Phuket With Children
Phuket has many large resorts with childcare facilities to keep the kids busy while the adults enjoy there vacation. There are many things for kids to do like arts and crafts, tennis, archery, sailing, and cooking lessons. Check the hotel you are booking with for a list of child friendly activities.
Khao Phra Thaeo park has a waterfall at Bang Pae that is the perfect refreshing stop on a hot day, let the kids splash in the shallow streams of water. The Gibbon Rehabilitation just inside the park’s entrance is another must see. the program has wildlife experts and volunteers working to help gibbons taken from their mothers at birth back into the wild. Thalang and Kathu waterfalls also make a great place for a picnic for the kids.
Throughout Phuket there are many different animal exhibits offering snake charming, and exotic animal performances geared toward young children. Even the shooting range in Chalong has a snake show, elephant ides and paintball for kids. Plus, there is always the Phuket Zoo with it’s colorful creatures and crocodile, elephant and snake shows.
Phket also has The Phuket Marine Biological center ad Aquarium that was recently renovated. it offers interesting local marine life and displays. Kids will also love Butterfly and Insect world located in Phuket city, with bugs both living and dead on display.
Some must do family activities would include a sea canoe trip in Phang Nga Bay or Khao Sok. Both have calm waters, with interesting sea caves the kids will love. There are a number of guides that will do the paddling for you so you do not need to know how to kayak. You can also enjoy river rafting, eco-tours and mountain biking as a family in Phuket. Many companies offer activity combo tours. Make sure you look for a reputable company before booking.
There are six golf course and a couple of driving ranges in Phuket for kids who enjoy sports. Some course even offer instruction and mini golf. Check out Dino Park in Kata, it is a dinosaur theme park that even has a active volcano. the go kart track in Kathu is a kid favorite along with the horseback riding centers in Bang Tao and Rawai.
Phuket also has a Theme park called the FantaSea. the park has a show twice each night with music, magic and acrobatics. Water-sports are also a hit with kids visiting Phuket. kids can snorkel along the vast beaches or you can take them to Coral-Racha island by speedboat and they can snorkel among the colorful marine life in crystal clear waters. Wakeboarding and waterskiing are also a hit in Kathu cable ski park. Kids 12 and up can take diving and sailing lessons. Plus, there is big game fishing and tons of other family friendly activities.
The locals love to bowl in Thailand, so Phuket has many bowling alleys. Patong has the Rock N Bowl and a bowling alley in the Ocean mall. plus, Phuket city has the largest bowling alley on the floor upper floor of Big C and there is another alley called the Pearl Bowl downtown.
Play areas are plentiful in Phuket, like the popular play area with slides and swings in Loma Park. Plus, Phuket City has two playgrounds in Saphan Hin behind the stadium and at the entrance. Indoor playland for rainy days are located in the basement of Big C and on the upper floor of Tesco-Lotus. The two indoors locales also have karaoke and Playstation.
Public pools are not common in Phuket, in fact no beach has one. Some of the housing developments like Land & Houses and Phuket Villa let visitors use their pools and facilities for a fee. If your hotel doesn’t have a pool you can also buy a day pass to a larger resort like Club Med and Laguna Phuket. the passes cost about 1,500 baht a person and give access to all the facilities amenities.
King Rama IX park is also great for a leisurely stroll in the early morning or afternoon. The grassy hills of Rang Hill are also great for play. Plus, Rang Hill has several restaurants with nice views of the sea and the city.
Phuket also has an number of culinary options for the picky eaters in your life. At Thai restaurants kids may enjoy mild noodle dishes or fried rice. Plus, if that doesn’t work look for one of the may Western fast food restaurants like McDonalds.
The hot weather in Thailand can be tolerated better with a ice cream from one of the many Western ice cream joints including Baskin Robbins, Swenson’s and Bud’s. Plus, there are a number of street vendors peddling ice cream cones and popsicles around the park. For a culture experience try a traditional Thai dessert like bananas and coconut milk.
The Songkran water festival is great family fun in mid-april. The festival celebrates the New Year with parades and ceremonies. Many kids enjoy the custom of throwing water all over. Water is everywhere and super soakers and water pistols are for sales everywhere you turn.
Do you have Questions on Phuket With Children?
Ask them at Tripsofa.com for free.