As the year draws to a close, the winter holidays and the festivities are at its peak. However, with all its joys and warmth the winters in the West are freezing and kiddos need something beyond Christmas gifts and parties and hours on their PlayStation to keep themselves engaged without getting bored. Well, video games do not let them get bored but they are not exactly healthy, and they are the worst thing if you are looking for some meaningful family bonding. The dilemma of being stuck indoors and the longing for some healthy family activity brings you down to the perfect solution – a beach holiday in Thailand.
What could be a more perfect holiday destination for winter-struck westerners than Thailand, for its tropical, beachy, fun and above all it does not break your bank account. Thailand is a vast country that is incredibly diverse and has a lot to offer therefore do not expect to cover it all in one go. However, if you are eyeing a quick getaway for a week or so and that too with the household clan, your best bet would be to drop the idea of traveling to the farther islands and head straight towards Pattaya. Once Pattaya was famous for all its notorious activities but in the recent past, the tourism game in Pattaya has gone pretty strong, and it is by far one of the most under-rated family holiday destinations in the Far-East.
Why Pattaya?
Most people will recommend the more exotic Koh Samui, the lush green Chiang Mei or Chiang Rei or the touristy Phuket when you will mention Thailand. However, all those places would require to take additional flights and can easily burst your “vacay on a budget” bubble. For Pattaya, all you need to do is to land directly in the capital city of Bangkok, rent a car and drive for barely three hours and there you are. If you are not a fan of staying behind the wheels on your holiday, you can also book yourself a Grab, a local ride-sharing service at very economical rates. Moreover, even if you do manage to get cheap connecting flights, the hassle of waiting for connecting flights and managing your luggage is too much a hassle, especially when travelling with kids and your holiday is short.
Things to Do
Pattaya will not disappoint you or your kids. Other than the amazing water parks, there are some fabulous options for sightseeing in Pattaya that will keep the whole family hooked without getting bored. Check out the beautiful Elephant Village, the mysterious Sanctuary of Truth, Crocodile Farm and the River Kwai. Other than that there are a lot of other interesting options that range from historical Buddhist temples to amazing shopping areas that you should check out.
The Beach
Of course, the primary attraction on a beach vacation should be nothing but the beach itself. Thanks to the exchange rate differences, even the most luxurious beach resorts at the beach strip are priced pretty economically. Check into one of the resorts that offer private beach so that you can relax in your loungers while your kids have some healthy fun with sand and water. You can also find numerous beach sports and activities for you to have fun.
