These opinions are my own, shared from the perspective of a family of 3 that travels on a budget.
I know, just the title alone is enough to get some people’s blood boiling. How could one possibly think Bangkok is better than Phuket? But hear me out…
When we first arrived in Thailand, we landed in Bangkok and after staying there a few days were royally disappointed. It was so crazy, and busy, everyone was rushing around. Pushy locals filled the tourist areas trying to get people like ourselves to buy stuff and the list went on with annoyances. Then we made our way down to Phuket as a family, and we enjoyed the beaches and fun in the sun.
Then all of that novelty quickly wore off. One can only take their kid outside to the beach and sit in the sun for so long before it becomes boring. There were no playgrounds or outdoor green spaces for our daughter to run around freely. There was one indoor playground at the local mall, which happened to be within walking distance of one of the places we stayed, but it was not the safest or easiest place to walk to.
For a family that was looking to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time (2-3 months), Phuket just was not going to cut it. We decided to head back to Bangkok after staying in Phuket for a couple of weeks. There are quite a few reasons why we found navigating Bangkok to be better than navigating Phuket as a family with a toddler.
Public Transportation
Bangkok is synonymously known for its BTS (skytrain) and MRT (subway) lines, and they also have a pretty good bus system. This can get you from any part of the city in a decent amount of time. If you are not comfortable taking public transit, then you can also take a Grab or a taxi to get from point A to point B. Bangkok also has a river that runs straight through, so you may also find yourself taking a boat to access parts of the city as well. We made sure to stay in a central area of Bangkok that was on the BTS line so we could hop on and off to our destinations with ease.
Endless Play Opportunities
As a family with a young child, we needed somewhere for her to play on a day-to-day basis (besides the beach). Bangkok has options for indoor and outdoor play galore. We made sure to stay in the main area that was on the BTS line in order to get to some of the best spaces for kids. There were playgrounds, gardens, indoor play spaces, malls, water parks, exploration centres and more. Our daughter never ran out of things to do while we stayed in Bangkok.
Easy Accessibility
Most of the places we went to ended up being within walking distance because we stayed anywhere between Phrom Phong and Ekkamai BTS stations. The sidewalks in Thailand aren’t the greatest, and you will find scooters on the sidewalks often enough. There is still something to be said about having the ability to walk on a sidewalk. It was something we did not take for granted once we returned to Bangkok. It was super convenient to be able to even walk to the playground or the mall that was just around the corner from us. Or to be able to run to a 7/Eleven or grab bubble tea a short walk from our place.
Cheap, cheap, cheap
Overall, because Bangkok is less popular amongst tourists for long-term stays, it ends up being the most cost-effective and cheap place to stay. For a major city, you can find great accommodations with amenities. Look for hotels, Airbnbs, or serviced apartments with a pool, gym, rooftop terrace, garden area, and more for a great price. Because it is a big city and everything is close by, it means you can get around at a more affordable price because the distance you are travelling is less.
The food is also cheaper in Bangkok because it is away from the beachfront city flocked with tourists. Yes, there are fancier restaurants and bars if you are looking to spend the money. For the most part, you can easily step out onto the streets of Bangkok and find cheap eats quite instantly.
I know this is such a taboo topic, and we did enjoy visiting Phuket! For an extended stay with a toddler, the beachfront and lack of green spaces in Phuket were enough to send us back to the busy, bustling city of Bangkok. Many say that Bangkok is too loud and polluted. None of that will even cross your mind if you’re used to the busy city life and want to have your child explore and mingle with other kids.
Find what works best
Bangkok turned out to be our favourite place in Thailand that we have visited thus far as a family. By moving back to Bangkok we were able to make friends with other parents who permanently lived in Thailand. Our daughter was able to interact and socialize with other kids in Bangkok. While in Phuket, she was never able to find or interact with other children at any point.
I would suggest giving Bangkok a solid shot if you will be in Thailand with kids for an extended period. There is so much to do with kids in Bangkok, and for adults alike. It is worth adding Bangkok to your list of places to visit if you plan to come to Thailand. If you plan on visiting Phuket, I’ve still shared some of our favourite places we have visited in Phuket, Thailand.