Thailand for two months: our adventure with two children (part1)

Travelling in Thailand for two months: our adventure with two children

Travelling as a family is an intense adventure, a bit of a logistical challenge, but above all an incredibly enriching experience. We decided to take off for a two-month trip to Thailand with our two childrenaged 9 and 3, and we want to share all the details of this wonderful adventure with you. If you're thinking of a similar getaway, here's a glimpse of our preparations, our challenges and our discoveries!

Chapter 1: Why this trip?

Winter in France can be long, grey and a little depressing.

This time of year can be particularly gloomy, and the idea of going to the sun seemed like an excellent opportunity to recharge my batteries and move forward with my blog project and take up martial arts in Asia.

It was part of my challenge...

A real personal and family adventure!

At the same time, we felt that our eldest daughter, aged 9, was at an ideal age to start discovering the world in a different way, as she had already travelled quite a bit.

We wanted to broaden his horizons, open his mind to other cultures and help him understand the importance of learning English.

Travelling also means experiencing a different way of life, adapting to a new environment and meeting people from different cultures. It was an experience we wanted her to live to the full.

As for our 3-year-old son, he was in the middle of his transition from nursery to kindergarten. Rather than leaving him in an environment where he was starting to get bored, we saw this trip as an opportunity for learning and discovery, perfect for him too.

And what about my partner?

Initially a little reluctant, she eventually let herself be convinced as our discussions and preparations progressed. Over time, she came to see the project not as a constraint, but as an adventure to be experienced as a family.

And finally, she told me that if the project hadn't gone ahead, she would have regretted it...

Chapter 2: Destination selection and planning

We chose Thailand as our destination for several key reasons.

First and foremost, it's a country that offers magnificent landscapes and a host of family-friendly activities. Whether it's the heavenly beaches, the fascinating temples or the rich flora and fauna, there's always something to discover.

Secondly, we knew about it because we were already there when my partner was pregnant with the big one.

Another key factor in our decision was the ease of travel within the country.

Thailand is well served in terms of transportAnd even if we were parked in a car park, we were still able to get to the airport. And even if we were parked in koh samui (an island), with good transport links from Bangkok and easy access to the neighbouring islands.

Finally, the quality of the health system weighed in the balance. When you're travelling alone or as a couple, you can accept certain risks, but with children, it's imperative to ensure their safety and well-being.

After making enquiries, we were reassured by the competence of the medical infrastructure in Thailand, which is why we had already chosen the Thailand nine years ago because I'm 7 months pregnant. If there's a problem, it's better to have support.

Preparation

Plan a two-month trip to Thailand with children requires a bit of organisation. Here are a few things we've taken into account:

• The climate We chose our period carefully to avoid the monsoon and make the most of the outdoor activities.
• Activities for children : We looked for leisure activities adapted to their ages: water parks, nature excursions, animal encounters...(but that's more done locally...I'll come back to that)
• Infrastructure : Proximity to hospitals and schools was an essential criterion.
• Schooling : We had to make sure that our daughter could continue her apprenticeship in good conditions.

Chapter 3: Schooling and education on the move

One of the trickiest issues to organise was educational continuity for our children.

I started by looking for a French international school in Thailand recognised by the AEFE (Agence pour l'Enseignement Français à l'Etranger).

Two establishments met these criteria: one located in Chiang Mai, in the north of the country, and the other on the island of Koh Samui, in the south.

School for our daughter

We opted for a French school Winfield International School to Koh Samui, recognised by the AEFE, and attracted by its island setting and more relaxed lifestyle.

Once we'd made our choice, we began the process of enrolling our daughter in the school for two months. We also contacted her school in France to obtain their agreement and ensure a smooth transition on her return.

It's important to remember that teaching is different.

Our daughter has school every day from Monday to Friday (no more quiet Wednesdays) but lessons finish at 3.10pm.

Unless you take extra activities (for which you may have to pay). For example, our daughter has extra activities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and finishes around 4.15pm like in France.

However, courses differ.

Our daughter goes to a bilingual school in France (French-Basque) but here in Koh Samui in CE2 she has English, Spanish, Thai, IT and other classes that she doesn't have in France, so it's complicated to compare levels.

An international crèche for our son

The situation was more complex for our 3-year-old son.

We hadn't made up our minds when we arrived...

Once we got to Koh Samui, there were no more places for very young children at her sister's school. We considered using a nanny, but were concerned that this would limit her social interaction and learning.

After some research, we found a crèche internationale located close to our daughter's school. During our visit, we were impressed by the quality of the staff: one person for every four children, a varied educational programme and both indoor and outdoor activities.

The only challenge was the language, as all interactions were in English. At three years old, this sudden immersion could have been destabilising, but we quickly found that our son adapted well.

He gradually began to understand and use a few words in English, which made the experience even more enriching for him.

To be continued in part two...

This first part of our adventure has given you an idea of the preparation and organisation needed to travelling in Thailand for two months with children. But there are still many aspects to explore!

In the second part, we will look at :

• Chapter 4: Accommodation: where did we stay?
• Chapter 5: Local means of transport
• Chapter 6: Travel health and insurance

We'll be sharing our practical advice, useful addresses and tips to ensure your stay is as relaxing and rewarding as ours.

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