I'm raising my family in Thailand and feel less pressure to be a perfect mom
They settled down in Koh Samui, where she gave birth to her daughter, who is now 5 years old.
She feels less pressure to be an 'Instagram mom,' and says the island has allowed her daughter to be a child.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandy Cacchione, a 41-year-old Swiss woman raising her daughter in Koh Samui, Thailand. She is also the founder of mate.travel, a destination-focused travel and events platform. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I met my now-husband in 2009 on a popular diving island in Thailand.
I was on vacation from my hometown of Basel, Switzerland, while he had stopped on the island to complete his divemaster training during a yearlong trip around the world.
After dating long-distance for a year and a half, we decided to move to Koh Tao to work at the diving center where we had first met. It's an island in the Gulf of Thailand, just a ferry ride from Koh Samui.
He became a diving instructor, while I started off as an underwater videographer and eventually became an instructor myself.
We got married five years later, and although we loved the time we'd spent on that island, we were ready to settle down and start a family.
Koh Samui, over 10 times bigger, offered the environment we were looking for, so we moved there instead.
It's a perfect mix of the laid-back island lifestyle we love and all the amenities we need. There is a cinema, a shopping mall, an international airport, and hospitals and schools.
When I was pregnant, my mother moved to Samui to be close to her first grandchild. I gave birth to my daughter in 2020, who is now five years old and enrolled in an international kindergarten on the island.
I normally drop my daughter off by 9 a.m. and pick her up between 3:30 and 4 p.m.
It's on the later side, since the earliest she can do is 8:30 a.m., but I don't like to rush in the mornings, and neither does she.
It's a Montessori-inspired school that follows the English curriculum.
In Switzerland, the school day usually starts around 8 a.m., so kids need to get up much earlier. In the afternoon, students typically return home for lunch. Moreover, different grades have different schedules.
When I was visiting a friend in Switzerland, her two kids didn't have the same lunchtime. Coordinating is impossible; your whole day revolves around your kids.
Many kids back in Switzerland also participate in lots of activities. As a mother, I probably would've felt pressured to enroll my daughter in something.
While there are extracurricular activities for kids in Samui, there is no pressure to sign them up. Nobody will say, "Oh, your kid's not doing ballet?" Everyone's friendly and supportive.
Social media here is more about traveling and breaking free from a conventional lifestyle. There is nothing about "I'm a perfect mom, this is what I did today."
Even in my daughter's school, the kids get exposed to so many different cultures and learn to be more accepting of others from a young age.
People living in Samui tend to be more open-minded. Most of the people I've met have already lived in other countries before; this is rarely their first stop.
When my daughter sees videos of other children playing at a park on YouTube or from friends back in Europe, and she says, "Mommy, can we go to the park?" I say, "Well, there's no park."
There are indoor play spaces but hardly any well-maintained outdoor playgrounds or parks like the ones I've seen back in Switzerland.
I've found that if you don't want to do an activity, it's difficult to just go somewhere and meet other families. You need to know where to go or arrange to meet someone somewhere.
For teenagers, it's much harder to find things to do. Some hang out at the shopping mall, but getting around the island can be difficult.
Walking here isn't easy — it's hot, there aren't many sidewalks, and there's no public transportation like buses or subways. The roads can be dangerous, so I'd never want my child riding a motorbike here.
They're really kid-friendly here. There's so much space almost everywhere, and she can run around. Even in restaurants, you never feel shushed.
We live up in the mountains, about 10 minutes from the main road. There is no road noise, and we have a nice view of the valley and a little bit of the ocean.
It's very quiet and slow, even in the mornings. If I'm 10 minutes late dropping my daughter off, it's not a problem. Even as a mother, I'm not stressed.
Do you have a story to share about raising a child after relocating to a new country? Contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.
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Even in the height of summer, if you're heading up the mountains you'll need your best hiking hat, best base layer, best fleece jacket and best down jacket as well as your sleeping bag, just to keep warm. For more on this, check out our guide on how to stay warm in a tent. Although you might think it's novel and intrepid (like in those Everest films) to begin with, pitching on a windy mountainside is not a good idea and many tent poles have been casualties to such folly. When planning a backpacking adventure in the mountains, check the forecast for the wind direction and plan to pitch your shelter in lee of a barrier, such as on the side of the mountain that's sheltered from the wind. Never pitch directly under crags or anywhere where rocks could conceivably lead to a particularly rude awakening. Batten down the hatches A good tent can withstand a surprising variety of weather, but only if it's pitched right. Set up your tent with the main entrance angled away from the prevailing wind and orientate it so that the smallest surface area is head on to any gusts that might come your way, so it doesn't act like a sail. Peg the tent out so everything's under equal tension. Baggy areas of fabric are a sign of a poorly pitched tent that may not withstand the weather and flap about noisily in the wind, neither of which will help you sleep. Use all the guy ropes and peg points, even if it feels like you don't need to – you never know when the weather might change. How to take down a tent Knowing how to pitch a tent is just half the battle, of course. You also need to know how to take down a tent. Once you've wrestled your sleeping bag into its stuff sack and placed your belongings back into your backpack or car, it's time to disassemble your shelter. First, clear the inner of any leaves and clumps of dirt it's gathered during the trip; future you will thank you when it comes to the next adventure. 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Yahoo
20 hours ago
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Hotels.com discount codes for August 2025 – how to save 10% or more
Whether you're looking for a summer city break, a European beach getaway or a Thailand backpacking adventure, has plenty of options to get excited about. With everything from stately castles to sleek high rises and boutique boltholes, our team of deal experts is pulling back the covers on how to stay in your dream hotel for less. Here are all the best ways to save money on your booking. The best ways to save at Apply a discount code You can almost always save 10 per cent or more on your booking by applying a promo code. To apply the code that we've listed above, continue to the booking confirmation screen, where you'll see an 'Apply a coupon code' field under the hotel summary section. Paste in your code and apply to see your booking cost reduce. Sign up for a one key membership One key is a free loyalty program, available for UK and US customers, where you work your way up the tiers for more benefits. All members start with a blue tier membership, moving up to silver, gold and platinum, unlocking more perks with each level. Here's a breakdown of what you get: Blue: Save 10 per cent or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide Silver: Get 15 per cent or more off member pricing for 10,000+ hotels, plus three per cent one key cash (aka rewards points) towards future stays and hotel food or drink perks. Gold: Save 20 per cent or more thousands of hotels, plus room upgrade and four per cent one key cash and hotel food or drink perks. Platinum: All of the as above, plus six per cent one key cash and VIP customer support. You earn one key cash on eligible bookings, which starts at two per cent and increases with each tier. These accumulated rewards points can be used towards future hotel or car hire booking. As well as the one key membership can be used on partner sites Expedia and Vrbo, meaning more opportunities to build up your perks and discounts. You will automatically build up your one key cash pot in your account after completing eligible trips and your balance won't expire, as long as you make at least one eligible booking within an 18 months. Student and NHS discounts Students can get 10 per cent off on bookings via Unidays or Student Beans. Similarly, NHS staff and healthcare workers can also take advantage of this discount with a Health Service Discounts account. These offers can be used on top of existing member pricing or site-wide promotions. To redeem your unique code from any of these sites, simply register with a valid ID or login to your account, copy your code and apply it at checkout. Last-minute deals If you're flexible on dates or enjoy a spontaneous getaway, then you can save 20 per cent or more with last-minute hotel deals. There are plenty of reduced rates on offer, including weekend breaks in cities such as London and Paris from £200 per night. You can even book rooms on the same day, which are sometimes cheaper than normal as its the hotel's last chance to fill the room. Save with sales doesn't have a dedicated sale page, however you can expect flash sales and limited time promotions during seasonal events and key sales period, such as Black Friday, Boxing Day, Valentine's Day and in the run-up to summer. Use Tesco clubcard vouchers Tesco Clubcard members can double their voucher value, starting from £5, and use it towards any booking. For example, £10 worth of Clubcard vouchers is converted to £20 in credit. To redeem, simply login to your Tesco Clubcard account in the app or online, exchange the voucher for a code and then paste it into the coupon field at checkout. If you have any issues, try booking via the dedicated link via the Tesco Clubcard page. Group discounts offers up to 70 per cent off for group bookings of nine rooms or more. From corporate travel and wedding parties, to travelling with friends or family, it's well worth getting a direct quote from the customer service team to see if this beats any other rates. In fact, guarantees to meet or beat the price of any other quotes for the same number of rooms at another hotel of comparable quality. What to know before you book Flexible vs non-refundable rates Flexible bookings usually let you cancel up to 24 hours before check‑in for a full refund. Whilst non‑refundable rates are cheaper, they do come with a risk of losing more money should you need to change or cancel your booking. We recommend checking the cancellation policy on the room page, as times and terms vary by hotel. To amend or cancel, head to the 'Trips' tab on the main menu and click on the relevant booking. You will see options to change or update the booking, where you can follow the prompts until you reach your desired outcome. Mobile app vs website bookings It's worth downloading the app to take advantage of app-exclusive deals and lower rates. You can also set up push notifications and alerts for sales or price drops, and easily manage your booking in just a few clicks. Price match promise You can book with peace of mind that you're always getting the best deal, thanks to the price promise. This means that if you find the same room cheaper elsewhere, even after booking, you'll be refunded the difference. Just make sure to submit your claim before 11:59pm the day before check‑in. Other important details include: The cheaper rate must be for the same hotel, room type, dates, cancellation policy and currency. You can't claim on stays booked via other platforms' promotions (such as package deals, discount codes or membership pricing) The price promise is only applicable to refundable bookings. How we choose the best discount codes The team at The Independent specialises in finding the best travel deals and discount codes. We focus on great offers for hotels, flights and package holidays, ensuring that we only recommend deals we would use ourselves. If you're interested in package deals or all-inclusive options, be sure to check out the latest offers from Tui, First Choice and Loveholidays. Why you can trust us Since 1986, The Independent has been a trusted consumer advocate, harnessing extensive experience to uncover the finest deals and discounts. Whether you're planning the perfect getaway or taking advantage of major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Boxing Day sales, our dedicated team is committed to finding you the best money-saving opportunities. We handpick exceptional offers from brands we believe in, ensuring you get the incredible value you deserve. *See the website for full terms and conditions for all offers featured on this page. Information verified and correct at time of last publication date.
