What is the charm of travelling with children?
We often think a vacation officially begins after we land, arrive at the accommodation, and finally say, “Alright, let’s go out and explore.” But when travelling with children, the adventure usually starts much earlier.
Somewhere between the airport, the resort, and the first plan of the day, children are already collecting little discoveries of their own. They often notice details that adults may pass by – an item in their favourite colour, a decorated bed with new toys, a waterpark that definitely invites a few swims, or a child their age exchanging a few glances before becoming play buddies. And when a cultural celebration turns the street into a joyful surprise, they may not understand every meaning just yet, but they know how exciting it feels to join the fun with mom and dad. Through their eyes, the family holiday becomes less about moving from one stop to another, and more about the little, exciting moments that catch their attention.
MinHee’s recent family trip to Club Med Phuket definitely took place in that same spirit, with each moment adding its own colour to the family holiday.
Discovery #1: The plane was purple!
Before the family even arrived in Phuket, MinHee had already found something to love: the plane was purple. For MinHee, that was enough to make the journey feel special. So special, in fact, that she decided to write a note to share the happiness with her mom, and perhaps even the flight attendants: “The plane is purple. I really love it!” In her world, the holiday had already begun, and she was excited.
Discovery #2: Our room had a waterpark outside, and there were lots of things to try out
The next discovery started at Club Med Phuket, beginning with her room. Set within the dedicated Family Oasis area, the room itself gave her plenty to notice: the banyan tree bed, an extra-large beanbag chair, a glass window looking directly towards the colourful water park, and a tic-tac-toe board sat nicely on the soft bed. Not just thoughtful family-friendly touches, these details intuitively invited young MinHee to sit, play, and perhaps peek outside every now and then to imagine the next adventure out in the water with excitement.
Soon, the water park became the setting for MinHee’s own little story. After floating around in a pink flamingo buoy while her parents enjoyed cool drinks from the nearby bar, MinHee met a new friend from Russia. Amazingly, quoted her mom Vyt Quynh Anh, they discovered that they did not speak the same language, and that they did not need to. A few laughs, water gun games, and many underwater adventures later, the afternoon had been happily spent. In the most effortless way, this was how new friendships begin at Club Med, and MinHee fit right into that spirit.
How MinHee enjoyed the pool with her flamingo and a newly met friend
Versus how her Mom, Vyt Quynh Anh, found her own space with a cool drink in hand
But for energetic MinHee and the sport-enthusiastic Vyt Quynh Anh, the pool was only one part of the playground. Across the resort, the family quickly noticed just how much there was to explore: boxing, archery, pickleball, padel, basketball, indoor wall climbing… you name it. Even the greenery and shaded pathways made walking feel less like moving from one place to another, and more like part of the holiday itself.
Then came the long-awaited Kata Beach, just one road away from the resort entrance. Wrapped in golden sunlight and calm waves at sunset, the scenery gently brought the family into a slower part of the vacation after the colour and movement of the day – a time for shared moments and the simple joy of watching the day settle together. Maybe for MinHee, it was a simple little discovery that the beach could be beautiful without needing much to happen; just the sunset, the sound of the waves, and Mom and Dad sitting beside her. For her parents, that simplicity may be exactly what made the moment precious: watching their child take in the world, without needing to do anything more than be there with her.
Discovery #3: The first ever Songkran Festival with Mom and Dad
Probably one of MinHee’s most vibrant discoveries was Songkran. At first, it was pure joy: loaded water guns, surprise splashes, laughter from every direction, and the happy thrill of splashing back. With Club Med Phuket set close to Phuket’s lively streets, the family could easily step out and blend into the celebrating crowds, making the whole festival feel spontaneously playful and wonderfully real.
But Songkran became more than just a water fight. Following her parents through the ceremonies, customs, and blessings, MinHee also got to attend the more ceremonial side of the occasion as part of Thailand’s living culture. The experience was thoughtfully arranged by the resort, allowing guests to take part in the traditions with a sense of ease and respect, while gentle guidance helped them understand the meaning behind each moment.
For a child, cultural appreciation often begins through observation, by taking in the sounds, movements, and emotions around them, and slowly sensing the importance of the occasion through its atmosphere. Surely, MinHee did not need to understand or remember every detail just yet. It was more than enough for her to feel the joy of the celebration, notice the respectful gestures around her, and follow her parents into a new tradition carrying layers of history and cultural meaning.
On the night before flying home, MinHee had one last little moment to add to her Phuket diary. Her mom took her to a local hair salon, where a few purple braids were woven into her natural hair. It was not a resort activity or a planned travel highlight, but somehow it felt like the perfect ending to the journey. The trip started with a purple airplane, and now, MinHee was bringing the purple holiday back with her.
Bringing us back to the question of “what is the charm of travelling with children,” perhaps the magic of parenting on holiday is this: you pack the suitcases, plan the flights, check the passports again and again, and feel excited to bring your child out to see the open world. Then, somewhere along the way, they begin showing the world back to you.
They spot a favourite colour and beam as they share it with you. They turn water gun games into a new friendship. They find wonder in a sunset slowly melting into the horizon, in the feeling of sand beneath their feet, in the pure joy of splashing through a water festival, and in the grace of receiving a heartfelt blessing. And by the time the journey ends, the real souvenirs are not always the things packed into a suitcase, but the little discoveries your child has collected along the way – discoveries that end up becoming yours, too.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 