Family-Friendly Thai Islands: Samui, Phuket, Lanta, Krabi, Hua Hin Compared

Phuket has the only trauma-certified hospital in this comparison, a 3rd Level centre open 24/7. Samui, Krabi and Hua Hin each have a named hospital with an emergency line. Lanta has no airport and needs two car ferries. A foreign child pays THB 50 to 200 at parks.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Side by side

Every row rests on a government page or the operator’s own page. Hotels and beaches are not ranked here, because none of those facts has an official source.

Hospitals and emergency numbers

1669 is the medical emergency number. It serves critical emergency patients outside a medical facility. For a child who needs a doctor but not an ambulance, go to the hospital directly.

Phuket

The Emergency and Trauma Center of Bangkok Hospital Phuket is on the 1st floor and open 24/7 on +66 7625 4425 ext. 1060 - 62. The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand certifies it as a 3rd Level Trauma Center. Trauma surgeons, general surgeons, emergency care specialists, anesthesiologists, neurological surgeons and orthopedic surgeons are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Koh Samui

Bangkok Hospital Samui is at 57 Moo 3 Thaweerat Phakdee Rd, Amphoe Koh Sa-mui, Surat Thani 84320. The main number is +66 (0) 7742 9500. The emergency patient transfer service runs 24 hours a day.

Krabi and Ao Nang

Krabi Hospital is in Krabi Town at 325 Utarakit Road. The accident and emergency department opens 24 hours a day. The accident hotline is 075-626700 or 1669.

Koh Lanta

Lanta has no sourced hospital in this guide. Krabi Hospital is the mainland option, and 1669 reaches the emergency service.

Hua Hin

Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin is at 888 Phetchakasem Rd., Hua Hin, Prachuapkhirikhan 77110. Its phone number is +6632616800.

Getting there: flights, ferries and car ferries

Koh Samui and Phuket

Samui airport is private, built by Bangkok Airways, the sole domestic operator. Bangkok Airways flies near-hourly to and from Bangkok and advertises Samui flights from THB 2,500. Phuket flights start from THB 1,500.

By sea, the Raja Ferry crossing from Donsak to Koh Samui takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. The adult fare is THB 200. The first trip leaves at 05:00 and arrives 06:30. The last scheduled trip leaves at 19:00 and arrives 20:30.

A Lomprayah catamaran leaves Donsak Pier at 11:00 for Nathon Pier on Koh Samui, arrives 11:45, fare THB 450. Children under 6 ride the Phuket Smart Bus free with a paying adult.

Krabi, Ao Nang and Lanta

Krabi International Airport is about 10 km from the city limits, 15 km from the city centre and 40 km from Ao Nang. Bangkok Airways advertises Krabi flights from THB 1,200.

Lanta has no airport. By car, take Highway 4206 to Ban Hua Hin, then two car ferries, first to Ko Lanta Noi and then to Ko Lanta Yai. Some routes on the islands are steep and may require a 4WD vehicle. A ferry leaves Khlong Chi Lat Pier in Krabi at 11.00 and arrives at Ko Lanta at about 13.00, fare about 350 baht.

For the island in full, see the Koh Lanta guide.

Car seats in hire cars

A child aged 6 or under needs a child safety seat, a special child seat or another way of protection. The Royal Thai Police announcement on child safety seats has been in force since 17 August 2023. Hire vehicles and public vehicles are exempt. A passenger no taller than 135 cm needs a seat belt or another way of protection.

Rain and seasons by destination

The northeast monsoon runs from about mid-October to mid-February. Under it the south is rainy, especially the east side. Heavy rain continues in the south until December, and the east side gets more rain than the west side. The southwest monsoon covers Thailand from mid-May to mid-October.

Koh Samui gets 444.6 mm in November, 294.9 mm in October and 263.1 mm in December. February is its driest month at 64.3 mm. It has 5.6 rainy days in February.

Phuket gets 350.4 mm in September, 336.0 mm in October and 308.7 mm in August. February has 24.0 mm and 3.4 rainy days.

Hua Hin sits in the driest part of the upper east coast of the South, behind the Tenasserim range. A rainy day is a day with 0.1 mm or more of rain. The figures cover 1991 to 2020.

Marine park closures that affect day trips

Mu Ko Ang Thong national park in the Gulf closes from 1 November to 15 December. Phang Nga Bay closes Koh Lawa Yai, Ao Khian and Koh Boi Yai from 1 August to 30 September. On Koh Lanta national park, Koh Rok is closed 1 June to 30 September. Koh Ha and Hin Muang-Daeng are closed 1 August to 30 September.

Beach safety for families

Thailand has lifeguards on duty at designated beaches and a flag system. Follow warning signs, especially red flags. People have drowned in strong riptides, especially during monsoon season. Rip currents can occur at almost every beach.

For the whole trip with children, see Thailand with kids.

Jellyfish come close to shore, particularly in the rainy season from May to October. Stings can be fatal. Box jellyfish are seen occasionally at Ko Lanta, the Phi Phi marine park, Nam Bo Bay in Phuket, Hua Hin and Cha-am, Ko Samui and others.

After a sting, get out of the sea, call for help and phone 1669. The full jellyfish guide is at Jellyfish and rip currents on Thai beaches.

National park fees for children

For the fee schedule a child is aged 3 to 14 or no taller than 140 cm. The fee regulation took effect on 7 June 2022. Group 1 parks charge a foreign child THB 50, group 2 THB 100 and group 3 THB 150.

At Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le and Ko Mai Phai a foreign child pays a special charge of THB 200. Foreign adults pay THB 400 there.

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Not confirmed: No hospital page for Koh Lanta was fetched, so Lanta has no sourced hospital here. No source covers Hua Hin travel from Bangkok. Children's wards and paediatric emergency doctors are not confirmed for any hospital, so call ahead.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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