At a Glance
- Best time to visit: November to April for the west coast (Andaman Sea). October to March for the east coast (Gulf of Thailand). Never both at the same time – Thailand has two coastlines on different weather patterns
- How long to stay: 3-4 weeks minimum to scratch the surface. We spent 3 months and still felt we’d barely started. But you need to check the visa situation as things change all the time. In 2026, the vast majority of countries who had a 60 day tourist visa on arrival now only get 30 days.
- Best for: Families who love beaches, wildlife, street food, culture and genuinely warm hospitality
- Budget (family of 4): USD$100-150 per day is very comfortable. We managed on around USD$120 per day including accommodation, food, transport and activities. It does depend on where you go – we found the islands more expensive than the mainland
- Getting around: Hire car for the west coast, buses and trains between cities, ferries between islands – Bookaway handles most of it
- Food for kids: Excellent – within days our kids took to pad thai, fried rice and noodle dishes. Street food is safe, cheap and everywhere – one of the reasons we keep coming back
- Family friendly rating: 10/10 – Thailand is, in our experience, the most family-friendly destination in Southeast Asia for multiple reasons that this guide with share
Thailand is magical. We’ve been back more times than we can count – many times as solo backpackers in our twenties, then as a couple in our thirties, and most recently as a family of four spending near three months working our way down the west coast from Bangkok overland down into Malaysia. Kids aged nine and six. One hire car, a sidecar that had a mind of its own, dozens of animal encounters, maybe too many temples, plenty of water parks and heaps of incredible food to match the incredible Thai smiles.
We loved nearly every minute of it – Thailand is place we will always go back to. In fact, we heading back to explore more on our way home from our one year family worldschooling sabbatical.
This is our complete guide to Thailand with kids – not the highlights reel version, but the real one. What worked, what didn’t, how much it cost, and why Thailand remains, in our opinion, one of the best family travel destinations on earth.
In This Article:
- Why Thailand is brilliant for families
- When to visit Thailand with kids
- Getting to Thailand
- Getting around Thailand with kids
- Where to stay in Thailand with kids
- Food in Thailand with kids
- Our Thailand itinerary with kids – what we did
- Bangkok with kids
- Hua Hin with kids – our base for 2 months
- The drive south – Phraya Nakhon Cave and the coast
- Koh Lanta with kids
- Koh Yao Noi with kids
- Getting to Malaysia – the Tammalang ferry
- Costs and budget
- Tips for Thailand with kids
- Is Thailand worth it for families?
- Frequently asked questions
Why Thailand is Great for Families
Thailand has so many things going for it for a family visit. Whilst it’s got the obvious drawcards – the beaches, the weather, the rainforest, the wildlife, it also has a culture that makes us feel very at home, very welcome and very relaxed.
The food is flavoursome even for the kids, and available at all hours on every corner. Useful with constantly hungry kids.
The people are genuinely warm towards children. Thai culture treats kids with a natural affection that you feel immediately, always greeted with a smile. The weather (in the right season) is reliably brilliant – although it can be challengingly hot.
The activities are so diverse – ranging from wildlife sanctuaries and cave temples to waterparks and night markets. And the cost of doing all of it is a fraction of what you’d pay in Europe or other parts of the West. Yes, at times it can feel very westernised, and yet very foreign. For us, it’s a perfect blend.
We’ve travelled extensively across Southeast Asia and beyond, and Thailand remains the benchmark everything else gets measured against. In our view, for families who are willing to embrace the culture, get out onto the streets and really experience Thailand, an incredibly rewarding experience for families.
Thailand is a large country and to really experience it, you need time to travel around. So, the secret is to stay slightly longer than the average 1-2 week holiday, get off the main circuit, and let the country reveal itself at its own pace. Three months taught us that.
When to Visit Thailand with Kids
This is genuinely important as Thailand has two weather systems.
West Coast (Andaman Sea) Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Krabi islands
Dry season: November to April. This is when the Andaman coast is at its best with calm seas, clear water, sunshine. The wet season (May to October) brings heavy rain and rough seas. Several islands effectively close.
East Coast (Gulf of Thailand) Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan
Different weather pattern. Dry season runs roughly October to March/April. We were in Hua Hin from November to January and had three months of perfect weather – not a single drop of rain, average 28-30 degrees with a constant sea breeze. The difference with this coast is that the wet season (May – September) isn’t so wet as the West Coast. Whilst it does have more rain, it’s not as heavy and is manageable.
Bangkok
Technically has a dry season (November to April) but Bangkok in any season is hot and humid. November to February is the most comfortable. I’ve been several times in the wet season and whilst I’ve not found it rains that much; the humidity is pretty tough going.
Northern Thailand
We have yet to visit Northern Thailand with kids but will be going there shortly so will update once we have been. November to February is nice and cooler, but warmer up much hotter by March to May, and then the wet season June to October.
Getting to Thailand
By Air
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main international hub which is well connected from the UK, Europe, Australia, NZ and Asia. Phuket and Chiang Mai also have international airports for direct regional flights.
From the UK, expect around 11-12 hours direct or 13-16 hours with a stop. From Australia and NZ, 8-12 hours. From most of Southeast Asia, under 3 hours.
Search and Book your flights here.
Bangkok Airport to City
The Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi to central Bangkok in about 30 minutes – cheap, efficient and easy with kids and luggage but only useful if it feeds your final destination. Taxis are also reliable and relatively affordable from Bangkok airport. Grab, the Asian equivalent of Uber, works well too. We took a Grab taxi to Dusit suburb, about 30 minutes walk from Khao San Rd and it was 200 THB and was about 40 minutes.
By Land
Thailand shares borders with Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The only land border crossing that we have done with kids, is FROM Thailand to Langkawi in Malaysia. You can read our guide to that ferry here. Whilst we have crossed the border as a couple into Laos and from Cambodia, we’ve not done it with kids but if you need any tips on these crossings, contact us for more info.
Getting Around Thailand with Kids
Hire Car – Our Main Choice
We hired a car in Hua Hin and drove it all the way to Krabi, onto Koh Lanta, before returning it back to Krabi, before island hopping. For families with young kids, having your own vehicle is transformative. Urgent toilet stops, last-minute itinerary changes, the ability to stop when something looks interesting – a hire car gives you all of this.
Driving in Thailand is on the left. The roads are generally good. City driving can be chaotic and can take a little getting used to, but it is manageable. We’d recommend it unreservedly for the whole experience.
Search and Book car hire here
Buses and Minivans
An excellent and affordable network connects all major destinations and whilst we’ve taken many of these as solo travellers and as a couple, we have not taken one with kids. For longer journeys between cities, overnight buses are comfortable and save accommodation costs, but you would need pretty resilient kids for this option. Bookaway covers most routes and we found their service reliable for boats but didn’t take a bus/minivan.
Trains
The Bangkok to Hua Hin train is the only train we took with kids, which was 3 hours and very comfortable in second class with air conditioning, avoiding Bangkok’s traffic dramas. The kids loved it.
Search and Book trains here
Ferries
Essential for the islands. Bookaway and 12Go Asia both cover the main routes. We used ferries between Krabi, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Lanta. Always book in advance in peak season. We also caught the ferry from Thailand to Langkawi to leave the country.
Search and book ferries in Thailand here
Grab and Bolt
Asia’s equivalent of Uber. Both work throughout Thailand and are the easiest way to get around cities and towns without a car.
We used them a lot to get around Bangkok and Hua Hin, before we picked up the hire car and we leaned more towards Bolt than Grab as we found the Grab apps pickup location accuracy was poor and Bolt seemed to cover the remote areas better, but you can use them interchangeably.
They are cheap. We generally done 2 return journeys each day in Hua Hin, spending approx. 250THB in total for approx. 5-10 minute ride each way. Wait times were around 5 minutes, although price and wait times did noticeably increase at Christmas time and into early January.
For Bangkok, distances were further so cost slightly more.
If your kids need a booster seat you might be best buying one of these inflatable ones for space. Generally, most Grab/Bolt’s do not have one.
Tuk Tuk
Not to be used for long distance and even if using locally, will usually cost you close on double the cost of a taxi. But you’re paying for the fun factor, especially for the kids
Where to Stay in Thailand with Kids
Bangkok
For a transit stop or short visit, stay near the BTS Skytrain for easy access to sights. Self-contained apartments work well for families who want kitchen facilities. We ended up in a cheap tiny room near Dusit which was just about bearable for 4 days but any longer and we may have gone insane. It cost us 1,300 THB / night. Our daily budget was about 5,000 THB / day.
Hua Hin
Our base for nearly three months and the place we’d recommend most highly for families on a longer trip. We stayed at Baan Kiang Fah – a two-bed condo walkable to the beach and centre at 30,000 baht a month, with pool, gym and workspace. For shorter stays, hotels and Airbnbs around the Bluport shopping mall area are most convenient. Cheaper long-term accommodation in a decent sized villa with pool can be found inland for around 20,000-25,000 THB / month. Daily Budget was 4,000 THB / day.
Koh Lanta
Stay south where the beaches are better and the crowds thinner. We stayed in a 2-bedroom large villa for 2,800 THB. Total daily budget 6,000 THB / day.
Koh Yao Noi
Limited options but what’s there is good. We stayed in a stunning 2-bedroom wooden villa with huge balconies, for 2,600 THB. Daily budget was 6,000 THB / day. Book well in advance in peak season.
Search and Book accommodation in Thailand here
🐘 Wondering what a 9-year-old actually thinks about Hua Hin? Read her review in our Kids Corner – click here
Food in Thailand with Kids
This section deserves its own article and the short version is that Thai food is brilliant for kids and families.
Within a few days of arrival, our kids took to pad thai, fried rice, noodle soups and basil chicken. The first few days before that were a challenge and we found we had to strike a deal a 50/50 (1 western meal and 1 thai meal a day).
Street food is safe, cheap, and available everywhere on almost every corner. Markets and hawker centres mean the whole family can eat well for under USD$5.
Our Hua Hin Food Favourites
- Im Jang (Kasem Road corner of Hua Hin 112) was our local, our regular, basil chicken and rice at 40 baht was the kids’ favourite dish of the entire trip
- Huana Market – local market, four of us eating for under 150 baht regularly
- Cicada and Tamarind Markets — weekend evenings, great atmosphere and variety but slightly more expensive but still find dishes 60-80 THB.
- Night Market (Hua Hin 72) – every evening, cheap and cheerful – reasonably priced
Top tip re: water: buy a large 6 litre bottle from 7-Eleven and top up at the Reverse Osmosis public filter refill machines around town. 1 THB per litre vs 41 THB in 7-Eleve, this was a great money saver given the amount we drank in the heat. And it reduces plastic. We found these machines all over Hua Hin including in our apartment block. They were harder to find on the islands but there did exist.
Our Thailand Itinerary with Kids
On our first stint in Thailand, we spent nearly three months as a family of four – two adults, kids aged nine and six. Here’s what we did and in what order:
Bangkok: 4 days
Arrived from Bali. Brief but enlightening – enough to see the Wat Pho, the Grand Palance, ride a tuk tuk, eat our first proper Thai street food, head around Sukhumvik, visit a slime making store, visit out old backpacker stomping ground of Khao San Road and confirm that Bangkok with tired kids is better experienced in small doses. We next took the train south to Hua Hin – 3 hours.
Hua Hin: 2 months
Our main base and the best decision we made in Thailand. Two months of activities, beaches, night markets, waterparks, elephant sanctuaries, national parks and local life. The most family-friendly destination we visited anywhere on our year of travel. We have a full guide here:
Read our full guide: Hua Hin with Kids – 25 Family Activities and Budget Tips – click here
Hear the views of Hua Hin from a 9 year old here
The Drive South: 4 days
We drove from Hua Hin to Krabi over four days, stopping at Phraya Nakhon Cave (genuinely one of the most spectacular things we saw in all of Thailand), Thung Wua Laen beach (a beautiful deserted local beach in Chumphon province), and watching the landscape transform as the limestone karsts appeared on the horizon approaching Krabi.
Read our full guide: Bangkok to Koh Lanta by Train and Car – click here
Koh Lanta: 1 week
Beautiful but busier than expected. The monkeys stole our crackers from the front seat of the hire car and deposited a contribution on the roof. The waterpark gave me a shoulder injury that lasted months. The beaches in the south were genuinely stunning though and whilst we didn’t full click whilst there, looking back, it really was a fun time and a great spot. A complicated but enjoyable island.
Read our full guide: Koh Lanta with Kids – click here
Koh Yao Noi: 5 days
The hidden gem of our Thailand leg – a quiet small island in the middle of Phang Nga Bay with Avatar-like views of limestone karsts in every direction. We hired a sidecar and nearly perished on a hill. We took a longtail boat to Hong Island, labelled the ‘new beach’ – and every right to do so as it was simply stunning. The boat trip was an unforgettable experience for all of us.
Read our full guide: Koh Yao Noi with Kids – click here
Krabi / heading further south: 3 days – Leaving Thailand: The Tammalang Ferry to Langkawi
We stopped briefly in Krabi and then got a taxi to Satun where we left Thailand by ferry from Tammalang Pier in Satun. A one-hour crossing to Langkawi in Malaysia. One ferry per day, departing at 11.30am. We stayed overnight in Satun to avoid an impossibly early start from Krabi.
Read our full guide: How to Get to Langkawi from Thailand by Ferry – click here
Key Destinations in Thailand with Kids
Bangkok with Kids
As solo travellers and travelling as a couple, we always loved Bangkok – Thailand’s crazy capital where anything goes. With children, we soon discovered it’s best experienced in small doses. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and a tuk tuk ride are the non-negotiables. The BTS Skytrain makes navigation manageable if you’re staying here it. If not, just jumping on it for a ride is fun for the kids. Stay 2-4 days and enjoy the energy without letting it overwhelm you.
Hua Hin with Kids
Hua Hin is often missed off the “must do” lists of Thailand, which is actually what makes it so special. Whilst it does have sizeable number of tourists and a generous ex-pat population, it’s not overrun and feels a much more of a locals destination, being the main go-to for a weekend break from Bangkok. It’s a fantastic place for kids, with many activities – water parks, wildlife encounters, beaches, and many day time meet-ups. We stayed 2 months.
Chiang Mai with Kids
We didn’t visit Chiang Mai on this trip but it deserves a mention as one of Thailand’s most popular family destinations with a cooler climate, elephant sanctuaries, cooking classes, temples and a genuinely charming old city. Having been a solo traveller, we are keen to take the kids on our next stop there soon, so we will have more updates soon.
Koh Samui with Kids
The most developed of the Gulf islands – more infrastructure than the Andaman islands but also more tourist-oriented. We didn’t stop on this first stint but plan to on the way back so will update soon.
Phuket with Kids
We’ve been to Phuket a couple of times before but without kids. Whilst many of the big hotels and big resorts are located on this huge island, we decided that we would not visit with our kids on either of stints in Thailand. Whilst there are many cultural places to find on the island, we felt it was too touristy, too expensive and little overrun for our liking so we can’t comment on what it’s like. But clearly many people love it, swear by it and have a wonderful time, so it’s all down to preference.
Tips for Thailand with Kids
- Go in the right season for the right coast – east and west have different weather patterns
- Hire a car if you’re confident enough, it will transform your trip if planning to move around a lot
- Book transport in advance through Bookaway – ferries around the southern islands fill up in peak season
- 7-Eleven is your friend – open 24 hours, genuinely useful for snacks, drinks and emergency supplies – which we seemed to constantly be in need of travelling with kids
- Grab and Bolt taxis both work really well – Bolt was our preference for pickup accuracy
- Thai people love children – expect a lot of warmth and attention directed at your kids – especially if they have blond hair!
- Bargain gently at markets – it’s expected but don’t be aggressive about it. We accidently made one hawker angry even though I was only being playful. Maybe she was a one-off as generally we had a lot of fun bartering.
- Water filter machines are nationwide so look out for them wherever you visit – with the amount of water you’ll be drinking in the heat, if traveling on a budget, there’s a lot of cash to be saved over a long period of time, plus you’ll be doing the environment a favour.
- Don’t overschedule – take your time. The pace of Thailand is what keeps drawing us back. We absolutely love the people, the culture and slowing down when there.
The Thai authorities keep changing visa rules, when we arrived in late 2025, we got 60 days tourist visa in arrival (plus another 30 days extension paid for at the local immigration office).
In early 2026, they changed this to 30 days. Whilst 60 days can still be achieved, it needs to be organised online before arrival. The difference between 30 and 60 days is significant in terms of what you can cover.
Keep an eye on the latest visa developments.
Costs and Budget for Thailand with Kids
- Accommodation: 1,200-3,000 THB per night if on a budget depending on location and type (USD$35-90)
- Street food meal for family of 4: 150-300 THB (USD$4-8)
- Restaurant meal for family of 4: 200-600 THB (USD$6-18)
- Hire car per day: 500-800 THB (USD$14-22)
- Grab/Bolt short journey: 65-150 THB (USD$2-4)
- Waterpark (Vana Nava, family of 4): 3,839 THB via Trip.com (USD$106): 44% saving on door price
- Elephant sanctuary (Hutsadin, family of 4): 2,400 THB (USD$66)
- National park entrance (Kaeng Krachan): 300 THB adult, 150 THB child
- Our overall daily budget (family of 4 including accommodation): approximately USD$120 – on average across 3 months in Thailand (on a budget)
Is Thailand Worth It for Families?
It’s the wrong question. The right question is: how long can you stay?
Thailand is the best family travel destination we’ve visited in Southeast Asia, and up there with the best in the world. The combination of outstanding food, warm people, extraordinary wildlife, beautiful beaches, manageable costs and endless activities for kids of all ages makes it uniquely suited to family travel. Ultimately, it’s the culture and people that draw us back time and time again. On arrival, we just quickly slip into this relaxed mindset and let the stress of life fall away.
Three months felt like not enough. We left promising ourselves we’d come back and we are planning to head there on our way back home from Europe.
Our Thailand Guides
Everything you need for Thailand with kids, here’s our full destination guides:
- Hua Hin with Kids — 25 Family Activities: here
- Bangkok to Koh Lanta by Train and Car: here
- Koh Lanta with Kids — Honest Family Guide: here
- Koh Yao Noi with Kids — Honest Family Guide: here
- How to Get to Koh Yao Noi from Krabi: here
- Car Ferry to Koh Lanta — Everything You Need to Know: here
- How to Get to Langkawi from Thailand by Ferry: here
- Langkawi (Malaysia) with Kids – here
Ready to Book?
✈️ Flights to Bangkok or Phuket: Here
🚂 Bangkok to Hua Hin train or any other Thai train ride: Here
🚌 Ferries around the islands of Thailand: Here
🚗 Car hire in Thailand: Here
🏨 Family accommodation across Thailand: Here
🎡 Hua Hin waterparks and other Thailand activities: Here
⛴️ Koh Yao Noi ferry from Krabi: Here
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through these links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — which helps keep Roaming Wild running. Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Thailand safe for families with young children?
A: Yes – Thailand is one of the safest countries in Southeast Asia for families. Thai culture genuinely loves children and you’ll feel this everywhere you go. Standard travel precautions apply (watch your belongings in busy markets, don’t leave valuables visible in hire cars – the monkeys on Koh Lanta will find them) but serious crime against tourists is rare. We felt completely safe throughout three months with two young kids. In fact, we were amazed at how much locals left their belongings laying around on tables at the beach, on the bench while roller blading, on the table in cafes. It was really refreshing to experience. Clearly not everyone is honest and there are scams to avoid but with a sensible head, you should have no issues at all.
Q: What is the best part of Thailand for families?
A: For us, Hua Hin on the Gulf coast is the answer – affordable, activities-packed, family-oriented and genuinely warm. For beaches and island scenery, the west coast (Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi – and many islands we didn’t visit) was extraordinary. Bangkok is brilliant for 4 days. We’ve heard Chiang Mai is excellent for families wanting a cooler climate and cultural immersion – we will visit next time.
Q: How much does Thailand cost for a family of four?
A: Very affordable. We managed comfortably on USD$120 per day for four people including accommodation, food, transport and activities. You can do it cheaper (staying in cheaper accommodation and eating exclusively street food) or more expensively (resorts and tourist restaurants) but USD$100-150 per day is a comfortable family budget without having too many luxuries.
Q: What is the best time to visit Thailand with kids?
A: November to April for the west coast (Andaman Sea – Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta). October to March for the east coast (Gulf of Thailand – Hua Hin, Koh Samui). Don’t make the mistake of treating Thailand as one weather system – the two coasts have different wet seasons – on the east coast the wet season is far lighter touch than the heavier west coast.
Q: Is Thai food OK for kids?
A: In our experience, yes – after a few days of adjustment. Pad thai, fried rice, noodle soups and basil chicken all tend to work well for kids. We had to agree on a 50/50 split (1 meal western, 1 meal Thai) for the first few days. Street food is safe and cheap. The spice level is adjustable – just say ‘mai phet’ (not spicy) when ordering. In the end, our kids are more enthusiastically in Thailand than anywhere else on the trip.
Q: How do you get around Thailand with kids?
A: Hire car for the coast road and flexibility (we drove Hua Hin to Krabi/Koh Lanta over four days). Trains between cities (Bangkok to Hua Hin by train is excellent). Buses and minivans via Bookaway for most other routes although we never experienced one. Ferries between islands. Grab and Bolt for city and town transport. The combination of all five covers everything.
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