Many travelers and tourist wonder about the best time to visit Thailand. In this article I will address this very popular inquiry. Travelers should first set out their expectations and preferences, and then plan according to what best makes them happy.
Here are the important things to know about the different times of the year and when is the best time to visit Thailand.
The Cheapest Time to Visit Thailand
Consider that the low season in Thailand is when general costs will be at their lowest. Due to less tourists and lower demand, the markets and prices for things will be generally cheaper.
You can find great deals on food, drinks, hotels, and flights.
The low season starts from around April and goes until mid-late October. From my experience the lowest amount of tourists is around the month of September.
One amazing thing about Thailand, especially in the major cities is the amount of hotels. During the low season when tourist demand declines you will find some amazing discounts on good hotel rooms. There are so many hotels around and this causes prices to drop.
It is not uncommon to find discounts of 40%-60% or even more on hotels. Especially in places like Pattaya, and Patong (Phuket), that have a such a large quantity of hotels in a relatively small area.
Generally speaking, food and drink prices remain the same year round. However, deals can be had if you look around as businesses are competing against one another to attract customers. It is not uncommon to find deals on drinks, food items, and lowest prices in the markets.
Another point is that during this stage of the year it is a buyers market. The power of bargaining is slightly in favor of tourists. If you are like shopping for good deals then this might be the best time to visit Thailand.
Is The Busy Season The Best Time To Visit Thailand?
The most expensive months in Thailand start just as demand begins to increase. It starts around the end of October until April, and peaks around December and January.
It is good to keep in mind that even though it is the most expensive season, it is still cheaper than most other top tourist destinations in the world. Especially if you are coming from a relatively expensive market such as Europe, U.S.A, Canada, Etc.. You will still find it less expensive than your own country, especially for things like hotels, food, and drinks.
As the number of tourists begin to increase, so do the prices for hotels. Rooms get booked well ahead of time. Due to the frequency of the bookings, hotels charge the highest prices they can. During the busiest months many hotels will be near fully booked. The popular hotels will surely be charging premium prices for their rooms.
Do not expect big discounts. I highly recommend to start booking your rooms around 3-4 months ahead for the lower prices.
As previously said food & drinks are generally the same prices year round. However, due to the increase in demand, most shops and restaurants might not give the best deals.
The good news is that Thailand has such a huge quantity of restaurants, bars, and markets that even in high season there can great prices on food and drinks. It won’t be the same as low season though.
Another point is that the bargaining power returns back to the sellers in the market. There is much more tourists and travelers during the high season in Thailand.
The Best Weather In Thailand
First lets get something out of the way right now, Thailand is very hot and humid all year round. Certain times of the year are more tolerable with less humidity.
The winter season is by far the best weather. Most of the days will be clear sunny skies, with humidity at a comfortable level.
From December through to February you will experience the best possible weather. If weather is important to you, then this would be the best time to visit thailand weather wise.
The Rainy Season In Thailand
As the winter finishes and spring and summer begin, the weather starts to shift towards more humidity. This causes more rainfall.
So from April through to October it is considered the rainy season, however it peaks around August and September.
It is good to know that even in the rainy season you will still get sunny days. When it rains it will usually come down hard then finish fast. This does cause some minor flooding but is not that common.
It can rain heavy in Phuket, which is in the south (one of the best places to visit in Thailand).
In the months with heavy rainfall there is slight chance of monsoon where it rains for longer periods of time. There can be some moderate flooding, but usually these are not that common and tourists do not get that affected by it.
In my opinion, this not the best time to visit Thailand.
Cheapest Time To Visit Thailand
From experience there two periods where it is cheapest. From September to November there can be very good deals found.
Another good period to check for flights is from March to June.
Some budget minded travelers think that this is the best time to visit Thailand.
I have noticed during the summer holiday months of July and August tickets can be more expensive even though it is considered the off season. The reason for this is that a lot of families take summer vacations at that time and airfare tickers.
The same goes for the winter holiday months were ticket prices usually cost more.
Thailand Special Holidays
When talking about the best time to visit Thailand, you should also consider if you want to experience some of the interesting cultural holidays. Here are some popular ones to consider:
Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is an enchanting holiday that takes place on the full moon of every 12th month in the Thai calendar, the month of November.
Tradition is that Thai’s make some beautiful decorated baskets called “Krathong” then they release them in the rivers and beaches.
They also make floating lanterns then launch them into the sky. I have experienced this holiday numerous times myself and it is a wonderful and enchanting experience which I recommend to all.
Songkran Festival – Thailand’s New Year
Songkran is the Thai new year festival and takes place on April 13th and continues for a few days after that.
Thai’s usually spend time with there families and loved ones during this time and there are celebrations going on all over.
One interesting tradition is that Thai’s drench each other with water and spray water guns all over the streets. It is a wild and fun time and most tourist have never experienced that.
Some tourists like it while other prefer not to get wet, so consider this as you are planning to visit Thailand.
Full Moon Party
If you like to party then there are full moon parties on the island of Koh Phangan (and others).
These parties are famous for a wild and memorable nights, with world class DJ’s, amazing sound systems and lighting shows.
Tourists from all over the world come to experience it.
Imagine partying under a beautiful full moon on one of the nicest islands in the world. This would be a great to visit Thailand.
Red Light Districts
In the busy months the red light districts are jam packed full or girls Most of the beer bars and go go bars are fully staffed.
In the low season there will be a bit less crowds, and some of the go go bars and beer bars will have less customers. Some of Thailand’s bar girls can take a few weeks off to go back home to see their families or take vacations.
Some people prefer the low season as they don’t like big crowds and prefer a more relaxed vibe. Others enjoy a busier vibe and the excitement of larger crowds. It is really a matter of personal choice.
So When is The Best Time to Visit Thailand?
Thailand can be fun at all times. Most tourists plan their vacation around the best Thailand weather seasons.
If I was to recommend for new travelers to visit Thailand, then I would suggest these two periods:
- November. During this month you can still find reasonably good prices on airfare and hotels. This could be the best month to travel to Thailand. The weather starts to get really good, and still isn’t the peak of the high season with the big crowds. A bonus is that you can experience the Loy Krathong Festival.
- February. After new years you can find good deals on flight tickets, and you can still get good prices on many hotels if you book in advance. The weather will be amazing with minimal humidity. Since this is towards the end of the peak season it is usually not as busy but still feels exciting. That could be the best time to visit thailand.
