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

For hospital backup, Phuket stands out: its 3rd Level trauma centre is the only trauma-certified one in this comparison and runs 24/7. Samui, Krabi and Hua Hin each have a named hospital with an emergency line. Lanta has no airport and takes two car ferries, and park fees for a foreign child run THB 50 to 200.

Phuket is the safest pick for hospital backup, and Samui or Krabi suit you if you want an easy arrival. Hotels and beaches are left unranked here, because none of those facts has an official source.

Side by side

Hospitals and emergency numbers

Keep 1669 handy: it is the medical emergency number, and it serves critical emergency patients outside a medical facility. When your child needs a doctor but not an ambulance, go straight to the hospital.

• Phuket: the Emergency and Trauma Center of Bangkok Hospital Phuket is on the 1st floor, 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.
• Koh Samui: Bangkok Hospital Samui is at 57 Moo 3 Thaweerat Phakdee Rd, Amphoe Koh Sa-mui, Surat Thani 84320. Its main number is +66 (0) 7742 9500.
• Krabi and Ao Nang: Krabi Hospital is at 325 Utarakit Road in Krabi Town, with an accident and emergency department open 24 hours a day. For accidents dial 075-626700 or 1669.
• Koh Lanta: Krabi Hospital is the mainland option. For anything urgent on the island, dial 1669.
• Hua Hin: Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin is at 888 Phetchakasem Rd., Hua Hin, Prachuapkhirikhan 77110. Save +6632616800 in your phone before you arrive.

Getting there

Samui’s airport is private, built by Bangkok Airways, the sole domestic operator. Flights run near-hourly to and from Bangkok, from THB 2,500. By sea, the Raja Ferry from Donsak takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and costs THB 200 for an adult.

Phuket flights start from THB 1,500, and children under 6 ride the Smart Bus free with a paying adult. Krabi International Airport is about 40 km from Ao Nang, with flights from THB 1,200.

Lanta has no airport. By car, drive Highway 4206 to Ban Hua Hin, then take two car ferries. Without a car, the ferry from Khlong Chi Lat Pier in Krabi leaves at 11.00 and arrives at about 13.00 for about 350 baht. Everything else about the island is in the Koh Lanta guide.

Rain and seasons

The southwest monsoon covers Thailand from mid-May to mid-October. After that the northeast monsoon runs to about mid-February, and the east side of the south is the rainier one. Heavy rain continues in the south until December.

So Phuket, Lanta and Krabi are wettest from August to October, while Samui peaks later, in November. Hua Hin sits in the driest part of the upper east coast, behind the Tenasserim range.

Beach safety for families

Read the flags before anyone gets in the water, and take red flags most seriously. People have drowned in strong riptides, especially in monsoon season, and rip currents can occur at almost every beach.

Jellyfish come close to shore, particularly in the rainy season from May to October, and stings can be fatal. After a sting, get out of the sea, call for help and phone 1669. More detail is in Jellyfish and rip currents on Thai beaches, and the whole family trip is in Thailand with kids.

National park fees for children

For the fee schedule, a child is aged 3 to 14 or no taller than 140 cm. The fee follows the park’s group.

At Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le and Ko Mai Phai, a special charge applies: THB 200 for a foreign child and THB 400 for a foreign adult.

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Not confirmed: No hospital page for Koh Lanta was fetched, so Lanta has no sourced hospital here. 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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