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Written by Ashleigh Whitehill
Thailand has a well-earned reputation as one of the easiest countries in Asia to travel with children. The food is approachable, the beaches are calm, the locals are genuinely warm with kids, and the resorts – particularly across Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and Khao Lak – have been quietly perfecting the family holiday for decades. Kids’ clubs run full-day programs. Pools have slides. Villas come with bunk beds. And when the sun goes down, there’s usually a night market within reach.
What follows is our pick of the best family resorts in Thailand, organised by region – because where you stay shapes the kind of holiday you have.
The best family resorts in Phuket
COMO Point Yamu, Phuket
Experience five-star luxury from the moment you arrive at COMO Point Yamu, from exceptional service and world-class wellness facilities to exquisite onsite dining. La Sirena brings you sumptuous Italian flavours paired with ocean vistas, Nahmyaa serves up mouthwatering southern Thai in an elegant setting, and Aqua Bar is on hand with poolside cocktails, smoothies and healthy juices.
With complimentary kids’ club access, little ones are taken care of while you soak in the 100-metre infinity pool or treat yourself at COMO Shambhala, complete with hydrotherapy pools, sauna and steam room. Reawaken your senses with sunrise yoga sessions, learn something new with complimentary Muay Thai classes, or head out to discover the treasures of the Andaman Sea. However you picture paradise, COMO Point Yamu brings it to life.
Amora Beach Resort Phuket
Amora Beach Resort Phuket sits directly on Bang Tao Beach – one of Phuket’s longest and most family-friendly stretches of sand – and enjoyed a multi-million-dollar overhaul in 2023 that transformed it into a five-star property. The result is a resort that genuinely works for families: three pools with water slides, the AQUA Kids’ Club (split across play, craft and TV zones), and a packed schedule of beach activities. When the kids are occupied, adults can retreat to the LOM Talay Spa for a massage or pull up a stool at NORA Beach Club, the new beachfront venue serving Mediterranean-style food and sunset cocktails. Dining for the whole family runs through Isla, the all-day restaurant with a wide-ranging Thai and western menu. Rooms come in 13 configurations, including bunk-bed options and connecting rooms.
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort
A sanctuary on the soft sands of Kata Noi Beach, Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is a playground for families. With six sparkling outdoor pools – including four kids’ pools, an aqua play area and mini water slide – plus an action-packed kids’ club, the entire family is guaranteed endless fun in the sun.
Pick and choose from a rotation of daily activities, including Batik painting and mocktail making or enroll the little ones in a full-day ‘summer camp’ experience and treat yourself with a visit to the serene Tew Son Spa. To top it off – kids 11 and under stay, play and eat for free.
Wyndham Garden Phuket Kamala
Settle into Thai paradise at Wyndham Garden Phuket Kamala, perfectly perched above the pearl-white sands of Kamala Beach, just 20 minutes from Phuket’s buzz. Enjoy the space to spread out in the large resort pool while younger adventurers splash around in the kid’s pool, or venture less than 10 minutes walk to the blissful Kamala Beach for a family day out. Sip on cocktails while children are in safe hands at the kids’ club.
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
On Karon Beach — one of Phuket’s longest and least crowded stretches of sand — Centara Grand has quietly become one of the top family resorts on the island. The waterpark alone justifies the stay with its lazy river and water slides. Beyond that there are four outdoor pools, a dedicated kids’ club, a teen zone, and a roster of seasonal activities running from windsurfing and kayaking to yoga and tennis. When the kids are absorbed, COAST Beach Club & Bistro and SPA Cenvaree give parents somewhere worth retreating to. Rooms, suites and villas blend Sino-Portuguese detailing with modern comfort, and many look out over the pool or the sea. It’s a big resort, but one that’s been doing this long enough to run it well.
The best family resorts in Krabi
Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa Krabi
With a backdrop of soaring, emerald-green cliffs, on a quiet patch of sandy beachfront, this resort feels like a castaway paradise, without compromising on facilities. There are two outdoor pools including a kids’ area and waterslides, restaurants to please all tastes (with flavours from Italian to local Thai), several bars, plentiful dedicated activities for little ones and a kids’ club, plus grown-up perks like a spa and a beach club. Family Residence rooms are generously sized for families with a king bed, bunk bed and living area, or opt for a Deluxe Pool Access Double-Double with two double beds, which allow you to step straight out of your room onto the pool deck.
The best family resorts in Hua Hin
Mövenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin
If you’re looking for coastal relaxation, Thai culture and fantastic food away from the crowds and party scene, Hua Hin, around a 2.5-hour drive down the coast from Bangkok, should be on your list. Mövenpick resorts are always a safe bet for families, and the brand’s Hua Hin resort, set in tropical gardens beside a pristine beachfront, is no exception.
Here, you can expect sweet treats (Mövenpick resorts are famed for their daily ‘chocolate hour’), dining to please every taste, and something to keep all ages happy, from an oceanfront pool to the Asara Spa.
Avani+ Hua Hin
A picturesque patchwork of pools, lakes and gardens, the Avani+ Hua Hin estate is a sun-kissed playground for all ages. All of the resort’s villas come with a private pool as standard, with the two-bedroom versions offering plenty of space for families.
Food is sourced from local farmers, fishermen and suppliers wherever possible, with flavours to suit every taste, from Thai and Indian to Western. The AvaniKids program welcomes children from four to 12 years old for holiday fun, with childminding services available.
Veranda Resort & Villas Hua Hin – Cha Am
This resort offers really fun accommodation options for families: think a suite with bunk beds and an indoor jacuzzi, or one that even has a slide into its private pool. Its beachfront location is perfect for catching the sunrise, and is only a stone’s throw from everything Hua Hin has to offer.
Kids will absolutely love the pool area, which has a manmade beach, water slide, sand pit and bubble jets to entertain them all day. Plus, the kids’ club is on hand while parents enjoy a treatment at Veranda Spa or a tropical drink at the beach bar.
The best family resorts in Koh Samui
InterContinental Koh Samui Resort
Another gem of a family resort in Thailand is the InterContinental Koh Samui Resort. Tucked away from the busy tourist spots in Taling Ngam Bay, surrounded by azure waters and jungle-covered islets, this beachside resort offers something for everyone with six pools (including a dedicated kids’ pool), the award-winning Baan Thai Spa, and dining that ranges from flame-grilled seafood and steak at Flames to beachside barbecues.
The kids’ club Planet Trekkers keeps kids aged from four to 12 years entertained with games and Thai-inspired crafts, plus there are nanny and babysitting services available.
Nora Buri Resort & Spa Koh Samui
Find island paradise on your doorstep at Nora Buri Resort & Spa Koh Samui, an ocean-facing gem shouldered by lush gardens and the white sands of Chaweng Beach. This resort complex is a sanctuary for the senses, offering the unparalleled tranquillity of two pools – one perched on the hillside and the other kissing the ocean’s shore. Opt for one of the villas where one child (16 and under) stays and eats free – the ideal choice for small families looking to unwind.
Silavadee Pool Spa Resort
For smaller families, this boutique resort offers tranquillity between Chaweng and Lamai beach, away from the thrum of Koh Samui’s centre. Set in the cliffs overlooking the ocean, each of its villas offers a private pool. A program of daily kids’ activities covers everything from yoga and Muay Thai to arts and crafts, while special cooking lessons for children will see them decorating cupcakes or baking cookies.
While the kids are entertained, grown-ups can enjoy fitness classes, snorkelling and spa treatments. Dining should tick the box for everyone, from laidback bites by the pool to the signature Thai restaurant with a view, while room service and private barbecues prepared in your villa are a saviour after busy days.
The best family resorts in Khao Lak
Grand Mercure Khao Lak Bangsak
Ensconced in tropical gardens on Thailand’s tranquil southwest coast, this dreamy resort offers family-friendly connecting room options with two kids under 17 staying free. High-end amenities invite complete relaxation: enjoy an invigorating swim in the beachfront pool while kids enjoy the children’s pool, spoil yourself at Pran Spa, or experience a fresh take on Thai favourites at one of two innovative restaurants, Patio Restaurant and Green Mango Restaurant. Soak Pool Bar is on hand with tropical sips while the little adventurers are entertained at Manta Ray Kids’ Club.
The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani
Beachfront The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani is jam-packed with family-friendly fun, from an onsite waterpark with slides, splash tunnels and lazy river to the Sands Castle Kids’ Club, featuring a ball house, games arcade and superhero corner.
Leave the kids to a movie night or kite-making class while you enjoy a dip in the adults-only pool or a rejuvenating massage at The Spa. Additional features include a dedicated kids’ menu and marine-themed family rooms – opt for a room in the resort’s Aqua Wing for direct waterpark access.
Pullman Khao Lak Resort
Set on the golden sands of Bang Muang Beach, Pullman Khao Lak Resort offers five-star luxury for the whole family. The kids’ club comes complete with a waterpark, rock climbing wall, cinema room and rotating schedule of activities; adults can stay for activities like face painting and pizza-making classes or drop the little ones off and head to Rosalyn Spa for the pampering they deserve.
Sprawling family suites ensure plenty of room to relax, and direct access to the resort pool only sweetens the deal. Order from the a la carte kids’ menu at Plai Dining Room or make use of the resort’s babysitting service and enjoy a seaside dinner for two at Kram Beach Club.
Devasom Khao Lak
Set between a natural lagoon and Khao Lak’s sunset beach, Devasom Khao Lak is a tropical haven where all ages will find enjoyment and relaxation. The resort’s two-bedroom villas are ideal for family groups, and come with their own jetted pools. A dedicated kids’ pool and kids’ club guarantee fun for little ones, and there’s also a private beach, two-tier saltwater pool with spa jets, a spa, authentic Thai dining and a grill restaurant sat right on the sands.
The best family resorts in Bangkok
Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort
Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort makes quality family time easy, thanks to a wealth of services, tours and activities. Start your day with buffet breakfast at The Market – watch the kids’ eyes light up when they spot the multiple live cooking stations.
Learn to master yoga and tai chi or recreate your favourite local recipes in a family cooking class. If me-time is in order, drop the kids at Chang Noi Kids’ Club, where they’ll be under the watchful eye of specially trained staff, or take advantage of the resort’s babysitting service and embark on a romantic Manohra river cruise.
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
Where regal Thai hospitality meets European flair, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is perfectly situated in Bangkok’s buzzing shopping and entertainment district. Tucked behind Siam Paragon shopping centre and moments from BTS Skytrain station, this resort-style, five-star oasis offers easy access for the family to see the best that Bangkok has to offer.
Kids will love the adventures of Kempinski Kids’ Club, where they’ll do everything from cook, craft, garden, sing, snorkel, skate and read. Teens can enjoy everything from video games, sports tournaments and yoga sessions to cinema nights, Lego building and cookery workshops.
Rosewood Bangkok
A five-star oasis in the heart of the Thai capital, Rosewood Bangkok offers all the very best of Thai hospitality. Young families can pack light for their stay as the hotel’s Rose Buds program provides thoughtful amenities including cots, linen, baby bathtubs, in-room bottle warmers and adorable child-sized robes.
Children aged four through nine can participate in the engaging Rosewood Explorers program, while teens can enjoy Muay Thai classes and ‘spa-cations’ featuring DIY face masks and foot soaks. While the kids are well looked after, visit Sense Spa for a blissful treatment or unwind with a cocktail at speakeasy and vinyl bar Lennon’s.
Everything you need to know about travelling with kids in Thailand
When is the best time to visit Thailand with kids?
When to go depends on which coast you’re heading to. The Andaman coast – Phuket, Krabi and Khao Lak – is at its best from November to April, with calm seas and reliable sunshine. Koh Samui tends to have drier conditions from February to August, making the Gulf of Thailand a smart pick for school holiday trips in July. Aim for February to April for Bangkok.
What age is Thailand suitable for children?
Thailand handles families of all ages well. Resorts across Phuket and Khao Lak tend to be child friendly, with shallow pools, sandpits and kids’ clubs. Bangkok works particularly well with older kids who can handle city heat and are curious about culture. Teenagers thrive at properties with watersports, cooking classes or teen programs.
Do kids eat free at Thailand resorts?
Many resorts include generous kids’ eat-free or stay-free policies; check individual offers and packages for details.
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Feature image: Ramada Resort by Wyndham Khao Lak. Source: supplied.
