A private boat charter during a trip to Thailand with the parents

Parent trip – exploring Thailand with your mum and dad

Thinking of visiting Thailand with the parents? You’d be surprised how many travellers have decided to explore the Kingdom with their mum and dad in recent years – from a joint vacation to reconnect through shared, cultural activities, to money-doesn’t-matter luxury villa escapes featuring private beaches and more!

There are plenty of reasons to take your parents on a journey, and Southeast Asia’s original holiday destination excels at offering a wide variety of experiences that suit all types of travellers. Here are just a few of the country’s most rewarding things to do when visiting Thailand with the parents…

Support a community-based tourism initiative

Coconut oil production in Huai Raeng, Thailand with the parents
Going nuts: learning how coconut oil is made traditionally is a great thing to do when visiting Thailand with the parents!

Nothing spells bonding time quite like a day spent giving back and doing good together. In Thailand, there are countless NGOs and other organisations that provide locals with an income, keep natural environments healthy and encourage an international exchange of ideas.

One such initiative is the Huai Raeng Ecotourism Community in lesser-known Trat Province, where visitors can learn how to make their own coconut oil, mangosteen-based soap bars and more! It’s fun for the whole family, and more importantly, it’s a wholesome way to get to learn about the locals and share the experience of being able to have a positive-impact holiday.

Enjoy a fine dining experience whilst doing Thailand with the parents

A fine dining experience at Sala Rin Nam, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
Dig in: a Michelin-starred meal at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok’s Sala Rin Nam restaurant will introduce you and your parents to the intricacies of traditional Thai food.

You could spend a year in Thailand, just eating your way through the Kingdom’s legendary walking street markets and food carts, but to celebrate a big occasion or thank your mum and dad for simply being amazing, nothing beats a sophisticated fine dining experience…

LGBT-welcoming luxury hotel Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok puts on quite the show with no less than four distinctive eateries across its gorgeous property. Make a reservation at Sala Rin Nam for an upscale take on traditional Thai fare, including nightly performances and a jaw-dropping wine menu! Whoever said Thailand with the parents can’t include a five-star treat, right?

www.mandarinoriental.com

Charter a boat and spend a day at sea

A yacht off the coast of Phuket, Thailand
Life at sea: private boat charters offer complete privacy, a space to celebrate a milestone, and a chance to make lifelong memories with your mum and dad!

Speaking of luxuries, there’s always the option to take to the Kingdom’s glistening waters aboard your very own private vessel – though don’t worry if you’re not swimming in money, boat charters are actually fantastic value in Thailand. The most popular places for charters are in Phang Nga Bay and Phuket, where travellers have the choice between rustic sailing boats and sharp-looking mini-yachts.

It’s advisable to have the crew take you to a lesser-visited cove in the archipelago so you can while away your day relaxing together on board, exploring the underwater world with the help of snorkels, or pop a bottle of champagne to toast your family!

Get matching, tailor-made outfits on a journey to Thailand with the parents

Window of a tailor shop in Bangkok, Thailand
Suit and Thai: if your family is one for matching outfits, take them to a traditional tailor and be prepared for an experience to remember.

From the famous tailors of Bangkok, known for their cutting-edge designs, to the popular family businesses with shop fronts on Koh Samui’s Fisherman’s Village night market, a visit to a Thai tailor should be on any itinerary to the country.

The experience of having something tailor-made, for a fraction of the price of what you’d pay in Europe or the US, is part business, and part cultural exchange, as no doubt your tailor will invite you for a drink or two, and lots of friendly chatter, as they work away – sometimes, you even get to watch! If you’re up for rocking a family uniform during an upcoming event, simply speak to a local tailor and arrange a time… It’s a seriously stylish way to do Thailand with the parents!