We Took Our Family to Thailand for 3 Weeks: Here's An Overview of It!
If Thailand isn't on your bucket list, it should be. The hospitality, safety, prices, and range of things to see and do is huge and it's a must-see.
When we first started planning a family trip to Thailand, I'll admit I had questions. Was it safe? Was it practical with kids? Would the food be a problem? Would the 13-hour time change destroy us? After spending three weeks there with our whole family, flying through Manchester, Amsterdam, and Bangkok, staying in a treehouse in the rainforest, sleeping in a five-star hillside villa, walking alongside elephants, watching monkeys try to break into our room, and eating our body weight in khao soi, I can tell you the answers are: YES, absolutely yes!
This is the full overview post. We're breaking our Thailand trip into five individual deep-dives (Bangkok, Koh Lanta/Pimalai, Khao Sok/Our Jungle Camp, Krabi/Sofitel, and Chiang Mai), but this post gives you the complete picture of who we are, how we planned it, how we packed, and the big-picture takeaways for any family considering Southeast Asia.
How We Got There (and What to Know About the Journey)
We kicked off our adventure on a Friday night with a Virgin Atlantic flight to Manchester. We chose to pack carry-on only for this trip — a challenge, but absolutely worth it for the speed and flexibility. From Manchester, we took a KLM Cityhopper to Amsterdam, where the kids made a beeline for McDonald's because (true to form) they love seeing how different McDonald's menus are in every country we visit. The Amsterdam one did not disappoint.
After a five-hour layover which we used for airport lounge showers and food, we boarded our longest flight yet: an 11+ hour EVA Air overnight from Amsterdam to Bangkok. EVA Air was genuinely excellent, especially for a long-haul with kids. The seats were comfortable, the food was good, and the service was attentive in a way that made the long flight feel manageable.
PACKING TIP
We did carry-on only for three weeks in Thailand. The secret: lightweight quick-dry clothing, one nice outfit each for nicer dinners, and lots of mix-matching clothes. Thailand has laundry everywhere for cheap we paid around $8/kg in Khao Sok. Pack light and do laundry mid-trip instead.
The Route We Took (And Why We'd Do It Again)
We landed in Bangkok and were greeted by family, which gave us an incredible insider view of the city. Our route from there was Bangkok → Krabi flight → boat to Koh Lanta (Pimalai Resort) → van and ferry to Khao Sok (Our Jungle Camp) → Krabi (Sofitel Golf Resort) → flight to Chiang Mai (Shangri-La) → Bangkok → Singapore → LAX home.
The sequence of beach/resort → jungle → beach/activities → city worked beautifully. Each leg felt genuinely different from the last, and the variety kept all four kids engaged the entire trip.
Big-Picture Thailand Takeaways for Families
Safety: We felt completely safe everywhere we went. Thailand is extremely tourist-friendly, and people are genuinely warm and welcoming toward families with children. Truly the kindest people we have ever met!
Cost: For what you get, Thailand is remarkable value. Food, activities, transport.... nearly everything costs a fraction of what it would in the US or Europe. The Cheow Lan Lake day trip included boat, lunch, kayaking, and a cave hike for a price that would make you double-check the math.
Time change: The 13-hour difference from Eastern Time is real. We strongly recommend arriving at a time when you can push through until local nightfall. Our first night was rough, but by day two we were largely adjusted.
7-Eleven culture: Thailand's 7-Elevens are genuinely excellent. Clean, everywhere, and stocked with great snacks, ice cream, and drinks. We ended many evenings with a 7-Eleven stop and zero regrets. Joy's favorite was the ham and cheese 7-Eleven toastie!
Tuk tuks and BTS: Bangkok's BTS (Skytrain) is easy and affordable. Tuk tuks are fun and fast for short hops. Both are totally manageable with kids and make the trip memorable.
Food: The food is extraordinary. Street food, resort restaurants, rooftop spots, beachside cafes... it was all incredible. The one we can't stop talking about? Khao soi in Chiang Mai. We had it three times in two days. Mango sticky rice and fresh passionfruit is another MUST try.
The moment I knew Thailand was special
It was our first evening in Bangkok. We'd just taken our first tuk tuk ride and were sitting at dinner at New's Restaurant & Bar, jet-lagged but buzzing with that electric feeling you only get on the first night of a big trip. The food was incredible, the city noise was filtering in through the windows, and I looked around the table at our three wide-awake kids (it was 3am body time) who were completely captivated. That was the moment.
Keep reading for our full deep-dives on each stop: Bangkok, Pimalai Resort & Koh Lanta, Our Jungle Camp & Khao Sok, Sofitel Krabi, and Shangri-La Chiang Mai.
