We are planning a short break as part of a longer trip, and have lots of constraints. Given the conditions below, can anyone give us suggestions?
- There will be 3 adults and 2 children (one 3, one 10)
- We want to go somewhere that is a relatively short drive (max 3-4 hours) from Suvarnabhumi airport.
- We want to spend about 3 days
- We would like there to be a pool, and possibly other things for kids to do, in the place where we stay
- There must be cheap food stalls selling food designed for Thais (Som Tam, Gai Yang etc.), ideally within walking distance of the accommodation
- None of us drives, so we would like to be within short walking distance of a town, not in an isolated resort hotel
Any ideas much appreciated.

you could try this place in Korat its only three half hours from the Airport get a meter taxi and the price last year was 2,800bht to the hotel very close to shopping malls with cheap food stalls, water sports, and very nice at night with plenty of bars and night clubs.


http://directrooms.com/thailand/hotels/dusit-princess-korat-hotel-3206.htm

Try Kanchanaburi which is approx 2 hours west of Bangkok. Apart from the Bridge/railway/museums you've got a thriving Thai town right on the edge of the jungle & mountains with plenty to offer the visitor. A good hotel with a pool & right in the centre of town is The River Kwai Hotel. Rates are quite reasonable & include breakfast.

You can travel there by either train or one of the many air con buses...plus by road obviously.

Consider Cha am about 2 hours south of Bkk. Thai orientated, losts of hotels on the long beachfront, plenty of Thai eating places, lots for kids and the odd bar for a farang to escape into!

I think Hua Hin would be good, has a very good night market in the town with a large selection of food.

Where you stay depends on what you want to spend.

http://www.jedpeenonghotel-huahin.com/

is reputedly very good.

Sorry to Hijack the thread BUT any of the above good for a Family consisting of 12 months infant and Parents as well as 12 year old step daughter and possibly a couple ( maybe even 4) of cousins (kids)

thanks Skippy

PS also need to be closeish to Bangkok as we might have to visit the Aussie embassy in a hurry

Skippy...Kanchanaburi is very family friendly & has at least 4 air con buses every hour to BKK taking approx 2 hours.

Thanks Casey - I need to be a bit more careful when selecting accomadation ( would rather go for a recomendation) rather than just what looks good on the web - as the wife freeked out when I thouyght we would try the new hotel in Udon Thani and when we got there the staff were confused between what was hot water and tea ( for baby's bottle) and then there were mosquitos in the room - not ideal with baby.
Not the first time booking on the web has let me down BUT the straw that broke the camels back.
So I am under strict orders not to book anything on the web!

But if someone on Thai UK has been there and says it was good then maybe we will be OKay.

thanks again Skippy

Skippy, if you are going to Kanchanaburi, then I can recommend the Felix Hotel on the river Kwai short walk from town, two swimming pools, excellent food, good large rooms with nice garden view, and not to expensive.
You can book through www.asiatravel.com I have used them a lot when booking hotels never had a problem.

Ok...been there ( many times as it's Wan's home town...stayed at hotel also )...it's good.

We stayed at the Felix too in November. A decent hotel, a bit of a maze to get around but a pleasant place to stay.

We had a very enjoyable time in Kanchanaburi too, my dad particularly enjoyed the ride on the train over that bridge.

Thai's love Cha Am and absolutely flock to it. I personally think they are more comfortable there than in the falang dominated areas. same with kanchanburi given that its significance is greater to europeans than thais, even though more asian people died in the making of the railway than europeans, aussies and yanks. Perhaps it's down to the way they teach, or fail to teach modern history in Thai schools.
For internet bookings I always check up using trip advisor, ordinary travellers reviews. It's never steered me or friends wrong yet..and why should it, the reviewers are genuine.
There are some good places in Cha Am right on the beach with terrific sea food right up to the harbour area and beyond.