Holidays in Thailand with children: yes or no?
Thailand has been very popular with many tourists for years. It’s consistently warm, the food is delicious, the cost of living is low and the beaches are beautiful. Many package tourists as well as backpackers in particular have discovered Thailand for themselves and are boosting the economy there.
Thailand is often excluded as a travel destination by families with children: “The long flight”, “too hot”, “too many risks and dangers” and “what should our child eat there?” are just some of the reasons why this travel destination ( or Asia in general) is often not considered from the outset. A trip to Thailand with the children in tow can be a great experience that is completely unproblematic for the little ones.
Vaccinations and first-aid kit
It is crucial that parents prepare themselves and their children well for the trip. This includes the most important vaccinations such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and for longer stays also hepatitis B and a possible malaria prophylaxis, which can be taken in tablet form.
A good first-aid kit can’t do any harm either, although you can buy all the necessary medicines in pharmacies in Thailand (and they’re usually much cheaper than in Germany).
How do children survive the long flight?
For the long flight (11-15 hours, depending on the connection), depending on the age of the children, toys should be taken with them so that they can be kept busy on the plane. Many airlines have special cots for babies, in which the infants can be placed and then slumber peacefully. Older children often enjoy the on-board entertainment and are content to watch a few hours of movies or series.
The first row on the plane is basically intended as a parent-child row and can be reserved in advance. There is more space than in the normal rows and the children can spread out a little on the floor and play there, or there is space for the special baby bed.
Shade and water help in hot weather
Once in Thailand, the hot and humid climate can be challenging for children, so it’s important to keep them well hydrated than at home. The midday heat should also be avoided and primarily only the shade should be sought anyway.
For children’s sensitive skin, parents should have sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 50 in their luggage, as well as a sun hat and long-sleeved, light clothing.
This is how children can feed themselves during a trip to Thailand
As far as food is concerned, parents can bring food from Germany for their babies. Baby porridge is also available in Thailand, or you can cook it yourself in the kitchen of a holiday apartment using locally bought vegetables.
Even slightly older children can – as far as they like it – feed themselves like adults in Thailand. Rice, chicken and the delicious curries and soups, like fresh fruit, do not pose a health risk as long as everything has been cooked long enough or – in the case of fruit – peeled.
It shouldn’t be too spicy
Parents should only pay attention to the spiciness when eating their children and maybe try it beforehand. Children perceive sharpness much more strongly than adults, which is why attention should be paid to this when ordering food. Especially in the tourist places in Thailand there are also western restaurants where the little ones can be provided with pizza, fries and pasta if they feel like it.
Children’s paradise Thailand
The peculiarity of Thailand and the Asian region in general is that children are very welcome there. As a family, many Thais perceive you more consciously than individual tourists and the interest and friendliness are even greater.
Children are welcomed everywhere with open arms and in Thailand at least the locals do not need to be afraid of annoyed looks when the child is restless. Many restaurants also offer children something to play with, do handicrafts or paint, so that the little ones are busy and just as comfortable as their parents.
The children should also be prepared for the trip
If the children are big enough, you should talk to them a lot beforehand so that they too can prepare for the trip. If everyone involved approaches the holiday with the necessary relaxation and thorough preparation, a long-distance trip to exotic Thailand with children is no problem.