Phuket.com Magazine
May
2007 - Phuket for Families
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| Family in Phuket | |
When it comes to making family memories, there’s
nothing like travel. A trip to an exotic location is an adventure; moreover, it’s
an eternal gift that kids will cherish long after they’ve made you grandparents.
And Phuket, with a string of perfect beaches and locals that turn giddy at the
sight of children, is especially well-suited for strengthening the bonds within
your tribe.
This month, Phuket.com Magazine brings you the island’s
top kiddie-approved picks. We start with a look at hotels
that specialize in making your little tyke smile with themed rooms (think pirates
and fairy tales), activity centres, and beachside encounters with baby elephants.
Then we get wild – literally – with wide-eyed wonderment at Phuket
FantaSea, underwater wonders at the Phuket
Aquarium, and the wonderful wackiness of a monkey
show.
New and expectant mothers will appreciate our tips
on how to get here safely (and without losing your sanity), and how to keep your
brood healthy in paradise. And for an afternoon where everyone gets what they
want – kids swim, parents eat – Phuket’s famous Sunday
brunches deliver.
Come to Phuket. Your children will love it now,
and appreciate it in twenty years. Rungtip Hongjakpet
Izmen
editor@phuket.com |
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Reading a book on the beach
while working on a great tan is the perfect holiday activity – for adults.
But if you’re a child it spells B-O-R-I-N-G. However, help is at hand for
families holidaying in Phuket. Many hotels have excellent facilities for keeping
kids occupied and safe.
Read
more...
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Paris has a tower, London has an eye, and
Thailand has Phuket FantaSea. It’s packed with tourists, cameras are a required
accessory, there are an untold number of souvenir shops to spend money in, and
it has all the subtlety of Thai chillies. But everyone should go once.
Read more...
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Setting out on an exciting island holiday with
small children or while pregnant is like any other project: it requires careful
thought, planning and attention to detail. But it can be done. A growing belly
or a bouncing baby is no longer an excuse - you can still have a great holiday
in Phuket.
Read
more...
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Every society has
problems with neglected, abused or impoverished children, and Phuket is no exception.
But help for these kids comes from two remarkable women who have been working
steadily for years to improve children’s lives. From providing money for
school expenses to building day care centres to arranging educational outings,
Cindy Ratcliffe, President of the Phuket International Women’s Club, and
Dr Supaluck Kanchanamethakul, President of Child Watch Phuket, are providing hope
to the island’s residents who need it most.
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A
group of friends were walking through the forest in the Nakkerd Hills between
Chalong and Kata when they stumbled upon a place with stunning vistas of both
sides of the island – Chalong Bay lay in one direction while on the other
they looked down over Kata and the Andaman Sea. The place, they soon agreed, would
be perfect not just as a viewpoint, but as the site for something much more ambitious
and, to Buddhists at least, much more significant: a giant image of the Lord Buddha. Read more...
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If you're searching for a fully-contained resort that you don't need to leave
– for anything – the 254-room Laguna Beach Resort is worth a look. And
if you have kids and you want them to be amused for your whole holiday, look no
further. This is a resort that has a firm grip on the concept of catering to families
and children, even big ones! And being part of Laguna Phuket there's much to explore. Read more...
Read the interview of Mr Stephen Maggor, GM
of Laguna Beach Resort
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Families, welcome to your perfect hotel. With
a selection of rooms suitable for more than two, an expansive children’s
area, plenty of activities and kid-friendly food (hot dogs and chicken nuggets
from room service), the five-star Mövenpick Resort & Spa caters to travellers
with little ones in ways that few others hotels can match. And with a location
that’s convenient and quiet, the best of everything is easily within your
grasp.
Read more...
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One of the world’s fastest growing resort
property ownership segments is the timeshare and vacation ownership industry.
Over the years – and despite growing pains – it has developed into a
sophisticated and sound lifestyle investment vehicle. Sparked by properties managed
by such high profile international brands as Marriott, Hilton, Disney, Starwood
and Four Seasons, the concept is rapidly evolving into new and exciting products.
Read more...
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In
a place like Phuket, where tourism is a way of life, resorts are often the best
location for fine dining that lives up to expectations. This month, we sample
the fare at Mali Seafood in Kata Beach’s
Sugar Palm Resort. Then it’s time for a staple of the Phuket social and dining
scenes: Sunday brunch. As if deciding which buffet
table to start at wasn’t difficult enough, now there are five resorts serving
indulgent end-of-the-weekend feasts.
Read
more...
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Phuket Attractions
Fish and monkeys go to together like, well, they
don’t. But they are two great options for family fun. At the Phuket Aquarium,
the names tell the story: Blanc’s Striped Featherback. Fan-bellied Leatherjacket.
Powder-blue Surgeonfish. Not only is the experience educational, but the trip
allows you to see a beautiful location that few tourists visit. As for Phuket
Monkey School, you can’t help but laugh.
Read
more...
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There have always been certification programs
for children, but in recent years they have become more available and easier to
participate in. Kids under eight cannot learn to dive, but an active parent can
get the kids interested in the ocean by learning to dive themselves first, and
then take the child snorkelling. Once she has turned eight years kids can try
scuba diving in the pool or the shallow ocean, begin to learn skills and become
comfortable with the equipment.
Read
more...
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Tension is mounting
as the 2007 Tasar World Championships draw near. This fast paced event will this
year be held in Phuket, taking place at Cape Panwa from July 2nd – 11th,
bringing prestige and excitement to our Andaman isle. Competing crews will include
Olympic sailor Jonathan McKee (Bronze, Sydney 2000), who's currently sailing in
the America's Cup on BMW Oracle (currently 1st place), and 2005 Tasar World Champions,
father and daughter Rob and Nicole Douglass.
Read more...
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