Samui tips for parents

Box jellyfish live in the Gulf of Thailand, and Surat Thani, Samui's province, is one of the areas Thailand's marine department watches for them, most of all from about mid-May to October. Stings are rare, and the plan is simple: swim inside the stinger nets where a beach has them, stay out of the sea at dusk, and carry vinegar. For a sting, get the child out of the water and call 1669, keep them still, pour vinegar over the sting for at least 30 seconds without rubbing, and never use fresh water or alcohol on it. Then go to hospital.

On the east coast (Chaweng, Lamai) the sea can turn rough in the rainy season, usually November to March. A red flag means nobody swims, however calm it looks from the sand. Lifeguards work the main beaches; swim between their flags.

With small children, the north coast (Maenam, Bophut) and Choeng Mon are usually the calmer water. Sanuk can tell you more.

The midday sun rates extreme on most days. Keep to the shade from 11 to 3, use SPF 30 or more and put it on again after swimming, and keep babies under 6 months out of direct sun. Children dry out faster than adults: offer water often.

Drink sealed bottled water. There is no official word that Samui tap water is safe to drink, so small children brush their teeth with bottled water too.

There is no malaria risk on Samui, but dengue is present in southern Thailand and rises in the rainy months. Repellent in the day as well as the evening, long sleeves at dusk, and a net over the pram for young babies.

Rabies is present in Thailand. Children should not pet street dogs, temple cats or monkeys. For any bite or scratch, wash it with soap and water straight away and see a doctor the same day, even when it looks small.

Grab works on Samui: cars, bigger cars and motorbikes, booked in the app with the price shown first. Its own airport page puts the island centre to the airport at about 200 to 350 THB. Grab cars do not bring child seats.

Samui taxis rarely use the meter, so agree the price before you get in. Transfer companies quote about 500 THB from the airport to Chaweng or Bophut and about 900 to Lamai (2026).

Songthaews, the pick-up trucks with benches, run the ring road. From the airport the Samui Local Public Bus costs 120 THB a person: the Blue Line to Choeng Mon, Bophut, Maenam and Nathon, the Red Line to Chaweng, Lamai, Lipa Noi and Nathon. Elsewhere, flag one down, agree the price first and ring the bell to stop. There are no seatbelts.

For a day out with small children, a car or van with a driver is the easy way: your hotel or a transfer company will book one. Ask for car seats when you book, and check they are fitted before you set off.

Car hire firms meet you at the airport. Child seats cost extra (Budget asks about 200 THB a day) and go first come, first served, so book early. Samui Baby Go in Lamai rents car seats and delivers.

Thailand drives on the left, and you need an International Driving Permit with your licence. Helmets are the law on scooters, and a scooter is no way to carry a small child.

Use ATMs inside banks. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards 250 to 350 THB a withdrawal, so take out more, less often. Keep small notes for songthaews and stalls.

Never touch anyone's head, not even a child's, and do not point your feet at people or at Buddha images. Shoes come off in temple halls, and shoulders and knees are covered, children too. Monks do not take things from a woman's hand.