Phuket With Kids: Beaches, Rain, Schools, Doctors

Swim at Kata, which is suited to swimming. Surin is not suitable in the monsoon, and Nai Harn is not recommended from May to October. September is the wettest month, at 350.4 mm. Bangkok Hospital Phuket's Children Clinic is open daily 8.00 am to 11.00 pm. Call 1669 in an emergency.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Which beach to swim at, and when

The southwest monsoon covers Phuket from around mid-May to mid-October. In the monsoon, large waves and rip currents can make swimming very dangerous in places like Phuket (TAT, 2018).

All six west-coast beaches, with airport fares, are in Phuket Beaches Compared.

Flags, lifeguards and jellyfish

Beaches use four flag colours (TAT, 2018).

If you are unsure, ask the lifeguards or your hotel staff. When the sea is rough, avoid swimming under a red flag and follow the lifeguards’ instructions strictly.

Avoid swimming after heavy rain, at night, or outside the safety zones marked by buoys.

Box jellyfish are seen more often in the monsoon months. A rash guard or long-sleeved swimwear can reduce the risk of stings. Do not touch jellyfish stranded on the beach.

If your child is stung

1. Get the child out of the water and call 1669.
2. Keep the child as still as possible to limit the spread of venom.
3. Pour vinegar over the sting for at least 30 seconds.
4. Do not rub the sting or wash it with fresh water.
5. Seek medical help at once for severe pain, confusion, chest discomfort, breathing difficulty or changes in skin colour.

More detail is in Jellyfish and Rip Currents in Phuket.

Rainy season and rainy-day plans

Phuket’s average rain for 1991-2020, by month, from the Thai Meteorological Department:

In a normal year the rainy season starts on 28 April and ends on 17 November. More month-by-month detail is in Phuket Rainy Season and Phuket Weather by Month.

Two aquariums for wet days

Phuket Aquarium

• Open daily 08.30 to 16.30, including public holidays.
• Foreign visitors pay 300 baht for an adult and 150 baht for a child.
• Children shorter than 108 cm enter free.
• A diver feeding show runs every day from 11.00 to 11.30.

Aquaria Phuket

• Open Monday to Sunday 10.30 to 19.00, with last admission at 18.00.
• It is on the B1 floor of Central Phuket Floresta.
• A child under 90 cm goes in free, and a child of 91 to 140 cm is charged the child rate.
• The aquarium-only family pass for Thai residents and expats covers 2 adults and 2 children of 91 to 140 cm and costs 1,880 baht.
• An expat must show a work permit or a Thai driving licence at the counter.
• The family pass has no cancellations, refunds or changes.
• Buy online tickets 3 hours in advance.

The Children Clinic and emergency care

Bangkok Hospital Phuket’s Children Clinic is open daily 8.00 am to 11.00 pm. Call +66 7625 4425 ext. 1011. The hospital lists check-up packages for kids at 760 to 4,780 baht.

In an emergency call 1669. The line is part of a countrywide network and is free of charge. The operators will usually transfer you to the nearest available hospital.

Emergency teams at Bangkok Hospital Phuket are ready 24/7, and 1719 is its number for immediate critical care. Bangkok Hospital Siriroj offers 24-hour emergency and trauma services on 076 361 888.

Bring your child’s passport: showing a passport is mandatory at public and private hospitals. A self-paying patient will usually be asked for a cash deposit before treatment at a private hospital. Bangkok Hospital Phuket provides complimentary professional interpreters.

Costs, insurance and other hospitals are in English-Speaking Hospitals in Phuket and Phuket Hospital Costs for Foreigners.

Animal bites and dengue

Wash a bite wound with soap and water for at least 10 minutes, apply povidone-iodine and never cover it. Anyone scratched or bitten by an animal must see a doctor quickly to consider the rabies vaccine and tetanus protection. The rabies vaccine and RIG have no contraindication in children.

A rabies vaccine package at Bangkok Hospital Phuket costs THB 990, valid until 31 December 2026. See Rabies Vaccine in Phuket.

Dengue cases rise much higher in the rainy season. The Aedes mosquito bites during the day. With a fever, take only paracetamol.

See a doctor promptly if the fever does not fall, vomiting increases, gums bleed, skin spots appear or the child is drowsy. The DDC hotline is 1422. A dengue vaccine at Bangkok Hospital Phuket’s Children Clinic costs 4,500 baht. More in Dengue Fever in Phuket.

Schools for young children, and your child’s visa

QSI admits a child who is 2 on or before 1 November of the school year, and the child must be toilet trained.

Fee schedules and admissions by school are in International Schools in Phuket and International School Fees in Phuket.

Children of a Non-Immigrant B, ED or O-A holder apply for a Non-Immigrant O dependant visa. It is single-entry and must be used within 90 days of issue. In Thailand the holder can apply to extend the stay to 1 year. A spouse and children under 20 of a DTV holder can also get a DTV.

See Visas for Children and Spouses in Phuket.

Next in this journey: Phuket Beaches Compared, then International Schools in Phuket, then English-Speaking Hospitals in Phuket.

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Not confirmed: Child car seats: no official Thai text on car-seat rules for children was found. Ask your rental company what it supplies before you drive with a child.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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