The Perfect Family Travel Itinerary for Thailand

Thailand is a country I’ve come to adore, having spent a cumulative four months there over a dozen visits over the past decade. Bringing my son only made it all the more magical.

Below you’ll find two kinds of itineraries – High end luxury and affordable luxury.

High end luxury features the top 5-star luxury resorts in Thailand, with rooms that have their own private pools, butler service, and private luxury airport transfers. This itinerary features the all-inclusive hotel with elephant experiences as well. These rooms run about $1000+ per night and are the Crème de la Crème of Thailand.

The affordable luxury itinerary features hotels that are also wonderful, beautiful, and have lovely views and potentially even private pools at the rooms, though they may not offer personalized butler service and may be larger resorts that charge extra fees for transport.

As a luxury travel advisor, I can book these itineraries for you at no extra cost to you, and can offer extra perks like my personalized experience, room upgrades, early check in, late check out, and often resort credits or experiences. Learn more about how I work with clients at Muse Bespoke Escapes.

High-End Luxury

(keep scrolling for affordable luxury)

Days 1-3: Koh Yao Noi – Six Senses Yao Noi

We usually kick off our Thai adventure with a stay at Six Senses Yao Noi on Koh Yao Noi. This island paradise is the perfect place to unwind and adjust to the tropical pace of life. The highlight for us is having our own pool, which our son absolutely loves. The privacy and luxury here are unmatched, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle.

We saw plenty of other families there with young kids and babies as well. It’s made easier by the fact that they provide a pickup service from the airport, you have your own personal butler during your stay who can help with fetching diapers and other necessities for you, and they use golf carts around the resort, saving little legs from having to walk. They also offer a nature-themed kids club for kids 4 and older, included in your stay.

Here we can offer room upgrades, early check in and late check out (all based on availiability) and a $100 resort credit.

For a more budget-friendly option, Anantara Yao Yai is a solid choice. While it lacks the boutique feel of Six Senses, it still offers a five-star experience with plenty of amenities to keep the whole family entertained.

Days 3-6: Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay, Krabi

For another perspective of the beautiful area between Koh Yao Noi and Krabi, head to the Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay for some of the best service and views after the Six Senses. This resort, while amazing, is slightly cheaper than the Six Senses, and may make more sense in combination with the Anantara Yao Yai.

When it comes to amazing views, it’s hard to beat this property. From here, catch a flight from Krabi airport up north to Chiang Rai.

Here we can offer room upgrades, early check in and late check out (all based on availiability) and a $100 resort credit.

Days 6-9: Chiang Rai – Anantara Golden Triangle

From the southern beaches, we make our way to Chiang Rai’s Golden Triangle. Our go-to spot here is the Anantara Golden Triangle with its fantastic elephant camp. Spending at least three days here is a must.

This is an all-inclusive stay which also includes a private pickup directly from the airport as well as all of your food and non-alcoholic drinks (including room service!) and a choice of massages and elephant activities during your stay.

The elephant encounters are both educational and heartwarming, providing a unique experience that we will always remember. The resort itself is stunning, with gorgeous views and a great pool with several shallow areas for kids.

Here we can offer room upgrades, early check in and late check out (all based on availability) VIP status, personal contact for your entire stay, and help booking the jungle bubble, which is not bookable online.

Days 9-12: Chiang Mai – Four Seasons Chiang Mai

When staying in Thailand’s northern capital — which I have visited 10 times now — I can confidently say it doesn’t get better than the four seasons, Chiang Mai. Despite the fact that you are in a somewhat large city, this dreamy escape makes it feel like the countryside. There’s so much to do in Chiang Mai, which is considered one of the foodie capitals of Thailand, as well as many beautiful temples and day trips up to the mountains.

We can offer room upgrades (when available), resort credits between $100-$200, and daily breakfast for two when you book through us. Find out more about how it works.

Consider: Bangkok – Capella Bangkok

For many travelers, passing through Bangkok is part of getting there (though Chiang Mai and Phuket airports are well connected). We like to stay at the Capella Bangkok, which offers a peaceful retreat from the city’s busy streets.

The resort has a great pool, perfect for cooling off after a day of sightseeing. Highlights in Bangkok include visiting the Grand Palace, eating everything, and exploring the vibrant street markets.

How to Book This Itinerary

As a travel advisor, I can help you book the same, or something similar. I can also help you get extra perks at most of these resorts, including room upgrades where applicable, resort credits, free breakfast, early check in, and late check out, many of which we got to enjoy on our trip, too! Late check out with a baby sure is nice.

I can also help with flights. If you choose to book this itinerary, my services are at no extra cost. If you’d like a bespoke trip planned just for you and your family, I can offer this service as well. Feel free to email me to get started

Affordable Luxury in Thailand

Days 1-3: Phuket at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas

Want an incredible high-end stay with a private pool within the $300-$400/night range? Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas is located right on the beach with gorgeous views and plenty of lovely room options.

Days 3-6: Anantara Koh Yao Yai

Alternatively, or in addition to Mai Khao villas, as Koh Yao Yai is just a short boat ride away, look at the Anantara Koh Yao Yai, one of the best values for 5-star luxury with a whole array of room types to suit any budget or desires. They have a kids pool with swim-up rooms and water slides, a kid’s club, and a great location on one of my very favorite islands in Thailand. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, this is it.

At both properties we can offer room upgrades, early check in and late check out (all based on availability) VIP status, personal contact for your entire stay, and a destination-specific gift.

Days 6-9: Bangkok Anantara Riverside Resort

There’s plenty of choice when it comes to Bangkok hotels, but when traveling with little ones, I prefer something close to public transportation (Sky Train, my preferred way to explore) stops, is on the river for some scenery, and has family rooms, oh and an amazing pool.

Rooms at this luxury resort go for as little as $150 per night.

Here we can offer room upgrades, early check in and late check out (all based on availability) VIP status, personal contact for your entire stay, and a destination-specific gift.

Days 9-12: Chiang Mai – Melia Chiang Mai

Next, we head north to Chiang Mai, where we stayed at Melia Chiang Mai. This city has a charming mix of modernity and tradition, making it a fascinating place to explore.

Melia Chiang Mai is a great base for families, with comfortable rooms and kid-friendly facilities. They had half of an entire floor devoted to kid’s play, and it was impeccably clean. Their pool was awesome, too!

When it comes to Chiang Mai, we love visiting the local night markets and taking day trips to nearby temples and natural attractions.

I put not only a decade of traveling in Thailand into this itinerary, but all of our experience traveling as a family up until this point. We chose resorts that would be cognizant of his peanut allergy, would have amazing service, and ideally, where we could have our own pool to relax in while our son napped. I’m so happy with what we ended up with!

You can read more about how I work with families on booking their dream trips here!

This itinerary combines relaxation, adventure, and cultural experiences, ensuring a memorable trip for the whole family. With each visit to Thailand, I discover new places and experiences, making it a destination I can’t wait to return to again and again.