Angler973

My wife and I like to travel during February or March to someplace interesting and warm to escape the cold northeast winter in the USA. We had been planning a month-long trip to Thailand for 2009, but have decided to postpone this due to the political unrest there. We are considering Bali, but know it is the monsoon season. How much of a problem are we really likely to encounter due to the weather at that time of the year? Any suggestions as to where to go or avoid?

Kathie

Here is what I posted to a similar question a week ago:

Here is the historical weather data for Bali:
http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/w...?s=3279&refer=

I've been to Bali a number of times during December. The rain I experienced was usually at night or in the late afternoon. The showers are brief but intense. My first trip there, I was awakened by a noise in the night that sounded like a chainsaw. I got up and opened to balcony door to see what the noise was and it was the rain!

You'll get good deals on hotels during this time. Unless you are the sort of people who feel your vacation is ruined by an afternoon or evening of rain, I think you'll find Bali is just fine during the rainy season.

By the way, I wouldn't hesitate to go to Thailand right now - or in November when I have tickets - or in February of next year. But only you can determine what feels comfortable to you.

cpsjackson

I agree with Kathie about Thailand. I was there during the recent protests and state of emergency. Admittedly, I was not in Bangkok - I had just left there for Ko Samui. From what I understand, though, even in the thick of the protests, tourists were not harrassed at all. I spoke with a gal who was having lunch across the street when the protesters broke into the Asean conference, and she was never concerned for her own safety! The protests were limited to Bangkok and its surrounds and Chiang Mai.

I do understand your concerns, of course. But there's a whole lot of Thailand to see outside of Bangkok, even if you decide to avoid the city.

All that said, we were in Bali (this is April) as well, and loved it.

BTW, trip report coming soon!

northie

if you won't go to Thailand because of unrest why would you choose Bali which has had severe travel warnings due to terrorism!!!!

filmwill

Key words: 'has had.'

Bali had 2 terrorist attacks many years ago--as far as I know, there are no longer advisories for travel to Bali or other parts of Indonesia (except Sulawesi, where there's currently a lot of religious violence--but the OP isn't going anywhere near there.)

Many nations have had terrorist attacks (my own included)--no reason not to visit them.

Active protests and the potential for civil war are completely legitimate reasons to postpone travel, if either makes you feel uncomfortable. Personally, none of that would stop me from visiting Thailand, but that's just me.

northie

filmwill-I would go to both these countries but I was merely pointing out that there are threats in both.
eg Australian Government DFAT site states as of today "Reconsider your travel" (2nd highest warning) to Indonesia including Bali. Thailand has "high degree of caution" (one below the Bali one) and a "Do not Travel to 3 areas" of Thailand.
Of course like you say it is a matter of personal preference

Cicerone

I assume your trip is Feb/March 2010, as your post is dated April 2009. I have been to Bali several times in February, as Feb often coincides with Chinese New Year (which it will next year as well). Weather is warm which meets your first objective; it can be overcast, which is really only an issue if you plan to dive or snorkel a lot, or really want to spend ALL your time sitting on a beach (in which case, don’t go to Bali anyway, go to the Caribbean which I assume is closer to you, and is in perfect weather in Feb!). You can also have showers, but they don’t last for days or anything. I am generally a person who would say stay away from rainy periods (I usually tell people to avoid Phuket in rainy months), but would not say to avoid Bali in February. It’s not really bad weather overall, and there is so much to do and see that a day or two of clouds or even short periods of rain do not at all affect it. (And you can cut off a banana leaf and use if for an umbrella, so there is even a good memory in that!)

Chinese New Year in 2010 will be from Feb. 14 -16 which means a goodly number of non-Chinese expats from Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China will come to Bali for anything from a 3-7 day period. Schools are closed as well. This means you may have price increases for hotels and may find flights to be pricier/full if you are connecting from S’pore or Hong Kong on or from Bali. So if you have any control over your dates, I would say to avoid the week of February 14. I would say this for Thailand as well, as expats go there (esp Phuket) for the CNY holidays too.