Thailand, best time to go?
Discussion
I liked going there over Christmas. I also like April for the new year (Songkran) celebrations but it is the hottest time of the year. Feb is a good compromise.
The rainy season affects different parts at different times of the year.
http://www.thaizer.com/weather/when-is-the-rainy-s...
The rainy season affects different parts at different times of the year.
http://www.thaizer.com/weather/when-is-the-rainy-s...
As per above February and March are excellent months to visit Thailand. You will get some rain in the form of violent thunderstorms but overall the good weather far outweights the bad.
As an added bonus have a look at flights with EVA Air from Heathrow. Me and Mrs Ghost use their premium economy every time we fly to Thailand and they are excellent as well as being a lot cheaper than other carriers if you book far enough in advance.
As an added bonus have a look at flights with EVA Air from Heathrow. Me and Mrs Ghost use their premium economy every time we fly to Thailand and they are excellent as well as being a lot cheaper than other carriers if you book far enough in advance.
I have been pretty much all times of year.
What you need to consider more specifically, is where in Thailand.
If you are thinking beaches, then take note of the fact that Phuket side is in the Indian Ocean and Koh Samui side is in the Bay of Thailand, which is connected to the South China Sea.
These seas have differing weather patterns at the same time. Although only a few hundred miles apart, the precipitation can vary dramatically.
For example, at Christmas time, the weather is much better Phuket side. Easter time, you're better off in Samui.
That puts it very simply.
As said before, Songkran (13/14 April) is a great time to visit. It's a huge national holiday in Thailand. In Samui, it's restricted to a couple of days, but the further north you go, the longer the holiday lasts. Some resorts postpone their holiday, to enable them to entertain the visitors, many of whom are Thais. Pattaya is a case in point.
Certainly look at EVA.
If you are flying out of LHR and want direct non stop flights, you only have BA/Qantas, Thai Inter and EVA to consider. EVA(BR)are cheapest. A good fleet of just about new aircraft on most legs. PE is a good option, at the price.
Thai(TG) will be taking delivery of new A380's later this year. Hopefully their in cabin entertainment will improve.
Bear in mind the peak seasons for Thailand. The Aussie dollar is strong against the Thai Baht at present, which makes it cheap for the Aussies to visit. If you can avoid school hols, you should; the prices will be much better.
As an example, for most of the good standard hotels on Samui, peak season is first 2 weeks of April (due to Easter hols and Songkran). This drops to low season on or around the 16th April!!
HTH.
PM me if you need more.
What you need to consider more specifically, is where in Thailand.
If you are thinking beaches, then take note of the fact that Phuket side is in the Indian Ocean and Koh Samui side is in the Bay of Thailand, which is connected to the South China Sea.
These seas have differing weather patterns at the same time. Although only a few hundred miles apart, the precipitation can vary dramatically.
For example, at Christmas time, the weather is much better Phuket side. Easter time, you're better off in Samui.
That puts it very simply.
As said before, Songkran (13/14 April) is a great time to visit. It's a huge national holiday in Thailand. In Samui, it's restricted to a couple of days, but the further north you go, the longer the holiday lasts. Some resorts postpone their holiday, to enable them to entertain the visitors, many of whom are Thais. Pattaya is a case in point.
Certainly look at EVA.
If you are flying out of LHR and want direct non stop flights, you only have BA/Qantas, Thai Inter and EVA to consider. EVA(BR)are cheapest. A good fleet of just about new aircraft on most legs. PE is a good option, at the price.
Thai(TG) will be taking delivery of new A380's later this year. Hopefully their in cabin entertainment will improve.
Bear in mind the peak seasons for Thailand. The Aussie dollar is strong against the Thai Baht at present, which makes it cheap for the Aussies to visit. If you can avoid school hols, you should; the prices will be much better.
As an example, for most of the good standard hotels on Samui, peak season is first 2 weeks of April (due to Easter hols and Songkran). This drops to low season on or around the 16th April!!
HTH.
PM me if you need more.
nick s said:
I've been 3 times in April and wouldn't go in any other month! hottest month over there, plus as someone has already said it's Songkran. Amazing atmosphere and a 3 day waterfight! 
We have just returned from Thailand. 2 weeks in Khao Lak (North of Phuket) at the beginning of April and agree with the Songkran festival being a good time to be there. Weather wise, it is hot (35degC) and it does rain nearly every day at some point. We found that mornings gave you good sunshine and afternoons were hit and miss with occasional epic rain...
The thing I would note (at least in Khao Lak) is that as it is the end of the normal season and about to enter the rainy season it was definitely very quiet as resorts go. Not all restaurants were open and those that were were pretty empty. I don't know if this is a Khao Lak thing or Thai resorts as a whole at this time of year. speaking to the locals, December and January are the busiest times of the year on the west coast.
Bob
fat80b said:
We have just returned from Thailand. 2 weeks in Khao Lak (North of Phuket) at the beginning of April and agree with the Songkran festival being a good time to be there.
Weather wise, it is hot (35degC) and it does rain nearly every day at some point. We found that mornings gave you good sunshine and afternoons were hit and miss with occasional epic rain...
The thing I would note (at least in Khao Lak) is that as it is the end of the normal season and about to enter the rainy season it was definitely very quiet as resorts go. Not all restaurants were open and those that were were pretty empty. I don't know if this is a Khao Lak thing or Thai resorts as a whole at this time of year. speaking to the locals, December and January are the busiest times of the year on the west coast.
Bob
Bob,Weather wise, it is hot (35degC) and it does rain nearly every day at some point. We found that mornings gave you good sunshine and afternoons were hit and miss with occasional epic rain...
The thing I would note (at least in Khao Lak) is that as it is the end of the normal season and about to enter the rainy season it was definitely very quiet as resorts go. Not all restaurants were open and those that were were pretty empty. I don't know if this is a Khao Lak thing or Thai resorts as a whole at this time of year. speaking to the locals, December and January are the busiest times of the year on the west coast.
Bob
That's exactly what I was trying to get across in my previous post.
As for the resorts closing up, this is the case in some of the less mainstream areas. Khao Lak is a beautiful place, with limited numbers visiting. Compare this to Phuket, Samui et al, which stay open throughout.
April on the west coast is a lot wetter than on the east, but drier at Christmas.
t weather here so IMHO is the best time to go full stop. Songkran is fun, but not fun enough to suffer floods the rest of the time you are thereThanks a lot for the advice everyone, much appreciated. Not really sure about destination yet as we are trying to go there to meet up with family and friends from Australia.
Some have been before to Phuket and really enjoyed it so we might look to go there, they stayed at the merlin beach resort which looks nice and they liked it but any other suggestions of places you've stayed are welcome and appreciated. Thanks again.
Some have been before to Phuket and really enjoyed it so we might look to go there, they stayed at the merlin beach resort which looks nice and they liked it but any other suggestions of places you've stayed are welcome and appreciated. Thanks again.
newberry said:
Thanks a lot for the advice everyone, much appreciated. Not really sure about destination yet as we are trying to go there to meet up with family and friends from Australia.
Some have been before to Phuket and really enjoyed it so we might look to go there, they stayed at the merlin beach resort which looks nice and they liked it but any other suggestions of places you've stayed are welcome and appreciated. Thanks again.
Rosie ogrady's Irish bar soi 7 pattaya, clean rooms huge plates of English and Thai food and less than 20 quid a night, excellentSome have been before to Phuket and really enjoyed it so we might look to go there, they stayed at the merlin beach resort which looks nice and they liked it but any other suggestions of places you've stayed are welcome and appreciated. Thanks again.
newberry said:
Thanks a lot for the advice everyone, much appreciated. Not really sure about destination yet as we are trying to go there to meet up with family and friends from Australia.
Some have been before to Phuket and really enjoyed it so we might look to go there, they stayed at the merlin beach resort which looks nice and they liked it but any other suggestions of places you've stayed are welcome and appreciated. Thanks again.
It really does depend on what you want to achieve or "get" from your visit to Thailand.Some have been before to Phuket and really enjoyed it so we might look to go there, they stayed at the merlin beach resort which looks nice and they liked it but any other suggestions of places you've stayed are welcome and appreciated. Thanks again.
It's your first visit to Thailand - make it count. It's a long way from home and the journey may not seem worth it, if all you do is head for something that you can just as easily get at home or in Spain.
Assuming that you have a couple of weeks, why don't you consider at least 2 centres?
Thailand is a VERY easy country to travel around. Travelling can be cheap and is easily navigated, with a little research.
You will more than likely fly into Bangkok. Whay not take in a few of the sights and spend a couple of days there. Take the train up to Chang Mai for a few days, then, fly down to Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Toa, Khao Lak, Koh Chang etc to meet with your friends.
This way, you'll experience a few differing regions, foods, people and cultures. The north is very different to the south.
I know "each to their own" and all of that, but I wouldn't bother flying half way around the world to stay in an Irish Bar, that sells English food. There is SO much more than this to see, do, experience and understand about Thailand.
If you take the time to scratch beneath the touristy surface, its an even more rewarding place to visit.
In terms of suggestions of where to go and stay, it very much does depend on a few basics. Time of year, budget, expectations/wants and duration available.
I would be more than delighted to suggest some specifics, if you can give me a little more info about the above.
Me and the wife got married out in Thailand a couple of years back. Neither of us are Thai but just fancied something a bit different and a beach wedding. We were out there for a month in total, originally due to be 3 weeks but the Icelandic volcano added a further week (sounds great but was a bit fraught as we had 150 guests expecting us at a wedding party back in the UK!).
We flew out towards the end of March and did Bangkok for 4 days, 10 days in Koh Samui for the wedding then flew to Phuket and on down to a small island called Racha Yai for honeymoon. We then flew back to Bangkok for a night before flying home. Volcano so we ended up staying in Bangkok for another week in the end. Was great, we had 13 guests with us so was a great party!
Weather was fantastic throughout, couldn't have asked for better. Bit humid in Bangkok but not so bad on the islands. It was getting towards the end of season though so the hotels were a bit quiet in the evenings particularly on the islands. We were often the only ones in the bar.
We flew with Eva, couldn't fault them except when the volcano hit and then they were particularly useless at getting us home. Once the flights started moving again it was the bigger airlines that seemed to get preference and we were left high and dry.
Wonderful, wonderful place and somewhere we will definitely return to, maybe explore some of the north of the country - Chang Mai.
We flew out towards the end of March and did Bangkok for 4 days, 10 days in Koh Samui for the wedding then flew to Phuket and on down to a small island called Racha Yai for honeymoon. We then flew back to Bangkok for a night before flying home. Volcano so we ended up staying in Bangkok for another week in the end. Was great, we had 13 guests with us so was a great party!
Weather was fantastic throughout, couldn't have asked for better. Bit humid in Bangkok but not so bad on the islands. It was getting towards the end of season though so the hotels were a bit quiet in the evenings particularly on the islands. We were often the only ones in the bar.
We flew with Eva, couldn't fault them except when the volcano hit and then they were particularly useless at getting us home. Once the flights started moving again it was the bigger airlines that seemed to get preference and we were left high and dry.
Wonderful, wonderful place and somewhere we will definitely return to, maybe explore some of the north of the country - Chang Mai.
This thread is about our January Pattaya adventure
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=1...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=1...
Thanks again for the replys, date is looking like late March-early April sort of time but still no nearer on where to go. Don't think we will be able to travel round (although I would like to) as we are meeting friends with children and then some more friends so it would probably be a bit of a pain.
Probably wouldn't want to stay at an Irish bar (but thanks for the suggestion) and not to fussed about being on the beach either.
So I'll just have to wait to see where we are heading then I'll be back to pick your collective brains for more info on things that will be local to us, again thanks for taking the time to give advice and input.
Probably wouldn't want to stay at an Irish bar (but thanks for the suggestion) and not to fussed about being on the beach either.
So I'll just have to wait to see where we are heading then I'll be back to pick your collective brains for more info on things that will be local to us, again thanks for taking the time to give advice and input.
March and April - a great time of year Koh Samui side.
Note that Easter is very early next year; Good Friday is 29th March, so you'll be right in peak holiday season and school holidays.
My suggestion to you, would be to get your flights booked ASAP. They should be available 50 weeks prior to departure, so that's now. They will not get cheaper as time goes by, as this is school holidays. Honestly, get them booked.
Note that Easter is very early next year; Good Friday is 29th March, so you'll be right in peak holiday season and school holidays.
My suggestion to you, would be to get your flights booked ASAP. They should be available 50 weeks prior to departure, so that's now. They will not get cheaper as time goes by, as this is school holidays. Honestly, get them booked.
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