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Alternatives to Thailand - with children

Alternatives to Thailand - with children

Old Nov 30th, 2008, 01:21 AM
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Alternatives to Thailand - with children

I am way ahead of myself here but have to have some back up mentally!

We are due to fly out to Thailand in Feb 09 for two weeks - with a 4 year old and 9 month old. I don't think we will get a refund on our flights unless the airport is still shut (seems unlikely??). I really really hope I will feel comfortable going there in Feb - but...so just thinking of alternatives where we could visit if we don't stay in Thailand. We would need to use Bangkok as a hub airport and fly back out again. Options I have thought of so far are Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore/Bali (not sure what Bali weather will be like in Feb?). I know I would be happy taking my children to Malaysia and Bali - not been to Vietnam. Any comments or other alternatives?

A friend has recommended vietnamstay.com - anybody used them?
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Old Nov 30th, 2008, 03:12 AM
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I'm not sure how much there is for children in Vietnam. Nor am I sure if their medical situation is up to a level that would make me comfortable with young children -- I was there in 1992 when there weren't even bandaids or antibiodics but while I am sure that has changed, I don't know by how much.

It would be backtracking flight wise but what about Hong Kong? Lots for kids.

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Old Nov 30th, 2008, 10:45 AM
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Thanks Gloria - will check HK out. It wont be backtracking as we are coming from London and we do have some friends there.
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Old Nov 30th, 2008, 01:04 PM
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Bella, weatherbase.com says Bali gets about 11 inches of rain during February. I've been to Bali several times during rainy season and it hasn't bothered me. The rain storms tend to be short but intense. Bali would be a lovely alternative to Thailand.

There are also lots of options in Malaysia.

Hopefully, things will be long settled in Thailand by February!
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Old Nov 30th, 2008, 07:23 PM
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Before recommending any places, it would be helpful to know what your original plans were for Thailand. If they were for a beach vacation, then do you want to replace it with another beach vacation? Also, take a look at weatherbase.com for information on weather.

If you are using Thai Airlines, you may have no choice but to use Bangkok as a transfer point. However, if you are on another carrier, you may want to look into whether your airline will allow you to reroute for the same dates without a penalty; as due to the situation in Bangkok they may actually be willing to do this to save themselves the hassle they will be going through for some time after the airports there are reopened. Airlines with service to Bangkok currently have some VERY annoyed customers, and they are going to need all the goodwill they can get, and you should take advantage of this if you can. You may also be able to reroute by paying just a small fee. It certainly would not hurt to ask.


I live in Hong Kong and would agree that there is a lot to see and do here, but if you were looking for warm sunny weather and the ability to use beaches and pools, February is not the time to be here. It is cool to cold and usually damp, generally overcast, and sometimes foggy. There are still many options for activities, but beaches and pools would not be two of them.

For Malaysia, the beautiful east coast is really just coming out of the rainy season and may not be ideal, but if you stay north, may be OK, someplace like the Kuala Terengganu and offshore Redang areas are probably going to be OK in mid-February; you could try the Berjaya resort, take a look at http://www.berjayahotels-resorts.com/redangresort.htm., and a very nice hotel in the Terengganu area is the Tanjong Jara Resort. Take a look at http://www.tanjongjararesort.com or the website for Small Luxury Hotels of the World at: slh.com. redone I am not such a fan of the Kuantan area, when you have so many other really lovely areas along the east coast, plus I think it is too far south for February to be clear of rain. The west coast beaches, which are not nearly as nice, IMO, would be in good weather, and someplace like Langkawi would certainly work fine for a family, lots of hotel options there. Penang may also work and is interesting. The island of Kalimantan (i.e., Kuching and that area) would be pretty wet in February too (this is the same monsoon pattern which affects Singapore and Bali).

Vietnam should be fine in February in terms of weather, dry and sunny in most places. Not sure if there are Malaria issues in certain areas, I believe it is quite low in most coastal tourist areas, you might want to http://www.nathnac.org/travel/index.htm and
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-...g-safe/health/.

Singapore would also work well for children, a lot to see and do there, esp their wonderful zoo and night safari. While a bit on the rainy side there, it is quite warm and again, you aren’t there for the beaches so rain is not as much of an issue. Two weeks is a long time in Singapore, but you could combine 5 days there with 5 days in a beach location in Malaysia.

You might want to consider the Philippines, which are in excellent weather in February. There is an Aman which is very beautiful. I would also suggest a place called El Nido in Palawan, which has two hotels, but they won't be like 5 star luxury hotels, I don't know what you are looking for. Travel to any of the above involves a flight to Manila (about 4 hours), then a light plane trip of about an hour, then for Palawan, a boat trip of about 45 minutes. http://www.elnidoresorts.com/. Check Malaria issues there as well.

I like your Bali idea, which while rainy in Feb, does not get the downpour monsoon rains like other parts of SE Asia do during their rainy seasons (i.e. 25 inches or more a month). Plus there is so much to do and see there, that the rain really does not interfere. And it is warm enough to swim in pools and beaches even during the rain. (And you don’t go to Bali for the beaches anyway, you go for culture and the beauty of the highlands more than the beaches IMO).

If you truly want just a beach vacation, consider the Maldives. You can get there from Bangkok via Bangkok Airways in about 4 hours. It’s a bit of backtracking geographically, but may work. This is where re-routing, esp via Dubai, may work better.




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Old Nov 30th, 2008, 09:47 PM
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Singapore + Malaysia, Bali also if weather ok.
Penang has beach hotels some beaches, Batu Ferringhi beach best.
Perhaps others can tell you about Kota Kinabalu etc.
JamesA is offline  
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