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Plan In Advance

If you havenˇt visited this part of the world before, you may not be familiar with what is available to buy for children, what the medical facilities are like in the unfortunate event your child becomes sick, etc.

In Thailand, particularly in the larger cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket you will be able to find every thing, which you need for small children or babies. Whether itˇs formula, diapers, bottles and accessories, clothing, toys - between the department stores and the more western super markets, youˇll find everything that you need.

In Bangkok, the main department stores are Central, Emporium, Robinsons, Isatan and Zen (see Department Stores with Amusement Centres for the locations). The more Western style supermarkets are Foodland (in Patpong, Silom and Sukhumvit Soi 5 opposite the Amari Boulevard Hotel) which is open 24 hours and Villa Market (in the Ploenchit Centre, Sukhumvit Soi 33 and Sukhumvit Soi 49).

The hospital facilities here are excellent. As all the services are private, it is important to ensure that you have medical insurance for yourself and your children before travelling. The top hosptals in Bangkok are Bumrungrad (http://www.bumrungrad.com) on Sukhumvit Soi 3, Samitivej (http://www.samitivej.co.th) on Sukhumvit Soi 49 and Bangkok Nursing Home on Silom Soi Convent. There are also good hospitals in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and samui. The hotels are all able to call out a doctor to come to your room, should the need arise.

Thais really love children so donˇt be surprised if wherever you go, particularly if you go to a restaurant, that they want to pick up the children, touch them, play with them or take them into the kitchen and give them sweet local foods. This is particularly the case if the children are fair haired and blue eyed. In other parts of the world we are suspicious of strangers paying attention to our children, however in Thailand it is meant in the most kind and good hearted way. Some children really love all the attention, however others can feel frightened or overwhelmed by it. Donˇt be afraid to politely ask people not to touch - a smile and a shrug and now offense will be caused.

Before you leave home, visit the excellent website www.travelforkids.com. It will give you plenty of trips for keeping your sanity whilst travelleing (read the articles with tips for traveling with pre-schoolers and traveling with stuffed toys!).

Another resource is Travel with children (Fourth edition), by Cathy Lanigan, published by Lonely Planet. The book is described as "tantrum-free travel for toddlers to teens covering all parts of the globe ... travel advice that's as heavy on fun as it is on practicalities ... Designed to be a pre-departure planning tool as well as an on-the-road companion." It also includes 5 page travel games and a special section on natural remedies for unwell kids.

Alternatively, Are we nearly there? The complete guide to traveling with babies, toddlers and children by Samantha Gore Lyons is also a helpful resource.