Siam Park VIP CabinPrivate Cabana with Fast Pass

Sunburn from the day before had me dreading long queues in the heat, but the jungle planting shades a lot of the pathways. Getting there for opening meant hardly any waiting at first, and we rode plenty of things, some twice over. Waits grew by the afternoon, though by then we had done enough for it to even out.

Fast, exciting rides made this one of the high points of my holiday. I started with the tower of power, which is no place for anyone afraid of heights, and I am, but I went anyway. There are restaurants and small market stalls for snacks, and the relaxed crowd made me comfortable walking around in a swimsuit.

Loved the place. Take the all-inclusive VIP option: fast track on every ride bar the lazy river and the tallest one, plus all your food and drink apart from alcohol and snacks.

Nothing else in Europe comes close: clean, well kept, and the detail in every corner is remarkable. Second visit for me and it felt like a different day out, because we took the VIP Cabana and it was worth every penny, with a superb spread of food and drink included. If the VIP is within reach, take it.

Thai-themed grounds, a good spread of slides, lazy rivers and family zones that suit every age: a fun day out. The design is handsome, and rides range from steep drops to gentle water and wave pools. Two tips: bring a towel rather than hiring one, and wear reef shoes, since most attractions let you keep them on.

A good place to bring the family. Safety is taken seriously here, with lifeguards posted every few metres keeping watch over everyone in the water.

Entry was instant, though some rides ran to about half an hour without a fast pass. The rides are good, staff are everywhere if you need them, and the whole place felt safe; food was decent and priced about as you would expect. For the extreme rides a fast pass is essential, and get in early for the good sunbeds.

Two of the slides were shut when we went, but the lines were short and most had nobody queueing at all. March gave us lovely weather, the big wave pool was the pick of it, and the food was better than expected. The whole family enjoyed the day.

Clean, well organised and good for families, with several lunch options that will not empty your wallet. The wave pool is superb, and the lazy river has a surprise waiting if you go left. Queues can drag, so the fast track that lets you skip each ride once is worth the extra if you can stretch to it.