Kids’ first trip abroad: Thailand through South African eyes

There is nothing quite like watching your children step onto foreign soil for the first time: the excitement, the nerves, the “are we really in another country?” questions. Our kids’ very first trip abroad took us to Thailand, and from the moment we arrived on 7 December, it felt like the start of something big for our family.

We began with 4 nights in Phuket, staying at The Heritage Patong Hotel. Patong was a sensory overload in the best way: bright lights, busy streets, incredible food, and cats everywhere you look. On our first day, we packed in a full city tour: feeding and swimming with elephants, watching a cobra show, wandering through colourful Phuket Old Town, and visiting Mama’s jewellery shop.

Day 2 was all about beach-hopping along Phuket’s coastline, then on day 3 we headed out to the famous Phi Phi Islands, which absolutely lived up to the postcards.

From there, our adventure shifted to island life. We departed from the pier by speedboat for a new experience: a 2½ hour journey to tiny Koh Mook, where we stayed 4 nights at Happy Time Bungalows. The island is only about 5 square kilometres, but it felt like our own little paradise. Charlie Beach treated us to the most incredible sunsets, Emerald Cave was a definite must-do, and renting scooters made exploring the island easy and fun. There is a range of accommodation on Koh Mook, from simple bungalows to more comfortable stays, and the kids absolutely loved the laid-back vibe.

In true “let’s try everything” fashion, we also rented a motorbike with a sidecar. It looked simple enough, but driving it was a different story. We quickly realised the locals are seriously talented to make it look so effortless and returned it not long after with a new respect for their skills. Leaving Koh Mook was bittersweet. Our hosts were wonderful, always helpful, and happy to go the extra mile, which made saying goodbye even harder.

Next up was Koh Lipe, often called the “Maldives of Thailand,” and it really does deserve the name. We spent 4 nights at Lipe Banyan Apartments, a self-catering option with a beautiful ocean view from our 4th-floor balcony. There are no scooters for hire on Koh Lipe, only shared taxis at THB 50 per person to anywhere on the island, which keeps things simple. We visited Tarutao National Marine Park, spotted a flying lemur, and laughed at the cheeky monkeys trying to grab any opportunity they could, something very familiar to us as South Africans.

Koh Lipe’s Walking Street became our daily go-to: everything you need within easy reach, 7-Elevens dotted around, and endless food and snack options. One travel reality check: we discovered an empty ATM and had to draw cash at the foreign exchange until it was refilled, so carrying a bit of extra cash is never a bad idea. Thai pancakes quickly became a family obsession, and the fresh fruit juices and local food were a highlight for everyone.

All too soon, our 4 nights were up, and it was time for the long journey back: a 5½ hour speedboat ride to Phuket via Koh Lanta. If you are planning something similar, here is my tip of the day: consider flying via Langkawi instead, which turns that journey into around 1½ hours. For us, though, travelling by sea was part of the adventure, and we loved the fact that we had done something a little different by exploring smaller, lesser-known islands that many South African travellers have not yet discovered or booked.

We tailored this trip precisely because these islands are not as popular in the South African market, and it paid off. For two full weeks, it was pure bliss: new experiences, new foods, new friends, and the joy of seeing our kids fall in love with travelling. The only question we had as we left was: when can we go back?

Next stop: Dubai.