Finding affordable accommodations for a family of five can be one of the hardest parts of planning a trip.
We need enough beds for five people, enough space that we’re not climbing over each other, and preferably a location where we can easily find food and a convenience store. And while I would love to say that we’re willing to sacrifice comfort for a cheap room, that’s just not really our travel style.
On our Thailand trip, we stayed in six different accommodations, ranging from a hostel with a giant bunk room to an elephant sanctuary eco-lodge to a local Airbnb in Bangkok.
Some were fantastic. Some were…fine. And one came with brown shower water and a lesson in managing expectations.
Here’s everywhere we stayed, what we paid, and what we thought.
Amaka Bed & Breakfast – Chiang Mai
2 nights: $152
Our first stop in Thailand was Chiang Mai, where we stayed at Amaka B&B.
Technically, Amaka is a hostel, but don’t let that scare you if you’re traveling with kids. Our family had a giant private bunk room with a private bathroom, and it worked perfectly for the five of us.
Plus, breakfast was included. Not just a grab-and-go breakfast, either. It was made to order and delicious, which was a pretty great way to start our mornings.
The location also worked really well for our family. We could walk to the Chang Pheleak food market, which we loved so much that we went back a second night.
Would we stay here again?
This one was a 10/10. Yes! Amaka was a great introduction to Thailand, and I would happily stay here again if we returned to Chiang Mai.
Chai Lai Orchid — Elephant Sanctuary Eco-Lodge
2 rooms for 1 night: $118
This one is a little different because Chai Lai Orchid wasn’t just a place to sleep. The accommodation itself was part of the experience.
We stayed in two rooms at the Elephant Sanctuary Eco-Lodge, and the setting was beautiful.
It was also rustic.
There were bugs. There were definitely moments when we were reminded that we were staying in an eco-lodge rather than a traditional hotel. But we knew what we were getting into, and honestly, it was completely worth it.
We got to feed elephants, play in the river, and wake up to breakfast on our porch with elephants nearby.
That’s the kind of travel experience our family loves.
It’s not polished luxury. It’s an experience we’ll remember forever.
I wrote a whole post about our stay at Chai Lai Orchid (here), because there is much more to say about this one.
What to know before you book
This is rustic. If you’re looking for a polished resort with every modern convenience, this probably isn’t it.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience and don’t mind some bugs and a little less comfort, it’s probably exactly what you’re looking for.
Would we stay here again?
Absolutely. The experience far outweighed the rustic accommodations for us.
Crystal Bay Yacht Club Beach Resort — Koh Samui
3 nights: $305.49
This one was a mixed bag.
We stayed in a two-bedroom villa, which gave the five of us plenty of space to spread out. And that was definitely a plus.
The beach was just steps away, and we spent a lot of time there. I also had one of the most relaxing massages of the entire trip on the beach, and it cost just $14.09 for an hour.
Plus, there was also a convenience store within an easy walk. And if you know anything about our family, you know that we love a convenience store.
But there were definitely some downsides.
Only one of our two showers worked, and the water coming out of it was brown. I tried washing some clothes in the shower and ended up staining them so badly that I had to throw them away.
That said, the room was clean, spacious, and the beach was lovely.
The biggest drawback was the location. Other than the beach and convenience store, there wasn’t much within walking distance, so we needed transportation whenever we wanted to go somewhere else.
Would we stay here again?
Probably not.
It wasn’t a disaster, and we had some really nice moments here. But that brown shower water…
Wind Beach Resort — Koh Tao
3 nights: $259.35
Our Koh Tao accommodations were at Wind Beach Resort, where we had a family mountain-view room.
Breakfast was included, which is always a bonus when you’re feeding five people.
We really liked the location. We could easily walk to restaurants and a convenience store and the resort had a pool that our kids loved.
The beach was also just steps away.
Would we stay here again?
Yes. For us, the combination of location, family-friendly setup, pool and price worked really well.
Nana Beach Hotel — Chumphon
1 night: $101.52
Our stay in Chumphon was only one night, but I honestly wish we’d stayed longer.
We stayed in a two-bedroom bungalow at Nana Beach Hotel, which gave our family plenty of room.
Chumphon felt completely different from the other places we’d visited in Thailand. It almost felt like there were no other tourists around, and we loved that.
We walked along the road, ate where the locals ate, and just enjoyed the slower pace.
The only downsides were that it seemed virtually impossible to arrange your own rideshare, so if we couldn’t walk, we weren’t going. The hotel was gracious enough to arrange a ride to the airport for us though.
Also, the beach was beautiful, but the water was too dangerous for swimming when we were there.
Would we stay here again?
Yes. The only problem we had here was not staying long enough. If we make it back to this part of Thailand, I’d seriously consider staying longer.
Home Khet Bangkok Yai — Bangkok
3 nights: $258.79
For Bangkok, we stayed in an Airbnb called Home Khet Bangkok Yai. It was located in Old Bangkok, in an older, very local neighborhood, and we loved that. It was anything but touristy.
There was an elementary school next door, and it was so fun for my kids to see kids their age in their normal day-to-day school environment. We also loved watching the monitor lizards swim through the canal.
It didn’t feel like we were staying in a generic tourist district. We were surrounded by everyday local life, which is one of our favorite things about traveling.
We spent our days exploring Bangkok on foot, by tuk-tuk, and by ferry, and came back to this neighborhood at the end of the day.
Would we stay here again?
Yes. We loved the local flavor. This was exactly the type of accommodation we look for when we travel.
Note: Unfortunately, I am unable to find the exact home we rented.
Our Thailand Accommodation Costs
For the accommodations we’ve listed, here’s what we paid:
| Accommodation | Location | Nights | Cost |
| Amaka Bed & Breakfast | Chiang Mai | 2 | $152.00 |
| Chai Lai Orchid | Chiang Mai | 1 | $118.00 |
| Crystal Bay Yacht Club | Koh Samui | 3 | $305.49 |
| Wind Beach Resort | Koh Tao | 3 | $259.35 |
| Nana Beach Hotel | Chumphon | 1 | $101.52 |
| Home Khet Bangkok Yai | Bangkok | 3 | $258.79 |
Total for these six stays: $1,195.15
That’s an average of about $85 per night for our family of five, and one of the things I love about traveling in Thailand.
We were able to find family-sized accommodations, including multi-bedroom options, without spending hundreds of dollars every night.
So, Where Would We Stay Again?
If I had to do this trip all over again, there are definitely places I’d happily return to.
Amaka B&B in Chiang Mai: Yes. Affordable, comfortable, great breakfast, and a good location.
Chai Lai Orchid: Absolutely. This one is less about the room and more about the experience. It was a bucket-list stay for our family.
Crystal Bay Yacht Club: Probably not. The beach and spacious room were great, but the maintenance issues and location would have me looking elsewhere.
Wind Beach Resort: Yes. The location and family-friendly setup worked really well for us.
Nana Beach Hotel: Yes, and I’d stay longer next time.
Home Khet Bangkok Yai: Yes. We loved staying amongst the locals.
We’re not looking for five-star resorts or luxury accommodations. We want a clean place where all five of us can sleep, enough space to be comfortable, a good location, and ideally breakfast or a convenience store nearby.
Thailand made that surprisingly easy.
Final Thoughts
Traveling to Thailand with three kids doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune on accommodations. We stayed in hostels, eco-lodges, resorts, bungalows, and an Airbnb, and although some were better than others, each gave us a different look at the country.
Sometimes the fancy hotel is great. Sometimes it’s a giant bunk room. Sometimes there’s an elephant walking past your porch.
And sometimes it’s a dated beach resort with brown shower water that gives you a pretty good story to tell later.
For our family, those experiences are worth far more than a perfectly polished hotel room.
If you’re considering Thailand with kids, just go. Finding accommodations that work for a family of five is absolutely possible, and the memories you’ll make are worth it.
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