Places To Avoid In August / September

[arncap]

As I posted earlier, I'm taking my 4-year old son with me for some Thailand (and perhaps Laos) travel (for about 3 weeks) after a family trip to Koh Samui. At this point I'm considering Krabi, Phuket, a short stay in Bangkok, the north including Chang Mai, a few places in Isan, and heading into Laos for a couple of days. Time permitting, I was also thinking about a visit to Koh Chang (Trat Province).

Are there areas we should avoid due to the rainy season / flooding? I have read about Lampang being a flood disaster area now. What about other parts of northern / central Thailand? What about Isan? Any suggestions / recommendations?

Thanks...

[BWPattaya]

Do you realise how much travelling you are planning on? If you are driving, or using busses, you will be spending much of the time on the road, not an enjoyable holiday for a 4 year old.

At present many places have a lot of rain, plenty of flooded areas to avoid.

[trogers]

My wife's 2 nephews of age 3 and 4 enjoy a 2-night stay at my condo because it has a large children pool and playground for the kids. They enjoyed playing with the other kids. By the 3rd afternoon, they look forward to going back home.

Perhaps your planned trip is not geared towards your 4-year old son?

[Miiyai46]

Looking at your schedule, I would recommend you to choose just one between Krabi or Phuket, also because August / September is pretty wet and you and your family will not be able to fully enjoy the beaches.

Cheers

[jan1van1hooten]

Although your temperament and mine are probably different, I would say so many destinations for so little time is neither fun nor educational for your child. Don't even bother with Bankok, no fun at all for your boy. Of course there are certain streets you should avoid in any place, like the streets at night around PatPong, or around Khao San rd, in Bkk, or Loi Kroh at night in CM.

I am biased in favor of the north. The main food you get in the south is mediocre chinese, i.e. fried rice, Occasionally you might find an overpriced French or Italian restaurant geared to tourists but the difficulty of getting milk products to the islands make it hard to make a good white sauce (if you know what I mean).

I suggest spending the entire time in Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai has tons of good food. Good western food, chinese and Thai AND burmese, AND Italian AND French AND German, AND GOOD AMERICAN STYLE HAMBURGERS, APPLE PIE, BRITISH FISH AND CHIPS. and there is even a very decent Mexican restaurant on kotchasarn.

I have heard reports of injuries around waterfalls, so I would avoid trekking until the dry season, which comes much later in the year.

There is a hotel in CM with a swimming pool you can pay for if you are not a guest.

[Kwasaki]

I speak as being the father of 5 children, no replies or gags please !! I pretty much agree with all the posts here and I hope you take the sensible advice, otherwise you will have one misable 4year old on your hands.

Even if you were flying to all these places it would be boring for your son.

Pretty much most places in Thailand have done a lot of good work in avoiding flooding or keeping them to a minimum.

I would probably stay down south around Krabi and Phuket, if you want to go to Chiangmay get a return flight.

Even though it is the rainy season most rain just seem to be heavy bursts of showers to me it doesn't last for too long, especially here in the mid-northern part.

[Thongkorn]

Try Coh Lak , Near Phuket , its about one hour and a half by taxi , its mostly just been rebuilt , plenty of beaches ,Family orientated.

[Petergreet]

If you do visit Chiang Mai, you absolutely must go to the Zoo there. They have many different animals that are not seen in western zoos, the highlight for me was seeing their pandas playing with each other, could have stood there and watched all day. Also Doi Suthep is well worth a visit. In Bangkok, try safari world, animals again but that and beaches is really all thailand can offer for 4 year olds....better take him to disney, now there is one in Hong Kong

[mikecwm]

Take him to the beach at Cha Am - clean sand, good hotels with pools.

Small kids like playing in / near water, not travelling.

I've taken my son to Thailand 3 times and he has the most fun near a beach or pool.