't see those there, plenty of macaque's though. Down south towards the Cambodian border.

Handle9

11387 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1654734 19-Oct-2016 21:22

Viva apartments look good and pretty reasonably priced for the city centre. Is the breakfast OK? We are wanting something easy and comfortable in Bangkok for a couple off nights to get the kids settled, before we go further afield.

Dratsab

3946 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1654826 19-Oct-2016 23:28

Handle9: Viva apartments look good and pretty reasonably priced for the city centre. Is the breakfast OK? We are wanting something easy and comfortable in Bangkok for a couple off nights to get the kids settled, before we go further afield.

Breakfast is very good. Self service so you can have hot food or cereals or breads, whatever takes your fancy. Staff are really friendly and helpful.

It's very close to the Bang Chak Skytrain station (E10) and it's about 15-20 minutes to the central area from there. Get day passes for the Skytrain whenever you travel - 140 baht each for you and the missus. There's a measure for kids, if they're under a certain height they travel free, but as they're still really young you can probably just have them ride your shoulders through the gates and not pay for them.

If you want some dental work, walk out of the front of the complex, turn left and walk 5-6 minutes to the Bangkok Dental Surgery. Very good - they have local movie & tv stars going there. Hairdressing places for the missus pretty much next door. Great street food in the alley across the road. Also got Family Store, pharmacy and 7-11 across the road. Complex has a nice pool to swim/play in and a kids playground but your kids will possibly be a little old for it when your there. We really liked it and will stay there again next time we go over.

Travel advice...

1 | 2 | 3