We want to spend about 14 days in Thailand with two kids, ages 8 and 12. How to allocate the time between sighseeing, beach, and entertainment? With all the research we have done, we can't strike the right balance. Please help.

We will spend a few days in BKK but how many? Initially, we thought, we would spend 6-7 days in Phuket for beach and relaxation and then 6-7 days in BKK for sighseeing and side trips to the ancient capital, to see the tigers, elephants, and other places that would be of interest to the kids. Then some people suggested to skip Phuket and go to Pattaya, since some side trips and a visit to the tropical botanical garden would be easier to do from there. The problem with Pattaya is that it has no good beaches. Does it make sense to split time between Phuket (5 days), Pattaya (5 days), and Bangkok (4 days)? Or should we drop Phuket or Pattaya? Your advice is highly appreciated.

Pattaya is not the place for 8 and 12 year olds...definitely look into Phuket if you're interested in bringing your family to the beach.

Don't know what time of year this is for--but make sure you're not going to Phuket during rainy season (Sept - early November) -- if so, you might want to look at Ko Samui.

Personally, I think you're spending way too much time in Bangkok. It's a great place to bookend your trip and there's a bunch of wonderful things to see there, but it's still a city and the country is filled with so much more to do and see.

If it were me, I would go this way: 3 days Bangkok, 4 days Chiang Mai (do your elephant expeditions and such up there--there's TONS for kids to do there) and then do 5 days in Phuket and 2 more days in Bangkok before heading back.

Even though I'm not a fan of Chiang Mai, I agree with Filmwill on CM as being the place to take kids for elephant experiences. Take them to the Thai Elephant Conservation Camp at Lampang and they can even get a little mahout training! Personally, I'd probably cut one day from CM to add to Bangkok, but either way works. Do you have a full 14 days on the ground? Count your days carefully as you lose a day in transit to Thailand as you cross the international dateline. While I know there is a new poster on the forum who likes Pattaya, I must say that few people do. While there are some ok areas, there are also a lot of very sleazy areas.

We've taken our now 11 year old to Thailand many times since she was 3. Her top experiences in no particular order...Thai Elephant Conservation Center 3 day mahout training, floating market with Tong (not nearly as much fun on our own), circus training and trapeze at the JW Marriott Phuket, John Gray Sea Canoe Hongs by Starlight trip, pool at Peninsula Bangkok, Sunday walking street market in Chiang Mai, A Lot of Thai custom cooking class also in Chiang Mai.

With 14 days, I'd do what Filmwill recommends or close to it.

take tongs tour of the floating market and fishing village while in bkk. personally, we did not really love the rest of bangkok for kids- it is crowded, busy and noisy. most kids are not so into hotels and temples or even shopping. they will love the activities outside chiang mai- hire sgt kai while up there.

we did the 2 day mahout camp at tecc and it was a highlight for us and the kids- it is very rustic so be prepared. with sgt kai we did some further elephant rides, some great hiking too through great areas with jungle, waterfalls, hill tribes.. we took a great long boat ride, saw neat markets and even ate some fried bugs. now that is cool for kids. phuket was beautiful in december- but if you go to the koh samui side there will be snorkelling etc.

try to minimize the number of wats that you visit- they are deadly dull for kids after the first few!

3 days bangkok is plenty

In all out trips to Thailand with our kids, I have always found that the only stressful days are the moving days, so we aways try to limit these and make sure that we avoid early flights.
Certainly time of year is important if you want plenty of beach time so it is hard to recommend an area without knowing when you travel. You will find plenty to keep the kids ammused in Phuket (Kata Beach is my favorite) Ko Samui or Krabi (Ao Nang). We have spent up to 2 weeks in each these places without anyone getting bored. I would tend to limit it to 2 areas so that you can immerse and relax. You can always hire a car for a few days or a car with driver if you dont want to risk driving and get off the well beaten track. All of these areas have Elephant rides, not as good as what they have in Chang Mai, but some, like Nosey Parkers in Krabi and Kok Chang in Phuket, will still give the kids a nice experience. I wouldn't go to Chang Mai just to do this and add 2 flights and 2 wasted half days to my trip.
In Phuket, the kids can go to snake farms, smaller less imposing temples (the one in Kamala that has been rebuilt since the Tsunami is nice), a Zoo, Aquarium, go bowling, play mini-golf, watch Muay Thai, go to the cultural show at Phuket Fantasea, spend hours in the karaoke rooms and arcade games in shopping centres, go watch a movie and stand for the Thai national anthem, drive go-karts etc etc. You also have to spend a day in Phang Na Bay and sea-kayak through the hongs...truely a world class experience.
Others will disagree, but 10-12 days in Phuket will not be overkill with a few days in Bangkok either side for some shopping, culture and to experience Thai city life.

I think there's a lot more to do and see in Chiang Mai than just elephant camps...things that one cannot find in either Bangkok or at the beach. Hope that my post didn't infer that.

Thanks a lot for the useful info. We are plannig for mid to end of December, which means Phuket should be good for beach time. I have two questions for Phuket, if you don't mind. Does it matter what part of Phuket we stay? Is JW Marrioitt too isolated? Is a day trip to Krabi doable and worth it? Thank you.

I agree with filmwill about Chiang Mai. Your kids will have more cultural experience and meet friendly Thai people than in Bangkok or Phuket.

December is the best time to visit Chiang Mai. There are a lot of activities in Chiang Mai

- Patara Elephant farm is the most popular activity in Chiang Mai, and your kids will have unforgettable experiences.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...hiang_Mai.html

- Flight of the Gibbon is also popular activity

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...hiang_Mai.html

- Chiang Mai has some of best cooking schools in Thailand.

- Chiang Mai is the center of Thailand Buddhism. You will find Buddhist temples in every corner of the old town. Someone says that Chiang Mai is like Kyoto in Japan. (many temples, history, surrounded by mountains)

- Finally, Sunday night market (start from around 5 pm). This is one of the best markets I had in Asia. Its atmosphere is excellent

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...hiang_Mai.html

So, don't forget include Sunday if you go to Chiang Mai.

Unlike Bangkok or Phuket, I found that staying a guest house or a small boutique hotel would give me more pleasant stay than staying a resort type accommodation in Chiang Mai.
Check out Baan Orapin Bed and Breakfast. This is one of the best choices in Chiang Mai. You will meet real friendly northern Thai people there.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...hiang_Mai.html

You will see Baan Orapin is on the left with Map Jack. You can also walk through the area with Map Jack. famous riverside restaurants are within 4 minutes walk, and acrossing the footbridge, there are flower market and Warorot market (both are local markets)

http://www.mapjack.com/?YyayUXJhacwB

There is only one family room (a junior suite and a superior room are connected) in the property. So, reserve it as soon as possible if you plan to stay at Baan Orapin.

Gina, I think that the JW Marriot, as lovely a property as it probably is, is far too isolated and it is not even on one of the better beaches in Phuket. IMHO, you would be far better off at the Kata Thani, still away from the crowds and the sleeze, but still walking distance away from plenty of local restaraunts and shops. I have not stayed there as it is a little out of my budget in high season but I have stayed close and know the area reasonably well.
Another option is Le Meridian which has lots of activities for the kids and is on a beautiful semi private beach. You can walk to Patong from there but it is a long walk and there is only a few small local shops nearby, but it is only a 200baht taxi ride to either Karon or Patong so it is much better placed than the Marriott.

Krabi is about a 3 hour drive so it is doable in a day but would be a long day for the kids. On one of our trips we hired a car and got a cheap room for the night and then went out to the Islands the next morning.

You could certainly take a boat trip to Krabi, but that's a really long trip just for the day.

Conversely you might want to consider taking a day trip to one of the other islands (Ko Lanta or Ko Phi Phi)--Phi Phi daytrips (ferrying over) are usually filled with a nightmare of pasty, sunburned camera-clickers vomiting over the side of the boat.

It's a gorgeous island, despite the crowds--try and find a smaller or private tour and I promise you that visiting Phi Phi and Maya Beach will definitely be something you won't forget.

As others have suggested the John Grey Kayak/Canoe tour is supposedly fantastic as well, and a lot easier for you guys to do from Phuket.

shanek's suggestion of Kata Beach is a great one.

An overnight trip to Phi-Phi is the only way to truly appreciate the Island. It allows you to see Maya bay early in the morning before the crowds converge, just take a long tail boat over rather than a group tour, will cost about the same and you can organise this easily. It is also a great experience to go up to the viewpoint for sunset, magnificant vista of the entire Island.
Even if you end up keeping your luggage at your Phuket hotel and pack a light overnight bag,and just get a relatively cheap room for the night. It will give you a far better taste of the great Island than the day trip.

I dont mean to talk you out of Chang mai. I have not been for a long time so I am hardly an expert on the area. I just think that it is best to limit the travelling with kids of that age. If you want to expose them to more cultural and rural aspects of Thailand, than the North is the place, but you can get a taste of this on the Islands if you get away from the resort.

The JW Marriott Phuket is isolated, but for me, that is a very good thing. The beach is still lovely and clean, though strong currents make swimming dangerous during rainy season and storms. It is a nice hotel, maybe outstanding for a Marriott. Kids club is excellent, circus training and trapeze outstanding, pools gorgeous.

Rooms are fine, not special. Food is good, but priced very, very high...costs more to eat here than at the Peninsula Bangkok. Pricing at Christmas/New Year for the JW Marriott Phuket is extortionate and represents poor value imo. We've been there and will go back at daughter's request to do trapeze...but never during high season. The hotel is not of the quality to command the Aman prices it charges during high season.

But, if you can get a good price (say under $300/nighti/room, and you are like us and interested in good kids activities and relaxing and don't want to be in the crowded beach areas or Patong, I would recommend it.