Family-friendly Patong - Does It Exist?

[studenttraveller]

Hi, hope this first post is in the right forum, but here goes

Been a longtime lurker but only signed up today - long story short, spent the last 2 months travelling around Thailand, literally loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back with my mates as soon as I can save up enough money (could be a while )

In the meantime, my family - after hearing what a great time I've had - are wanting to go. We'll probably go Bangkok for a day or two, then fly to a beachy place somewhere. My question is where should I take them? I stayed in Patong for a few weeks and thought it was great - lush beach, tons of bars, clubs, restaurants, and girls However my family probably wouldn't enjoy the bargirl factor lol, so basically I was wondering if there was a "family-friendly" Patong - i.e. reasonably well developed town near a beautiful beach with quite a few restaurants and shopping malls, but slightly less seedy? There doesn't have to be no bargirls lol, it'd just be nice if they weren't on every street for my family's sake.

A friend told me that Krabi is kind of like this, as in a watered-down Patong - but someone else I talked to reckon it wasn't nice at all, and was in fact rather seedy and run by the mafia - what do you guys think of Krabi?

Sorry for the rambling first post lol, just thought I'd get you guys' opinion. I know there are some really non-seedy, chilled out places like Ko Phi Phi, but while that was nice I think I preferred the hustle-and-bustle vibe of Patong - much more to do and see etc.

Thanks in advance for the help

[maxjay]

I recommend Krabi. I stayed here: www.jungle-village.com/ for a month a few years back. Family oriented resort...run by a retired Danish professor and his family.

[gwynt]

Hi, hope this first post is in the right forum, but here goes

Been a longtime lurker but only signed up today - long story short, spent the last 2 months travelling around Thailand, literally loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back with my mates as soon as I can save up enough money (could be a while )

In the meantime, my family - after hearing what a great time I've had - are wanting to go. We'll probably go Bangkok for a day or two, then fly to a beachy place somewhere. My question is where should I take them? I stayed in Patong for a few weeks and thought it was great - lush beach, tons of bars, clubs, restaurants, and girls However my family probably wouldn't enjoy the bargirl factor lol, so basically I was wondering if there was a "family-friendly" Patong - i.e. reasonably well developed town near a beautiful beach with quite a few restaurants and shopping malls, but slightly less seedy? There doesn't have to be no bargirls lol, it'd just be nice if they weren't on every street for my family's sake.

A friend told me that Krabi is kind of like this, as in a watered-down Patong - but someone else I talked to reckon it wasn't nice at all, and was in fact rather seedy and run by the mafia - what do you guys think of Krabi?

Sorry for the rambling first post lol, just thought I'd get you guys' opinion. I know there are some really non-seedy, chilled out places like Ko Phi Phi, but while that was nice I think I preferred the hustle-and-bustle vibe of Patong - much more to do and see etc.

Thanks in advance for the help

Try Kata/Kata Noi excellent beaches not too commercialised good hotels/resteraunts and the odd smattering of lady bars.

[maechanman]

Hua Hin is a good place,excellent beach,there's beer bars but not too many and last time I was there no go go's.

[Thongkorn]

I know just the place .Ko lak 2 hours from Phuket, you can get there by Bus or taxi, about 1500 baht , the place has been rebuilt every thing is fairly new , it was rebuilt after the tsunami, Plenty of beaches , you can walk for hours and not see many people . all the places have pools and do not mind if you use the pools , just buy the odd drink now and then. There are no bar girls its a family place ,A lot of Scandinavians go there.

[zulugutt]

Hi, hope this first post is in the right forum, but here goes

Been a longtime lurker but only signed up today - long story short, spent the last 2 months travelling around Thailand, literally loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back with my mates as soon as I can save up enough money (could be a while )

In the meantime, my family - after hearing what a great time I've had - are wanting to go. We'll probably go Bangkok for a day or two, then fly to a beachy place somewhere. My question is where should I take them? I stayed in Patong for a few weeks and thought it was great - lush beach, tons of bars, clubs, restaurants, and girls However my family probably wouldn't enjoy the bargirl factor lol, so basically I was wondering if there was a "family-friendly" Patong - i.e. reasonably well developed town near a beautiful beach with quite a few restaurants and shopping malls, but slightly less seedy? There doesn't have to be no bargirls lol, it'd just be nice if they weren't on every street for my family's sake.

A friend told me that Krabi is kind of like this, as in a watered-down Patong - but someone else I talked to reckon it wasn't nice at all, and was in fact rather seedy and run by the mafia - what do you guys think of Krabi?

Sorry for the rambling first post lol, just thought I'd get you guys' opinion. I know there are some really non-seedy, chilled out places like Ko Phi Phi, but while that was nice I think I preferred the hustle-and-bustle vibe of Patong - much more to do and see etc.

Thanks in advance for the help

If you like Phuket and Patong, just move two beaches down til Kata beach. The beach are better than Patong, and the place is family oriented. Then you are just 15 minutes from Patong with daytime shopping +++, and more in the middle of Phuket Island. I have tried Hua Hin before, - for me the beach is poor compared with Phuket, - and it's too quiet.

[steve w]

by krabi i take it you mean ao nang,nice place.

you can have a family holiday in patong as well ,just stay south of bangla,many places down that end family orientated,holiday inn for 1.

Edited August 19, 2009 by steve w

[jumparound]

Women are everywhere more Women than Men.

My two bob.

Krabi,Ao Nang, Koh Lanta there all around the same area.

[Jigger]

Hi, hope this first post is in the right forum, but here goes

Been a longtime lurker but only signed up today - long story short, spent the last 2 months travelling around Thailand, literally loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back with my mates as soon as I can save up enough money (could be a while )

In the meantime, my family - after hearing what a great time I've had - are wanting to go. We'll probably go Bangkok for a day or two, then fly to a beachy place somewhere. My question is where should I take them? I stayed in Patong for a few weeks and thought it was great - lush beach, tons of bars, clubs, restaurants, and girls However my family probably wouldn't enjoy the bargirl factor lol, so basically I was wondering if there was a "family-friendly" Patong - i.e. reasonably well developed town near a beautiful beach with quite a few restaurants and shopping malls, but slightly less seedy? There doesn't have to be no bargirls lol, it'd just be nice if they weren't on every street for my family's sake.

A friend told me that Krabi is kind of like this, as in a watered-down Patong - but someone else I talked to reckon it wasn't nice at all, and was in fact rather seedy and run by the mafia - what do you guys think of Krabi?

Sorry for the rambling first post lol, just thought I'd get you guys' opinion. I know there are some really non-seedy, chilled out places like Ko Phi Phi, but while that was nice I think I preferred the hustle-and-bustle vibe of Patong - much more to do and see etc.

Thanks in advance for the help

Are you sure they will not like Patong?

I had my mother, father, sister, her son and husband meet me in Patong in June.

I took them to Tai-Pan, Suzy Wongs, a fair few bars and they loved it - my mum said it was a major eye opener but she had the time of her life. The time she did not have fun was when she was walking around the markets, or sitting at the hotel.

Could be a idea to talk to them, explain its not like western culture and the thai bar girls will show them a good time

[ThaiEye]

Of course it exists. Patong is one of the most family-friendly places in the whle country. Lots of stuff for the kids to do, they'll love it. Only one small area of Patong could be called a little' seedy' and that's the bar area of Soi Bangla. Get away from from there and you'd never even realize that Patong was in hardly anyway 'seedy'. Remember, bars and go-gos etc.... always give a place a less than better reputation, but reports are always hyped up.

For something quiter than Patong, perhaps try Kata Noi beach or even quieter than that Nai Harn beach.

In the end, dont take some reports you read on the Internet too seriously; come and see for yourself.