So, we decided to take a break from our everyday routine and go on a vacation with our then 20-month-old baby. Traveling has always been a tradition for us—we make sure to take at least one international trip a year. Last time, it was Singapore with my whole family and a 9-month-old in tow. Fast forward, that little 9-month-old is now 20 months, and this time we chose Thailand.
Oh, and here’s the best part—90% of our hotel bookings were covered using credit card points 😍(more on that in this blog).
Why Thailand? Two main reasons:
- It’s close to India, which means shorter flight time (a lifesaver when traveling with a toddler).
- We had already visited 6 years ago, so we knew what to expect. With a baby, exploring too much wasn’t realistic, and a familiar destination felt safe.
🌦️ When to Travel
One of the first things to decide is when in the year to plan your trip.
We chose August. Now, August isn’t the best month for Thailand because of the monsoons. Luckily, Phuket and Krabi (in the south) get monsoons later than the north, so it worked out fine for us.
💡 Tip: Always check the weather conditions for the region you’re visiting. Thailand’s north and south have very different monsoon timings.
✈️ Flights
When booking flights, look at the options available on your intended dates. If you’re flexible, I’d recommend choosing dates based on prices—you might even be able to upgrade to a better flight category.
In our case, we wanted our trip to overlap with Rakhi and Independence Day to make the most of the holidays. By adjusting our travel dates, we got the best rates and even managed to book Premium Economy at the price of Economy!
Also, we chose night travel because I wanted my baby to sleep during the flight. He just cannot stick to one place—and I know most parents can relate to this. Trust me, the extra space in Premium Economy is a blessing when traveling with a toddler/infant (airline vocabulary = under 2 years). Airlines charge quite a bit for an infant even though they don’t get a seat—it was ₹10k for us! But honestly, that little extra space made a huge difference 😊
🏨 Hotels
Next comes hotels. First, consider how your trip will typically unfold—will it be active sightseeing or a more relaxed holiday? Since we were traveling with our baby, we knew it would be slower and with limited outside time, so we invested more in the hotel experience itself.
We chose good brands that offered kid-friendly facilities like safe pools and small activity areas, while also making sure there were things for us to enjoy too—an amazing big pool with water scooters, inflatables, cozy cafés, and comfortable sit-outs. Location also matters when traveling with kids, so picking hotels close to essentials like restaurants or beaches can save time and energy. Honestly, if you know you’ll be spending a lot of time at the hotel (like we did), it’s worth paying a little extra for comfort and facilities.
Now, let’s rewind to Day Zero. My little trick was to keep my baby away from the bed in the afternoon so he’d sleep better during the flight—and it worked! But preparation was key. Here’s what really helped me:
- Snacks: I carried three types of baby biscuits (including Threptin Junior) and grabbed some makhana from duty-free. Honestly, they saved me.
- Milk powder for emergencies.
- Extra clothes, because… well, you know toddlers.
- Diapers (lots of them).
- Entertainment: Instead of 10–12 long cartoons, I downloaded around 50 short rhymes (10–20 minutes each). That variety kept him happy.
One thing I learned: be gentle – traveling and adjusting to a new place can overwhelm kids, and they can get extra cranky. After reaching our hotel, we freshened up, took a 2–3 hour nap, and then headed straight to the pool. Playing in the water helped my baby relax and feel like it was just another fun day, not a big change.
And here’s my golden rule—enjoy the trip together as a family. If only you and your husband continue with your own activities while the baby is left out, boredom creeps in, and emotions show up in not-so-pleasant ways. Believe me, I’ve seen it happen 😅.