Pa Tong Child friendly - Grandparents raising grandchildren

Okay, so you’re considering travelling oversea’s with the grandchildren but, you’re a little unsure how you might keep up with the kids or, what steps to take. Hopefully, I can provide some opportunities to explore, making that decision easier. My experiences are out of Australia.

However, if you are reading this from another country, the principles remain the same.  We have travelled to Phuket twice with our grandchildren now aged 5 and 8 with no bad experiences a year apart. Our criteria - safe, affordable, kid-friendly, edible food, health services, clean and services we’re used to.

         Grandchildren, first trip

The basic’s

Research online according to your budget for the best travel experience you require. We have used Travelonline (https://www.travelonline.com) twice with great results. By this I mean, the packages offered looked great for Phuket - suited our budget. But, we wanted something tailored to our needs. A telephone call to Travelonline sorted that and we booked the holiday. Before you speak to the travel agent of your choice, do have a look online at how the rooms are situated in relation to the street. The roads may be busy and the nightlife can be noisy. The next research you will need to do is, how you will travel on arrival from Phuket airport to the hotel. In our case, we used QANTAS Travel to book a Transfer from the airport. If you choose not to do this, you can catch a taxi outside the airport. However, you will need to change your cash into Thai Baht at the airport money exchange. I also suggest you purchase a SIM card at the airport for the length of your stay. There are affordable packages available. Make certain you take a short walk across the airport shopfronts to obtain the best deal. 

Do chat with your doctor about travel options, particularly if you have a few health issues as many grandparents do. Be certain to discuss the children’s needs and stock up on whatever travel medications you may require. I suggest you do this at least a month out, as you may need to have your pharmacy order extra in to take with you, depending on how long you intend to stay. Do get a letter from your doctor listing all your medications and conditions. Slip that in with your passport for easy access.

Insurance - buy it, it’s cheap enough. If you choose not, be prepared to pay for the services you may need.

Do download a Currency convertor to your mobile device and set it up for AUD and Baht. You’ll find this a handy tool when battering or, when looking for an exchange rate in the street at a money changer.

Search online for an electrical socket converter for any devices you may take with you and buy two.

Packing for the holiday.

If you’re like us, we packed for every contingency. In other words, we overpacked. But not this trip. Even so, when we arrived, we had brought too much clothing. Phuket has so many clothing stores, I’d lost count - see O Top Market - Phuket Groupies FB. Anything you forget, you can purchase at more than reasonable prices locally. Phuket has Juncelong shopping centre with the Big C supermarket where you may purchase most of those items you would find in Australia such as nappies, snacks, drinks, fresh fruit, bread, alcohol - not purchasable between 2:00 - 5:00pm, toothpaste, soap etcetera and, within the complex.

You will discover numerous stores selling mobile phone services, excellent food, restaurants, clothing and much more. There is too much entertainment for the children. It is hot in Thailand and humid so, pack accordingly. T-shirts, shorts, sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, sunglasses and personal items But, like I said. If you forget something, you can purchase it over there. If you’re going to take a pusher, you’ll need to check that in at the oversize baggage area. If you can locate a fist-sized fold-up rain jacket before you leave, do get one for each of you and keep in your day pack with sunscreen, mozzie roll on and wet ones.

Your accommodation will provide a hairdryer, soap, shampoo and the like. Check it all out on arrival, you may need to hit the nearest 7-11, there are oodles of them. We do always, stock up on bottled water. Generally, you will be provided with two bottles of water, which will be replaced daily. We drank several each a day due to the heat.

I’ll skip the part about getting to the airport, you’ll figure that one out on your own.

On the plane

Travel time from Brisbane is about eight and a half hours, less with a tailwind to Bangkok airport. On this occasion, we flew Air Malaysia and experienced a great flight. Previously, we flew Thai Airways. I can offer no criticism of their service. Flight food is what it is but if you’re travelling with small one’s. Do remember changing air pressure can cause ear pain, talk to your doctor about options. Important, if you are not offered a small slip of paper to fill out, declare what you’re doing in Thailand. Ask for one. You may find a person from the airline standing by the exit from the plane into the airport. This person will have the forms, take one.

Filling it on the plane will save time though. Filling it out at the airport means a delay and, possibly dealing with children who have had enough of sitting still for hours. Better you do this while you have the time in the air. Listen carefully to the end of the flight message, as you will be told which carousel you may collect your baggage from. Don’t worry if you don’t hear it, follow the crowd. If you’re still unsure. Look at the electronic board over the carousel and check if your flight number is there.

Arrival at Bangkok airport - departing for Phuket airport 

Have your passport’s ready with your written declaration form. The process through immigration is relatively swift. However, if you’ve arrived with several other planeloads of travellers, expect a slight delay. Once through and your baggage is collected, if you’re staying over. As you exit, have a look at the prices for SIM cards and have yours swapped over.

If you’re travelling by taxi, now’s the time to change your AUD into Baht. If you’ve pre-booked a pickup, you will find a person waiting for you outside. The driver will be holding an A4 sheet of paper with your name on it. Approach and introduce yourself. If you’re on a short stay over, your baggage will meet you in Phuket.

Arrival at Bangkok airport - short stay between flights

We organise this through Travelonline primarily because of the little one’s being fidgety as many children are. Remember, you’ll have just got off a plane after many hours with kids who have had enough of sitting.

Our criteria - short stay in Bangkok airport between the connecting flight to Phuket, with a longer stay over, say a couple of days on the way home somewhere. Recently we flew to Malaysia and stayed at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel Times Square, Kuala Lumpur (https://www.berjayahotel.com/kualalumpur) for a day to give the kids a break, us too. Next time, we’ll be staying longer.

At your accommodation - Phuket

Once checked in and, this can take up to ten minutes because staff will need a room deposit, to see your passports and fill out paperwork. After which, you’ll be provided electronic room keys. If you look around the lobby, you will observe a travel desk. Do have a look at the packages offered within your capacity to take the children with you.

In our case, we had free package with the purchased holiday. Settle into your room and familiarise yourself with the following - toilets outside your room in the complex, kid’s club, bars, entertainment room, breakfast/dining room, pools for age use, towel exchange, exits to the main and rear streets, cost of alcohol and water. Your room will be much like you would experience in Australia. Rooms are cleaned daily by friendly staff.

Phuket 

We have stayed at Graceland (http://www.phuketgraceland.com) and The Phuket Merlin (http://www.merlinphuket.com) both were good places to stay. While my preference is for Graceland, the Merlin is slightly more central. Bear in mind, more central means not only quick access to shopping. It also means greater opportunity to hear nightclub music to very late.

From Graceland, you can catch a Tuk-Tuk at reasonable prices in town. But, in reality, it’s not so far you can’t walk it. The reason we preferred Graceland is that it was easy to walk out onto the beach to purchase dinner at the mobile food stalls. We could purchase dinner for four for two hundred Baht and, it was tasty and pleasant to sit on the beachfront, eat and watch the sunset.

We also stayed at the Sunwing Bangtao Beach (https://www.sunwingphuket.com/en-gb). If you have very young children, say 1 - 7 and you want to do very little but hang out by the pool, then this may well be the place for you. Do your research! It is on the beach and has five pools. One pool has a slide supervised by a Lifeguard. Our grandchildren made great use of it. 

If you get sick of the food offered in the restaurant, take a short stroll along the beach and check out the food and prices offered. Our five-year-old generally ate Thai chicken rice or, Pad Thai. Our eight-year-old was able to eat most of the food but this meant looking carefully at what contained chillies. Do remember, you’ll be dealing with people who serve and prepare a lot of food. Staff will readily understand your needs not to have the food too spicy.

Getting around

We enjoy the walk to the local shops and beach, which are never too far. You can use a Tuk-Tuk or a taxi. Don’t worry about finding one, you’ll be asked at least five times as you walk down the street if you want one. Do - agree on a price before you get in, haggle if you have to and walk away if you can’t agree. The driver may alter the price. 

It’ll be hot and humid, do take water from your fridge for the children, though there are heaps of places selling drinks, but water is what we provided. Sugary drinks are a rarity for us to offer our grandchildren, so we’re spare with them.

What to do in Phuket?

Shopping, yes but do investigate the many tours offered through the hotel too. A trip to the Trick Eye Museum will amuse the little one’s. Do check out the ethics of any animal visitation sites you may be considering. We took our grandchildren to visit rescued elephants. They were able to feed, scrub and bathe with the elephants.  Your tour there will provide food too and, your money goes to rescue elephants in need. The one below was a victim of a landmine from a nearby country.

 

The big Buddha is worth the trip, along with a temple tour. If you decide on an island touring, we did to Phi Phi island. Consider two things. One. the weather at the time, if it is

choppy. Do a weather check, you’ll be a long time on the boat with the children. It may be appropriate to come back when the weather is calmer. Two, baby monkeys on the islands. They may look cute, but if you’re between a baby and the mother. Remember, the mother may react adversely and you risk scratching. We kept our distance, some didn’t and had to deal with monkey angry parents. Don’t leave any bags open near the monkeys. 

The tour, however, was great. Once more, do your research as Phi Phi may not be for you. I highly recommend the Siam Niramit tour(http://siamniramitphuket.com) for the evening with the children. The show was great. You tour a replicated Thai village, see a Thai Boxing demonstration, interact with elephants, experience ancient Thai customs, dance, dress and history and, there’s the food too. The boys all had arm painting as part of the tour. Do take a trip to Old Phuket town, much craft work here.

Is Phuket safe?

Great question. It is, provided you follow the same basic rules you do at home. If you stay out late and drink too much, beware you may be targeted by scammers. We heard a lot of stories in the hotel foyer from people who overindulged and paid the price.

Most nights, we were back in the hotel by 9:30PM, kids in bed, so this did not concern us. The Thai people are friendly, warm and respectful. Do an internet search as part of your research to understand customs. However, we have walked the streets from the food stalls at the O Top as late as 10:30pm with no issues, kids were cranky the next morning though.

If you're going to hire something with wheels, best you have an International Drivers License before you kick it into life.

Thai police are quick to check westerners for an active license. Speaking of hiring things with motors, remember. Repair and maintenance standards are not the same as in Australia and if you're thinking about putting your grandchildren on it. Check it out carefully to be certain you're happy with its performance first. My wife & I drove quad bikes on one tour. What they looked like and how they performed were two different things. I was glad when that tour was over.