LIVING THE HIGH LIFE

A THAI GETAWAY THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE

The rule of thumb when travelling with kids is that if they are happy, everyone is relaxed. So if the complementary ice-cream parlour and chocolate room, water slides plunging from a bedroom into a pool below and treehouse-style playground at Thailand’s Soneva Kiri doesn’t put a smile on the dial of your tribe, nothing will.

On the pristine, ruggedly beautiful island of Koh Kood, Soneva Kiri is the brainchild of hotelier Sonu Shivdasani and his wife Eva, who are famous for their playful take on barefoot luxury. Adopting a “no shoes, no news” policy, Soneva, is an idyllic playground for the young and old alike in a lush, jungle setting.

There are a host of activities including paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling and family-friendly excursions and cultural exchanges to immerse kids in the village destination. The kids’ club, a bamboo-framed suspended structure called The Den, has been hailed the best in the world and ditches gadgets and ipads in favour of environmentally responsible activities, art classes and a music room filled with traditional instruments. The only downside? Having to go home.