Travelling to Thailand with kids: what to know in advance

Plenty of families holiday in Thailand, and most of a trip with children works the way you would expect. A few things are different, though: the car seat law, the tropical sun, dengue and child rates in national parks. Everything below was checked on 17 October 2026 against Thai law, the Department of National Parks (DNP), the CDC and Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health.

Documents and entry

Children enter under the same rules as adults: the same visa-exempt period, and every family member needs their own TDAC arrival card. See our answer on the TDAC arrival card and the general entry rules.

Car seats: what the law requires

Amendment No. 13 to the Land Traffic Act, in force since 5 September 2022, introduced child seats, but the rule only applied once a separate Royal Thai Police notification came out. That notification has been in force since 17 August 2023.

• Who: children under 6 in private cars, including rentals
• Which seats: rear-facing or forward-facing seats or boosters, with standard anchoring
• Exempt: taxis and public transport
• Without a seat: drive slowly and keep left, seat the child in the back (in a pickup the front seat is allowed, never the truck bed), and have an adult beside the child or use a lap belt
• Fine: up to THB 2,000

In practice, taxis and ride-hailing cars rarely have seats since the law does not require them. If it matters to you, bring your own or book transfers and a rental car with a seat in advance. Other road rules, including rear seat belts, are in our guide to Thai traffic rules.

Vaccinations and health

No vaccinations are required for entry unless you come from a yellow fever country. The CDC recommends hepatitis A for children from age 1 (with a separate dose for infants aged 6-11 months) and a full measles course, with an early dose at 6-11 months. Details are in our guide to vaccinations for Thailand.

• Dengue. Thailand’s health ministry counted 25,026 cases by mid-September 2026, with numbers rising especially in the south. Repellent, long sleeves and window screens are the protection. For fever give paracetamol only; ibuprofen and aspirin are not used with dengue
• Rabies. Keep children away from stray dogs and cats and do not let them feed monkeys. After a bite or scratch the WHO advises washing the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seeing a doctor the same day
• Pharmacies stock children’s fever medicine, motion sickness remedies and sunscreen; see pharmacies in Thailand

Sun, water and the sea

• Sun. Thailand is in the tropics and the sun is strong all year. Plan beach time for the morning and late afternoon, keep children in the shade at midday, and pack a hat, a swim shirt and children’s sunscreen
• Water. Use bottled water for drinking and formula; every shop sells it. Make sure children drink more than usual
• Sea. In the rainy season Phuket’s west coast can have strong currents and red flags that mean no swimming. See red flags and rip currents and our list of calm beaches in Phuket

Stroller or carrier

A light folding stroller helps in airports, malls and hotels. Pavements are often narrow, with high kerbs and few ramps, so a carrier is easier for town walks and island trips. On boat tours the stroller usually stays in the car or hotel.

Child tickets for national parks

Many boat trips from Phuket and Krabi go into national parks, which charge a separate entry fee. Under the DNP’s 2021 fee regulation a child is anyone aged 3 to 14 or no taller than 140 cm, and children under 3 enter free.

Tour prices often include the park fee, but not always, so ask when you book. Bring a copy of your child’s passport to support the child rate.

Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.