RIDE A HALF-PIPE, sleep in a train, get close to baby sharks: the best hotels for families in Thailand go above-and-beyond in a country that is known to adore the kiddos.
AMANPURI
The original Aman property goes above and beyond for families and children. Their kids’ space, the Eco-Beach Discovery Centre, has turtle and koi ponds, an aquarium and terrariums, plus daily activities. Kids can learn Thai arts and crafts, take Thai dancing lessons, build a terrarium with snails, or go on safari around the property. Next door, The Hot Spot has activities for teens, with a skateboard halfpipe, a custom bouldering wall, and a digital room complete with GoPro and video-editing software. For the thrill seekers, there’s action on the waters of Surin Bay, with wakeboard, hydrofoils, wakeskate, wakesurf and water-skiing equipment. Then, of course, there are special kids’ amenities, a kids’ spa program and a dedicated kids’ pool.
Aman.com; rates from US$1,246
FOUR SEASONS RESORT KOH SAMUI
In classic Four Seasons style, this Samui resort offers lots of engaging things for kids to sink their teeth into. There’s the Tree House kids’ club, with supervised activities for four- to 12-year-olds and a wide selection of games, books and arts and crafts. There’s also the Beach House, equipped with pool table, air hockey and table tennis. And: family cooking classes, muay Thai lessons and snorkeling trips led by a marine biologist. For dedicated child pampering there’s even a spa menu for six- to 14-year-olds at the resort’s Secret Garden Spa. One more bonus: children aged six and under eat for free.
fourseasons.com; rates from US$1,500
BOOK YOUR STAY AT FOUR SEASONS RESORT KOH SAMUI VIA BOOKING.COM
INTERCONTINENTAL KHAO YAI RESORT
A 2.5-hour drive northeast of Bangkok, Khao Yai is the go-to weekend mountain retreat for city slickers—and this Bill Bensley-designed railway-themed resort is one of its best options for families. Some rooms are restored vintage train carriages, some with bunk beds that the kids might not want to leave. The resort also offers a Planet Trekkers kids’ club, 19 hectares of gardens to explore, a lush main pool, a lake with swans, and a new Pet Park. Another plus: the resort is located on the border of UNESCO-listed Khao Yai National Park, with all its waterfalls and nature trails ready for exploration.
khaoyai.intercontinental.com; rates from US$290
BOOK YOUR STAY AT INTERCONTINENTAL KHAO YAI RESORT VIA BOOKING.COM
JW KHAO LAK RESORT & SPA
This gem of a family hotel has several special features to keep kids enthralled, namely: the longest lazy river in Southeast Asia (at 2.4 kilometers!), an Aqua Play Zone with slides, and a bamboo shark nursery (yes, baby sharks). Families can take part in property-wide treasure hunts, picnics, garden tours, and cooking classes with a master chef. The hotel also has a fully-service kids’ club, babysitting, daily Kids Rituals (like meditation and cookie decorating) and room amenities for children (teepee included). An especially memorable moment for kids has got to be the boat check-in for Pool Access Suites, where families are rowed to their front terrace.
jwmarriottkhaolak.com; rates from US$150
BOOK YOUR STAY AT JW MARRIOTT KHAO LAK RESORT AND SPA VIA BOOKING.COM
SIX SENSES YAO NOI
This enchanting barefoot-luxury resort enjoys a serene island setting in Phang Nga Bay, where families can enjoy downtime in nature. Villas here peek out from hillside jungle, each with a pool and spacious indoor-outdoor living areas. The resort’s Junior Eco Warrior program includes experiences like goat feeding, farm visits, “trash-ure” hunts and upcycling workshops. Then there are immersive activities for teens, like kayaking, mountain-bike riding and muay Thai, not to mention movie nights under the stars and mocktail hours where they can mingle. More perks for families: children under 11 years stay for free using existing bedding and children five and under eat free.
sixsenses.com; rates from US$627
BOOK YOUR STAY AT SIX SENSES YAO NOI VIA BOOKING.COM
Runners-up:
• ÀNI Thailand, aniprivateresorts.com; buy-out required, with the rate for at least six rooms from US$16,000
• Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas anantara.com; rates from US$244
• Banyan Tree Krabi banyantree.com; rates from US$515
• Centara Reserve Samui centarareserve.com; rates from US$250
• Soneva Kiri soneva.com; rates from US$2,300
Lede and hero image courtesy of InterContinental Khao Yai Resort.
Written By
Little Steps Asia
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