I am an american who has lived in Thailand for 5 years. I have 3 kids (3, 6,9). There are limitations in Thailand when you are traveling with younger children. We stay at the JW Marriott and you will have a wonderful time. I would encourage you to book a snorkling trip. They are great fun and the staff is great with the kids. The JW is pretty far from the rest of Phuket so use this time to get over jet lag. I find it harder to travel from the US to BKK than reverse. Chiang Mai is a nice trip as they have the best zoo in Thailand, a night safari (but if you have time in SIngaport theirs is better) and the temples are fun. You can walk up the many stairs or take the elevator. We go up via elevator but down via man power. The kids do much better. I would recommend if it is within your means to hire a car and driver. It makes it more relaxing. Cambodia is wonderful. We did without children but I would go back with mine. What a honor to see Angkor. The fishing village is also a big must. There is a lot of walking, but you can take an elephant up the mountain for the sunset and you can break the day up so you have the mornig at Angkor and the afternoon by the pool. There is a lot of begging there, but if you prepare the kids it will be fine. The Anatara is beautiful too bad you cannot stay later as the 13th of April is a huge holiday here. Hope that helps

Wmccawley- any good tips on making our traveling experience good with a 4 and 6 year old? This will be the longest flight for both kids...and we are all a bit nervous.

Any good suggestions for Anandara area activities for young kids?

Crosscheck-
used your room info and requested a room overlooking the pool and near the lobby. I think I even mentioned room 331. :) Thanks a ton!!

What we have done and still do for long flights...

1. Pack non-messy (meaning clothes don't get wrecked...the floor might though with crumbs) snacks that take a long time to eat...raisins, dried fruit and nut mix, crackers, fruit bars, sliced apple...whatever your kids like.

2. Travel Magna Doodle...the pen can't get lost b/c it's attached, and the whole thing is small enough to fit in a kid sized backpack...which also contains...

3. Kid Backpack contents: Wet wipes (indiv wrapped), a pad of funky paper, a small set of colored pencils and a pencil sharpener, one of those magic pen game/activity books (bought in airport), familiar and favorite book, a new and exciting book, blow up travel pillow, change of clothes.

4. DON'T reserve the bulkhead rows...the armrests don't go up.

5. We've found jet lag worse going to the states than to Asia, just the opposite of Wmccawley. Teaghan is the one least bothered by jetlag...I am the worst. But however it is for you and your kids, just roll with it. Fighting jet lag seems to make it even worse, at least for me.

6. Talk about the length of the trip before you go, and explain clearly to your kids what will be expected of them...what their "job" is during the trip.

7. Try not to worry...easier said than done...but really, kids tend to be really tuned in to the adults around them, and if the adults are stressed the kids will be the ones who show it. Your mantra should be something like "Everything is fine, we'll be there soon, it's going to be great, everything is fine..." no matter what happens.

crosscheck,

I checked out the 12 go website and couldn't find any flights to Siem Reap.

I found flights to Hong Kong and Incheon, but nothing to Siem Reap.

I am trying to arrange flights to Yangon and Luang Prabang as possible additions to the itinerary....or Madlay, sinceI'm more interested in Mandalay/Bagan, than in Yangon.

For Luang Prabang, I'm looking at using Laoai, as they have a nice promo going...return flight and hotel for 2 for $400, including 2 nights hotel. BUT I'd rather fly CNX to Luang Prabang and continue on to Siem Reap.

Of course, everything depends on budget...sigh...

Zengeos,

We flew 1-2-Go from BKK to Chiang Rai, not from Siem Reap. Flew Bangkok Air to BKK-Siem Reap-BKK. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

zengeos, If you are flying from Siem Reap to Chiang Rai, you need to use Bangkok Air to Bangkok, then change to either Thai Air, 12Go or Air Asia to get to Chiang Rai.

You might look at a Bangkok Air Discovery Airpass. It may save you some money as it seems to include most, but not all, of your routes (does not go to Chiang Rai).

zengoes, also with Lao Air, be sure you are working with the real thing, not the French based agent, as the French based agent issues tickets that are not honored...I checked this issue directly with Lao Airlines and was told that if I bought tickets from the French agent I would be denied boarding and required to buy another ticket in order to travel because that agent sells tickets at an illegal price.

http://www.laoairlines.com/ is the real thing.

http://www.laos-airlines.com/ is the agent which the real Lao Airlines told me sold the invalid tickets.

If you want to buy from that agent, you should e-mail to the real airline first to inquire about the validity of the ticket...provide all details including price. If they say it's OK, be sure you keep that e-mail and carry it with you for your flights in case there are problems.

Travelmom13,
To clarify, our room did not have a pool view. It was on the west side of the lobby (to your left if you're facing the Mehkong) and the pool is on the east. We were in the same building as the spa, but one floor higher (which you might not want with kids), and closer to the lobby.

Also, if you are booking treatments at the spa, I would recommend skipping the facial.

Crosscheck--
thanks for the claification. John Roberts emailed me back and clarified that 331 was not pool facing as well.

What treatments did you get at the spa? Was it worth it? We will do the Mandara Spa in Phuket at the Marriott, as well. Anything that seemed unique to that particular spa?

The spa is gorgeous and all the treatments sounded wonderful, though pricey. I opted for the "aromatic facial". A poor choice. The facialist was lovely, but the treatment was an annoying 55-minute face and neck rub with pore-clogging creams....no cleansing, steam or exfoliation. I thought it might be a case of Calif. spa snobbery on my part, but I spoke to two Australian guests who also hated their facials. I didn't have any other treatments, but other guests recommended the special baths and massages.

Crosscheck--where in CA are you? I grew up in So. and now live in No.

Regarding the trip. I pack a change of clothes for them but usually let them travel in PJ's or I pack PJ's. Where easy to slip on shoes as you have to take them off leaving the US security and it is a pain to redress and reshoe everyone. Request a kids meal on the plane. Take coloring books, pencils, if you have a portable DVD player that helps. Also, check the plane you are on as it might have inseat videos. Try to make them sleep if you can so you can sleep. Then when you get to BKK try the first couple of days take a nap around 1:00 but set the alarm and sleep for no more than 2 hours. Then try to keep the kids up as late as they can. The goal is to get them waking up at their normal time. My kids understand about jet lag and they do not wake up anyone when they get up. That helps to since usually the silence causes them to drift off again. I agree not to worry to much about it. It is just part of the traveling. The kids might be so excited that they forget to be jet lagged. It happens!

I'm in LA/Originally from NY

We tried lots of the spa treatments, including facials, body scrubs, massages, steam, floral baths, etc. We liked them all. At that time, you could buy a Mandara spa card which gave you discounts on spa treatments plus a free three hour treatment. SInce we were staying two places with Mandara spas, we bought the card and used it as a great excuse to pamper ourselves. I expect it's just a matter of individual differences as to what people like/don't like.

Kathie,
I don't think the Anantara spa was a Mandara - It must have changed hands since your visit (too rhymey?) They were offering deals on treatment packages that sounded good, though.

I have the spa menu and price list, and it is definitely not a Mandara Spa. There are special "Anantara" packages and treatments, so it appears to be an "Anantara" spa...maybe in house?