Phuket, Thailand (April, 2015)

After Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, we arrived into Phuket with the Bollards to meet our Australian friends, the Kemps, at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia (Kemps had been in Phuket for about a week before we got there). We were confirmed upgrades to suites and with our Hilton diamond status had free breakfast as well as lounge privileges for the 5 days we were in Phuket.  We spent a lot of time just relaxing by the pool and hanging out at the hotel and enjoying the great Thai food in the area, but we did get out for a few excursions to go sample some of the fun Phuket/Patong has to offer.

One day we went to the Tiger Kingdom, where we paid to go into the tigers' cages and pet them.

 The kids petting the baby tiger.

 Ryder, taking a nap on the baby tiger.

 Cody's got the tiger by the tail.

 Cody and Eliza with one of the big cats.

 The 3 amigos, showing their fierce inner tiger.

 Sawyer, petting the baby tiger.

 Nash, laying on the baby tiger.

 Eliza, with the big tiger.

 Cody, coming up from behind the big tiger.

Our crew in the tigers' cage.

We also went to an amazing escape room - Omescape - and did 2 separate puzzle rooms. These 2 rooms were among the best ones that we had ever done (we became addicted to these things in Singapore, Beijing, Sydney, and Perth).

We then went to the surf wave and most of us tried our hand at either the boogie board or the surfboard...it is much harder than it looks.

 Ryder boogie boarding on the artificial wave.

 Nash, with the pro, boogie boarding.

 Cody's first attempt. 

 The coach was awesome, he was doing all kinds of spins and tricks with Zander.

 Ryder, starting to get the hang of it.

 Zander, surfing with his new Thai friend.

 Nash, giving it a go on his own.

 Cody, just before he took a spill.

This was one of Zander's favorite things in Phuket.

We also went to a ropes course that wasn't the most safety conscious of places, especially with the kids, but we didn't have any injuries or accidents, and they had a pretty good setup and plenty of obstacles.

 Cody, upside down on the zip line.

 Eliza, easily making her way through the obstacles.

 Eliza, making quick work of the ropes course.

 Whipperman family on the ropes course in Phuket, Thailand.

Our group, all smiles after a fun few hours in the shade.

And with the tremendous heat in Phuket, we were happy to spend a lot of time in the hotel in the pools and playing on the water slides.

 Cody, playing with Addy and Zander in the pool.

 Sawyer and Paige enjoying lunch together at the kid's club in the hotel.

Right across from the hotel there was a beach, which wasn't much to write home about, but there were some great sunsets in Phuket.

Chiang Rai, Thailand (April, 2015)

We had a great experience at Le Meridien Chiang Mai and took a full day tour from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai that ended at Le Meridien Chiang Rai, which we booked for 2 nights for 2,000 SPG points + $35 per night.  There is no lounge at this hotel, but the rooms we got were spacious and had balconies overlooking the property.  The hotel was very relaxing and had a triple infinity pool that the kids loved and played in for hours on end.

Bollards and Whipps couples pic.

The kids on a wooden suspension bridge between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Kids on an old piece of wood.

Getting ready for some Thai food.

Passed the 12 year mark this year and it's as good as it's ever been.

Mommy with Sawyer.

On our way into Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, we went to the White Temple, which was surprisingly interesting and fun (normally we are not people that enjoy to go to touristy temples). There were some very ornate and interesting structures.

The kids in front of the White Temple.

Family picture in front of the White Temple.

These people really don't seem to like where they are...can someone give them a hand and help them out?

Very powerful white statue.

The girls at the white temple.

All the kids at the wishing well.

Making their wishes.

More white, ornate structures.

We stayed a couple nights at our hotel in Chiang Rai, mainly enjoying the Thai food, Thai massages, and playing at the triple infinity pool.  On our way back to the Chiang Mai airport, we stopped to go on a hike to a waterfall.  We thought it was going to be a short little hike, but it ended up being a little bit more than we bargained for, but it was worth it in the end.

Family picture in front of the waterfall.

Daddy with Nash and Ryder, swimming in the waterfall.

This lady at the beginning of the waterfall trail couldn't resist Nash's charm and just wanted to kiss him.

Ryder, climbing the bamboo shoots.

The kids, playing in the bamboo forest.

Sawyer, in front of the waterfall.

Another family picture in front of the waterfall.

Family picture.

Chiang Mai, Thailand (April, 2015)

We redeemed 35,000 United Mileage Plus Miles per person plus $76.36 per person in taxes (210,000 miles total plus $458.16) to fly from Perth to Chiang Mai, Thailand (through Bangkok), then from Chiang Mai to Phuket, then from Phuket back to Perth (again, through Bangkok).  Our connections were good (no more than 2 hours in the Bangkok airport).  This was a pretty good use of United Mileage Plus points, as the tickets were selling for around $4,000 each. You are allowed one stopover when redeeming United miles, so we took advantage of this and it didn't cost us any extra to go to both Chiang Mai and Phuket.

We spent 4 nights in the Chiang Mai area (between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai) and 9 nights in the Phuket area (including Koh Phi Phi and Mai Khao).

Bollard and Whipperman kids in front of Le Meridien Chiang Mai.

We booked the Le Meridien Chiang Mai using 3,000 Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points/night for 2 of the nights and when we arrived, we upgraded the room to a suite with an additional 1,875 points per night.  So, 4,875 points per night netted us a Suite, complete with free breakfast and lounge access.  The lounge was great at this hotel and there was rarely anyone else there, which made it nice since we were traveling with our 4 kids and the Bollards were traveling with their 3 kids.

In Chiang Mai, we rode elephants, watched an elephant show, and then got to play with the elephants.

Eliza, swinging on the elephant's trunk

Eliza, Sawyer, and Zander riding the elephant down into the river.

The boys enjoying the elephant show.

Zander, riding one of the elephants from the show.

Cody, Ryder, and Nash on the back of the elephant.

Nash, riding bareback.

Then we took a journey down the river on bamboo rafts...

Whipps and Bollards floating down the river on a bamboo raft.

Ryder, with Max and Tate on the bamboo raft.

Then we went to see the long neck tribes...

Nash, with two cute little girls from the long neck tribe.

Sawyer, testing out the metal coils on her neck.

Eliza and Tori, long-necking it like the locals.

Zander with a long neck.

Ryder with a long neck.

Then we visited a snake and reptile center...

Ryder holding a huge iguana.

Zander with the huge iguana.

Nash, with a big snake around his neck.

Zander with a big snake.

Eliza...um, loving having a snake around her neck.

Smile Eliza...

Ryder with a giant scorpion.

Cody, staring down the giant scorpion.

Giant cobras, and these guys were leaning down to kiss them...crazy!

This is as close as any of us dared to get to the giant cobras.