I HOPE SOMEBODY MAYBE ABLE TO HELP ON THE FOLLOWING.
I AM PLANNING OUR FAMILY HOLIDAY FOR NEXT YEAR IN APRIL AND ARE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF TRAVELING TO THAILAND FROM IRELAND FOR 2/3 WEEK VACATION. HOWEVER I NEED SOME ADVISE ON WHERE THE BEST FIVE STAR RESORT WOULD BE . I HAVE TWO GIRLS AGED 6 AND 8 SO A RESORT WITH A KIDS CLUB IS VERY IMPORTANT. I DO WANT TO STAY IN A LUXURY DEVELOPMENT BUT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS I WAS WONDERING IF ANYBODY HAD SOME GOOD IDEAS. MY WIFE AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO RESTAURANTS OUTSIDE THE HOTEL USING BABY SITTING FACILITIES AS WELL.AS THIS WILL BE I HOPE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY I DONT MIND SOPENDING THAT LITTLE BIT EXTRA TO STAY AT THE BEST AVAILABLE. HOWEVER PEOPLE KEEP POINTING ME TO DIFFERENT RESORTS SUCH AS PATTAYA , PHUCKET ETC. ANY HELP PLEASE ASAP, THANKS FROM IRELAND . KEITH

Actually with kids and wanting a 'decent' hotel you will find the Marriotts and excellent choice.
There are Marriott resorts in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket. All have kid's clubs and efficient baby-sitting, you would pay I guess for a twin room with breakfast about Euro 80 as a rough figure. Marriott also give Air Miles which would be worthwhile if you stuck with them!
Pattaya is a very lively resort, restaurants, shopping, beach no good but it's worth a few days, about 1 hr 30 by road from bangkok, about E 40 for the whole car. A car then for 4 hours cutting back again south of Bangkok to Hua Hin about E 100. Hua Hin quiet and relaxing, Marriott walking distance to town, laid back, lots of Golf. You can then get a car+driver either through to Phuket, 8 hrs, for about E 150 or you could stop on the way.
You might also want to considor doing the River Kwai for a few days in place of Pattaya, couple of hours by train or car to River Kwai, there are Jungle River Rafts with air-con the works for about E 50-70, it is great for hsitory and you can so some 'soft' adventures, canoe/kayak, elephant rides, then about 3 hours by road to Hua Hin ( no Marriott in River Kwai but the 'River Kwai River Rafts' great place for young and old.
With 4 of you using 'car+driver' is cheapest way to travel.
Try this for some route tips/ideas

www.huahin.4t.com/tips.html

Many will say don't go to Pattaya but that is due to famed nightlife which actually has calmed down greatly recently.

The Phuket marriott is somewhat off the track being rather isolated, but you can take tours to Phang Nga and Phi Phi Island.

All decent 3-star hotels have Baby-sitting, but I'd try and take the kids out with you, fun! In Phuket splash out on Phuket Fantasea, don't take the dinner+show deal, just the show, elephants on stage, Vegas style, kids will love it.

Could go on and on but that gives you food for thought. Check that site, they have all the Marriotts, will give you idea of what's available.

jamesA simply gives the best thailand info...follow his lead....

i agree about marriotts....especially the resort and spa in bangkok and at hua hin....perfect for a family...these are 4* places....

you might look at priceline.com also as great buys are available there...$41 (us) for marriott bkk

THANKS ALL, THATS GREAT HELP.
I WAS WONDERING IF ANYBODY KNEW OF SOME 5* RESORTS IN THE SAME AREAS?
KEITH

The Hyatt at Hua Hin has Camp Hyatt for kids. It's 5 star, a lovely property with fabulous swimming pools.

I agree with Kathie the Hyatt with Camp Hyatt is also a very good option for Hua Hin.
Actually for Pattaya a very good place, though nnot 5 star by a long shot is Pattaya Park. They have main hotel block plus also wooden a/con cabins, great for the kids. The benefit of Pattaya Park Hotel is access to one of Asia's biggest water parks, huge kids and adult pools and swimways, water slides etc, good for kids. There is Underwaterworld nearby, Mini Sima, Nong Nook Park, the Pattaya Park is 3 star but still decent service, if you want 5 star though I would say also for Pattaya the Dusit or Amari are very good, both at north end of beach.
Apart from Marriott and Hyatt there are lots of other 5 star resorts in Hua Hin such as the Sofitel and Hilton. With kids you could try 'central Village', between the Hilton and Sofitel. This is 3/4 star but all the rooms are bungalows, they have family bungalows with 2 bedrooms, all a/con etc r/service etc and you also have use of the facilities at the Sofitel next door. Busy beach right in center.
Phuket you have almost unlimited choice, the Holiday Inn Patong has a great kids club with daily kids activities, down side is that it is bang on the main beach strip, but that has +/- points. They have a great Spa wing also. They have several 'ids rooms' that are designed for kids.
My tip is 'keep the kids happy' and you will have a great holiday, have kids that are bored and your holiday is loussy! As I said you might want to cut-out Pattaya and try River Kwai instead and then you are just a few hours to Hua Hin and by that time you are into the swing of things, then head south to Phuket.

Im actually kind of interested on wherre you plan on taking the kids when your not in the resort.. I mean well you be going too theam parks.. sight seeing tours. shopping.

in bangkok a resort near the river seems more fun.. if the girls know how too ice skate maybe go too world trade center mall they have tons of shops, a rink bowling ally and cinia..

unfortunaly i'm not too sure what 8 and 6 year old girl likes . but there are some cool theme parks and animal related parks around the city..

oh yah MBK mall is probably your best mall for girls they place is jamed with young girl acceseries..

Thanks for all the replies.
I am still stuck between now Pattaya and Phuket.
Help somebody ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,please

It to choose one or the other choose Phuket! You could actaully try a self-catering in Phuket, works out cheap if there are 4 of you, several places I know of if you are interested.

At Pattaya Royal Wing is the best. At Phuket stay at Le Meridian or Bayan Tree. Don't recommend the LM Yacht Club because it's not really for kids