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Bangkok With Children: A Quick Guide

Product — Wed, 29 May 2019 07:30:15 +0000

bangkok with children: a quick guide

Bangkok—a steamy city of 8 or 10 or 12 million (depending on how who’s counting)—is never boring. How else then, does it consistently top the list of the most popular cities in the world to visit? There can be no denying that in the past, planning a trip with kids in the mix, would suddenly leave the capital’s famously endless list of activities and escapes somewhat diminished. That’s history.

It’s not that kids can’t visit Bangkok—they can and should—but with its uneven sidewalks, unpredictable traffic, and lack of plentiful green space, it becomes apparent that it’s not a city built with children in mind.

“Bangkok can be a challenging city if you’ve got a few kids in tow, but with a little insider knowledge, tips, and tricks, they might just end up enjoying it as much as their parents do.”

So what are some of the best options?

The biggest issue with taking kids on a Bangkok outing will always be the unforgiving heat—the constant, consistent, considerable heat. When faced with temperatures of over 30 degrees and counting, kids quickly lose their taste for adventure. As a seasoned resident, here are some places that have never steered me wrong.

Cycle Lanes

In a city choc-a-bloc with automobiles, there are a number of options for bike riding Suan Rot Fai, Bangkachao, and Peppermint are great for bike-savvy kids, while the Suvarnabhumi Sky Lane is great for older kids who love speed.

Parks

Every parent will tell you that the best thing to do with children is to drain their batteries tearing around a jungle gym or playing tag for 30 minutes. When it comes to parks, Bangkok is pretty thin on the ground. Luckily there’s Suan Rot Fai, Rama IX, and Lumpini. One of the best parts for children to roll around in well watered green turf is Benjasiri Park, which is only a stone’s throw away from Phrom Phong BTS station.

TIP: They’ll need lots of water, so make sure you have some! While the parks are usually littered with small snack kiosks, take them to a 7-11 (thank me later). Unless you really head out in the suburbs, you won’t be far from a 7-11, which can be a godsend—they have heavy air-con and lots of choice for water, ice cream and electrolyte drinks. The best kept secret can be found on the side of the milk/diary cooler in the form of a cheap, cold, pre-wrapped towels that are absolutely awesome to mop your sweaty brow.

Water Parks

Being outdoors is often made easier if you go for a specific activity. There are several nifty water parks within easy driving distance of central Bangkok. Fantasia Lagoon is surprisingly large and can be found on top of the Mall Bangkhae. The vast Pororo Aqua Park, which is conveniently located on the sixth floor of CentralPlaza, is also worth the visit.

Adventure Playgrounds

Sometimes the thought of another round of You vs. The Sun fails to excite you and that’s when you have to head indoors. If you just want to turn your kids loose in a safe, enclosed area without the distraction of a mall, Bangkok has tons of great standalone playgrounds, usually catering to kids from toddler to around 7 years old. The places to be (I’m told) are Funarium, Playtime, and especially the gigantic Harbour Land at MEGA Bangna. These places put a premium on safety, are staffed with plenty of minders, and the kids can only leave with the adults they entered with.

The Malls

When you look at malls from a western perspective, the appeal as a family destination leaves a lot to be desired. However, when you look at them like Bangkokians do—a safe, cool, clean, family-friendly place to hang out that offers food, entertainment, games, shopping, and everything from skating rinks to trampoline parks—you suddenly don’t feel so bad for letting your inner mall rat out. There are a few good ones that also have kid-centric play areas: Paragon, Central World, Emporium, EmQuartier, and Gateway. I won’t say avoid, but you’ll probably want to skip MBK, Icon Siam, Siam Discovery, and Terminal 21 unless your kids really love shopping. They don’t have a lot of options for kids.

Keep in mind that if you’re not driving, stick to the BTS or MRT (skytrain/subway). Taxis are plentiful and cheap, but are at the mercy of traffic and weather, which is taxing for even the most patient adult.

So yes, Bangkok can be a challenging city if you’re got a few kids in tow, but with a little insider knowledge, tips, and tricks, they might just end up enjoying it as much as their parents do.

The post Bangkok With Children: A Quick Guide first appeared on Smiling Albino.

How to teach children to observe and respect the cultures you’re visiting.

admin — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 07:37:55 +0000

Children take cues from their parents for most aspects of life. That applies to travel and behaviour in new situations, too. We can ensure our children become good travellers who respect the people whose countries they’re visiting by teaching them a few basic rules of travel.

There are four tips, easily applied to any situation or country, which will go a long way to guaranteeing a fun and memorable trip:

Observe

Do a bit of research about the country you’re visiting. When booking direct with an operator they will be well versed and able to supply you with any information regarding customs and expectations for the destination. On a solo trip? Check with local tourism offices and once you’re on the ground take some time to look around. If you learn that shorts are frowned upon, wear long pants or skirts. You’ll be more comfortable if you don’t stand out unnecessarily.

Make children a part of the pre-trip learning process. Their excitement for the upcoming vacation will increase the more they get to know where they are heading. Customs, such as removing shoes prior to entering a Buddhist pagoda or greeting a shopkeeper in France with a, “Bonjour Monsieur (or Madame),” are important to know and will help children acclimatize quickly on the trip.

Listen

When travelling, listening is a valuable skill. Encourage children to notice how people speak to one another. Tone transcends language barriers and in certain countries, people express themselves in less boisterous ways than in others. This doesn’t mean shushing ourselves (or kids), but occasionally adjusting our volume. There’s a reason visitors to cathedrals speak in hushed tones; it shows respect for fellow travellers and those who are there for spiritual reasons. The same when dining out; know when to sing out loud — in a beer garden in Germany — and when to speak quietly — in an intimate restaurant where tables are closely set.

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Keep an Open Mind

Keep An Open Mind

Children are generally non-judgemental and open to new experiences, so there’s not much to teach them in that regard. It might be worth reminding them that people live with different circumstances and that we can all learn from one another. In some countries, children finish their schooling young. In others, boys and girls have different societal roles. Left to their own devices children will find a way to communicate with each other and some of the best travel experience they will have is unstructured, unplanned play time with other children.

Be Flexible

Greet new experiences with enthusiasm and your children will too. There will be times during a trip when plans derail — it happens — and nothing will take the joy out of a vacation quicker than not being able to adjust and move on. Children generally feel at ease with certain structure and knowledge for what is to come, but that isn’t always possible. When they see their parents calmly adapting to unforeseen situations, it will ease any trepidation they might feel. Flexibility in travel equals enjoyment in travel.

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Discovery is a privledge

It is a privilege to discover the world as a family. The planet is huge and there are so many nooks and corners and people to discover. Family travel is like mom and dad going to school with their children, but without textbooks to lug around and dates to memorize. The value of learning about the world and its diverse cultures cannot be measured and can only happen if we model respect in our own behaviour. Adults know not to run around airplanes, shouting and disturbing other passengers, and children can do the same. It’s simple, really. There’s a traveller’s code of conduct and it is spelled R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Teaching children to appreciate customs and different cultures has multiple benefits: it opens young minds to the beauty in differences and allows the people whose countries we visit to feel valued and understood. Any success in parenting young travellers will be measured in how well children can adapt and fully live every experience.

Written by: Katja Wulfers

Katja Wulfers is a freelance travel writer who’s visited four continents so far and has been carting her children around the world with her their entire lives. She’s taught her kids how to pack lightly, order a meal using elaborate miming techniques, and sit on a plane for 15-hours. Now they’re flying off on their own and she couldn’t be prouder.

Katja also writes about culinary travel, food, and family and her work has been featured onYummy Mummy Club, Life In Pleasantville, and Canadian Living as well as other publications.

The post How to teach children to observe and respect the cultures you’re visiting. first appeared on Smiling Albino.