Hotel, tips for longterm stays with children

Hi,

Our children are 5 and 2 years old and we will be staying 2+ months in a hotel in Bangkok.

Any tips on how we should arrange things so we don't get annoyed with each other while living in one room (around 25 m2) for 2+ months?

I'm especially thinking about the evenings, after the children have been put to sleep. What should us parents do if we want to talk together for a few hours? (so far we have thought about buying a baby alarm and bringing it with us to the lobby, but maybe someone has some better ideas)

I also need to work on my laptop while the children are sleeping, but I guess I can do that from the lobby.

Thanks,
Mads

Are you tied to a specific hotel? We stayed with our 5 yr old at the Eastin Hotel Makkasan in a huge suite with separate lounge for around 2000 baht a night. Has wifi. Came with perks of happy hour on the roof, pool etc.

I know I'd go mad with two kids for 2 months in a tiny hotel room.

No, we are free to move around, but we do of course need to consider our budget. That's why I'm asking for tips in relation to normal hotel rooms (not suites).

Thanks,
Mads

With kids...I would consider it essential to have 2 rooms.
We always travelled self catering for this reason.
I CANNOT imagine staying in a hotel with a 2 yo child...not to mind for 2 months.
I would look into a self catering apartment...or at least a hotel suite..(cannot wrap my mind around that either really)...you need to be able to put the kids to bed and stay up yourselves reading , chatting or whatever.

It's probably safest for the parents to be in the same room as the kids. Try to get the biggest suite possible, of course, and make sure the hotel has a pool.

I'd suggest you start with a hotel but look for a short term let apartment, some ads here [http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/8-free-classifieds-for-salefor-rentwanted] and some general Kids in Thailand advice here [www.thailand4kids.com]

There are not a ton of listings but I would check both holidays rentals UK or homeaway and vrbo.com for rentals in Bangkok. Self-catering is a much better way to go with kids and even with a one bedroom, you could put the kids in the bedroom and you and your husband sleep on the sofabed in the livingroom. Ignore the listed prices (unless stated for a month) and ask for a monthly rate. If you compare and include things like laundry, etc, I'm sure you'll find some compare very favourably.

Hi,
We find Bangkok a little tricky with our young ones (went when they were 2, 4 and 5) but a few things I would definitely recommend to make your stay fun for everyone:

-If you're in a large hotel, make sure it's got the 2 double bed set up and if possible, some sort of balcony. We also love to sit and talk (ie have a glass or two of wine) long after the kids are asleep, and this makes it possible. When we haven't had one, we sit outside the door in the corridor, door slightly ajar and ignore the strange looks from passing guests! (Makes for interesting people watching though!)

-If you can be near a supermarket with groceries (including international if you're lucky) this would be a good way to easily get the foods your little ones might be craving (bread, jam, etc). And your hotel should have a small refrigerator too. We do this in Bangkok and keep the fridge full of yoghurts, milks, juices, vegies and other healthy things we don't want them to go without, and that they can snack on.

-A pool is almost essential - if you're in an otherwise-boring large hotel anyway. Hours of entertainment on very hot days.

-Another possibility is to see if you can find the sort of hotel (even a small hotel or guesthouse if you're up for it) which has a family-style atmosphere. I know backpacker accommodation's not what you're after, but I do remember quiet, small family-run guesthouses with meandering pets, homecooked meals and a common courtyard, cheap enough that you could take 2 rooms, not to mention sit in the courtyard/area just outside the rooms in the evening while the kids are asleep. I'd personally not consider the baby alarm thing.

• Or, like another poster suggested, probably the best solution would be to see if you can find long-term accommodation. We did this in China in 2009 - rented a furnished apartment for 3 months. We used a middleman (agent) so paid double what a local or expat might have paid, but it was still incredibly inexpensive by Western standards, and we still spent less than if we'd been at home... it was easy, simple, and the place was set up ready for us when we arrived. We just googled/researched. You could ask on some of the online expat forums (there are a few in Thailand).

• Finally, take a fold-up stroller for your 2yr old (we found it a lifesaver when our twins were 2 and the heat wiped them out in less than 5 minutes!) and a portable dvd player - the kind with cables you can attach to the back of the tv and play a dvd through. Also rechargeable batteries, a charger and an adaptor. Crucial for our twins travelling at 4 and 5, and we anticipate this year at 6 too. You can take this anywhere and keep them happy, especially good on planes. We've even done the odd hotel cocktail happy hour with kids quietly watching Disney and sipping juice!

Good luck and have fun!

With a stay of that length, you are going to want cooking facilities and a bedroom each, so I'm very much with PNG on getting an apartment. And I'd start with two separate rooms in a cheap hotel/guesthouse type affair so that you can work/have the lights on/talk while the kids are asleep. The Khao San Palace Inn is hideously located on the Khao San Road but does have a small pool, plus rather corporate A/C rooms with wifi; alternatively look at the White House (?sp) on Soi Kasem San 1, which puts you in the centre. In both of these you could afford two rooms.

Theodora
http://www.travelswithanineyearold.com

hi
its a tricky one since you are planning on being in 1 place for such a long time. we are currently travelling with a 3 & 5 yr old and our set up is usually a triple room (queen bed, single bed for the kids to share). AC is a must, and a pool and tv are helpful. Personally I wouldn't consider the baby monitor thing either (especially given the madeleine mcann thing) but what we've found worked well in other places is finding a courtyard style accomodation (ie guesthouses) where you can sit outside yet still be within view of your door. or as another poster said, at least a balcony. we find using headtorches useful too, although once our kids are asleep, neither light nor sound bothers them. given the young age of your kids, i'm not sure that 2 rooms would help or be practical, unless you and your partner sleep separately each with a kid! adjoining rooms would be good, but rare given budget. if one room, make sure its a BIG one in a big place!

good luck and feel free to email us any questions as we're travelling with similarly aged kids and just spent a few weeks in bangkok.

[www.with2kidsintow.blogspot.com]

We did a three week rental car and motel trip when my son was almost 2yo and all four of us (two adults, two kids) shared a room the whole time. We saved our driving (about three hours a day) for about 3pm so my son could have a good sleep, then he was fine to stay up with us for a later dinner and we all went to bed about 10pm in one motel room (with two queen beds). When we arrived in a new place we tended to split to have some space. I took DS to the pool/spa, DD watched TV in our room and DP either did the laundry or checked his emails at Reception. We liked being able to socialise with others at the swimming pool. I would suggest you each take turns to have some time most days without the children. Even half an hour can make a huge difference.