Last updated on August 14th, 2024 at 03:16 pm
Are you planning a trip to Phuket with kids?
You must be wondering where to stay in Phuket with kids, which beach is the most family-friendly, and what fun things to do in Phuket with toddlers are.
I had the same questions when planning a vacation to Phuket with my toddler.
If you’re new here, hello! I’m Ilani and I love empowering first-time moms with the best toddler travel tips and guides so they can have fun family trips.
I spent 4 days and 3 nights in Phuket, Thailand, with my 3-year-old son and husband. We had a fantastic time, and I want to help you have a great vacation in Phuket with your kids, too!
In this guide, I cover the best area to stay in, which beach is the most kid-friendly, top Phuket activities for kids, and more.
Let’s get right to it!
Here’s a quick summary of what I’m covering in this guide:
- Is Phuket Good For Families?
- Best Area To Stay In Phuket For Families
- Best Beach In Phuket For Families
- Where To Stay In Phuket With Kids
- Best Family Friendly Hotels In Phuket
- Getting Around Phuket With Toddlers
- Things To Do In Phuket With Kids
- Where To Eat In Phuket With Kids
- Best Time Of The Year To Go To Phuket With Kids
- 4 Day Phuket Itinerary With Toddlers
- Tips For A Smooth Island Vacation With Kids
- What To Bring To Phuket With Kids?
- Important To Know About Traveling To Phuket With Kids
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Is Phuket Good For Families?
Yes, definitely! Phuket is GREAT for families with young kids 🙂
I admit Phuket was the last place I had in mind for a family beach vacation.
Until my husband put together a slide deck to convince me we should go to Phuket!
I’ve seen my friends go, but they didn’t have any kids, and they mainly went there for the lively night scene.
So, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Phuket is super kid-friendly.
The Thais are well known for their excellent hospitality, but everywhere we went, people were warm and friendly towards us, especially my son.
From personal experience traveling to other countries with my son, I can tell you that this doesn’t happen everywhere.
So, when we experienced warm hospitality in Phuket, I truly appreciated that.
One thing I noticed was that the Kata beach area we stayed in had many families with young children.
My son had so much fun making new friends and playing with them. It was so heartwarming to see!
There are a ton of activities for toddlers and attractions for families.
Most importantly, Phuket was a safe and welcoming environment, a huge factor in our decision to visit.
I would recommend visiting Phuket with your kids to experience it yourself 🙂
Best Area To Stay In Phuket For Families
We stayed in the Kata beach area; it was the best area to stay in Phuket for families!
We considered Kamala Beach, but the hotel we wanted to stay at was sold out by the time we made our booking.
Another family-friendly area we noticed was Karon Beach, which is next to Kata Beach.
If you’re wondering to yourself is Phuket safe for kids, the answer is yes!
Remember how I mentioned that people usually go to Phuket for the lively night scene?
Well, that’s mainly in the Patong area where it is also much more crowded.
So, if you prefer a quieter scene for your family, avoid Patong.
Best Beach In Phuket For Families
We stayed near Kata Beach, which is one of the best beaches in Phuket for families.
It has soft sand and shallow waters, which makes it safe for young kids to play and swim in.
However, we went during the rainy season, so the water was not as clear and calm as it would usually be during the dry season.
I share more about my personal experience and the pros and cons of visiting Phuket during the rainy season below.
Apart from Kata Beach, here are other notable beaches in Phuket that are great for families:
- Karon Beach
- Kamala Beach
- Nai Yang Beach
- Bangtao Beach
Where To Stay In Phuket With Kids
If you’re looking for the best family friendly hotels in Phuket, you are spoiled for choices.
There are SO MANY options. Honestly, it was pretty overwhelming for me to choose where to stay with kids in Phuket.
Here is how I decided where to stay in Phuket with my toddler:
- Is the hotel away from Patong?
- Does the hotel have kid-friendly amenities like a kid’s club or a kid’s pool?
- Is the hotel beachfront or walking distance to the beach?
Based on these three factors, I picked a hotel within our budget.
Pro tip: Phuket is an island, but it’s quite huge! So it’s best to stay in an area close to the attractions you want to visit.
Best Family Friendly Hotels In Phuket
I chose Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort & Spa and found it an excellent value for money!
The Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Hotel is within walking distance to Kata Beach, has kid-friendly amenities, including a kid’s club, pool, playground, and splash pad, and is located away from the Patong area.
It checks off everything on my must-have list.
They even have a kid’s check-in counter, and my son got a goodie bag full of toys!
Check price and availability at Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Hotel 🛏
Here are other family-friendly resorts in Phuket that we considered:
Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
My friends also recommended these hotels as they have personally been there:
Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
If you prefer to be close to Patong where it’s lively, here are some great family-friendly hotels in Patong:
Courtyard by Marriott Phuket, Patong Beach Resort
Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort
Impiana Beach Front Resort Patong, Phuket
Getting Around Phuket With Toddlers
Phuket is a big island, so depending on the area you choose to stay in, you might spend 30 minutes or more visiting the attractions you want to see.
The good thing is it’s fairly easy to get around Phuket with toddlers.
There are plenty of taxis, but we went with Grab, the Uber equivalent in Southeast Asia.
You can rent cars, which is an excellent option if you have a baby.
We didn’t want to worry about parking, so we traveled with Grab instead.
There’s also the famous Tuk Tuks that you can ride. You just hail one down by the street when you see it coming. It’s a fun experience for kids!
I highly recommend bringing a compact stroller when walking around the town or shops in Phuket.
This is because you’ll see poles along the sidewalks, which can be hard to navigate with a big stroller.
Luckily, we used the Babyzen Yoyo+ stroller, and it could fit between the poles, so strolling our toddler was a breeze!
Things To Do In Phuket With Kids
There are so many things to do in Phuket with toddlers!
Here is what we did:
- Swim and play at Kata Beach
- Swim at the hotel kids’ pool
- Playtime at the hotel kids club
- Play mini golf at Dino Park
- Go for a half-day trip island hopping at the Khai Islands
- Explore the night market in Phuket
- Eat at local restaurants to try authentic Thai cuisine
We considered visiting an elephant sanctuary, as there are a few in Phuket, but we didn’t end up going because it was quite a far drive from our hotel.
I would caution you to choose a genuinely ethical elephant sanctuary.
Elephants are wild animals, and anything that involves riding, bathing, feeding, or touching them is not an accurate representation of an ethical sanctuary.
Please search for more information on ethical elephant sanctuaries.
Where To Eat In Phuket With Kids
I was so excited to explore the local Thai cuisine with my son and husband.
We live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where there are many Thai restaurants, so we’re quite familiar with them, but nothing beats authentic Thai food in Phuket.
The restaurants that we went to didn’t have any kid menus, but that was fine. We ordered different dishes to eat family-style along with rice.
I made sure to order at least one non-spicy dish for my son.
Here are the main Thai dishes that I would highly recommend you try:
- Pad Thai
- Tom Yum (spicy)
- Pad Kra Pao Gai
- Green Curry
- Pineapple Fried Rice
- Mango Sticky Rice as a dessert
If you have a dietary requirement such as eating Halal food like me, I would double check with the server if they serve Halal meat.
Some restaurants serve pork, but they use separate utensils to cook the halal meat.
There are a lot of Halal restaurants in Phuket. Here are some recommendations:
- Kalim Rim Lay
- Halal Food Kata Melayu
- Pantai Seaview Restaurant Halal Food, Kamala
- Kusuma Seafood
Even at the Phuket night markets, you’ll find Halal food stalls.
Best Time Of The Year To Go To Phuket With Kids
If there is one thing you must do before planning any trip, check the weather first!
Don’t be like me.
I was so excited to go to Phuket for a sunny beach vacation in July, but it rained every day we were there 😅
It was after we landed that we found out it was the rainy season in Phuket, thanks to the Grab driver who told us.
My Personal Experience Visiting Phuket During Rainy Season
The rainy season in Phuket typically lasts from June until October.
Honestly, it wasn’t that bad because there would be heavy rain in the early mornings, gray skies, and drizzling rain the rest of the day.
We could still go about our day and do fun activities with our son.
The best time to visit is from December until March. This is when you can expect blue skies, a calm sea, and a gentle breeze.
April and May can be hot as it’s the transitional period. My good friend visited Phuket in April with her son, and she confirmed that it was super hot!
Peak Versus Off-Peak Seasons In Phuket
Since the rainy season is considered an off-peak season in Phuket, you can expect to save a lot more money when booking accommodations.
Plus, it’s less crowded, especially when you go to the beach!
Just be prepared to get wet with the rain and manage your expectations that you might not see many blue skies and that the seawater is not as clear.
If seeing clear water and basking in the sunshine by the beach is important to you and your kids, then consider budgeting more for a trip during the dry season 🙂
4 Day Phuket Itinerary With Toddlers
Here is the 4 Day Phuket Itinerary I used when I traveled to Phuket with my toddler, and you’re welcome to use it!
Day 1: Arrival And Pool Fun
- Morning: Travel to the airport.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Phuket and check into a family-friendly hotel.
- Evening: Have fun at the hotel’s pool and splash pad, then enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.
Day 2: Island Hopping And Explore Local Cuisine
- Morning: Early breakfast and go on a half-day island hopping at the Khai Islands
- Afternoon: Come back to the hotel for a nap
- Evening: Explore the local Thai cuisine at a restaurant nearby (we went to Kalim Ray Restaurant in Patong)
Day 3: Mini Golf, Beach Time, And Night Market
- Morning: Have breakfast at the hotel and let your toddler join the morning activity at the Kids Club. Then, go to Dino Park for a fun mini-golf adventure!
- Afternoon: Have lunch, then head to Kata Beach for a relaxing time. Let your toddler play in the shallow waters and soft sand.
- Evening: Explore the Kata Night Market for a taste of local culture, where you can buy delicious street food and shop.
Day 4: Relax And Depart
- Morning: This is your last chance to let your toddler enjoy the hotel’s kid-friendly amenities, including the pool, kid’s splash pad, and kid’s club.
- Afternoon: Have lunch at a family-friendly restaurant nearby. Check out from the hotel and head to the airport for departure.
- Evening: Arrive home after a fun family trip 🙂
This itinerary worked well for our family because it balances relaxation, exploring Phuket, and fun activities suitable for our toddler.
If you use this 4 day itinerary in Phuket for your family trip, I hope it will be as enjoyable as ours was!
Tips For A Smooth Island Vacation With Kids
If I’m being honest, it’s more of a memory-making trip than a vacation when you travel with kids, but hey, there are some things that we can do to keep the stress level low.
Here are my top tips for a fun and smooth island trip with kids!
Managing Toddler Schedules And Naps
Whenever you travel with kids, it’s good to have a plan and structure for your itinerary, but you need to be flexible.
When traveling with kids, things will always come up – they might fall sick or refuse to nap, among other things.
I find that planning one major activity for the day is enough.
Anything more than that is a win!
This is not the season to pack and plan every hour of your schedule with kids.
As you can see in our travel itinerary above, we planned one activity in the morning and one activity in the late afternoon to keep things manageable.
Adam still has a 2-hour nap in the afternoons. But if he doesn’t want to nap, we’ll have an early bedtime instead.
Keeping Toddlers Entertained During Travel
There are two main things I do to keep my son entertained when we travel:
1. Lots of snacks!
I pack loads of snacks every time we travel.
Whatever amount you have in your head, double it. 😆
I like to do a mix of fresh and packaged food. You can borrow from my list:
- Fruits: Grapes, blueberries, apples, bananas, mandarin oranges
- Veggies: Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes
- Biscuits: Peanut butter crackers
Don’t forget to pack YOUR favorite snacks too!
2. Wrapped toys
This is a really cool hack I learned from my mom friend:
Bring small wrapped toys to reward your little ones along the journey!
It’s great because they have to figure out how to unwrap the paper before playing with the toy.
You can buy new toys if you’d like, but you can also recycle old toys your toddler hasn’t played with in a while.
Then, wrap the toys in wrapping paper.
You can give it to your toddler during the flight and also at other times during the trip.
We brought about 8 – 10 wrapped toys on our four-day trip to Phuket.
I’d usually take it out when he gets cranky or we’re waiting in line.
What To Bring To Phuket With Kids?
Do you need help with what to bring when traveling to Phuket with your kids?
I made this ultimate checklist for busy first-time moms. It will save you stress and time so you can get organized and have fun trips with your little ones!
One time, I went to Singapore, and I forgot to pack my son’s medication. Of course, he had a fever when we touched down. 😅
So now, I always use this checklist when we go on trips.
I hope it will help you save time and stress, just as it has helped me.
Grab Your FREE Family Travel Checklist ✈️
Important To Know About Traveling To Phuket With Kids
I recommend having cash on you as most shops mainly accept cash.
They also accept cards, but in our experience, the machines often had trouble with the connection, so the payment wouldn’t go through.
We ended up having to use more cash than we prepared for.
FAQs On Phuket With Kids
Is Phuket Good For Children?
Is Phuket good for children? Yes, definitely! Phuket offers so much experience for families making it a perfect destination for a memorable family island vacation.
With white sandy beaches, family-friendly hotels, fun activities for kids, and a warm, welcoming culture, Phuket has something to offer everyone in your family.
Which Beach In Phuket Is Best For Kids?
Kata Beach is considered one of the best beaches in Phuket for families.
It has white, soft sand with clear shallow waters, which makes it the perfect spot for young kids to play and swim safely.
The beach is beautifully lined with palm trees, offering ample shade during hot and sunny days.
Can I Go To Phuket With Family?
Yes, generally, Phuket is great for families so you can go to Phuket with your family!
There are some areas you may want to avoid, like Patong, but it’s easy to do.
Taking a trip to Phuket with kids takes some planning and research, but there’s a lot to do to keep all your kids happy during the vacation.
Related Posts On Phuket With Kids
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KLCC Park: 11 Exciting Activities To Do With Kids!
TRX City Park: 5 Fun And Free Things To Do With Kids!
Ready For A Fun Family Adventure In Phuket?
There you go! A complete guide for a fun island vacation in Phuket with your kids 🙂
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