Andamanda: new water park opens in Phuket

New Phuket water park Andamanda offers a wide range of rides, slides, attractions, and activities, all interwoven with Thai culture, legend and mythology.

Andamanda Phuket is a brand-new water park and leisure complex that will immerse visitors in a world of Thai mythology and legend, while enjoying the thrill of several exciting waterslides. It is located in the Kathu district of Phuket, between the main tourism hubs of Phuket Town and Patong Beach.

Andamanda is the largest leisure and entertainment facility in Phuket, covering 9.3 hectares of land, comprising a wide range of recreational components, including a Thai heritage-themed water park with five separate zones, (Coral World, The Pearl Palace, Emerald Forest, Great Andaman Bay and Naga Jungle) and two dining areas (The Village and Tropical Beach) – plus extensive entertainment spaces and retail outlets.

The complex includes a collection of thrilling slides and rides designed by WhiteWater West, who have worked with global theme parks such as Atlantis Dubai and Disney. Guests can float down a 550-metre-long lazy river, the longest in Asia, and splash in a vast 10,000 square-metre wave pool that will generate waves up to three-metres high – the highest of any pool in Thailand. Andamanda offers cozy cabanas and VIP pavilions throughout the park, tropical beachfront restaurants, and a series of stunning swim-up bars – including one nestled in a near-life-size replica of Koh Tapu, Thailand’s famous “James Bond Island” – allowing visitors to chill out in style.

What sets Andamanda apart, is its focus on Thai culture and mythology. The park will immerse guests in the legend of “The Lost Kingdom of the Nagon”, an inspirational folk tale set amid the landscapes and seascapes of the Andaman coast. There is a floating market with traditional boats, local arts & crafts, authentic food & beverage outlets, and a stage for cultural performances.

Sustainability is at the core of this development. Andamanda will adopt a circular approach to water management, with a continuous loop of water being reused and recycled. Single-use plastics are prohibited, over 100,000 trees have been planted and solar energy is used to power the complex.

To celebrate the return of international guests, Andamanda Phuket has unveiled its early bird ticket prices. For adults, the “Adventure Explorer” ticket is priced at just THB 850 (AUD 34) – down from the standard price of THB 1500 (AUD 60), while children below 122cm in height can enjoy the “Mini Explorer” price of just THB 550 (AUD 22) – down from THB 1000 (AUD 40). Children under 90cm tall enter for free. Andamanda Phuket is open daily from 10am to 7pm.

To book your tickets visit andamandaphuket.com

Columbia Pictures theme park to open in Pattaya

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Amazon Falls have joined forces to develop the world’s first Columbia Pictures Theme Park, set to open in October 2021.

Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse will be located on a 14-acre property in the seaside town of Bangsaray, 20 minutes from Pattaya and 90 minutes from Bangkok, and will feature state-of-the-art rides and newly themed attractions that will bring to life characters from some of the most successful Hollywood movies including Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Bad Boys, Men in Black and Hotel Transylvania.

Catering to all ages, the park will have eight themed zones with both water and land-based attractions. There will also be live shows, immersive entertainment, interactive props, unique sets as well as themed restaurants, merchandise and retailers.

Men in Black Thrill Rides – Aquaverse’s most thrilling rides and attractions can be found here, including hair-raising water coaster rides, one of which has a 12-meter free-fall ride that sends you careening down a MIB Wormhole.

Ghostbusters Supernatural Experience – Step into the Ghostbusters portal and zip across ghost traps as you glide down a water coaster or dare to enter the world’s first and only fully-enclosed water dome on a family raft ride.

Bad Boys Raceway – Experience the thrill of the chase and put the pedal to the metal around this new outdoor go-kart track, a neon Miami themed racecourse.

Jumanji Jungle Adventure – Brave the world of Jumanji through jungle-themed water slides, visiting Jaguar Mountain while being chased by Mandrills before plunging into Jumanji’s splash pool.

Hotel Transylvania Kid-Friendly Zone – Aquaverse’s biggest water park attraction featuring over 100 water features, splash buckets and water rockets.

Surf’s Up in Surfer’s Paradise – Surf a mighty wave on the exhilarating dual Flowrider!

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Swallow Falls River Adventure – Take a break from the day’s thrills by touring the Aquaverse along the lazy river and meet the amazing Foodimals featured in the hit film.

VIVO Wave Pool – Relax in a giant wave pool inspired by the upcoming animated musical.

More information: http://www.columbiapicturesaquaverse.com/

Thailand’s Top 7 for kids

Thailand is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the world so picking a Top 7 for kids is a hard call. Travel writer Deborah Dickson-Smith shares her favourites.

Washing Elephants, Elephant Hills Safari

1. Elephant Hills, Khao Sok

About two hours’ drive from Phuket, at this safari-style luxury camping resort, you’ll learn how to feed and bathe elephants, as well as learn all about their connection with Thai people and the environmental challenges they face. As well as this, kids get to explore the great outdoors, with a raft ride down river, and at the nearby Floating Rainforest Camp, jump off your floating accommodation for a swim in the lake, take a guided trek through the jungle and look out for gibbons and hornbills in the tree tops.

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2. Flying Gibbon Zipline, Chiang Mai

One of the original tree tops course in Thailand, this mega-Zipline takes about three hours to complete as you make your way through a combination of Ziplines, abseiling, sky bridges and forest walks suspended high up above the valley floor. There are now also Flying Gibbons at Pattaya, Koh Pha Ngan and Siem Rep.

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3. Bai Pai Cooking School, Bangkok

There are cooking classes all over Thailand of course, in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi. Bai Pai Cooking Class takes you first to the markets to show you how to choose your ingredients and then it’s back to school how to cook them. Teaching kids how to cooks is a great way to get them to try new foods. My daughter has kept her Bai Pai cook book for a few years now, and every time we have a barbecue, she insists on making ‘her’ satay chicken with peanut sauce.

Bangkok Flower Market orchids

4. Bangkok’s Markets

Best visited after dark, the colourful and fragrant Bangkok Flower Markets is actually my favourite, but all of Bangkok’s markets are great fun to explore with kids. The sights and sounds, smells and tastes area festival for the senses. Take a trip to the outskirts of the city to visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and nearby Maeklong Railway Market – with market stalls set within centimetres of the passing trains.

Krabi Eco Tours - The Tree Top Adventure Park

5. Tree Top Adventure Park, Krabi

Located in Krabi, Koh Chang, Pattaya and Kanchanaburi, these high ropes courses are a bit out of the ordinary, with obstacle to master that include a ‘flying’ broomstick and a push bike you have to navigate across a rope bridge. I know I’ve already mentioned a treetops course above (Flying Gibbon) but this one is a completely different experience – challenging coordination as well as fear of heights! Also my kids never ever tire of tree tops course – the more the merrier. Nearby the park there are also some great walking trails though the rainforest and mangroves.

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6. Sample village life in a Home Stay

There are plenty of home stays dotted around Thailand, usually in the more undiscovered regions, or, like the one pictured above, actually quite close to bustling tourist hubs such as Phuket. The quiet island of Koh Lao is only a 30-minute boat ride from Phuket, but it’s like stepping into a completely different world – simple village life, where you can eat sleep and play with your host family. They’re a great way to meet the locals and learn a bit more about Thai culture – or ‘Discover Thainess’ as they call it.

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7. Explore Bangkok’s Waterways and Canals.

Visit one of Thailand’s colourful floating markets (Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is not far from Bangkok) or take a combination canal and bike tour of the city’s waterways where you can explore the rivers and canals that have connected this city for hundreds of years, on two wheels and long-tail boat.

What are your favourite experiences with kids in Thailand? We’d love you to share them here!

Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai with kids

Chiang Mai is the provincial capital of Thailand’s north. It’s known for its rich cultural history and it’s one of the best places to visit in Thailand with family. What’s there to do in Chiang Mai with kids? We asked the professionals at Expedia.com.au to narrow it down for you.

Chiang Mai with kids Wat Phra Singh temple

Eat

 

Food stalls: Thai food includes kid-friendly options that may surprise you. Some favourites are sweet potato balls, cashew chicken, mango sticky rice, and roti (flatbread topped with condensed milk and bananas). The stalls near Chang Phuak Gate at the north edge of Old Town are a good starting point.

Chiang Mai with kids close up of food stall

Dash Teak House: This is a popular spot for Thai families and tourists alike. There are large tables, plenty of space outdoors for the kids to tire themselves out, and a big, diverse menu. What more could a family ask for?

iBerry Garden: Located northwest of the Old City in Nimmanhaemin, Chiang Mai’s trendiest area, this artsy ice cream shop offers cones, cakes, and great photo ops with its quirky art installations. Bonus: It has air conditioning.

Café de Thaan Aoan: You’ve had an exciting day exploring, and all you want is some cheap, tasty food and a nice blast of air conditioning. Enter this Old Town café, which has a huge menu and reasonable prices for the area.

Play

Old City temples: There are three temples in the Old City, located within walking distance of one another: Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Phra Singh. Teens will love Monk Chats at Wat Chedi Luang, which is just what it sounds like—a chance to sit down and chat with a monk!

Chiang Mai with kids Wat Chedi Luana temple

Saturday Market: The markets of the Old City are a must-visit for all travellers, including families. However, the Sunday Market tends to be more crowded; try the Saturday Market instead if you’ve got little ones in tow.

Cooking school: It’s perfect—a unique family activity that will keep the kids occupied and introduce them to the cuisine of a different culture. Many cooking schools in Chiang Mai welcome kids of all ages, complete with a trip to the market for ingredients.

Art in Paradise: This is an art museum with a twist kids (and adults!) love—it’s filled with impressive 3D murals. From the jungle to ancient Egypt, you’ll look like you’re really there. Don’t forget your camera!

Stay

Old City: If you want to walk to everything, the Old City is the most central place to stay in Chiang Mai with kids. Hotels here tend to be boutique, but are ideal for smaller groups who like that personal touch.

Chiang Mai with kids walls of the Old City

Nimmanhaemin: This neighbourhood just northwest of the Old City is great for families. Maya Mall has a movie theatre, food court, playroom, and arcade. The area is also home to off-the-beaten-path, kid-friendly attractions like the Museum of World Insects.

Riverside: Got a large family? If you’re bringing along everyone from bub to grandma—or travelling with multiple families—consider a stay in one of the spacious resorts of the Riverside area.

Bangkok City Guide: The Best Things To Do In Bangkok With Kids

Family travel blogger Rene Young of Together We Roam shares her top tips for a stopover in Bangkok with kids.

Gilded palaces share Bangkok’s skyline with mega malls, the traditional collides with the ultra-modern in a most frenetic pace. The wonderfully diverse capital offers myriad ways to choose your own family adventure.

Explore the magnificent Grand Palace

Allow at least half a day to explore the Grand Palace’s enormous 21-hectare grounds and stroller friendly pathways. Divided into an outer, middle and inner court there are countless temples, pavilions and royal buildings to admire. The intricately decorated pediments and statues, manicured gardens and golden spired rooftops around the grounds a marvel in its own right.

Bangkok-with-Kids-Grand Palace-Statues

Drop lucky coins at Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

Wat Pho stands as one of the city’s oldest temples, just to the south of the Grand Palace complex, and is home to a impressive 45-metre long golden Reclining Buddha featuring intricate mother of pearl inlay and Buddhist Sanskrit.

Let kids run the world at KidZania Bangkok

KidZania is a unique Disneyeque concept where kids work and earn Kidzos (KidZania currency) to buy experiences. It’s capitalism for kids done in a super cute way. Kids get to ‘work’ in a variety of occupations, they can; solve crime as a police officer, hose down a smoking hotel as a fire fighter, attend to the sick and wounded at the hospital, become a flight attendant at AirAsia or attend university which entitles graduates further discounts.

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Get hands on at Museum Siam, Bangkok

A short walk from Wat Pho is the Museum Siam, one of the best museums for children in Bangkok. What once was a building for the Ministry of Commerce has been transformed into a modern, bright and beautiful museum that boasts a huge range of super fun and interactive exhibits to help visitors with kids discover Thailand’s history.

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Cruise along the Chao Phraya River

Snaking its way through Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River is the lifeblood of the city and taking in the views from the water is a lot of fun with the family.

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Explore the canals and discover Bangkok’s best floating markets

Floating markets are a nod to the days where the river and canals (klongs) were used as main thoroughfares and connected Bangkok’s communities for trade. Long tail boats loaded with fresh produce and wares from silk art, piles of bright marigolds to fresh river caught fish were transported to central markets and sold fresh from the boat. Three of the best:

  • Taling Chan floating market
  • Amphawa Floating Market
  • Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Watch as trains rattle through the Maeklong Railway Market (Day Trip Idea)

The Mae Klong Railway Market is most adored in our family, while it is quite spectacle witnessing a fresh seafood market positioned right on the train tracks. It’s discovering the authentic and unfiltered ‘Thainess’ that appeals. It’s as close as we got to the real Thai way of life with warm smiles from stall owners who weren’t out to sell you knock of sunglasses.

BangkokwithKids-MaeklongRailwayMarket-Kids-Tracks

Let off some steam at BOUNCE inc Thailand

Travelling with kids does involve some give and take, swap temples and markets and let the kids loose with over 80 interconnected trampolines at BOUNCE INC Bangkok.

BOUNCEBangkok-KlookImage-Trampoline

Shop ‘til you drop

There’s no doubt about it – Thai’s love to shop! An abundant neon-lit malls beckon. Enjoy Thai’s favourite past time and get your shopping on! There are many a clean air-conditioned corridor to stroll and shiny gravity defying escalator to ride that lead to floor upon floor of retail heaven.

Escape the city chaos at Lumpini Park – Bangkok’s oldest

Get a glimpse into Bangkok life, where your kids have a chance to play with the local kids. Partake in a tai chi or ballroom dancing lessons or check out the great big monitor lizards that amble around.

PororoAquaParkTicketinBangkok

Cool off at the Pororo AquaPark (Day Trip Idea)

Newly opened in March 2018 the Pororo Aqua Park located on the 6th floor of Central Plaza Bangna is the best way to escape the heat in Bangkok with kids. A short 20-30 minute drive from central Bangkok and kids can be splashing in fountains, zipping down slides, swimming in a variety of pools or floating down a lazy river(my kids fav!)

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Take in the sights, sounds and smells of Chinatown

Chinatown is one of Bangkok’s most fascinating districts, packed with restaurants, shops and cultural sights that make it a must to explore.

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Cuddle kitty’s at Caturday Cat Cafe

The Caturday Cat Cafe is home to around 40 gorgeous felines which are more than happy to be cuddled and stroked while you enjoy a coffee or afternoon tea. Pay a little extra for a cat snack and watch them pounce all over you for a little cat snack.

Embrace your inner rainbow unicorn at Bangkok’s Unicorn Café

If you prefer rainbow unicorns over kittens then Bangkok’s Unicorn Café is not to be missed. Located on a corner of a nondescript side street, the Unicorn Café is fast becoming Bangkok’s Instagram institution.

Escape to SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World

SEA LIFE Bangkok Open Hours: daily at 10.00 AM and closes at 9.00 PM. Last entry is at 8pm.

When the kids are completely over Bangkok’s temples, can’t stand another shopping mall and can’t bear the look of another Pad Thai in the heat then SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World, conveniently located in the Siam Paragon Mall – is a easy, central, indoor entertainment option especially for kids.

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For an incredibly comprehensive guide to Bangkok with Kids, including maps, opening times and detailed instructions on how to reach each of these attractions, plus a guide to the best shopping centres and places to eat for kids, visit the full Bangkok guide on Rene Young’s blog: Together we Roam.

Phuket with Kids – 7 reasons to have a family holiday in Phuket

Phuket with kids – is it overrated and to be avoided or a great family holiday destination? Travel blogger Rene Young, decides to find out for herself why Phuket is till one of the most visited destinations for families on her blog; Together We Roam.

It was time we took a Phuket family holiday to see for ourselves, and answer the curious question: why Phuket with kids? Continue reading “Phuket with Kids – 7 reasons to have a family holiday in Phuket”

Four of the best: Family Friendly Hotels in Phuket

Phuket has many beaches, and even more hotels and resorts so it can be a tricky thing to pick the right area and the right hotel for you. Some areas are best for young party animals, some for romance, but if it’s family friendly you’re after, here are four of the best, hand-picked by family travel blogger Deborah Dickson-Smith (Where To Next?). Continue reading “Four of the best: Family Friendly Hotels in Phuket”