We are going on a family holiday to Phuket in March. Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced hotel? What tours should we go on? Our kids are 12 and 9. Any must dos? The kids want a great pool and we want culture.

Than you should go to Bangkok and stay at the marriott. Great pool and the city is full of culture. Phuket does not have the cultural activities that other places in Thailand has.

There are not so many beaches with absolute beachfront ( i.e no walks to beach or roads to cross ), many if not most with absolute beachfront are pricey.

My personal tip for being right on the beach with that age group I don't think you can beat the Karon beach Resort or the kata beach resort ( so easy to remember those names ).

Karon beach resort is right on the beach, 3 star style, nice pool, palms. Right outside short hill walk for shops and also Dino Park which the kids will like, burgers plus Thai food, flintstones style, near this is a more budget place not on the beach but a bargain with old style cottages, the kata Garden Resort, these are good value for money places.

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/ph...each/pictures/

Another excellent place for a family if you want better quality is the Meridien resort, on it's own beach, kids club, mega sized pools:

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/ph...each/pictures/



With kids you are probably going to be out an about so a nice reasonable 3 star Karon beach is good value, but you would need 2 rooms, so perhaps look at the Kata Garden also, another at Karon very good value is Sea Sand resort but across the beach road.

There are countless tours and trips, Siam Safari for Elephant and buffalo rides, soft adventures, boat trips to James Bond Island and Phi Phi, Phuket fantasea in the evening if yuo want a Disneyish type place to visit.

Not much is the way of culture though, the island provides what most tourist seem tio want, beaches, shopping, nightlife etc, but nothing wrong with that at all.

To get more familiar here are a couple of sites:

www.phuketgazette.net

www.phuketjettour.com ( for tour and sightseeing ideas )

www.patong-beach-hotels.com for places to stay in Patong, Kata and Karon beaches.

( On the subject of beaches Patong in the busiest, Karon is 10-15 minutes south, quieter, Kata is just beyond Karon ), there are other beaches but including the Laguna area with lots of more pricey resorts.

Karon Beach resort March is around USD 155 ( about 50% increase over 2005 rates )!!

March prices for meridien are in the USD 200-300 range.

The place we stay though is much smaller, the Old Phuket, for a 2 bedroom Family Suite March price about USD 135 ( though after April that drops to about USD 65 for a 2 bedroom family suite ). The pool is rooftop though.

We 'never' stay in top leval as simply can't afford unless in other parts of Thailand where we go 2/3 star comfort and budget USD 30-50 range.

I think we need to know your budget for all 4 of you as with those ages you probably need 2 rooms as most will only allow 1 child per adult's room under 12, you may find once you strart doubling room rates ( like Meridien level ) it starts to cost big bucks.

Kata garden resort is around USD 45 a night twin bungalow

Here is a faster link for those ideas about things to do:

http://www.phuketjettour.com/tour/phuket.htm

Most tours range from about USD 15-40

I've not stayed at Kata Beach Resort, but I have stayed just down the beach from there. I think Kata Beach Resort would be a very good choice. It would be much quieter than Patong, and the sand on Kata is very nice.

BUT... I agree with others that you won't find much evidence of Thai culture there. You will find lots to do though, and I think your kids would have a good time. Why not spend a few days in Bangkok as well. Now, THAT's where you'll find interesting culture.

Carol