Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Thailand

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is one of the most luxurious, and priciest, resorts in Phuket, with impeccable tropical grounds and friendly service. There are three upscale swimming pools, a kids' club (with trampoline, video games, and a pool table), and 12 distinct restaurants and bars. Contemporary rooms include balconies and mini-fridges, while the Villa has a private pool. A downside, though, is that the beach isn't suitable for swimming.

The five-pearl Pullman Phuket Arcadia Resort is alone in its class in this part of Phuket. Accessed via a single, windy road that also leads to Naithon Beach and a national park, the hotel is far from any other properties. Highlights include gorgeous design details, extra-comfortable rooms, six on-site bars and restaurants, and an infinity pool overlooking the Andaman Sea. The free, fun, indoor/outdoor kids' club includes a classroom with toys, arts and crafts, and a ball pit. Staff organizes a daily calendar of activities like tie-dye, kids' yoga, fish feeding, and pool games. Babysitting is available for a fee. The natural beach is stunning, but the water can get a little rough at certain times of the year, and steep steps to the beach may be difficult for little ones to traverse (staff is available to drive guests around the resort in small buggies). Rates are generally low for all this luxury, and include Wi-Fi and airport transfers.

On a prime seaside location along a quiet stretch of Kata Noi Beach, this 479-room luxury resort looms large, with six pools, bars, and restaurants across the grounds. As a family-focused resort, Katathani has a stunning amount of kids' activities. The kids' club hosts supervised classes in beading, cooking, and Thai-kite making, among others, and it has a ball-pit, a playground, and a small mountain of toys. There are also four shallow kiddy pools and on-site games for all-ages, like billiards, table tennis, a putting green, and pentaque.

Centara Grand West Sands Resort & Villas Phuket is a massive beachfront resort located near Phuket International Airport. The hotel's most popular feature is definitely its Splash Jungle water park, which has 12 waterslides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and swimming pools. For rainy days, there's an indoor kids' club with toys, video games, a Nintendo Wii, and an air-hockey table. Accommodations range from family-friendly rooms with bunk beds to a villa with a gorgeous private pool. Past guests have complained about crowding at the breakfast buffet and cleanliness issues in the room. Freebies include Wi-Fi, parking, a welcome fruit plate, and a shuttle.

Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket is a luxury property geared towards families with kids. The highlights here are water-related: guests can borrow kayaks to explore the wide stretch of Karon Beach, or spend an entire day at the waterslides, lazy river, and enormous outdoor pool. The location isn't the most convenient, but there are several dining and bar options on-site, along with a kids' club and fitness center. Rooms and suites are on the cramped side, though they all have large, furnished balconies. Villas with private pools, Club level access, and ocean views are available for a hefty price.

Right by the beach in the center of Karon, this luxury resort is an enormous complex with enough on-site activities to keep the average guest content within its boundaries, including five pools, one of which is for kids. The 196 rooms range from simple Superiors with uninspiring views to a huge three-bedroom Presidential Suite suitable for a large family. While all the rooms have plenty of features, including furnished balconies, rainfall showers, and teak furnishings, it's the huge array of facilities that make this property worth considering. Compared to other resorts, there's a huge array of restaurants on-site serving buffets and a la carte menus. Along with traditional Thai dishes, guests can dine on pizzas, Chinese food, and even Mexican -- complete with mariachi entertainment. A kids' club and babysitting are available for a fee.

The beachfront Pullman Khao Lak Katiliya Resort & Spa, about 15 minutes from Khao Lak, sits on beautiful grounds featuring pools with waterfalls, slides, and palm islands. The 223 rooms have terraces, and are spacious and elegantly designed, especially the bathrooms. Terrace Oceanfront, one of the resort's six restaurants, has a rooftop bar with spectacular views over Khao Lak. Breakfast is included in the room rate, but guests complain about limited selection. Video games, mini-golf, archery, tennis, guided bike trips, and boat excursions available, as are kids' clubs for various age groups.

The 246-room beachfront Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao sits on Thailand’s sparkling Andaman Sea, and its breezy, modern design embraces the jungle setting at every turn. In an area of Phuket filled with plenty of expensive hotels, this upscale resort is a great value, with two on-site restaurants (kids under 12 eat free at buffets), free kids' and teen clubs with games and activities, a large infinity pool, live entertainment, and, of course, the beach. Kids and Family Suites have separate kids’ rooms with playful decor and furniture.

Amatara is a luxury property overlooking the Panwa Cape on Phuket's quiet southern end. With a breathtaking infinity-edge pool overlooking the Andaman Sea, a private sandy beach, and tricked-out villas and rooms, the Amatara Resort is an ideal spot for couples and families seeking a luxurious tropical vacation with all the trimmings. Fun extras include iPad tablets in the rooms, a kids' club with scheduled activities, and a free breakfast buffet. Those who would prefer to explore Thailand may not appreciate the semi-isolated location; expect a 20-minute drive to Phuket Town and 45 minutes to the airport.

The Indigo Pearl is a 177-room luxury property situated a short drive from Phuket International Airport. It's in an isolated location, away from the famed nightlife of Patong Beach, but the beach, as well as restaurants and bars, are within walking distance. Suites and villas feature flat-screen TVs and balconies or terraces. Guests rave about the free breakfast, and there are several other restaurants and bars on-site (babysitting service is available). Recreational options include three pools, two tennis courts, water sports, yoga, Pilates, a kids' club, and kids' pool. This is the most expensive hotel in Nai Yang, but it's also in a class of its own.

Marina Phuket Resort is a luxury complex set in dense tropical greenery overlooking Phuket's Karon Beach (to which the resort offers direct access). Hotel highlights include a lagoon-style pool and kids' pool, both with waterfalls and both surrounded by thick jungle greenery. Families with children can also enjoy the dinosaur-themed, 18-hole golf course which includes life-sized reptiles and eerie grottoes. Spacious rooms have traditional Thai style and modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, Apple Mac mini-computers, and lighting and air-conditioning control panels.

The upscale Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort & Villas is part of the Laguna Resort complex, and guests can take advantage of the facilities at several other neighboring resorts. The Outrigger comprises 255 spacious suites and villas, all of which have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and private balconies. There's a colorful kids' club with padded floors and a ball room; babysitting can be arranged on request. The two all-day restaurants -- both with kids' menus -- offer casual international comfort food and traditional Thai cuisine. Meals can be taken in rooms, in the dining room, on the terrace, or by the large pool.

The upscale Royal Embassy Resort & Spa is a small, family-oriented boutique resort with just 20 bungalows, apartments, and free-standing villas, many with full kitchens. One of the region's older properties, the Royal Embassy is simple and laid-back, with an authentic Thai vibe that pervades its restaurant and tropical gardens with two pools. Rooms are individually decorated, with wood or tile floors, jewel-tone fabrics, and private patios; the decor is not the most trendy or exciting, but it's clean, pleasant, and welcoming. The hotel is located in the village of Kamala Beach, with the beach just a five-minute walk away, and local tourist attractions within easy access. There is a free shuttle to the beach and a nearby supermarket, plus babysitting and laundry services are available.