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Just How Bad is the Rain in Thailand in September?

Just How Bad is the Rain in Thailand in September?

Old Aug 26th, 2010, 10:49 AM
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Just How Bad is the Rain in Thailand in September?

We can book last minute award tickets but I don't want to wish I'd done something else.
This would be our second trip to Thailand. We enjoyed our first, six years ago and would like to enjoy this!
Perhaps there is so much availability because everyone else knows not to travel now?
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Old Aug 26th, 2010, 06:18 PM
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While rain can be an issue, I think the reason you are finding availability is because of the riots in Thailand in April/May in which many Thais were killed or injured, and which tied up central areas of Bangkok for weeks. That tends to put a damper on travel to a country, esp by organized tours. I believe tours are basically not going to Thailand at this point. (I don't believe it is the least unsafe for travellers, but tours tend to take a very conservative view.)

You don’t say where you are going, so it is hard to say “how bad” the rain can be. Generally September is fairly rainy. It can be overcast for days on end, even though it does not rain. When it rains, it can last for a few hours, or it can last for the whole day. Rain can be heavy at times. It all depends on luck. Of course, heavy clouds and the wind associated with the monsoon can make it difficult to enjoy beach or pool time, and even more to enjoy things like snorkeling and scuba diving. (Is good for sailing however). So it all depends on where you are going and what you want to do.

IMO in Bangkok the rain is not as much of an issue, as there is a lot to see and do and none of them are really weather-dependent. Upland inland areas like Chang Mai and Chiang Rai get slightly less rain than coastal areas. But then rain can interfere with things like walks or hikes as it can be muddy. Beach areas on the east coast like Koh Samui are a bit drier and can be a better beach alternative to Phuket on the west coast which is probably the rainiest and IMO to be avoided. (Although going into late September you probably will have a good chance of rain and not dissimilar to Phuket.) So again, without knowing where you are going, it’s hard to give advice.

If you were planning on laying on a beach for 8 hours a day for the entire trip, then I would say you will be disappointed with Thailand in September. Otherwise, if you are prepared and have the correct expectations, I don’t think it would be a big issue. I would say to have flexible plans for outdoor activities in case the rain interferes. But for general sightseeing, I would not worry too much. It certainly makes everything green. Bring a big umbrella and shoes which can get wet. At least it is not cold and rainy. And perhaps the Gods will smile on you and you will have lovely weather the whole time. (I was just in Sctoland, another rainy place, and out of 10 days, we had 1 day of rain. The rest were sunny and beautiful. So it can happen.)
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Old Aug 26th, 2010, 06:31 PM
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Traditionally, September is one of the rainiest months in Thailand. In Central and southern Thailand, it's the rainiest. North and east, it's in competition for the rainiest.

When you get to more rural areas, the flooding can be quite serious. Around Bangkok, things seem to function through it.

Unlike the Bay area, Thai rain isn't cold. It can actually be refreshing. It will also come is squalls, rather than lingering gloom.

This month has had quite a bit of rain in the greater Bangkok area. It hasn't been a problem getting around.
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Old Aug 26th, 2010, 07:15 PM
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You can get flooding in Bangkok as well in Sept-Oct. The riverside hotels sandbag around the river area, and there are sandbags holding back water from the pier where you go up to the Skytrain. Sometimes, you have to wade across a street. So even in Bangkok, it's not that great a time to be there (and Bangkok is my favorite city).

I think tours don't typically book during the rainiest times. I'm not as convinced as Cicerone that the availability of award tickets has to do with the riots earlier this year. We've heard from many travelers that have been in Bangkok since, even those taking organized tours.
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Old Aug 27th, 2010, 04:44 PM
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i think if i were going in sept. i would book a bkk hotel with a pool with a roof, like marriott mayfair or some of the others...

rain can be huge some years
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Old Aug 27th, 2010, 07:25 PM
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Last night's storm was a bit unusual. Instead of the booming thunder blasts, there was somewhat of a constant rumble, lasting for quite some time.
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Old Aug 27th, 2010, 09:41 PM
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Thanks, everyone.
I'm not certain what to make of this.
We can go to Italy which feels a little redundant and tame, but the weather is certainly more consistent.
I realize it's a stretch to think of such different places but that's the way it is.
Honestly, we're craving something a little more interesting, such as Thailand, but the weather is a little discouraging.
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Old Aug 27th, 2010, 11:24 PM
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Why not simply view the weather as "a little more interesting"?
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 06:08 AM
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I would definetely go if I were you

My husband and I have spent every September for the last 6 years in Thailand, and we think the weather was OK. We also travel every year to Thailand in February/March/April, but we prefer September. There are fewer (but not few) tourists and hotel prices are lower. Since we prefer 4/5 star hotels, it is a great bonus.

We have never experienced flooding in Bangkok nor Hua Hin, but Phuket and Koh Samui were both very rainy and there were some flooding on the streets. It rained mostly during the night in Bangkok but I must say that we spend a lot of time in Bangkok indoors.
Hua Hin is just perfect in September, we only experienced rainfall some afternoons and only for a short time.

So go go go if you can, I would loved to go myself, but we just had a little baby, so no Thailand for us in 2010

Lisbeth DK
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 06:17 AM
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Lisbeth... congratulations on the new baby!!! You know, the Thais love little children, so don't wait tooooo long to go back there with your little one!

To the OP, I would also say GO. I have been to Bangkok and Phuket in September, and yes, we had rain. But it did not stop us from having a great time anyway.

Carol
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 06:53 AM
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The weather data and people's reports can tell you how much rain there is, but only you know how you feel about rain.

For some people a rainy day ruins their vacation. If that is you, forget September in Thailand. If, however, you can laugh about wading across a flooded street, are content to wait out a downpour in a shop or restaurant, or spend a rainy day at the beach reading and relaxing, you'll be fine.
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 08:35 AM
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We're coming from the coldest summer ever in Northern California. I don't think it's gotten aboove of the mid 60's, with the exception of a few days this week, since last year. I don't mind some rain but I would love not to feel constantly "weather challenged".
It looks like there might be a way to get to BKK a the very end of September, which we'll take into consideration. It would mean reworking the vacation time so it does complicate things.
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 08:40 AM
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Stick with the dates you have, as October is equally rainy. Remember the rain in Thailand will be warm/hot, so you won't feel like you are at home. If you want a little beach time, Hua Hin is a good choice in Sept.
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 10:02 AM
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We last visited Thailand mid-October and had almost no rain. None at all in Phuket.
Maybe we were lucky?
The same trip it was miserable in Tokyo- 2 typhoons! We didn't see the sun once in four days.
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 10:55 AM
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You were lucky with little rain in October. Which is just a reminder that you can look at the data on past weather, but that is no guarantee.
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 01:23 PM
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If this is an "event" trip, then I'd wait til early November at the earliest.

If you just want to get out of SF and want an adventure, then go in September and definitely have a come-what-may attitude. As others have said, you could get some sun but you could also end up in ankle high flash floods in BKK on your way back from lunch.

It just boils down to the kind of trip you want this to be and the kind of traveler you are.
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Old Aug 28th, 2010, 07:53 PM
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Hi Welch,

I have regularly gone to Phuket or Koh Samui in early September over the last 15 years and have never felt my holiday was ruined by rain. Sometimes the rain has been been quite "entertaining", sitting on a balcony watching a storm come in whilst sipping on a G and T, and then watching it pour for a few hours.

We have had to wade through the streets in Samui for a week sometime back, but that was in late November and then the second week of our trip we were bathed in sunshine. September is actually a historically lower rainfall month in the Gulf of Thailand as opposed to the Andaman Sea side of the country.

I'd say go for it. Prices are very cheap at this time of the year.
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Old Aug 29th, 2010, 11:54 AM
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Shanek, I am honored to have such a US Board "celebrity" weighing in on this. And please don't take the the wrong way, everyone else who was kind enough to add their comments.
We need to make the decision today.
I lived in Florida for years and was born in the Bahamas so despite many years of boring NoCal weather, I do have a pretty good idea of what the tropics are about.
There was a "red shirt" warning in The Chronicle today for Northern Thailand- Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I'm assuming this is something to be taken with a grain of salt?
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Old Aug 31st, 2010, 02:32 PM
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Hi Welch,

What did you decide?
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Old Aug 31st, 2010, 06:20 PM
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I'm wondering the same thing! I hope welch decided to book his/her ticket(s).
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