Family-Friendly Thai Beach Hotel Help
 

We need help choosing a Thai beach destination for 2 adults, 2 young kids - an 8 yr old, and a 2 yr old that we will be adopting in BKK. After completing the adoption, we want to go to a quiet, kid-friendly Thailand beach hotel where we can play in the sand and water, and food and services are easy, affordable, and still experience local culture, food, etc. Travel will be sometime April-June. Your sugggestions greatly appeciated!

With a new set of kids, I would probably go for the destination with the least hassle to get to, which is probably Hua Hin. Get a van with driver and you're there in two hours.

As to which hotel, the Marriott is generally kid friendly, and there is a big Mall across the street with a lot of kid-friendly restaurants if you don't want to eat in the hotel. There are many hotels to choose from, but you didn't really give us a budget.

Michael's suggestion of Hua Hin is excellent. The Hyatt (which is lovely) has a kids club. There is a children's wading pool, a big water slide and several swimming pools.

If neither of these places fit your budget, let us know what your budget is and perhaps we can make other suggestions.

I would agree, Hua Hin is perfect !
Most people who visit Hua Hin are Thai, it is very relaxed and friendly.

We don't know your budget, as said Hyatt Regency is great with kids, huge slide, there is also the Marriott. There is also a great place that has villas and suites near the Sofitel, on the beach but short walk right into the very center - Baan Laksasubha, ideal with a family. On the beach, great style and service.

If you want budget ideas just ask as we travel on a budget but always stay very well.

From your side it is I reckon the best beach location where you can also grab some Thai culture. Lots of temples, the old palace. Do go to Wat Huay Mongkol, about 15km from town, we went last trip through. Also the temples at the top of Khao Takiab. Thai food in Hua Hin is famous.

Do remember Songkran Thai New Year mid April when places get heavily booked up in Hua Hin even from now.

Thanks, all. These are really helpful suggestions. I was having a hard time finding kid-friendly locations in web searches and travel books (suggestions for this appreciated!). As for budget, we're cheapskates, but safety and cleanliness important. We aren't fancy hotel people - would like a family-safe place with smiling, helpful staff, plenty of local food and color available, easy to get about in the town/village. We'd rather plop on the beach and play in the outdoors, sand and shallow water, so would prefer to be at a hotel that has easy access to both pools and beaches. Other hotel suggestions in Hua Hin? As for beaches in Hua Hin - is water warm?

We aren't fancy hotel people - would like a family-safe place with smiling, helpful staff, plenty of local food and color available, easy to get about in the town/village. We'd rather plop on the beach and play in the outdoors, sand and shallow water, so would prefer to be at a hotel that has easy access to both pools and beaches. Other hotel suggestions in Hua Hin

The water is 'very shallow' and when tide is out the beach is wide, but that can change when tide comes in.

How cheap ? For some that might mean $120, for others $30.

This is roughly how it goes, prime beach places close walking distance to town are top end, Hilton, Sofitel, Baan Laksasubha. Walkable ( just about ) the Marriott. from then on down except for some budget places with sois to the beach it is mainly condos and private beach places. Baan Bayan is nice and very Thai, but, once you have come this far you are no longer 'walking distance' to town. Though daytime it only costs 10 baht ( US 30 cents ) for the local pick-up bus to/from town ( kids go free ). After dark about b 150 ( US$ 4.75 ) for a taxi.
There 'are' some inexpensive hotels in the town but you have you walk through busy town area to get to the beach and then you loose out on the pool and beach access.

I think you need to tell us the $ and cents. When we stay we are in the $50-75 range but stay ok.

Tell us what you can afford and we can go from there.
I'll have a browse and see what some ball-park rates are for that time.

Just some rought ideas for price range, after Songkran ( mid April ) base room for 2 with breakfast
Marriott $ 127
Sofitel $ 143
Baan Laksaubha $ 100 ( from May 1 )
$ 134 for a 95 swm garden suite !
Anantasila $ 65-100 ( lower one is pool view, $ 85 for 2 bedded pool view ) this is about 5 km from town center close local village though, about 32 km past Hyatt, absolute beachfront.
If you can't manage those in the $100 range then although further from town the Anantasila is nice( but same 30 cent fare, though about 10 mins walk to the Bus stop ) that does put you nicely on the beach for $65-85 range.
http://www.r24.org/huahinwhatson.com.../pictures.html

You can then click on their 'more Hua Hin hotels' to see pics of those others.

There are cheaper ( plenty ) but you loose on decent size pool, or being on the beach, we can go into those if you want to pay less.

That should be about 3 km past Hyatt

More photos of Anantasila Hua hin

http://www.anantasila.com/

For those who know Hua Hin, this beach photo may be a bit of a surprise !
This is what you get when you go past Hyatt down to Khao Takiab and go arounbd the corner, the other side of Khao Takiab which you can see rising up beyond. This beach faces more south and dores not get the tide issue that the main beach sterch gets.

Baan Laksasubha just past Sofitel in town center
http://www.baanlaksasubha.com/

I have no help at all for HH, but I just wanted to say congrats on the upcoming adoption! Our son is 8, and I can only imagine what it would be like for an 8 year old kid to get a brand new family then spend some time at the beach for im sure the first time in his life! Wish we could be there to see it! Have a great time!

Jeffrey and April

I wanted to add my congratulations as well - what a special time you will have on your holiday
BB

Thank you all for such kind comments. Our budget is along the lines of $50/night hotels. What can you say about the Guest Houses in Hua Hin - any to recommend to a family?

Most guest houses are in town center area or near the fishing piers, we have never stayed at Leng's Guesthouse but it has been there for years and seems to have a good reputation, short walk down to beach, not right in town but cheap and easy enough to/from town center.

http://www.lenghotel.com/pool.htm

Takiab Beach hotel is about 5 km from town, about US$32-38, just a short walk to quiet beach. Though there is transport it is a way from town if you want to go to night markets etc, for your budget Leng's might be ok. Hua Hin is not cheap anymore as lots of top end places open and opening.

To be near town somewhere like Lengs may suit you.

Thank you, all, esp. JamesA. All great info which we will pursue. After wrangling with the adoption stuff, hanging out at a beach near enough to bkk yet of a different feel and pace will be great. Looking forward to our trip - whenever it will be!
MimiC