Family Trip to Thailand: Essential Tips

Spread the love

Everyone loves traveling because it can be a fun getaway for the whole family. However, preparing for a family trip is a demanding task, starting from the very first question: where to go?

Many families take a family getaway once every awhile to travel. However, not many are aware that Thailand is one of the best locations for a fun family vacation.

There are plenty of things to do and see in Thailand that can keep your kids entertained and happy. Therefore, you can plan a family trip to Thailand with this guide.

In this article, we will educate you about how amazing a family trip to Thailand can be and walk you through some amazing things to do in Thailand. So buckle up, it is going to be a bumpy ride.

Table of Contents

Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

How Much Is A Trip To Thailand Cost?

The cost of a trip to Thailand can vary widely depending on factors like your travel style, duration, and the activities you plan to do. Here’s a general breakdown to help you estimate your expenses:

1. Flights:

From the U.S. or Europe: $600 – $1,200 for a round-trip economy class ticket.
From Asia: $100 – $500, depending on your location and the airline.

2. Accommodation:

Budget: $10 – $30 per night (hostels or budget guesthouses).
Mid-Range: $30 – $100 per night (3-star hotels or boutique guesthouses).
Luxury: $100 – $300+ per night (4-star and 5-star hotels).

3. Food:

Street Food: $1 – $5 per meal.
Casual Dining: $5 – $15 per meal.
Mid-Range Restaurants: $15 – $30 per meal.
Fine Dining: $30 – $100+ per meal.

4. Transportation:

Local Transport: $1 – $5 per ride (tuk-tuks, buses, or local trains).
Internal Flights: $30 – $100 per flight.
Car Rentals: $30 – $60 per day.

5. Activities:

Tourist Attractions: $5 – $30 per entrance (temples, museums).
Day Tours: $30 – $100 per tour (island trips, adventure tours).
Diving or Special Activities: $100 – $300+ per session.

6. Miscellaneous:

Sim Cards/Data: $10 – $30 for a basic plan.
Travel Insurance: $50 – $150 for a basic policy for a short trip.

Sample Daily Budget:

Budget Traveler: $30 – $60 per day (staying in hostels, eating street food, using public transport).
Mid-Range Traveler: $60 – $150 per day (staying in mid-range hotels, dining out, and engaging in various activities).
Luxury Traveler: $150 – $300+ per day (staying in luxury hotels, fine dining, and private tours).

These are general estimates, so costs can fluctuate based on the season, booking time, and personal preferences. Planning ahead and booking in advance can help you manage expenses and get the best deals.

How To Plan Trip To Thailand?

Now that we covered, how much is a trip to Thailand cost, you need to consider how to get around, things to do there, and where to stay. In this guide, we got you covered.

Therefore, you can plan a family trip to Thailand with ease and comfort to experience its richness in culture and greenery landscapes.

How To Get Around Thailand?

1- BTS – Bangkok Skytrain:

Another thing to see and a way to get around is the BTS-Skytrain. This cool Skytrain is lightning-fast running above the town and provides not only a thrilling way to get around, but something fun and different for you and your kids to experience while wandering through this big city.

BTS is connected to many areas in Bangkok city, with stops in hundreds of locations throughout the city. It can easily take you to some of the greatest shopping centers around and even to the famous Weekend Market located outside the center of town.

2. Domestic Flights Inside Thailand:

If you’re trying to get around from one place in Thailand to the next, and you have the extra money, in order to save some precious time on your trip you should consider domestic flights.

For a great family trip in Thailand, it would be smart to check and get updated regarding the regulations of each flight.

Remember to stay safe and always follow all local laws. If all regulations are followed, you and your family may fly relatively safely.

3. Renting A Car In Thailand:

While there are many ways to get around in Thailand, it should be noted that renting a car isn’t the optimal way, even if it may be the safest.

Renting a car in Thailand is expensive, and the roads are often aggravating to drivers who aren’t used to the heavy traffic.

Note that in Thailand, like in the United Kingdom, driving is on the left side of the road, so if you’re visiting from the United States for instance, or another country where people drive on the right side, it may feel a bit weird and difficult.

4. Traveling Through Thailand By A Train:

Although it is not so popular among tourists to travel by train, The Thai train is one great option for you if you have the time and wish to save some money. The train offers a convenient option to sleep over if the journey is long.

If you are traveling to one of the southern islands, for instance, taking the night train with a sleeper could be a cool experience for the whole family.

What To Eat In Thailand?

Thailand is renowned for its vibrant and diverse cuisine, offering a rich array of flavors, textures, and ingredients. Here’s a guide to some must-try Thai dishes:

Street Food Staples:

Pad Thai:
- Stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, peanuts, and lime, usually served with a tamarind-based sauce.
Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad):
- A spicy salad made from shredded green papaya, tomatoes, green beans, peanuts, and often flavored with fish sauce, lime juice, and chili.
Moo Pad Krapow (Basil Pork):
- Minced pork stir-fried with garlic, chili, and Thai basil. It’s often served with a fried egg and rice.
Gai Tod (Fried Chicken):
- Crispy fried chicken, often marinated with Thai spices and served with sweet chili sauce.
Khao Pad (Fried Rice):
- Fried rice with vegetables, eggs, and your choice of meat (chicken, pork, or shrimp).

Soups and Curries:

Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup):
- A hot and sour soup with shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves.
Tom Kha Gai (Chicken Coconut Soup):
- A creamy and aromatic soup with chicken, coconut milk, lemongrass, and galangal, often flavored with lime juice and fish sauce.
Green Curry (Gaeng Keow Wan):
- A spicy and sweet curry made with green curry paste, coconut milk, meat or tofu, and vegetables like eggplant and bamboo shoots.
Massaman Curry:
- A rich, mildly spicy curry with influences from Indian cuisine, featuring meat (usually beef or chicken), potatoes, peanuts, and spices.
Panang Curry:
- A thick, creamy curry with a sweet and slightly spicy flavor, often made with beef or chicken and flavored with roasted peanuts.

Noodles and Rice Dishes:

Khao Soi:
- A Northern Thai dish consisting of crispy noodles in a curry broth, often topped with pickled mustard greens, shallots, and lime.
Boat Noodles (Kuay Teow Reua):
- A flavorful noodle soup traditionally served with beef or pork and a rich, dark broth.
Pad See Ew:
- Stir-fried wide rice noodles with a sweet soy sauce, vegetables, and your choice of meat or tofu.

Snacks and Sweets:

Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niew Mamuang):
- A beloved dessert made from glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk, served with ripe mango slices.
Roti:
- Thai-style flatbread that can be stuffed or topped with sweet fillings like bananas, chocolate, or condensed milk.
Coconut Ice Cream:
- Creamy ice cream made from coconut milk, often served with various toppings like peanuts, sticky rice, and sweet corn.
Thai Fruit:
- Fresh and exotic fruits like durian, mangosteen, rambutan, and longan are widely available.

Beverages:

Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen):
- A sweet and creamy tea made with black tea, condensed milk, and served over ice.
Thai Iced Coffee (Oliang):
- Strong coffee with a mix of spices, often sweetened with condensed milk and served over ice.
Fresh Coconut Water:
- Refreshing and hydrating, served straight from the coconut.

Each region of Thailand offers unique specialties, so exploring local Thai cuisine as you travel can be a delightful adventure.

Things To Do In Thailand, And Places To Visit In Thailand:

There are plenty of things to do, see and experience in Thailand. Therefore, planning a family trip to Thailand can be an amazing idea.

However, you need to prioritize the places according to your family’s need. Here are some ideas for you to start before digging deeply into preparing a family tour to Thailand.

1) Bamboo Rafting:

The Bamboo Rafting activity is one you really don’t want to miss if you came all the way to Thailand with your kids. Sailing down the river on hand-made Bamboo rafts led by an expert bamboo raft driver.

Stop for a while, jump into the fresh waters to cool yourselves, and back on the raft to move on to the next beautiful spot.

Your kid’s imaginations immediately come alive when they get on that raft, thinking they went into Huckleberry Finn’s legendary world.

2) Visit Elephant Sanctuary Parks:

There are a variety of Elephant Parks throughout Thailand, such as the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park, Phang Nga Elephant Park, or the Eco Elephant Park in Chiang Mai. These parks allow visitors to get up close to pet and play with elephants.

They allow visitors to see elephants in a way that they never have before. In some of the parks, you actually take care of the elephants by feeding them, washing them, or just play with them.

This is a great way to teach kids about the giant creatures while being so close and intimate with them, making unforgettable memories as you do it.

3) Flight Of The Gibbons – Zip Line Park:

Carefully designed for the whole family who comes to Thailand to have the best adventure and excitement. The park includes a perfect combination of Ziplines, sky bridges, double zip lines, abseils, and spiral staircases.

It’s been safely structured for you to enjoy the stunning rainforest environment as you ‘fly’ from tree to tree. The view from above is not to miss as you got to see what Thailand has to offer in the bird’s eyes.

There is something incredible about this experience that you won’t forget for your whole life. The Gibbon Chiang Mai Zipline, for instance, allow to zigzag above a bamboo rainforest at a height of 2,625 feet (800 m) above the ground. It is, in fact, the longest and highest zipline in Asian.

4) The Banana Beach: Ko He:

Banana Beach is located in Ko He, Thailand, and is marked by its beautiful blue waters and dreamy wide shores.

This beach is absolutely one must-visit spot for any Thailand family vacation. The location is perfect for relaxing on one hand and full of playing areas on the other, giving everyone in the family something fun to do.

There are many recreational activities to enjoy at the beach, such as swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and horseback riding on the beach.

5) The “Soi Dog Foundation:”

If you or any of your kids love dogs, then this is one place you’ll want to check out. The entire family will have fun in this large petting zoo of dogs AND feel completely satisfied for doing that.

Take some time off to relax, open up your heart, and play with a few of man’s best friends. You might find out that you need that as much as the dogs.

This is the perfect activity for any age, even the younger kids. Handlers will keep everyone safe, and the dogs happy.

Where To Stay In Thailand?

Figuring out where to stay when visiting Thailand boils down to which region you’d like to see and travel more of. Many people choose the busy Bangkok or bustling Phuket.

If you finally decided on your family trip to Thailand, do some research on which area of Thailand seems the most exciting to you, and look for hotels or hostels in the area.

You can choose the widget below to find hotels in Thailand. It is easy to use and convenient. Just write down where the place you wish to visit, and it will give you many options.

Takeaway:

Traveling to Thailand with your family is fun and exciting. Therefore, we made this guide of what you need to know and fun things to do in Thailand for the whole family.

Therefore, you should plan your trip accordingly and make sure to follow the tips mentioned in this article to have more enjoyable journey with your family.

We have a complete guide about fun things to do in Pha Ngan Island. You can check it out if you want to plan a visit with your family.

Awesome Traveler

Everything You Need for a Family Trip to Thailand