Khao Lak - Thailand

We had such a good time last year that we returned to the Le Meridien in Khao Lak, Thailand,  for another 10 days this year. Because everything was such a known it was really easy to organise.

Luca and Scout are getting better with the travel and Kelly is super organised:- new sticker books, movies loaded on the iPads and lots of snacks the kids love - still 9 hours on the plane with next to no sleep still takes plenty of creative entertaining to avoid a meltdown.

We arrived in Phuket later at night this year, so what was close to a 2 hour drive last year to get to Khao Lak was exactly an hour this year. We had Popa and Nana waiting at the resort this year so the kids were more excited rather than tired when we arrived. 

With a three hour time difference compared with Sydney we were all up early the next day and I was barely able to contain myself knowing the buffet breakfast was waiting - it didn't disappoint! I didn't eat lunch a single day we were there after big, big breakfasts.

A new addition this year at the resort was the baby elephant. The elephant came out around breakfast time and then again in the afternoon when the kids could feed it. Luca and Scout didn't get sick of going to see the elephant and it was slightly surreal lying half asleep on a sun lounge by the beach and the next thing you have an elephant standing next to you.

Although the weather was a little more unpredictable than last year and we had a couple of rainy days we still managed to get into the pool everyday and for most days we spent six hours splashing about which was exactly the plan for holiday.

Kelly and I also logged plenty of hours chilling in the kids club while the kids did different art projects, watched movies or played with the other kids. Luca was able to fit in a couple more Muay Thai kickboxing lessons and had a 'bout' against the instructor on the last day - he loves it and was happy to practice on me whenever he got the chance.

We tried a number of new restaurants around the Khao Lak area this year and without exception the food was unbelievable. A highlight for me was a restaurant called Chong Fah which was right on the water near the main town. The afternoon had been rainy but cleared in time for dinner, because it was monsoon season there aren't too many tourists so we had the place to ourselves, we got a beautiful sunset with lots of pictures and a great dinner.

 In all a very cruisy but very fun holiday with tons of time spent together as a family - it was awesome.