crcsf

Am I crazy to go to Phuket in September because of the rains? I have booked a room at the Amanupuri (and the Tisara, can't decide)...but am wondering if all I am going to be doing is watching the rain fall. I'm okay with afteroon and evening showers, but does it rain all day?

Any news on the Tisara - is it a construction zone?

JamesA

Just like weather 'anywhere' you can never guarentee, it could be all sun and not a cloud in the sky or you may have wished you'd bought your scuba gear, and of course all levels in between!

You will see people say they spent a week in September on Phuket and the sun shone every day, others will tell you of swamps of water.

It really depends so much on how you take it, if your few days are to laze on the beach getting a tan or relaxing in a resort garden then if it rains it could 'wreck' your trip, only you can decide that as there are simply no guarentees. If though you 'take it as it comes' and if it rains relax on a veradah with a good book or head to the Spa for relaxation then you can still enjoy.

The bottom line is it could rain a lot, might be a little, might not rain at all.

The only other points I would add is if you are heading to Amanpuri/Trisara locations you would be a long way from shopping/restaurants etc which can be enjoyed whatever the weather, and venturing to busier areas in heavy rain at night is not an enjoyable trip.

Secondly, considoring the possibility of rain you are thinking of very expensive accommodation, I mean taking it that it could rain out a lot of your activities or say be too rough to do a trip to Phi Phi or Phang Nga have you thought about 'downgrading' on the accommodation side perhaps to somewhwere closer to other activities or pastimes so that if you do get a bad patch of weather the balance between what you have spent vs your satisfaction of the vacation doesn't hurt the bank account so much ? I lived for several years on Phuket and I can tell you that you just 'cannot' tell how bad or how good at that time.

It's your call, but at the same time Phuket has quite a lot of attractions including cheap hotel rates, perhaps saving a great deal yet still staying somewhere very good might be a balance.
Just a thought.

simpsonc510

I don't think you are crazy... in fact, I'll also be on Phuket for a couple of days in September myself.

I read in the Bangkok Post that Phuket happens to be "short" of its usual rainfall this year. Maybe it will be dry and sunny! But then again, maybe the rains are waiting for "us" to get there!! LOL

Carol

crcsf

Thanks for the replies. James, what is your favorite hotel in the area that balances beauty and good location?

Is it unlikely that Phang Nga and Phi Phi will be an option to visit in September?

deptrai

I spent 5 nights in Phuket last week. It only rained one night while we were sleeping. Phi Phi & Phang Nga Bay were both available every day.

JamesA

Having said all this I note that the Amapuri rates are well down at the moment, almost half what they are going to go up to come Nov 01, so if you can manage maybe the USD 400+ range then might still be worth thinking, it's easy to do a comparison there with say le Meridien at USD 150.
Le Meridien Beach resort de luxe Ocean View around USD 150, superb location is it is in it's very own 'cove', the only hotel/building in the cove, it is under 10 minutes to either Patong or Karon, being a meridien you have that certain level of service and also it has been fully refurbished. Own Spa, lots of excellent restaurants, the pool area is very large indeed. Well worth a look to balance a good class resort with the chance of weather, as I said, it is a chance, previous poster was lucky, but reminding you I lived in Phuket several years and got flooded more than that!
Le Meridien at about USD 150 is a good option in my opinion. Look at the photos, these are realistic, the relevance of the pools/building to the beach are clear to show the whole layout. The main photos show how it covers the enture cove.

http://www.r24.org/phuket-luxury-hot...dien/pictures/

If you want great photos of the luxury places and browse through the options try this site, very nice ( and no pop ups or anything ), great photos of the places:

www.phuket-luxury-hotels.com

Also check them for 'free night' offers like the Chedi which anything over 3 nights you can get additional free night ( OK they charge 750 baht for the breakfast each but that means you are getting those 'free' nights for about USD 38 !! ) ....can't be bad! Beach room there about USD 250 but base rooms from about USD 125

To stay 8 nights you only have to pay for 4 !! Now that's a deal!!