Where to Stay in Phuket With Kids: Best Family Hotels, Resorts & Areas

Beach base, big resort or quiet escape?

Phuket is one of the easiest places in Thailand to take young children, and a big part of that comes down to where you base yourself.

We’ve travelled here twice with little ones. Once with Adrian at five months, and again two years later as a family of four with baby Zoe – so we know how much the right hotel in Phuket shapes the trip.

The best place to stay in Phuket with children depends entirely on what kind of holiday you’re after.

Some families want an apartment near the beach where they can make breakfast and walk everywhere.

Others want a resort where the kids disappear into the kids’ club for an hour, with everything on site. And some want to escape the crowds on a quiet peninsula or a small island just offshore.

Those were the three choices we kept coming back to ourselves, anyway.

If you’re still deciding what to actually do once you’re in Phuket, we’ve also got a full Phuket with kids guide covering beaches, activities and all the practical bits.

Read on to find out where to stay in Phuket with kids.

We’ll guide you through how long to stay, what to know before booking and share our recommendations for the best family hotels in Phuket.

Where to stay in Phuket with kids:

• Budget: Baan Chay Lay Resort – Where we stayed in Karon. Family rooms with a kitchen and a half-sun, half-shade pool.
• Value for money: 6th Avenue Surin Beach – We enjoyed this spacious apartment hotel in quieter Surin with a rooftop pool.
• Value for money: OZO Phuket – A well-rounded resort option in walkable, swim-friendly Kata.
• Luxury: The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa – A private-island escape with the best kids’ club we’ve found in Thailand.
• Ultra-luxury: InterContinental Phuket Resort – Kamala’s grandest stay, with five pools, a kids’ club and impressive pool villas.

Search for the best family hotels in Phuket here.

Where is Phuket?

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, located in the Andaman Sea off the country’s west coast in the south. A bridge at the northern end connects it to the mainland.

For families, the useful thing to know is that the popular beaches run down the west coast (Bang Tao, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata and Nai Harn, roughly north to south), while the international airport is up north.

A few quieter corners (like Cape Panwa and the small islands) lie to the east.

It’s a big island, so the drive from the airport to your hotel can take anywhere from 30 minutes (the northern beaches) to over an hour (the south). Something to factor in with tired children after a long flight.

How long to stay in Phuket with kids

How long you stay shapes what kind of hotel makes sense, so it’s worth thinking about before you book.

Here’s roughly what different lengths could look like.

A short stay (2-4 nights)

2 to 4 nights is plenty for a first taste, especially if Phuket is the start or end of a longer Thailand trip.

At this length, staying put pays off.

You probably won’t want to lose half a day moving hotels with a baby or small children.

So, pick one beach base with a good pool and settle into an easy rhythm: pool in the morning, a midday break out of the sun, the beach late afternoon.

A resort with everything on site works particularly well for a short stay, since you’re not dependent on taxis or finding restaurants with tired children.

A week (the sweet spot)

A week is the comfortable default for most families, and it’s roughly what we’d suggest.

It gives you enough time not to feel rushed.

You could have a few proper beach-and-pool days, a temple visit or two (Big Buddha and Wat Chalong are both nice to visit with kids), maybe a gentle half-day boat trip if your children are old enough, and still time to do very little.

At a week, you’ll likely settle on a couple of favourite local restaurants and a daily pool routine.

Splitting between two hotels is possible but not necessary; one good base is usually plenty.

Ten days or more

With ten days or longer, splitting your stay starts to make sense, and it’s a nice way to see two sides of the island.

A common combination is a lively beach town for the first stretch (Karon or Kata, with restaurants and life within walking distance) followed by a few quieter days somewhere secluded.

This could be at a resort up north, or a short hop over to a small island like Naka to wind down at the end.

This is also when day trips open up to the likes of Phang Nga Bay, the smaller islands off the east coast, or a slower exploration of the beaches you haven’t reached yet.

What we did

On our first trip to Phuket, we stayed 18 nights (10 in Karon and 8 in Surin) as the opening leg of two months in Thailand.

On our second visit, we based ourselves in the quiet southeast at Cape Panwa and finished with a few days on The Naka Island (adlink) as the last stop of our Andaman Islands boat hopping trip.

Both times, splitting time between a livelier base and a calmer one worked well for us with the kids.

Good to know before booking with kids

A few specific features make a massive difference in how relaxing your days will be. These are the ones we’d prioritise.

• A kitchen or kitchenette takes a lot of pressure off, especially with babies. Being able to heat food, store milk or make a simple breakfast means you don’t have to take a tired baby out for every meal. This matters most for the youngest children and is a big reason the apartments below suit families with babies and toddlers so well.
• A pool with some shade is worth a lot at midday, when the sun is too strong for little ones and the beach isn’t an option. Our pool at Baan Chay Lay Resort (adlink) was half sun, half shade, which was ideal.
• Proximity to the beach and restaurants counts for more with children. Hauling a stroller, beach bag and a baby half a kilometre in the heat gets old fast. The closer you are to the sand and food, the lighter your days will likely feel.
• An extra room, a terrace or connecting rooms let you put a baby down in a dark room while you stay up. We always booked either a king bed or two double beds for co-sleeping space. Note that connecting rooms at resorts sell out fast in high season, so book early.
• Beach safety varies by season. The west coast beaches face the open Andaman, and waves and currents pick up in the rainy season (roughly May to October). Watch the red and yellow flags, and don’t let children swim under a red flag.
• Car seats aren’t standard in taxis or Grab/Bolt cars in Thailand. If that matters to you, bring your own or arrange one in advance. Also, factor in the transfer distance from the airport into where you base yourself.

You might be interested in:Thailand With a Baby: 16 Tips & Practical Advice for Family Travel

Everything we know about travelling in Thailand with a baby – including safety, packing, flights and where to stay

Read more

A relaxed beach base: Walk to the sand, cook (some of) your own meals

If you’d rather have an apartment with a kitchen than stay at a big resort, basing yourself in a low-key beach area is the way to go.

This is what has worked best for us when visiting Phuket with a baby.

You get a kitchen, space, the beach and restaurants within a short walk, without paying resort prices or feeling penned in.

It suits the youngest children especially well, as so much of your day happens in and around your own room rather than at organised facilities.

For a first family trip to Phuket, this is also the gentlest introduction.

We think Karon and Surin (adlinks) both offer a great balance, with swim-friendly beaches, plenty of restaurants and conveniences, and a relaxed feel without the party scene of Patong.

Baan Chay Lay Resort (Karon)

We stayed at Baan Chay Lay Resort (adlink) on our first trip, in a small apartment with a sofa and kitchen at a great price.

The half-sun, half-shade pool was perfect with a baby, as we could keep him out of direct sun while still enjoying the water.

The kitchen meant we could prepare simple meals and store milk, which took the pressure off mealtimes.

Baan Chay Lay is located just behind Karon Temple, a few minutes from the beach.

It’s good to know that the sidewalk doesn’t run the whole way from the beach to the temple, so if you’re walking everywhere with a buggy, staying closer to the beach is worth considering.

The stretch without a pavement is only about 200 metres, though, and you can simply walk along the road. Taxis are also readily available.

See prices and availability at Baan Chay Lay Resort here or search for the best family hotels in Karon here (adlinks).

6th Avenue Surin Beach

At Surin Beach, we stayed at 6th Avenue Surin Beach (adlink), a spacious apartment hotel with a gym and a rooftop pool that stayed surprisingly quiet.

We had an extra room with a kitchen, dining table and sofa.

This made staying with a baby much easier, as we could put the little one down in the bedroom and still have somewhere to sit.

Surin itself is a touch more upmarket and calmer than Karon.

Behind the beach, a sandy lane lined with food stalls gives the area a relaxed feel, while the main road just beyond has restaurants and other essentials within easy reach.

See prices and availability at 6th Avenue Surin Beach here or search for the best family hotels in Surin here (adlink).

A full resort with a kids’ club and pools

If you’d rather have everything on site, like a kids’ club, multiple pools, restaurants and someone to entertain the children for an hour while you breathe, there’s no shortage of family resorts in Phuket.

A resort handles much of the logistics, which helps a lot on a short stay or with children of different ages who want different things from the day.

We’ve organised these resorts by price tier below, from ultra-luxury down to more affordable.

Note: We haven’t stayed at the resorts in this section ourselves (our own Phuket bases are covered in the other sections of this guide), but these are the ones we’ve vetted most thoroughly and would shortlist for our own next trip.

Where to stay at a family resort in Phuket?

• Ultra-luxury: InterContinental Phuket Resort – Kamala’s grandest stay, with five pools and splendid pool villas.
• Luxury: JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa – One of the most complete family programmes on the island, on quiet Mai Khao Beach near the airport.
• Luxury: Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort – Hillside calm above Kamala with a vast infinity pool and the child-friendly Camp Hyatt.
• Luxury: Katathani Phuket Beach Resort – Pools and waterslides galore on quiet Kata Noi.
• Mid-range: Paradox Resort Phuket – Resort facilities with a quick, stroller-friendly walk into Karon.
• Mid-range: OZO Phuket – A well-rounded option in walkable, swim-friendly Kata.
• Budget: Centara Kata Resort – Kids’ club and waterslides at the friendliest price.

Search for the best family hotels in Phuket here (adlink).

The best luxurious family resorts in Phuket

InterContinental Phuket Resort (Kamala)

If you’re after the most majestic family hotel on this list, the InterContinental (adlink) in Kamala is it.

The whole resort is designed as a retelling of an ancient Thai epic, moving from the underwater world at the beach, through the human world at the lobby, up to a heavenly white-and-silver pavilion surrounded by lotus ponds on the hillside.

It sounds over the top, and it is. In a good way, we’d say.

The beachfront pool is shaped after the Naga serpent, and an underground tunnel between the hillside and the beach wing is covered in murals by young local artists. Children get a treasure hunt of sorts just walking around.

There are five pools in total. Families should head for the Lagoon Pool, which has a dedicated kids’ area.

The Infinity Pool and the Club Pool are reserved for adults and guests over 12, so not every pool is open for pool-hopping with a toddler.

The Planet Trekker kids’ club is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00, with an indoor playground, book corners and creative workshops.

For younger children, nanny and babysitting services can be arranged on request.

For families with the budget, the two-bedroom duplex private pool villas are the obvious pick as you get your own pool and a proper living area.

Kamala itself is a lovely, calmer beach town between Patong and Surin, so you’re not isolated either.

See prices and availability for InterContinental Phuket Resort here (adlink).

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa (Mai Khao)

Up on the quiet northern beach of Mai Khao, the JW Marriott (adlink) is one of the most highly rated family resorts in Phuket.

Families mostly come for the kids’ club and the big list of activities for children, alongside the resort’s own marine turtle foundation (Mai Khao is a nesting beach).

There are also multiple pools, including a water slide.

The breakfast buffet is exceptional by any standard, not just by resort standards.

There are two things to know, though. Mai Khao Beach is frequently unswimmable, with red flags and strong currents common, particularly during monsoon season.

There are also no sun loungers on the beach itself (it’s within a protected area), so the pools are where most of the action happens for both swimming and sunbathing.

And it’s remote… There’s little within walking distance beyond other resorts, though a shuttle runs to a nearby small shopping area with a 7-Eleven.

So this is a settle-in resort rather than a base for exploring on foot. The flip side is that it’s close to the airport, which is handy at the start or end of a trip.

See prices and availability for JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa here (adlink).

Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort (Kamala)

The Hyatt Regency (adlink) is on a hillside just outside Kamala, which is a tranquil beach town between Patong and Surin.

One thing to be clear about up front: despite the seafront setting, there’s no swimmable beach at the resort itself.

The shoreline below is rocky and has a lot of corals, so a proper beach day means hopping on the free shuttle into Kamala.

What you get instead is one of the largest seafront infinity pools in Phuket, complete with a dedicated kids’ zone and views over the bay that few beachfront resorts can match.

The Camp Hyatt kids’ club takes children aged 4 to 12 for drop-off (open daily from 9:00 to 19:00), and younger children are generally welcome to play with a parent.

It features a treehouse-inspired climbing structure from Finland, and it’s the first of its kind in Thailand.

The resort also has its own Marine Discovery Centre by the house reef, where kids can feed jellyfish, learn about local sea life and practise snorkelling in the pool before trying the real thing.

So think of the Hyatt Regency less as a beach resort and more as a quiet hillside base with a spectacular pool.

If beach time straight from the room is a priority, one of the other Phuket family resorts in this guide is a better fit.

See prices and availability for Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort here (adlink).

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort (Kata Noi)

If your children are at the age where the waterslide and pools matter most, Katathani (adlink) seems like a great option.

The family hotel occupies a big chunk of the quiet Kata Noi beachfront.

There are numerous outdoor pools, including a huge children’s pool and waterslide area, plus an impressive kids’ club.

We imagine that for families with energetic older children, the big scale of Katathani can easily be part of the appeal.

It’s also just a short walk to Kata Main Beach if you want a change of scene.

See prices and availability for Katathani Phuket Beach Resort here (adlink).

The best budget and mid-range family resorts in Phuket

Paradox Resort Phuket (Karon)

Paradox Resort Phuket (adlink) is a large beachfront resort in the heart of Karon, set across almost 90,000 ㎡ (22 acres) of gardens.

There are four pools, a kids’ club, and the big advantage of being walkable into Karon, with the restaurants, the temple market and the beach all close by.

That mix of resort facilities and a quick, stroller-friendly walk into town is what a lot of families want, and Paradox is one of the better options for it.

You may see Paradox Resort Phuket under its former name, Mövenpick.

See prices and availability for Paradox Resort here (adlink).

OZO Phuket (Kata)

OZO Phuket (adlink) is in the northern part of Kata, close to Karon.

For older children, there are multiple pools including a children’s pool and one with a slide right next to each other.

For babies and toddlers, the resort provides baby equipment and can set up rooms accordingly.

The resort isn’t necessarily the best at any one thing, but it seems like a nicely balanced mid-range option.

Kata is also a great family beach base in its own right: swim-friendly and walkable, with plenty of restaurants.

See prices and availability for OZO Phuket here (adlink).

Centara Kata Resort (Kata)

For families who want a resort with a kids’ club and water slides at a more affordable price, Centara Kata Resort (adlink) is a solid budget choice for a family hotel in Phuket.

It’s a 4-star property in Kata with a particularly well-regarded staff.

There are several outdoor pools, a waterslide area, a shaded outdoor playground as well as a kids’ club.

Centara Kata is located a few minutes from the beach with a free shuttle, and it’s central enough that restaurants, a 7-Eleven and the rest are an easy walk.

It’s not the most polished family resort in Phuket, but for families on a budget who still want the kids’ club and slide, it does the job.

See prices and availability for Centara Kata Resort here (adlink).

What about Bang Tao and Laguna Phuket?

If you know Phuket, you might wonder why Bang Tao, home to the sprawling Laguna Phuket resort complex, isn’t all over this list.

We wandered over from neighbouring Surin during our first trip and, honestly, the area as a whole wasn’t for us.

It’s heavily developed, with billboards selling condos and villas. The vibe seems geared more towards long-stay luxury than the Thailand we keep coming back for.

That said, the beach itself is long and surprisingly serene, with the softest sand found in the middle section by the lagoons.

The Laguna resorts are also seemingly excellent, with the bonus of being only about 30 minutes from the airport.

If a Bang Tao resort holiday appeals, SAii Laguna Phuket (adlink) is the one we’d pick: a top-class resort right by the lagoons and the best part of the beach, with a kids’ club for ages 4 to 12 (younger ones can join with a parent or babysitter).

You can read more about the area in our general where to stay in Phuket guide.

Search for the best family hotels in Bang Tao here (adlink).

Away from the crowds: Cape Panwa and a private island escape

If you’ve had your fill of traffic and busy beach towns, we’d recommend two of Phuket’s loveliest escape routes: the quiet Cape Panwa peninsula in the southeast, and the small islands just off the coast.

We stayed in both places on our most recent trip, basing ourselves at Ao Yon Beach on Cape Panwa and finishing with a few days on Naka Island.

This pairs beautifully with a longer trip: a livelier beach town first, then a quiet finish to wind down.

The combination works across all ages, but it’s especially fitting with younger children.

Cape Panwa and Ao Yon Beach

Cape Panwa is a peninsula on the southeastern tip of Phuket, around 10 kilometres from Phuket Old Town.

It’s one of the quieter, more exclusive corners of the island, and a part of Phuket most visitors never see.

We stayed here with the kids on our second trip, at Ao Yon Beach on the eastern side, and it felt like a very different side of Phuket compared to the busy west coast beaches.

The area is lined with upscale villas and luxury hotels, and the atmosphere is calm and private.

Up by the main road you’ll find a Tops supermarket, a 7-Eleven, massage parlours and a handful of locally-run restaurants – so everything you need with children is close at hand.

One of Cape Panwa’s most appealing quirks is that it has beaches on both sides of the peninsula, meaning you can catch both the sunrise and the sunset without going far.

For families, the biggest practical draw might be this: Ao Yon is one of the few beaches in Phuket that remains swimmable during the rainy season, when rougher conditions make most of the west coast off-limits for little swimmers.

The area is also a convenient base for exploring the smaller islands nearby. For example, Koh Lon and Koh He (Coral Island) are both reachable by longtail boat.

If you’re after the best place to stay in Phuket with kids away from the crowds while staying on the island itself, Cape Panwa would be near the top of our list.

Veranda Resort Phuket, Autograph Collection

If you want superb family resort facilities in this quiet corner, Veranda Resort Phuket (adlink) is the one to look at.

It’s a newer Marriott property right on the beach at Cape Panwa, with multiple pools, a cute kids’ club and the polished finish you’d expect from the Autograph Collection.

Veranda combines the family-resort setup of the big west coast names with the calm of the peninsula.

See prices and availability for Veranda Resort Phuket here (adlink).

My Beach Resort Phuket

For a smaller and more affordable beachfront option, neighbouring My Beach Resort Phuket (adlink) is a great value-for-money pick.

The hotel is recognised in the Michelin Guide and has a strong reputation for its food, with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere.

We didn’t stay here ourselves, but a German couple we met (with a baby the same age as Zoe) had nothing but good things to say about it.

See prices and availability for My Beach Resort Phuket here (adlink).

The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

For the full island escape, we spent a few days at The Naka Island (adlink) on our most recent family trip to Thailand.

It’s a seven-minute speedboat ride from a marina on Phuket’s east coast (around 30 minutes from the airport).

We checked in at the marina lounge, hopped on the resort boat, and within minutes, we left all traces of traffic and noise behind.

The kids’ club is the best we’ve come across anywhere in Thailand.

Adrian warmed to the lovely staff here fast, and there’s a big Lego area, a ball pit, a play kitchen, and a separate “Jungle Room” with a climbing wall for burning off energy.

Daily ice cream is included – a fact he worked out quickly and did not let us forget.

Right by the beach, the main pool has a shallow end with loungers in the water, so toddlers can splash about safely. The beach itself is calm and sheltered.

Rooms come set up properly for small children too, with kids’ toiletries, slippers and an activity book that Adrian was still using several weeks later.

Any parent will appreciate the blackout curtains alone.

Children under five eat free from the kids’ menu with a paying adult.

Naka Island is not the place for anyone after nightlife or a buzzy pool scene. But as a calm, child-welcoming escape, we’d go back tomorrow.

If you’re curious, you can read our full review of the resort.

See prices and availability for The Naka Island here (adlink).

You might be interested in:Review of The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa: A Secluded Paradise Near Phuket

We review our stay at The Naka Island in Thailand

FAQ about where to stay in Phuket with kids

Where is the best area to stay in Phuket with kids?

For a first family trip, we’d point you to Karon: a swim-friendly beach, plenty of restaurants and a relaxed feel without Patong’s party scene.

Kata, Kamala and Surin are similar and can be slightly quieter.

If you want a full resort, the choice comes down more to the resort than the area, though Kata, Karon and Kamala have the best mix of family resorts plus a walkable town.

And if you’d rather skip the west coast buzz altogether, Cape Panwa in the quiet southeast is a lovely family base. We cover it further up in this guide.

Should I stay in a beach apartment or a resort as a family?

It comes down to age and what you want from the days. With a baby or toddler, a beach apartment with a kitchen is often easier and cheaper, since so much of your day happens in your own space.

With older children, a resort with a kids’ club, a water slide and several pools can make life much easier. Families with both younger and older children generally have the most options at the larger family resorts in Phuket.

Do I need to book accommodation in advance?

In high season (roughly December to March), yes – the best family hotels in Phuket (adlink) and especially connecting rooms get booked up months ahead.

There’s almost always something available last minute, but the strongest picks go early. If you’re travelling over Christmas or New Year, book as far ahead as you can.

Which beach is best for swimming with young children?

Karon and Kata both have gentle waves and sandy bottoms in high season. Just watch the flags, especially in the rainy season.

If you’re visiting in the rainy months and beach swimming matters, the sheltered Ao Yon on the Cape Panwa side often stays swimmable when much of the west coast doesn’t. A resort with a good shallow pool is the reliable fallback.

Thank you for reading about the best family hotels in Phuket

Thank you for reading our guide to where to stay in Phuket with kids. Hopefully you’ve got a clearer idea of where you’d like to base yourself.

If you’re still deciding whether Phuket is right for your family, our Phuket with kids guide covers the beaches, activities and practicalities in more detail.

Have you stayed somewhere great in Phuket with your children? We’d love to hear where in the comments. We’re also happy to help if you have any questions about choosing a family base.