If your family has traveled through Europe and you’re ready for something a little farther—Thailand is the perfect next step. It’s warm, welcoming, easy to navigate, and full of activities that feel different. But with so many regions, islands, temples, and wildlife encounters, planning a smart itinerary takes a tremendous amount of thought.
In part one of this travel planning blog, I focused on “Why Thailand” You can read more here.
In this post, I am focusing on how I work to plan a seamless, kid-friendly trip to Thailand—starting with the why, moving into the where, and touching on building a trip that feels both intentional and fun!
1. Start With Activities — Not Destinations
Most families start with locations: “Should we go to Phuket or Chiang Mai?”
But the real magic of Thailand comes from the experiences, and choosing those first makes the entire itinerary fall into place.
Great questions to ask followed by my family’s responses in bold:
- Do we want time with elephants (ethical sanctuaries only)?-YES! This was a huge draw for our family.
- Are we picturing island-hopping or long beach days?-Going in the summer means rougher seas, so long beach days is a better fit. Knowing climate and transportation logistics is a must when planning a big itinerary.
- Do we want to explore temples and history?-Also YES, but we don’t want it to be the focus of everyday considering we will have summer temperatures and children in tow.
- Is street food or cooking important to us?-Street Food- but we feel we can explore this option anywhere in Thailand.
- How much “adventure” vs. “relaxation” feels right for our kids?-When planning family travel, I tend to keep it to one activity a a day with time to explore, relax, and immerse the family in the local culture.
- What desired sites do you want to see or activities do you want to do? ECO tours, surfing, rock climbing, relaxing, markets, large temple complexes.
Once you identify the must-do experiences, you’ll naturally see which areas support those activities best. I quickly found that certain regions offer specific wants on family to do lists. Building an itinerary in a fluid manor that hits all desired regions comes next.
Example of regions for a 4 week Itinerary:
- Eco Tours in Khao Sok
- Surfing in Kamala Beach
- Rock Climbing in Krabi
- Culture and history in Bangkok
This approach keeps you from zig-zagging across the country or building a trip that looks pretty on paper but feels exhausting with kids.
2. Pick Family-Friendly Resorts
Once your regions are set, then it’s time to pick resorts. Thailand has a huge range of properties, and the “best” one depends entirely on your family’s preferences.
When I build trips for my family and others’ family, I match the resort to priorities—not the other way around. The right property supports the experiences you came for.
Note: Thailand is a country where choosing resorts over rentals and hired transportation over public or rental is always a smart yet affordable way to go.
3. Add On ONE Other Destination (Optional)—But Don’t Overdo It
Southeast Asia is tempting. Once you’re already in Thailand, it’s natural to think: “Should we add Bali? Vietnam? Cambodia?”
And the answer is: maybe—but do it intentionally.
Great add-on options:
- Siem Reap, Cambodia — Angkor Wat, culture, and calm energy
- Hoi An or Hanoi, Vietnam — food, lantern-lit streets, or a cruise in Halong Bay
- Bali — temples, rice terraces, gentle adventure
The key is not trying to “do Southeast Asia.” It’s choosing one meaningful extra stop that complements your Thailand itinerary rather than competing with it.
Why Thailand Is the Perfect Next Step After Europe
After traveling through Europe, many families want:
- A deeper cultural shift
- Warmer hospitality
- More nature, wildlife, and outdoor adventure
- Great value for luxury
- A destination that still feels safe and manageable with kids
Thailand delivers on all of this—and then some.
For more on this read my previous post on Why Thailand here:
Ready to Plan Your Family Trip to Thailand?
A great Thailand itinerary is all about smart sequencing—choosing the activities first, letting those guide your regions, selecting the right family-friendly resorts, and adding on only what enhances the trip.
Ready to plan that big family trip? Reach out anytime.
Beyond The Usual Trail 