vacation planning puzzle
 

I am trying to piece together Christmas/NY vacation with family (including 2.5 yo kids) given that we have a return fron RGN in early january.

We'll probably spend a couple days in RGN and given the ease of BKK-RGN i suspect the rest will be in Thailand or nearby split between city and resort options.

Would it make sense to spend a few days in Pattaya or Hua Hin in resorty environment followed by NY in BKK? I would prefer smth like Krabi or Khao Lak (where we stayed in the past) but the cost of 4 more tix and adidtional travel time is beginning to add up and we can take a car to Pattaya/Hua Hin. Any other posisble options or practical strategy?

Another piece of this puzzle: on the way out i have lax-pvg and then probbaly an award from pvg to wherever we decide to go

(we traveled a lot with kids incl hong kong, bali, tokyo, singapore so travel in general is not an issue however we strongly prefer the convenience of chain hotels with lounges/clubs etc and i usually book with points)

Hua Hin Yes
Pattaya - NEVER not really a family place ,

I was in BKK on New Years and it was LOUD , and lots of idiots throwing firecrackers , So pick your place better than I did :)

The Official Fireworks were great , find a nice place to watch them ,
but many places will be closed so check if there is something planned on Dec 31, Jan 1-2.

what about taking the Train from Bangkok to Hua Hin , it leaves in the morning and gets to Hua Hin about noon, not sure if your young kids will think the train is fun or not.

I have not been to Safari Park yet but plan to go on my next trip , it might be a fun day trip for the kids.

Have Fun

soarer

+100

+1000

If I'm close to covering all of Thailand's provinces (40 +/- so far) then i'll think about going to Chonburi. Until then I'll pass. Forget about not being a family place, it's a corrupt pit.

I suggest looking at Chiang Rai (no beaches but a river) or Chiang Mai.

Thanks for all suggestions - Pattaya is definitely out then and I'll take a closed look at Hua Hin.

I am definitely looking into that but i think it is a bit chilly there in december, reportedly plenty of mosquitoes (and bali trip resulted in iirc 29 bites for one kid and 3 for other) and we would have to fly.

I do however like both LMs there and always wanted to visit the area.

vacation planning puzzle
 

I am in Pattaya currently as of writing this post, I would certainly not recommend it for family. My favorite place of Thailand so far has been Krabi in Ao Nang beach.

Oh boy, oh boy, so many experts, that all went to Pattaya and still failed to look further then the bars and the gogo girls.

Actually Pattaya is not a typical destination for families, but there's a lot to do with smaller children:

Mini Siam
Pattaya Water Park
Sri Racha Tiger Zoo
Million Years Stone Park
Pattaya Underwater World
Ripley's believe it or not
Noong Nuch Garden

just to mention a few. It still stinks compared to places like Disney Land, Universal Studios or Sea World, but my son (at that time 2 years old) old and the two 5 year old nices of my wife had a lot of fun in Pattaya. If you choose your hotel wisely (out of central Pattaya area), there are worse places in Thailand to stay with kids

In Bangkok I can recommend places like Dream World, Safari World, Dusit Zoo, Siam Ocean World, the Water Park at Central Bangna or Funarium.

If you want to go to the south then Phuket might be to consider. Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket and both Centara Resorts at Karon offer great facilities for children (there are definately much more kid friendly hotels in Phuket). And there's a lot ot do for kids in Phuket as well: elephant rides, a butterfly farm, a gibbon rehabilitation project, a huge water park at Haad Mai Khao, the aquarium ar Cape Panwa and more.

Great recommendation for a family, the beach in Ao Nang is crap and there's nothing to do for kids in Krabi if you take away the common elephant rides.

Not quite correct. Never had a desire to go to that pit. :)

It's impossible to miss the bars, the hookers, and the middle-aged dudes trotting around with young boys in tow. Even if Pattaya had the most spectacular theme parks on earth, I would still give it BIG a pass based on the above.

That's just quite ok for me, no need to go to Pattaya. But even Pattaya is crowded with the cheap ....ers from all over the world, there's still a lot to do for kids. That was my only point.

And yes you can avoid those who are just looking for "adult orientated entertainment". Stay at the area where the Sheraton is located, or go to Bang Saen, go to south of Jomtien or to Na Jontiem. Less crowded and usually more or less "normal" tourists.

Unfortunately Thailand is still a popular destination for those men who's main target are local females. Not only in Pattaya, but also in many other tourist spots.

Last advise from me: no matter where you'll stay, do yourself a favour and stay at a hotel with a kids club. It really takes pressure from the parents that they don't have to entertain their little ones the hole day on their own

Too early for us - kids just turned two. The clubs we (and disturbingly enough, kids) fancy are the kind of airport lounges, regency clubs, executive lounges and such. :p

I booked a suite at Hyatt Hua Hin (which has nice reviews and includes lounge access) and I'll add a few days over NY in BKK in a similar setting.

There i am torn between being closer to malls (convenient place for kids to run around along with numerous foodcourts/restaurants) or booking smth on the river to see the fireworks (perhaps Royal Orchid, or Millenium Hilton).

No problem at all, you just have to accompany them. But once into kids club let them play around with other kids and the toys all around. You can sit aside and breathe through.

Always worked great for my wife and me, but maybe your kids are different from mine ;)