Travelling with children in Phuket

Phuket is the largest island on the coast of Thailand, situated just off the country's western shoreline in the warm waters of the Andaman Sea. It rightly deserves its reputation as a world-class holiday destination, and damage from the 2004 tsunami has done little long-term physical harm to its beautiful landscape.

Tourists tend to visit the region between March and May when the climate is neither too hot nor too humid. However, the country is hospitable all year round and is rarely inaccessible to travellers.

Phuket has based its reputation on a number of beautiful beaches, including Karon, Kamala and Patong; all of which strike a balance between commercial development and tranquil, natural environments. And while wonderful sunsets, exquisite cuisine and an exciting nightlife have all aided the islands reputation, it also caters surprisingly well for children, with a number of hotels developing holidays especially for them.

The Ramada Karon Beach Resort is one such example, situated just five minutes from Karon beach and filled with themed rooms for kids. A room designed like a castle is perfect for an aspiring princess, filled with turrets and draped in pink and purple, whereas budding marine biologists will be fascinated by rooms with built-in aquariums.

Two swimming pools are also on site, one of which includes the biggest waterslide in Thailand, along with a 'Kids Paradise' zone which has free ice cream all day long.

Another good choice is the Sheraton Grande Laguna resort, which was one of the first hotels in Thailand to actively cater for children.

Kids receive goody backpacks on arrival at the resort, filled with all sorts of treats to keep them entertained throughout their time at the hotel. Resident elephants Yum Yum and Lilly are on hand to interact with visitors, and alongside a full range of water-sports and out door activities there is also the Very Important Kids Club offering a myriad of activities.

The hotel is set on a wonderful lagoon and also offer a wide range of entertainments for parents.

So outside of the traditional sun and sand, Thailand has a world of delights waiting for visitors of all ages.

Travel and hotel website Agoda has listings for the resorts mentioned here and compares a number of tour operators in order to secure the best prices.

Virgin Holidays has a number of deals on offer to the island, along with Dream Thailand and Travel Mood; both of which offer tailored holidays to Thailand's most popular tourist resort.

The islands own website also has a wealth of information for travellers.