Beaches and islands are a surefire way to get kids excited and involved, and is perhaps the best way to instil a love of travel and curiosity for the world in them at a young age.
One of Nha Trang’s many luxury resorts.
In Vietnam, there are many resorts along the Central Coast suitable for families with children, especially on the Lang Co peninsula near Da Nang. A bit further north in Hue, you can change it up a bit by going inland and staying in the old colonial hill station of Ba Na Hills, now a luxury resort. The only access to the resort is via cable car, which is usually popular with the little ones, and is actually the longest non-stop cable car track in the world.
Further south, the numerous luxury resorts of Vung Tao and Phu Quoc make for great family destinations, offering a wide range of services, from golfing to scuba diving.
The turquoise waters of Phu Quoc are so clear it’s almost hard to believe.
Over in Thailand, both JW Marriott Phuket and Amantara in Krabi offer excellent kids’ clubs with a wide range of activities for them to engage in while the grown-ups do the “boring” adult stuff. At JW Marriott Phuket there is also an excellent kid’s pool, as well as three regular pools.
Bird’s eye view of JW Marriott Phuket.
If your group consists of a big family, then perhaps the best option is Four Seasons at Ko Samui. Here you can rent an entire villa with its own private infinity pool and once again the kids club offers a range of activities, like crab hunting or campfires on the beach.
The resort town of Hua Hin is another excellent option. Almost all the accomodation here is geared towards luxury and family travellers, so you’ll have no problem finding suitable places for your family guests to stay while they enjoy the relaxed beach town.
Beautiful resort in the beach town of Hua Hin.
As Laos is a landlocked country, and with the four thousand islands positioning itself as the new party capital of the country, there aren’t the same wealth of options for family friendly beach destinations. The closest you will get is at Don Khon, which still retains a relaxed atmosphere compared to neighbouring Don Det.
Cambodian beaches are similarly adult-themed, with most lacking activities for kids to partake in. The main exception to this is in the tiny province of Kep in the southeast, which due to not being on many travellers’ maps is still a prime family destination.
Southeast Asia is the best place in the world to plan a family beach holiday. The beautiful beaches and great resorts complement the exotic and authentic atmosphere of the region, setting it apart from more traditional family beach destinations in Europe and America.