Ultimate Guide to Patong with Kids

Are you planning a family trip to Phuket and wondering where to base yourselves? Or perhaps you’ve heard negative things about Patong and plan on avoiding the area entirely. We recently stayed in Patong for a week as a family of three (two adults and a twelve year old), and found it a great, centrally located neighbourhood from which to explore the rest of Phuket. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Patong with kids.

Is Patong good for families?

Let’s face it, Patong is not the first place you think of when considering family friendly places to stay in Phuket. It has a reputation for partying, crowds and down right seediness. Yes, there are all these things but I still wouldn’t rule it out if you’re planning a trip to Phuket with kids.

The main “adult” area in Patong is the Bangla Road and this can easily be avoided. Being so very touristy means that Patong is very well developed, there are lots of family friendly things to do and heaps of choice when it comes to places to stay and dining. This does make it a pretty easy place to visit with kids.

If Patong doesn’t sound like the right place to base yourselves, check out these other areas to stay in Phuket with kids. Even if you’re not staying here, be sure to give Patong a visit at least once. It’s a fun part of Phuket, not to be missed.

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Family hotels in Patong

Patong has heaps of family friendly hotels, most have kids clubs and family sized rooms. If you are staying somewhere busy like Patong, it’s important to be able to escape back to your hotel for some peace and quiet. All the below hotels have gorgeous pools and calm spaces to help you and the kids relax.

Hotels in Patong with kids club

Diamond Cliff Resort and Spa

We stayed at the Diamond Cliff over Easter and Songkran. It’s a huge, sprawling resort type hotel with several pools, one with a swim up bar, shallow area for little ones and a waterslide. Rooms were huge with comfy beds and the quality of food was exceptional. They have a small onsite kids club and organised activities around the pool. For more, read my full review of the Diamond Cliff Resort. The Diamond Cliff is located on the hill to the North of Patong beach in a relatively quiet location but still only five minutes tuk tuk into the centre of town.

Holiday Inn Resort

Another great family hotel in Patong is the Holiday Inn Resort. This centrally located luxurious hotel offers heaps of family friendly activities such as painting, henna tattooing, and Muay Thai lessons. They have a special toddler pool and an onsite kids club for five to twelve year olds. Even better, kids under twelve stay free when sharing a room with their parents.

Check prices for the Holiday Inn Phuket

Movenpick Myth Hotel

My final recommendation for family friendly hotels in Phuket is the Movenpick Myth Hotel. This is a great one if you’re in Patong with teens, there’s no kids club or toddler specific activities but it’s centrally located so close to all the shopping. Plus the bright and colourful design, gorgeous rooms and huge freeform pool are perfect photo opportunities.

Check prices for the Movenpick Myth Hotel

Discover more great places to stay in Phuket with kids in my dedicated post.

Fun things to do in Patong

Now you’ve sorted the accommodation, it’s time to start planning the fun stuff – how to spend your time in Patong with kids.

Patong Beach

For me all the family holidays include a big chunk of beach time. Patong beach is pretty big and has heaps of family friendly activities such a motorised watersports, kayaking and paddleboarding. The sand is soft and golden and there are plenty of lifeguards keeping an eye on everyone. The North part of Patong beach is the quietest so it tends to be where we hang out for the day. There’s also a decent play area right next to Patong beach, perfect for acrobatic toddlers.

Take a longtail boat to Freedom beach

Freedom beach is just a short distance south of Patong beach but it’s worlds apart as it’s super quiet. This is mainly due to the fact that it’s so hard to reach – either by boat from Patong beach or a very steep walk down the cliff. It’s gorgeous and well worth the £20 return trip by boat.

Watch a fireshow

Every kid loves a fireshow and there’s also something a bit special about being allowed to stay up after dark. If you’re looking for a fireshow in Patong to entertain the kids then head to the North part of Patong beach, just after dark. In the sand outside Fuga Beach Club you’ll see skilled performers entertaining the revellers for free!

Jungceylon kids zone

Jungceylon in the centre of town is a fantastic shopping mall with plenty to entertain beyond the stores. On the top floor you’ll find a dedicated kids area with a brilliant play area full of kid sized rides like rollercoasters and swings, arcade games and VR machines. It’s a bit pricey but little ones will love trying out a few rides.

Try a beach club

If you want to escape the business of Patong beach and fancy treating yourself for the day then a visit to Fuga beach club will do the trick. Located to the North of the beach, near the Dolphin traffic island. We spent an idyllic day lazing around the restaurant enjoying the fabulous food and cocktails whilst the kids splashed in the little pool and played on the beach. They also loved the live DJs which appeared after dark.

Football Golf

Football fans will love a visit to football golf located about ten mins inland from Patong. Home to 18 holes of mini golf style football holes, working your way around the whole course should only take an hour or so.

Get a massage

Massages and spas in Thailand are such good value it’s a great way to treat the kids to a bit of pampering. If your hotel has a spa then have a look if they’re doing any offers and will allow kids. Hotel spas tend to be similar to what you’d recognise from home although miles cheaper and often require booking. Or you could just visit one of the many walk in spas lining the streets of Patong. If your kids haven’t had a message, a foot and leg massage is a good one to start with. Just remember to tell your masseuse “soft” and “no stick”. If they don’t fancy a massage, nail painting is another fun treat which won’t break the bank.

Catch a movie

If you fancy a few hours somewhere air conditioned then head to Jungceylon and head to SF cinema city on the top floor. They show all the latest movies, mostly in English language although sometime with subtitles so just check before your visit. You can see the film schedule here.

Try surfing

At Surf Day kids can learn to surf on a steady artificial wave on an inflatable base. It’s super safe and great for increasing confidence on the board. Surf Day is located on Patong Bech, just across the road from McDonalds.

Practice your driving

Patong Go Kart Speedway is located on the outskirts of Patong. It’s track is 750 meters full of fun twists and turns. They have karts ranging from high speed super karts to two seater karts to karts specifically for kids. So the whole family can get behind the wheel.

Day trips from Patong

As you can see, there are heaps of things to do with kids in Patong but to get the real feel of the island, you’ll want to explore a lot more of Phuket. It’s home to absolutely stunning beaches, makes a great starting point for boat trips to nearby islands and exhilarating water parks. Have a read of my post on things to do in Phuket with family for many more great ideas.

Patong Walking Street – Bangla Road

So how bad is the Bangla Road? Well it all depends on what time you go. During the daytime it’s pretty placid (and pretty closed!). Although there are a few shops to explore including Bangla Market (home to all the knock offs you can imagine) and the kids may want to pop into Burger King there’s very little to see. A walk down the road looking at all the filthy bars and clubs is a little depressing in the harsh light of day. Although it’s calm during sunlight hours, I just don’t think it will be appealing to kids however they may enjoy looking at the fancy night club facades or spotting rats.

Bangla road springs to life at sunset, it has a festival atmosphere with revellers spilling out on to the street enjoying the cheap beer and loud music. There are nightclubs and go go bars on and around Bangla where you’re likely to see dancing girls and more. It’s not suitable for kids after dark, it’s just too seedy. If nightclubs are your thing and you can find a babysitter you’ll find the best ones at the end of Bangla closest to Jungceylon.

Getting around Patong with kids

Patong is busy, probably the busiest place in Phuket and it has traffic to match. Driving through the main town from one end of Patong to another can easily take 25 minutes. Expect delays at most points in the day if you’re driving or in a taxi.

We found the best way to get around Patong was to walk. It’s very safe as long as you stick to the pavements and it’s a lot quicker than sitting in the traffic. If the heat gets to much or if the kids are moaning about the walk, there are loads of tuk tuks waiting to pick you up. Prices will be decent, just make sure you agree a fee before you set off.

Shopping in Patong

Patong is one of the main shopping hubs of Phuket and you’ll find everything from high end Western Brands (same price as at home) to cheap fakes and low priced souvenirs.

Markets in Patong

I love market shopping in Thailand and there are several to choose from in Patong. My favourite is Malin Plaza located in the South of Patong. It has lots of little souvenir stalls selling handmade soaps, friendship bracelets and wooden trinkets. It also has a brilliant food court with great value Thai street food.

There’s also Bangla market at the top of the Bangla Road. This is knock off goods central but you’ll have to negotiate hard for a good price. The rabbit warren feel of all the stalls can be a bit overwhelming, make sure you keep a tight hold of your kids.

Another decent market area in Patong is Banzaan fresh Market near Jungceylon which is mainly food stalls selling tropical Thai fruit and hot street food for dinner.

Shopping malls

Jungceylon

Jungceylon Shopping Mall is huge and set it different buildings. It has a market type area for independent retailers, places to eat and loads of other clothing and beauty stores. There’s an Apple Store, American Eagle, Boots, Coach, Levis, Ripcurl and more. We had a good look around Robinsons Department store which is a bit like our Jon Lewis and grabbed some snacks from the Big C grocery store.

Central

Central Shopping Mall is probably the most up market of them all. It’s just across the road from Jungceylon so it’s easy to do both in one trip. This is a good place to come for kids toys and clothes as the quality is a lot higher than in the markets. Prices in Central are pretty much the same as at home so you wont get many deals but it is a nicely designed air conditioned shopping experience.

Banana Walk

Banana Walk Shopping Mall is a modern shopping centre home to loads of chain restaurants and stores you’ll recognise from home. There’s a Boots for you toiletries and some fairly decent clothing brands.

7 Eleven

There are 7-Elevens everywhere in Patong so it’s very easy to pick up snacks and drinks whenever you need them. We often grab something from a 7-Eleven to eat on the go for lunch, their toasted cheese sandwiches are amazing! Just note alcohol cannot be sold between 2pm and 5pm so time your visits well if you want to grab some beers for the beach.

Where to eat in Patong

Patong has every type of restaurant you and the kids could wish for. Fussy eaters will be pleased to know that there’s a McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks and KFC but try not to restrict yourselves to brands you recognise from home.

The street food in all of Patong’s markets is excellent. Be sure to visit Malin Plaza at least once for dinner with the kids. There are so many food stalls they’re sure to find something they like. For little ones I recommend the chicken fried rice, crispy potato kebabs and BBQ corn on the cob.

If you’re after a more comfortable dining experience, there are loads of Thai restaurants down every street serving delicious food at great prices. For kids I’d opt for dishes like sticky rice, spring rolls and sweet and sour stir fries.

For a luxurious dining experience you’ll want to book a table at one of the many 5 star resorts around town such as La Gritta at the Amari or Sams Steaks and Grills at the Holiday Inn. We also loved our meal at the Sea Salt restaurant with its gorgeous sunken tables and sunset views.

Is Patong, Phuket safe?

We always felt completely safe during our stay in Patong. Thailand in general is a very safe place to visit with kids. As earlier mentioned, I would avoid the Bangla area due to levels of drunkenness which can cause accidents and scammers. Most accidents occur on roads due to the high levels of traffic and bikes. Just be super careful on the edges of pavements and when crossing the road. Keep an eye on your property, there have been reports of pickpocketing although this is not common and we didn’t see it anywhere.

Be aware of the natural risks, check for riptides if you visit Patong Beach. Watch out for jelly fish, always wear water shoes in the sea and protect yourself against mosquito bites. Only drink bottled water and make sure street food is cooked thoroughly in front of you. If anything does go wrong there are plenty of pharmacies and also Tourist Clinic Patong should you need to see a doctor.

How to get to Patong With Kids

Phuket has an international airport so unless you can either fly there directly from home or fly into Bangkok and get a cheap flight from there in to Phuket. The drive from the airport which is located in the North of the Island to Patong can take up to an hour but it’s fairly straight forward. It’s only 24 miles but traffic can be slow going. A taxi from the airport should cost around £20, they’re well signposted from departures.

We hired a car from Phuket airport to drive ourselves as we like to have the freedom of our own vehicle to explore. You can check car hire prices on Discover Cars.

For total peace of mind you could prebook your transfers from the airport. A private car from holiday taxis will cost just over £20 one way.

How long to spend in Patong with kids

Patong is fairly central so makes a good base from which to explore Phuket. A week in Phuket should be enough to get a good feel of the place and tick off most of the must dos for kids. I struggle to stay in one place anywhere for over a week so when we visited we spent 4 days in Patong splitting the rest of our time in quieter parts of the island. The business of Patong does get to you after a while so you might want to do the same.

How expensive is Patong

This really depends on where you plan on staying and how you want to spend your time. If you book far enough in advance you’ll be able to get a family room in a five star hotel for around £150 per night. Slightly less luxurious but still pretty decent hotels will set you back about £60 per night. If your a large family or mixed group, a villa rental may be more affordable. VRBO has some absolutely gorgeous villas in Patong.

Eating, activities and transport are all very cheap compared to home. Street food dishes are just a couple of pounds, short tuk tuks around £3. When we dined out in nice restaurants we found the bill was about two thirds of what we’d pay at home. A cold beer is about a pound and cocktails are similar. Western brands and drinks are similar to prices we pay at home.

Being the tourist hub of Phuket means that Patong is more expensive than the rest of the island but not by too much and the abundance of accomodation means you can normally get a good deal on your hotel.

In Conclusion

Patong is a fun place to visit in Phuket with kids. Is very well set up for tourists but also very busy. Don’t let that put you off, it is fairly easy to escape the crowds and it provides a good base to explore the rest of Phuket. Steer clear of the Bangla road and you and the kids will love it.

For more ideas on how to spend your time on the island, check out my other Phuket posts.