The Thai island of Phuket seems to have been specially created by nature for a comfortable stay with children. There is everything for this - the gentle sea, clean sand, mild climate, beautiful nature. The tourist infrastructure is well developed, so a family vacation will be interesting for both adults and children of any age. If you are thinking about a vacation in Phuket and want to know a little more about this corner of the planet, this article is for you.
Best season
Phuket Island is a provincial part of South Thailand. The island is washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean. Phuket is one of the largest seaside resorts in Thailand. The climate is tropical, with a pronounced seasonal alternation of humid (from May to October) and dry (from November to April). In the dry season, the probability of rain is considered minimal.
Rains (and sometimes the most real tropical showers) most often come in the morning, and then are replaced by a bright sun. There are almost no completely rainy days, although anything can happen - especially during the summer months when the island is in a period of humid climate.
In the summer months, the weather can generally present exotic surprises. From June to August, strong underwater currents appear on most beaches, it becomes unsafe to swim. The prudent Thais always warn tourists about this by placing red flags on such beaches.
The average annual air temperature on the island is about 30 degrees Celsius. The tourist season here lasts all year round. Phuket experiences a real influx of tourists from November to May. Summer months and early autumn are quieter in terms of tourist flows. Hence the intricacies of pricing: if you go on vacation in the dry season, you will have to pay about 40% more than for a similar vacation in the summer months.
The water temperature in the Andaman Sea changes little during the year, usually it ranges from +28.0 to + 30.0 degrees. The most calm and gentle sea will be in winter, this period is more suitable for families with children, for scuba diving. If the whole family wants to jump on the waves, go surfing or other extreme types of water activities, it is better to go to Phuket in the summer - both cheaper and more fun. However, it is difficult to call such a vacation safe.
Pros and cons
On travel forums, you can find many rave reviews about holidays with children in Phuket. However, there are also enough negative ones. This Thai island itself is quite contrasting. Among the obvious advantages of resting here are sandy beaches (clean and well-groomed), inexpensive shops, an incredibly wide range of fresh fruits.
On the island, you can have a good vacation for any family budget, since here you can find not only five-star hotels, but also an inexpensive apartment or house for rent.
The locals are very polite, benevolent - and at the same time unobtrusive, do not pester tourists, as the Turks, Egyptians, Filipinos do. There are no transport problems on the island: there are no “traffic jams”, but a modern international airport is present and works perfectly, and therefore it is quite easy to get here.
There are additional advantages - an incredible abundance of wild monkeys, stunning sunsets on the west coast (which is where most of the tourist spots are located), fast and ubiquitous Internet.
Among the minuses, Thai cuisine is in the lead. A deadly amount of hot peppers, a wide variety of exotic marine life and plants (both processed and raw), incredible combinations of sweet, sour and salty - not every adult Russian can master all this. Naturally, such a menu is not suitable for baby food at all. However, there is no need to despair - there are enough cafes on the island that offer the usual European menu. There are even places where Russian cuisine is quite successfully prepared.
The language barrier is the second major drawback of a Phuket holiday. Even if your whole family knows English, it may turn out to be useless, because the overwhelming majority of the locals do not know it. Absolutely. Even at the "Howe match?"
Almost all year round, there are many mosquitoes, which differ from their Russian counterparts in their severe temper and increased appetite. It is recommended to take care of insect bites in advance; at the peak of the tourist season in Phuket, they are extremely in demand - which means they are incredibly expensive.
The best sandy beaches
Choosing a beach on the island is a daunting task. Because you have to choose the best of the best. It is difficult to classify beaches. All of them are sandy, almost everywhere the descent into the water is smooth and gentle, which is important for the recreation of children. One of the most beautiful holiday destinations by the sea is Ao Yon Beach. Here you can admire sailboats to your heart's content, because the largest yacht club is located here.
It is quite difficult to find it, since the beach is far from the main road. However, if you try, nothing is impossible. Beach activities include sailing lessons and traditional Thai massage. Sun loungers can be rented for very little money.
Rawai Beach is a beach on the south coast of the island. It is sandy, the water is azure, but you should not swim and sunbathe here, since the beach is a boating center and is not suitable for relaxation on the shore. But here you can have a great time with a teenage child, go boating.
Nai-Harn Beach is one of the best sandy beaches for families... If you are relaxing with a small child, then this is ideal. There are fewer people on the beach than in more popular places, and therefore it is calm here, time flows steadily. There are several restaurants on the beach. Sun loungers are available for a small fee (around 100 Baht). The beach is about a kilometer long and is well equipped. From entertainment there is a surfboard rental.
Coconut Island is an entire island that belongs to the province of Phuket and has some of the best sandy beaches in Thailand. The island is called coconut paradise. You can get here by boat from Phuket, the journey will take about 10 minutes. Here, for a small fee, you can stay on a private beach owned by hoteliers, or you can find a quiet, secluded wilderness.
Popular hotels with kids clubs
When there is a joint vacation with children, parents will have to worry in advance about what to do with the child when he plays with white sand, shells on the beach and has time to get bored. This will happen pretty quickly. When choosing a hotel, moms and dads definitely need to inquire about the availability of infrastructure for children (children's clubs)... Here are some hotels in Phuket that can guarantee your little ones a fun time:
- "Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket 5 *". The hotel is located just 10 kilometers from Phuket Airport. Here you can check into rooms, as well as villas and penthouses. The hotel has its own water park. To walk about 200 meters to the beach, but a sun lounger, an umbrella, and a towel will be given to you completely free of charge. For adults - massage (extra charge), two swimming pools, yoga lessons, archery.
Hospitable Thais are ready to give the best to children, and therefore the children's infrastructure is better developed than an adult at the hotel: there is a children's club, a children's pool with slides, playgrounds, for some money you can use the services of a qualified nanny. In restaurants, and there are five of them, children are given special high chairs. Here they prepare not only exotic Thai dishes, but also European food, Italian dishes.
- "The Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa 5 *". The hotel is located 30 kilometers from the airport, closer to the center of Phuket. The rooms have air conditioning, telephone and TV. Many Russians will be surprised by the already forgotten wired Internet. Safes are provided to residents free of charge. The beach is not very close, but tourists are taken there for free and brought back. The hotel has three swimming pools and a tennis court. For a fee, you can use the library services, luggage storage, as well as attend Thai cuisine and carving courses.
For children, the hotel has playgrounds, a kids club, nannies, who need to be paid separately. Six restaurants serve various cuisines: Thai, Japanese, Chinese and European.
- Sunset Beach Resort 4 *. The hotel is located on a busy street in the resort area. The beach is 100 meters away. By the way, there are beaches for every taste - there are rocky areas, and there are sandy ones, where it is preferable to go with children. The hotel has two swimming pools. For children, there is a kids club with cheerful animators, a children's pool, and a playground. The restaurants can provide high chairs for babies on request. While adults are playing billiards or receiving a Thai massage, a nanny can sit with the children, who, however, will ask for a separate fee. Two restaurants, international cuisine.
- Deevana Plaza Phuket Patong 4 *. Another of the four-star hotels, the cost of living in which is fully consistent with the quality. It is located on a busy street. On the territory there is an outdoor pool, for children there is a kids club The beach is sandy, well-groomed. There is no special children's menu in the restaurant, but this issue is easily resolved for a small fee.
How do I rent a house?
In the summer months, renting a house in Phuket is 3 times cheaper than in winter. Accommodation near the sea in summer will cost 15-17 thousand baht per month. Bargaining with the owners of real estate is not accepted here. If you are not satisfied with the value they named, then they end the conversation unilaterally. The cheapest apartments can be found in Kathu and Chalong. If you are lucky enough to find inexpensive housing quickly and without intermediaries, with a probability of 80% there will be no Internet.
It is best to search in advance, even before departure to the island. The following resources will help with this: Booking, Homeaway, Airbnb. If you are renting a house for more than a month, be sure to ask how much the utilities will cost you, otherwise an unpleasant surprise awaits you later.
Never transfer a prepayment. Nobody. All calculations - only on the spot and after you have moved into the apartment. The disadvantage of renting in Phuket is that many property owners rent out their square meters for a period of 30 days or more during high seasons (winter and early spring). It will not be possible to agree for 10-14 days. However, it is quite possible if you go to Thailand in the summer.
Nutrition
If there is no particular desire to eat Thai cuisine with all its tentacles of cuttlefish and hot spices, and besides, you are going to rest in an inexpensive hotel where there is only breakfast, then the issue of catering will have to be taken seriously. Phuket is considered one of the most expensive islands in Thailand for food prices. One Thai baht today (summer 2017) costs 1 ruble 73 kopecks. In the middle class cafes, prices are quite reasonable - for example, tuna salad costs 70 baht, tomato soup with croutons - 80 baht, grilled steak with potatoes and vegetables - 230-250 baht. In expensive restaurants, prices can be 20-40% higher.
The prices on the market are similar to those in Russia. A kilogram of beef - 315 baht, a packet of juice - 30 baht, chicken - 130 baht.
Entertainment
If the whole family is tired of lying on the beach, it's time to go for a walk - for example, in Phuket at night. There is even a separate street for this that never sleeps - Bangla Street. In the daytime with children, you can visit the Phuket Aquarium or the Jungle Splash Water Park.
Playgrounds are represented in large numbers in amusement and amusement parks. For fun, head to the Butterfly Park or Seashell Museum. The trips to the snake farm, orchid farm, to the Nemo Dolphinarium or the Phuket Aquarium, where one of the world's largest collections of marine life is presented, will be remembered for a long time.
Should I travel with a baby?
Considering the peculiarities of the island's climate, it should be remembered that the younger the child, the greater the risk of strong acclimatization (especially if the trip is planned in winter). On the other hand, you should not worry that the baby will get poisoned or drink something wrong if the baby is breastfed. For artificial people in Phuket shops (especially in large shopping centers) you can buy everything you need - from diapers to baby food.
You should be careful with the Thai sun. Toddlers are very sensitive to ultraviolet light, and the sun in Phuket is pretty aggressive almost all year round. Knowing this, moms and dads can make an informed decision whether to take a nursing baby with them.
Tips
A visa is not required to Phuket if you plan to stay there for up to 30 days. However, customs officers will definitely ask you to show your passport (do not forget about the document for the child) and fill out a migration card.
If a child travels with one of the parents, upon entry, they will definitely require notarial consent from the other.
You will learn even more about the rest in Phuket by watching the following videos.
