Rest With children V countries Yugo— Eastern Asiadifferent from all other holidays. A guide from our travel expert on all children's issues in this area.
In children's language, Southeast Asia is: «… Very far, People these countries externally at all Not similar on us, They are eating fried cockroaches And snake. By streets Here walk elephants And running monkey. Allresidents move around on mopeds And bicycles.Zhere so many Total unusual, And Very Beautiful!»
With Europe, Turkey or Tunisia, everything is somehow clear: familiar cuisine, similar traditions, familiar climate, almost everywhere there are Russian-speaking guides in hotels.
Southeast Asia is presented in a completely unfamiliar guise for us. The majority of guides and hotel staff in southeastern countries speak English. This direction in tourism is called “Exotic” - with a very humid climate, rain and specific cuisine. In Russia, tours to the countries of Southeast Asia are classified as “winter tourism” (the period from November to March).
At other times of the year, the “monsoon” period prevails in the main territory of the countries of Southeast Asia. Due to strong waves in the ocean and a large influx of poisonous, dangerous jellyfish, popular beaches along the coast are closed. Very often, large amounts of rainfall lead to severe floods and landslides. I do not recommend this destination “out of season”, as they say - for your own safety. Even despite the low cost of hotel accommodation.
From November to March: India(south Goa), Thailand(all islands except Koh Samui), Malaysia(all west coast, Langkawi and Penang islands), Maldives(for a holiday with a child, it is better to stay near the capital - Male), Sri— Lanka(west coast resorts only: Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna) and Vietnam(Phan Thiet Mui Ne, Phu Quoc Island).
Thanks to affordable housing, an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, long beaches and secluded bays, the resorts of Southeast Asia are ideal for “wintering” with young children, especially from 1-3 years old. Despite the rainy season and strong low tides in the ocean at this time of year, many choose Indonesia - Bali (although Indonesia is a “summer” holiday from April to October). Malaysia and the Maldives are more expensive, they are more considered as short-term tours - up to 15-20 days. (The Philippines, due to its island dispersion, is generally not recommended for families with children. This place is more for free party-goers, travelers and divers.)
Accommodation and food in the countries of Southeast Asia, with the exception of island living in the Maldives, is quite affordable for every tourist. The only difficulty is the duration of the flight and the cost of air tickets, which often stops tourists from choosing this holiday destination.
Direct charter air transportation. Charter is mistakenly considered a cheap option. The cost of a charter flight is cheaper than the cost of a regular direct flight, but in approximately the same price category as a regular flight with several connections.
Minus: delays, frequent technical malfunctions on board, and, as a consequence, unscheduled technical landing, during which tourists are not always allowed off the board into the terminal area. The quality of food and service for passengers during the flight does not always meet the standards (it all depends on the airline from which charter passengers are carried). Children over 2 years old pay the full price of the ticket. Refunds, exchanges, and date transfers are not possible if a tourist decides to extend his vacation when purchasing charter air transportation.
When purchasing charter air transportation, a tourist must be confident in the reliability of the airline, confirmed by many years of experience in transporting tourists.
Direct regular flight. It is comfortable, convenient, the service and food on board are at the usual level, each passenger seat has a built-in system with a monitor where you can select any music, movies and games for the entire flight. Special baby food is offered along with the main onboard meal. All safety standards are observed - there are bassinets for babies. A regular airline ticket can always be returned, transferred to another date, or reissued if a tourist’s plans have changed. There are children's rates. Of the minuses: very expensive air tickets.
Regular docking(transit)flight. You will have to perform 1-2 transplants. This is the most successful and popular flight option among tourists. This is due to the fact that the cost of tickets for such flights is usually significantly lower than the cost of tickets for direct flights - savings can be up to 30%.
Such flights must be booked in advance - from the moment they go on sale. You can buy a ticket at a very good price with a very short connection (2-4 hours). The cost of such flights when booked in advance can be even lower than the cost of a charter.
Comfort, quality, conditions for passengers, conditions for purchasing air tickets are the same as for direct scheduled flights, since the air carriers are the same.
Some terminals are equipped with special sleeping chairs and sun loungers (Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi). At large airports, for example, Dubai Airport, there are special hotels in the transit area of the terminal where you can rent a room for a couple or more hours to get yourself in order. This is very convenient for docking at night.
For traveling with children, a transit flight is most suitable: a change of scenery, all kinds of restaurants and cafes where you can eat, play in the mini-club.
- The earlier you purchase tickets, the cheaper.
- Prices may vary on different days, so please check all available carriers for upcoming dates when booking.
- The best carriers are considered to be Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Thai Airways, Etihad Airways.
- When purchasing charter flights, especially when traveling with children, book premium class tickets. They are slightly more expensive than economy class, but there are significant advantages in service and distances between seats.
Vietnam. Flight Moscow— Hanoi
Time V ways. Direct flight - Aeroflot and Vietnam Airlines - 9 hours. Transit flight: up to 21 hours.
Difference in time.+ 3 hours by Moscow time.
How get there before Phan Thiet: Moscow – Ho Chi Minh City (flight 9 hours 40 minutes) – Phan Thiet (group transfer or taxi, about 5-6 hours).
Thailand. Flight Moscow— Bangkok
Time V ways. Direct flight - Aeroflot and Thai Airways - 9 hours 30 minutes.
Time difference.+ 4 hours by Moscow time.
Flight before Phuket. Direct flights are only possible for charter flights. Or you can fly with a connection in Bangkok - then on domestic airlines. Bangkok – Phuket – one and a half to two hours flight. (The other islands of Thailand are about the same distance.) There are also connecting flights through Dubai and Doha, for example.
India (Goa). Flight Moscow – Dabolim
Time V ways. Moscow - Dabolim Airport (Goa) - 7 hours 20 minutes. Direct flights are only possible for charter flights. Regular flights operate mainly through Mumbai:
“Emirates” (Dubai - Mumbai - Dabolim) - 18 hours 45 minutes.
Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi - Mumbai - Dabolim) - 14-18 hours.
"Qatar Airways" (Doha - Dabolim) - 5 hours + 3 hours 30 minutes. Waiting for connection - from 2 to 22 hours
Indian Airlines (Dubai - Dabolim) - 10 hours 40 minutes. Waiting for docking –
until 22 o'clock
Time difference.+2 hours 30 minutes to Moscow time.
Malaysia. Moscow— Kuala— Lumpur
TimeVways. Moscow - Kuala Lumpur -13 hours 50 minutes (Aeroflot operates regular direct flights). Direct and connecting flights are also offered by S7, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, and Etihad Airways. Connections - from 3 to 22 hours.
Time difference.+ 5 hours by Moscow time.
Maldives. Flight Moscow— Male
Time ways. Aeroflot operates a direct flight - 8 hours. The Maldives is one of the most expensive island holiday destinations in Southeast Asia. Connecting flights also operate:
"Qatar Airways" (Doha - Male) - 10-12 hours, connection - 2-3 hours.
"Emirates" (Dubai/Colombo - Male) - 13-23 hours, connection - 3-5 hours.
(When flying with Emirates airline, you can apply for a UAE visa at the Representative Office and stop for 2-3 days in Dubai on the way to the Maldives.)
Australian Airlines (Vienna - Male) - 19 hours. “Srilankan Airlines – 13 hours.
Difference in time.+2 hours to Moscow time.
Sri— Lanka. Moscow— Colombo
Travel time. Direct flight Moscow - Colombo - 8 hours (Aeroflot).
Connecting flights:
Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi - Colombo) - 11 hours 10 minutes.
"Qatar Airways" (Doha - Colombo) - 11 hours 25 minutes.
"Emirates" (Dubai - Colombo) - 11 hours 05 minutes.
Srilankan Airlines (Dubai - Colombo) - 14 hours 05 minutes.
Difference in time.+ 2 hours 30 minutes by Moscow time.
“Wintering” in the warm regions of Southeast Asia has been gaining great popularity in recent years among families with small children. Winter is the time of various viruses, lack of sun and heat, walking on the balcony during severe frosts, ice and snowdrifts, chemical de-icing reagents that we breathe. “Plastic” fruits and vegetables from the supermarket, grown and brought from no one knows where, and the first complementary foods, for example, are on the way... And, as a consequence of all this, allergies.
“Wintering” allows you to avoid all this; the child can play in the fresh air all day long, swimming or crawling along the coast, receiving his full portion of vitamin D and vitamins. Mom does yoga on the lawn or reads a book in the shade of the trees while the baby sleeps.
“Wintering” is usually planned in advance, stipulating the place of residence and the selection of company. Most often, three or four families with small children travel. Dads typically see families off, return to work, and join families for “vacations.” If it is possible to work remotely, they move to the “winter” with full families.
A hotel for long-term stay is not always relevant due to its high cost. The ideal option for a family with children is a villa or apartment. The villa can be booked for several families with a shared living room and kitchen. Each villa usually has a swimming pool. The standard of living in Southeast Asia is low, so there are more than enough affordable living options here.
When planning a “winter stay” or just a trip to the countries of Southeast Asia with small children, parents should first consult with competent pediatricians. All children are different, with their own characteristics. For some, climate change and hardening will be beneficial, but for others it can result in allergies and provoke some diseases.
You must know your child, his reaction to new foods and the climate. If you decide to travel long distances with your child, they should be carefully considered.
Almost every island has a supermarket where you can buy almost everything.
Diapers, diaper cream, washing gel, toothpaste are sometimes even better in quality than Russian ones due to the use of organic materials. Fruits, vegetables, fish, seafood can be bought both in the supermarket and at the market. The fruits in Southeast Asia are excellent - neither you nor the children will go hungry. It is better to purchase bottled water, cereals, pasta and other food products only in supermarkets. It is better to take a blender for making puree with you from home. If you are going to live in a hotel, then you will not have any problems with restaurants and food.
If you decide not to stay at a hotel, you can cook at home or eat in restaurants. Given the specific cuisine of the country, street cafes and restaurants are not suitable for everyone. (You can always negotiate with the chef of a street cafe - he will cook for you what you want from the desired products). You can even bring your own seafood or fish, purchased in advance at the market, and the chef will be happy to cook for you over coals, adding only salt. It all depends on your imagination and freedom of communication.
The language for communication is usually English or “spoken”, since local residents do not always have foreign language skills. In places where “tourists from Russia” gather, such as in Thailand, Vietnam, India (Goa), they sometimes speak Russian.
Credit cards are accepted for payment in supermarkets; in other places, payment is only in local cash, which can be changed in advance at banks or in hotels.
In addition to the sea, sun and walks in the fresh air, there are also all kinds of children's centers and mini-clubs, where Russian and English-speaking teachers work. The child will be interested in visiting national parks, temples, zoos, snake and elephant farms, real jungles with waterfalls. There is an excursion program in every place. Russian-speaking representatives of host tour operators will be happy to organize any excursion program for you.
When planning a trip, all family members must have a mandatory medical policy for the entire period of your stay. Calling a doctor at a local clinic will be free only if you have a medical insurance policy.
Medicine in Southeast Asia has everything necessary to provide medical care - surgery, antibacterial therapy, testing laboratories. The main thing is that you do not save on the insurance company when purchasing a policy and. The level of clinics depends on who you are insured with.
There are pharmacies in every major resort village, and some medications can be purchased in supermarkets. There are no classic bifidum and lactobacilli, antipyretic suppositories and newfangled various syrups in these countries. Most of the residents are treated with natural “folk remedies” - spices and nutrition. Antibiotics and more serious medications are only prescribed by a doctor after consultation. Therefore, if there are any medications that you consider necessary to use, take them with you. Transporting medicines from Russia to Asia is acceptable if they are packed in luggage. (Please consult your travel company in advance about the rules for importing and exporting medicines of the country you are going to.)
Mosquitoes. This is the main and main problem in Southeast Asian countries that all tourists face. Repellents and sprays brought from Russia do not help, so it is better to purchase mosquito repellent plates locally - in supermarkets.
Jellyfish. Jellyfish in Southeast Asia are very dangerous and almost all are poisonous.
The main influx occurs during the monsoon period - from April to November - at this time they come close to the shores for hunting and breeding, which is dangerous for people. To avoid encounters with jellyfish and other dangerous marine life, you must adhere to certain rules:
- don't swim after sunset
- don't swim when it rains
- pay attention to beach safety signs - warning flags
- It is advisable to swim on equipped beaches, where you can receive first aid if necessary
- do not feed the fish while snorkeling (especially in the Maldives)
- do not handle sea creatures.
Previously, Sergei and I often heard: “Of course, it’s good for you, but then, when we have children”... and then blah blah blah, a bunch of different arguments why after the birth of a child we are no longer destined to leave the house.
This day came, Sofia appeared, and we were naturally worried about when we would be able to resume trips and how everything would be now.
I found out about the minimum age for children to travel and it turned out that most airlines take on board passengers older than 7 days.
I also wanted to listen to the opinion of pediatricians. They almost unanimously repeat - from three months.
Starting from the age of one month, we traveled with Sofia every month or two. Our first big trip began when she was three months old - we went to Thailand.
In this article I will write the features of our trips depending on the age of the child. Perhaps this will help someone decide when they can start traveling with their baby.
Traveling with a child under one year old causes the most fears and doubts. Especially grandmothers. But this is probably the easiest age for children to travel.
This is especially true for babies under six months old. The child sleeps a lot, for now he only needs his parents for entertainment; if the baby is breastfed, then everything is completely simple. Children from six months to one year are also good companions, at least while they are accommodating.
Of course, traveling with a one-month-old baby and with a one-year-old are two very different things. Therefore, further about the experience of our trips by month.
Traveling with a one-month-old baby
At this age, we were only able to travel with Sofia by car. But often children at this age fly on an airplane.
These are probably the most trouble-free passengers - they mostly sleep. Babywearing and breastfeeding make these trips ideal.
Although, of course, in hindsight everything seems much simpler than at the moment when you are just about to go somewhere more or less far away with your child for the first time.
It’s difficult even purely psychologically, especially if you have to fly. Here you’re still not quite used to being a mom and dad, and suddenly you go out with your baby almost into outer space - a taxi, an airport with a bunch of people, then a plane, hotels. Viruses, people sneezing and unsanitary conditions are everywhere.
I can reassure you: it will seem like this at three months, and at six months, and at nine months. Gradually you get used to it and relax a little, but the first time is always difficult.
As for the car, it’s easier here. You are alone in it, no one around is sneezing or coughing. But a car means choosing the right car seat.
If you plan to move long distances and especially if the child is small, it is better to use a cradle car seat at one month of age. This chair is very similar to a stroller cradle, but it is fixed in the car, and inside this cradle the child lies horizontally, secured with seat belts.
And on the road, there is a very big temptation to take the child in your arms while driving. Particularly because at the age of one month, breastfeeding children eat for a very long time, sometimes for 40 minutes, until lactation is established. Moreover, at this time the child is a quiet and comfortable passenger.
In theory, you need to stop for this time. Both for safety reasons, and so that later such a problem as the need to accustom the child to a car seat does not arise. In theory, yes.
Traveling with a 3 month old baby
At three months old, Sofia flew on a plane for the first time; it took us almost 12 hours to get to Asia with transfers.
As a result, this trip was easier than 600 km. by car in 1 month. The plane vibrates much less and does not shake as much as a car, which makes the child much more comfortable.
There was nothing difficult about this flight. We decided to fly at night and, as hoped, Sofia slept most of the way.
The most difficult question here, again, is what to carry the child in, because not all airlines provide a special cradle for newborns on board.
S7, which we flew to Hong Kong, does not provide a bassinet, but allows you to take a carrier on board. In any civilized world, a carrier that just sits on a parent’s lap for the entire flight is savagery.
From Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur we flew like human beings, with this very cradle. Of course, this is easier, the child does not need to be held in your arms all the time, but we flew during the day and Sofia did not sleep most of the way.
In my opinion, the ideal flight at this age looks like this: a short flight, lasting up to 4 hours, should be during the day; if you need to fly for a long time (7-8 hours), then it is better to fly at night. And if at night, then with the cradle provided by the airline.
Many people are afraid of acclimatization. If Sofia had one (we moved from autumn Russia to Thailand), we didn’t notice. In October, Krabi was still cloudy and rainy, with temperatures around 30.
I don’t understand... Getting to know the still gloomy sea.
Since such young children overheat quickly, air conditioning is key when moving to the tropics. Of course, you don’t need to turn it up to full blast, as Asians like to do, so in a taxi it makes sense to ask to turn it down if it’s cold.
But we definitely wouldn’t live in a room with a fan, as we lived before, with such a small child. Heat rash on the skin is just one of the troubles caused by overheating.
Many people believe that traveling with children of this age is solely a whim of the parents and even, in a sense, selfishness, because the baby is not able to see, appreciate and remember anything.
From my own experience I can confidently say that this is not so. Here in the photo is an absolutely happy three-month-old Sofia, who rejoiced every time she saw banana leaves in the hotel garden and heard cicadas.
When traveling, in favorable conditions, next to parents who feel good, the baby will definitely feel good.
Even at three months, we traveled with the child by car several times, 200-300 kilometers a day, once 700. To make the child less worried on the road, the key here, again, is to have a good car seat that dampens vibration at least a little.
We arrived in Thailand unprepared and did not know that buying a car seat in Krabi would not be easy. Therefore, for the first time we went from Krabi to Phuket with a regular carrier. If you are going to Asia, then remember that
Traveling with a 4 month old baby
At this age, we traveled from Thai Krabi to the island of Lanta and to Malaysia, to Penang. We covered a decent distance per day—500 kilometers. We already had a car seat then (the only option we could buy in Krabi).
The trip “there” was remembered as difficult. Sofia was worried and periodically began to cry. The worst part was that we couldn't understand why.
This is understandable; when everything around changes and it is not possible to more or less strictly adhere to the daily routine, it is sometimes difficult to understand the cause of the child’s discomfort. Hot? Cold? Wants to sleep? Eat? Tired? Too loud? Wet diaper?
During that trip we made a bunch of conclusions that I wrote. All subsequent trips we stuck to them and it was no longer as difficult as the first time.
On the way from Lanta. On a ferryboat.
The main thing is to stop at least once every two hours and stop immediately if the child is clearly tired and very worried.
Many people write that traveling with a very small child is extremely easy, but it seems to me that at that age they either didn’t travel or forgot everything.
In any case, I can say that now that Sofia is one year and two months old, it is much easier for us to travel far by car than at 3-4 months. Of course, she is curious about everything and does not sit still, this is a separate problem at this age, but driving with an incomprehensibly-crying-child is also not very fun.
Dad: it was still worth coming here! Sofia: sometimes you have to see the sights like this while sleeping. On Panang.
Traveling with a 5 month old baby
Gradually, the child becomes interested in everything around him, regardless of whether it is a fire hydrant or a beautiful flower on a tree.
During this period, I personally began to feel guilty that we were taking a helpless little bag to God knows where. On the contrary, the thought that “all this is not in vain” began to strengthen every day.
When a child looks at some tropical tree in admiration - “beautiful tree!” or seriously looking at the sunset straight from the sea, all doubts disappear.
Traveling with a 6 month old baby
At six months we drove the car as before, sometimes for a long time. We didn’t draw any special conclusions for ourselves during this period.
Traveling with a 9 month old baby
In nine months we had three flights. Of course, flying at this age is not the same as flying at three. In addition to the increased activity of the child, we are faced with the fact that most children at this age experience a period of distrust or fear of strangers.
This fear manifests itself in 8 out of 10 children when a stranger comes too close - the child may become nervous and cry.
On a plane, strangers are like olives in a jar. And we managed to notice a pattern: if the third seat next to us is free, then the flight is much easier and calmer.
The period of distrust passed for Sofia by the age of one year. Now, on the contrary, she wants to communicate with everyone, especially with children, but adults are also suitable. So this is purely age related and goes away without a trace.
But if you find yourself on a plane, bus, etc. during this period, and you see empty seats, but not next to you, ask the flight attendant to change the person - everyone, including the surrounding passengers, will only be calmer from this.
Traveling with a one-year-old child
After a year, a child becomes nimble and curious. And also sociable. This has its pros and cons.
You need to walk a lot with your child and show him everything, but time flies faster on the road. The child is more willing to communicate with strangers, which means that you can find a nanny right on the plane, for example, in the next seat. And sometimes this comes in handy.
After a year, the child sleeps less, and most often during the day he has only one nap, two or three hours. A backpack or sling is no longer very suitable for sleeping - you need a crib or, at worst, a stroller. So all excursions and movements have to be planned taking into account this daytime sleep.
But at this age, children admire literally everything new. Cows in the village, soap in the hotel - it doesn’t matter, there can be any reason for joy. Trains, trams, beaches and picnics are all great and fun.
And looking at the world through the eyes of a child, you see for yourself that the world is nothing at all. You look at some even completely familiar things in a new way.
And children at this age absorb everything like a sponge (remember the wonderful book “After Three It’s Too Late”?). It seems to me that when you start traveling with a child at this age, you get a chance to raise a real cosmopolitan.
Pros of traveling with infants
First of all, when traveling with a baby, you still have relatively little control over your freedom. The baby does not yet have his own opinion on where to go and what to do.
People with small children go to the mountains (not extreme, of course) and to museums. Such freedom will no longer exist for long. But when planning a trip with a baby, you shouldn’t develop an overly active program either.
Secondly, by starting to ride early, you are guaranteed to adjust and adapt to the moment when the child grows up and riding becomes more difficult.
Thirdly, you will look at the world in a new way, because by the time children are one year old, absolutely everything seems wonderful.
Fourth, traveling is still inexpensive because a child under two does not need a separate plane ticket.
I think that while traveling with young children can sometimes be difficult for parents, there is actually a lot of positivity and fun in it.
Amelia and I on Koh Samui
Mothers often write to me who are going on holiday with their children to Thailand or for the winter on Samui with their children. They ask questions - what dangers can lie in wait for children in Thailand, what diseases our daughter suffered from when we lived on Samui, what to be afraid of, and the like. I decided to answer right away here, however, based on my experience of living on Samui with a child. Perhaps other mothers’ children did not have any illnesses at all, or, on the contrary, everyone has their own story)
There is no need to be afraid to take small children with you to Thailand, but reasonable safety rules should not be neglected. And you need to be prepared for some things. After all, all children, for example, periodically get sick, regardless of where they live. Is it worth traveling to Asia with children? In my experience (there is a section on our blog about our travels with a child), such a vacation or winter stay will not be much “scarier” than a trip to Europe with a baby! And in general - we had a lot of trips around Asia with the child, but, fortunately, she only got sick on Samui, where we lived for a long time, and where there were doctors in a normal clinic with insurance, on other trips it only started in Hong Kong allergies, which even before this originated on Samui...
My insurance for Thailand
When going for the winter on Samui or, in principle, on vacation in Thailand with a child, traveling with children to Asia, first of all, do not forget to take out insurance! If you are going on a tour, then not the one that the operators include in the price, but the normal one. Read more about What kind of insurance to get in Thailand, how to choose an insurance company and the most important thing when applying for insurance to Thailand When traveling to Thailand with a small child, it is advisable to check with the insurance company in advance and choose the one that works with Bangkok International Hospital (For comparison, here are my reviews about the Bangkok International Hospital on Samui and about the Samui International Hospital that I didn’t like at all.) And read in advance in which case the insurance does not apply. For example, most insurance companies do not pay for visiting a doctor if a child has a sun allergy. In this case, you need to say that the baby has a common allergy, etc., and ask the doctor to make an appropriate conclusion for the insurance company (usually they agree to a meeting). Or - the insurance company pays for a visit to the dentist only if you or your child has an acute toothache. So, even if there is something wrong with your teeth, but they don’t hurt, when you call the insurance company, you should tell them about the terrible toothache) The insurance paid off for us a hundredfold!
When we came to Thailand to live, our daughter was 10 months old. Before that, she had not been sick for a long time, because we lived in Spain for a short time and that climate completely relieved her of all colds, allergies and the like.
Acclimatization of children in Thailand
The first thing parents with children in Thailand may encounter is acclimatization of children. Our daughter basically didn’t have it. In order not to encounter such troubles and not spoil your vacation, you need to follow simple rules. Firstly, try to avoid sudden changes in temperature. It is best to drive from warm to warm. A flight from -20 to +30, of course, will be stressful for the body. And not only for children. But the worst thing will be when you return from plus to minus. Secondly, if a vacation is planned for exactly this time, it should last at least 3 weeks, and even better, vacation with children for at least a month, because the adaptation of the child’s body to the new climate lasts about 10 days.
Our doctor at Bangkok Hospital
Childhood diseases in Thailand
The next thing that almost all parents usually face is the disease of air conditioners - a cold. Our daughter began to walk around with snot and cough until we stopped using air conditioners altogether. Ideally, you should choose housing with a large number of windows with obligatory screens on them. And even better - by the sea. If you get sick, at Bangkok Hospital the doctors willingly give you a bunch of the same medicines for colds, runny nose and cough under insurance that we have.
Of the more serious illnesses, my daughter suffered from Roseola. This is something like rubella, a fairly common illness among children in Thailand. The child has a temperature of under 40 for three days, then a rash breaks out and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Despite the high temperature, my daughter was in good spirits all three days and ran around as usual. There is no treatment for her, only they give her Nurofen or a local version of it, P-Pen, to bring down the temperature. By the time my daughter got sick, we had already lived on Samui for about 7-8 months. Friends came to Samui for the winter with a small child three times and only the third time they caught roseola somewhere and it went away in the same way in the baby.
Six months before our arrival in Samui, there was an epidemic of chickenpox among children, but, fortunately, we did not catch it.
Once upon a time, a huge number of children in Thailand suffered from the “Hands, Feet, Mouth” disease. (Coxsackievirus is a viral infection that causes mouth sores and tiny blisters (pimples) on the hands and feet.) In other matters, this concerned mainly local children and those Russian children whose parents enrolled them in local kindergartens and schools. This disease was so widespread because the Thais did not have the habit of washing their hands before eating and following similar hygiene rules. But during the outbreak of the disease, the government carried out mass propaganda campaigns - they called for compliance with hygiene rules, hung posters in gardens and schools... Maybe it helped - there were no such epidemics in our time, although we heard about cases of the disease among local children. In general - as they say, wash your hands and fruits before eating! And don't chew your feet...(just kidding!))
Poisoning
Here, pah-pah, we were lucky. Although my daughter put everything she could into her mouth, slobbered all the stones on the beach and, in general, everything she could reach on the floor and in the area, she never got poisoned. And she didn’t even catch worms, which surprised me; I checked her four times. In general, I have never heard of anyone in Thailand being poisoned by anything, except perhaps those who eat chicken that is not the freshest. And even then, on my first five visits to Thailand, I ate all this goodness out of my hands (although I chose it carefully and asked them to fry a little in front of me again). Paradox) Just in case, I advise parents to take rehydron with them in case the child vomits, smecta (it can be used from a month onwards) and filterrum.
Concrete Thai "furniture"
Bruises, falls
Most often, children fall out of bed. Our turntable fell in Thailand twice and the second time we rented it and then bought a crib. Ideally, ask the hotel or the owners of a rented house in advance for a child’s bed. Please note that it may also turn out that an ordinary bed will not be “ordinary”, but a concrete box into which a mattress is inserted, that is, it will not be possible to move it against the wall. We lived in a house like this with concrete furniture for the first six months. And in general, very high beds are quite common in Thailand. When a child falls out of bed, he most often ends up with a bump, but it is best to go to the doctor.
By the way, in most cases, the floors in houses in Thailand are tiled.
Children often slip in the pool, so make sure they wear slippers.
Alena - five of us on a bike
A separate story - bike ride with kids. A mother with a baby in a sling on a bike in Thailand is a ubiquitous phenomenon and here everyone chooses for themselves... In my purely personal opinion, riding a bike with a small child in a place where traffic rules are not followed, turn signals do not turn on, riding after a couple of bottles of beer among the locals it’s the norm, but there are plenty of drunk Russian tourists on bikes – it’s not worth it. I don’t want to talk about tragic stories with children because of stories, but, alas, they exist.
We drive these guys every day.
Insects, snakes in Thailand, etc.
It is almost impossible to encounter a poisonous spider in hotels and nice houses in resort areas. In villages and hotel areas, Thais order insect pollination from special services every three months on average. I saw scorpions on the road late at night during the rainy season only twice. They don’t exist in hotels, but it’s better to choose private houses with good screens on windows and doors, without cracks and not in the jungle. It is logical to assume that with a small child you would rather live on the seashore rather than in a tropical forest. To prevent your baby from being stung by a scorpion (if you ever meet one), you should explain to him that he shouldn’t put his hands under stones, in holes and strange crevices (or better yet, keep an eye on the children). During my entire stay, I read only about one case where a child was stung by a scorpion - he reached with his hands into a pile of rotten leaves on the site. Everything worked out well, the Thais generally took it calmly. They have only one type of scorpion that is poisonous and it is not very common. As for snakes, we saw them all the time (since we lived and walked all the time in particularly non-tourist places), one even crawled into our house, but these are all tree snakes and they are more afraid of us than we are of them. From our Russians, who live far from the sea, I heard several times how they met cobras in gardens. I don’t know if this is true or “fear has big eyes,” but I have never heard of someone being bitten by a snake. Those with stronger nerves can read about Our “pet” animals in Thailand, but keep in mind that our third house was in a remote area, with a wooden floor, huge gaps in the windows and doors, and was not pollinated by anything for a year.
Swimming in the sea is safe, but you should keep an eye on it for jellyfish and sea urchins.
Well, I’ll add about the migrating larva - the chance of catching it is small, but if you don’t want to worry, you don’t have to put your children with their bare butts in the sand, and even better - you should wear slippers on the beach, at least in shady places.
Striped mosquitoes are carriers of infection
What you really should be wary of is mosquitoes. At five in the evening they tie napkins and fly out in large crowds to dinner with tourists and their children. Considering that mosquitoes in Thailand are carriers of Dengue fever, you should not neglect repellents. Especially when it comes to children. Please note that it is pointless to take something from Russia; ours does not affect local mosquitoes. It is best to use Thai mosquito repellents. Including children's ones from the pharmacy, especially for the little ones. There are practically no mosquitoes near the beach, they don’t exist near the sea in the sun, but in the jungle there are a lot of them. Perhaps you shouldn’t take kids on a rainforest safari at all.
Dengue fever in Thailand
In the last couple of years, many of my friends on the island have suffered from dengue fever, at least on Koh Samui. Almost all of them lived in the interior of the island in private houses. In the village where our first house was on Samui, one German fell ill in our presence, but the owner immediately called some kind of service, they sprayed the entire territory, inside the house, and there were no more cases of the disease. .
Dengue is usually quite easy to tolerate. I have practically never heard of cases of dengue in children; it seems that for several years there was only one severe case on the island. Our daughter, we believe, also suffered from Dengue, but this disease in children is detected only on the 4th day, when the temperature has already subsided. And we no longer bothered the baby with a blood test from a vein, since everything was fine, because the Thais don’t know how to take blood. In general, you shouldn’t be afraid of dengue fever in Thailand or any other fever in Asia, but you need to remember about it and behave wisely - use repellent, wear light, closed clothing on excursions and do not drag children into the jungle, or at least protect them from bites mosquitoes
Allergies, including heat allergies
Be careful with exotic fruits) By the way, I am allergic to mangoes. My daughter also had something, but the local doctors never found out what it was. If anything, the pharmacy sells fenistil.
About sunstroke and burns I don’t even want to write - my parents either have brains or they don’t. Once we witnessed - a plane with tourists arrived in the middle of winter on Samui, and we were just on that beach where most of them were apparently accommodated in a hotel. And so they all piled out with their fair-haired, snow-white children at one o’clock in the afternoon into the very sun... We, having lived on Samui for six months by that time, were tanned, and at that time we were sitting in the shade. But they didn’t even put Panama hats on the children, and few people used sunscreen... Just an amazing herd feeling of stupidity... And they played like that in the sun all day long!!! In general, the next day in that place at this time we did not see a single (!) tourist from those who were yesterday. They probably lay around in the hotel and moaned. At least for the hundredth time, explain that even more so, the child must first be smeared with children’s protective equipment SPF 50, be sure to wear a hat and not be allowed into the open sun from 11 to 16-00!!!
My daughter has allergies
It was simply terrifying for us heat allergy in a child. Although, it is quite possible that it was an allergy to something else - it began in my daughter after 8 or even more months of living on Samui, just when we moved to our third house. Perhaps there were some allergens in it, or it was just a very stuffy place, the wooden floor was overheated all the time (that's right, Thais usually lay tiles in their houses). We went to Bangkok Hospital with this allergy many times, took various tests, doctors prescribed us five other medications, but it seemed that the next allergy was just discovered. It became easier when I stopped giving any medications in principle, I didn’t even apply fenistil. But it completely went away only when we returned to Russia, the skin cleared up immediately, the cough went away after about a month and a half.
Help yourself)
And they often ask me if I did any special Child vaccinations for a trip to Thailand.
No, I didn't! There is no vaccination against dengue fever, and all other vaccinations were from a regular clinic - those that I managed to get before 6 months (since after we left for Spain). By the way, those who decide to move to Thailand with children for a long time can get all their childhood vaccinations with good imported vaccines in local hospitals and cheaper than ours.
In general, in my opinion, taking a small child to Thailand is safer than to some Turkey or even to our resorts. The main thing is to take reasonable precautions and be prepared for common childhood illnesses, bruises and abrasions. And then a holiday in Thailand with children will bring only positive emotions!
I recommend it, we always use it ourselves, and we traveled around Asia with a child, and even more so in Europe - booking everything here!
Traveling around Asia with two children... The plan for this route has been brewing for a long time. And it eventually grew into something more than just a trip. We decided to live traveling, starting with this Big trip to Asia with two small children! We did not take return tickets to Russia and have not yet decided where we will go next... In the meantime, we will tell you about planning the route, preparation and visas.
1 Definition with route
Since the route is inextricably linked with air tickets (their availability and cost), initially, together with the necessary connections, it looked like this: Hong Kong - Philippines - Singapore - Indonesia - Malaysia - Sri Lanka - UAE... We planned to stay in each country for about three weeks , except for connections in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai (2 days each).
However, this route was adjusted by the children who fell ill together in Moscow 2 days before departure, and by us, who in the interests of the children reduced the number of flights already during the trip... Here we were once again convinced of the undeniable advantages of independent travel, since we lost very little amount, slightly changing the route and postponing the trip by 2 weeks!
2 Buying air tickets
This time, except for our favorite flight search engine Aviasales, we were also very pleased with the official websites of Asian “low cost” airlines, for example Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. When purchasing air tickets in advance, low-cost airlines often offer sales, some of which we were able to take advantage of...
What ended up happening for the whole family (2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant under 2 years old without a place):
- Flight Moscow - Hong Kong, Transaero airline: 26,500 rubles
- Flight Hong Kong - Manila (Philippines), Cebu Pacific airline: 7,000 rubles
- Flight Manila - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), airline "...": ... rubles
- Flight Kuala Lumpur - Langkawi (Malaysia), airline "...": ... rubles
- Flight Krabi (Thailand) - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), airline "...": ... rubles
- Flight Kuala Lumpur - Istanbul (Turkey), airline "...": ... rubles
In total, 6 flights for the whole family cost us approximately... rubles. This is the final route, changed at the beginning and during the journey.
3 Hotel reservations
When traveling to Asia, if you want to save money, then there is no point in booking hotels along the entire route. Yes, this must be done for places where you are staying for just a couple of days, in our case: Hong Kong and Dubai. Yes, it is advisable to book hotels in other countries at least for the first day or two, especially if you are traveling with children. But for the rest of your stay in Asian countries, you can almost always find better and cheaper options locally.
But you shouldn’t miss out on good special offers either. On our favorite search engine Hotellook You can often find prices cheaper than locally, thanks to numerous special offers from hotels or hotel booking sites...
The average cost of accommodation for this trip to Asia should not exceed 1000 rubles per night.
4 Visas
For most Asian countries, you do not need a visa in advance. Since July 1, 2009, citizens of the Russian Federation can visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days without a visa. A visa is also not required for a stay of up to 30 days in the Philippines and Malaysia.
5 Taking out insurance
In order to save money, we did not take out medical insurance for ourselves for such a long period. As a last resort, this can be done at any time via the Internet in a couple of minutes, for example, on the website. But we didn’t skimp on the children and took out the same insurance for all countries for the entire duration of our stay: for two children the insurance cost about 3,500 rubles.
Any final words? We definitely do not advise absolutely everyone around us to go on such a long and difficult journey with small children. This requires experience, training, confidence in one’s abilities and in the health of children. Objectively, with infants under two years of age, it is better to fly close (up to 4 hours of flight), but for a long time (from two weeks or longer)...
That's it, let's go!
Are you thinking about traveling with small children to the stunningly beautiful countries of Southeast Asia: Laos or Myanmar, Brunei or Indonesia? The sun rises here four to five hours earlier than in Moscow; monkeys roam freely in parks and temples; and noodle soup is eaten with chopsticks. A completely different culture, different customs and morals. Magical Asia bewitches even the seasoned tourist. But taking your children with you on a trip to Asia? Not everyone will think of this. Indeed, it is much easier to spend a holiday with children in the familiar Czech Republic or Greece. But what attracts us (to paraphrase the well-known Dmitry Krylov) is not “insipid Europe,” but rather “spicy Asia.”
Most parents give strong arguments against long-distance travel with children to the other side of the world: long flights, jet lag, tropical heat, chaotic traffic, unusual food. Will children be able to bear all this? Many parents also believe that traveling to distant countries with children always poses health risks. However, those who are aware of, but do not exaggerate the existing risks and are ready to cope with the problems associated with the lack of European cleanliness and usual hygiene, can easily have a wonderful holiday with small children in the magical, full of secrets and mysteries of Southeast Asia.
Once you go on a trip to fabulous Asia, it will be impossible to stop. Many experienced travelers shook their heads and argued against it when they heard about our plans to travel to Asia with children. Fortunately, other people's doubts did not change our correct decision. Passion for travel and a thirst for adventure took over and a few years ago, for the first time in our lives, we went for three weeks to Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia. Now it's impossible to stop...
Trip organization
Of course, preliminary preparation for the trip is important: starting from vaccinations and ending with a conversation with a competent but adequate pediatrician about possible diseases (if you yourself do not yet know what unpleasant surprises the state of your child’s health may present to you). Be sure to carefully plan the contents of your first aid kit: stock up on products against motion sickness, fever, colds, diarrhea, wet wipes, sunscreen with a high protection factor for sensitive skin of children, disinfectants for abrasions, and much more. etc. It is better to bring back medicines that are not useful than to run around pharmacies in search of non-existent children's anaferon or rehydron in Asia.
When planning a trip with children, you should keep in mind that regular baby food, cereals or purees can be found, for example, in Cambodia or Laos with great difficulty. Therefore, be sure to take with you a supply of baby food that is familiar to your baby. Older children should be taught the peculiarities of Asian cuisine in advance. let them get into the habit of eating, for example, boiled rice or noodles. Otherwise, in Thailand or Vietnam you will have to wipe away the tears of your baby, who once again will not receive the coveted french fries or pizza from you.
Long flight
The first perceived barrier is a long flight. If an adult can hardly endure such flights, then for a child more than 10 hours on an airplane will seem even more unbearable torment. There is only one simple solution: fly at night. However, if you are flying during the day, be patient, have gadgets, books and toys. On the plane, children over two years old have their own seat, receive a special children's menu and surprise gifts on board. The in-flight entertainment program also offers audiobooks and films for the youngest guests to help while away the flight.
Travel planning
Your trip to Southeast Asia should be planned in such a way that children play a major role in it. Sacrifice your desires to visit all the museums you meet on your way and ask the guide all the questions that interest you. Your kids will enthusiastically explore the ruins of the Hindu temple complex of Angkor Wat, but if you are going to understand the intricacies of Khmer architecture for a week, then by the third day your children will be yawning from boredom and asking to go home.
On long trips, variety is important: for example, excursions must alternate with swimming in the pool or playing in the park. It’s always worth having a couple of “childish” or completely special ideas in stock. For example, riding elephants or walking through a forest of monkeys will certainly please your offspring much more than going to an art gallery or another exhibition of ancient sculptures.
The most important rule of traveling to distant countries: children set the pace and direction. If parents insist on their own program, the holiday will quickly turn into real torment for both parties. Follow the principle “less is more.” Allow more time for parks and playgrounds (although the latter are rare in Asia).
Your trip (especially overnight accommodation and transport) should be clearly planned in advance. Always have the essentials in your backpack in case the pho soup at the café doesn't taste quite as expected, or the trip from Bangkok to Vientiane takes four hours longer than planned.
In Asian capitals, take advantage of offers such as water parks, shopping centers with ice skating rinks and children's playgrounds. And, of course, the beaches of Asian countries will give your children an unforgettable experience.
Your baby is the center of attention
Residents of Southeast Asian countries are not indifferent to children of European appearance. Your kids will always be the center of attention. A shy blue-eyed son can quickly get bored with such increased curiosity from unfamiliar adults, while a flirtatious blonde daughter will enjoy the interest shown in her. It should be noted that Asians’ love for children closely borders on the expectation from them of disciplined behavior and unquestioning submission to adults. Tantrums or similar behavior of spoiled little princes and princesses from Europe will encounter misunderstanding on the part of Asians.
Asia enchants at first sight. There are a lot of unusual things here for your children: temples with golden Buddhas and aromatic incense, monkeys roaming freely in parks, green islands with snow-white beaches. At first glance, this is not a suitable place for children. At second glance: this is an earthly paradise. Intense colors and smells, tall skyscrapers and countless shops, fruit and vegetable markets - an unforgettable adventure for you and your child.
It may make sense to visit only one Asian country with your children for the first time; perhaps it is best to start with Singapore, Thailand or Malaysia. And if you are convinced that your children cope well with the tropical heat and the peculiarities of Asian life, feel free to take a new trip!
