braziliantraveller

I'm about to get my tickets to Bangkok.

My concern is that after seeing the weather forecast for the region - it seems its going to rain and be cloudy most of the days.

How's the weather right now?

Are there blue sky and sun out there?

Thank you so much.

filmwill

Ditto on that. We leave on Saturday and I'm getting a little worried myself. All 10-day forecasts I see for Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai all show rain, rain and more rain...60% chance the whole time.

Of course I expect a little bit, but I always thought early to mid-November was no longer monsoon season.

I pray someone on here will say that the forecasts are incorrect and the weather is wonderful!

MichaelBKK

The weather changes so little in Thailand that they just keep posting the same forecasts. A 60% chance of rain means that 6 days out of 10 it will rain, which is about right when you look at a whole year. ;-)

It hasn't rained in Bangkok for at least two weeks. The North is dry, but the South is still raining, as is normal for November.

Tangata

Here in Chiang Mai it last rained on October 11th and I will be very surprised if we get any significant rain before April/May.

Mitch04

If you are that concerned about the weather, maybe you should stay in Brazil.....

Kathie

The weather has been lovely since we arrived in Bangkok.

filmwill

Thanks for the updates everyone...Mitch's joke (or bad attempt at one) was lost in translation somewhere

Mitch04

I was referring to the futility of asking what the weather is like now - when Mr. Brazil is yet to leave - seems somewhat pointless.... Anyway, you can hardly let the weather get in the way of a holiday halfway around the world. If that was the case, most people would stay at home

Ladyhawk

Ms/Mr Brazil,

For 10 years, I avoided travel to Southeast Asia during "monsoon season" and "hot season." (((Smiles))) If I couldn't travel there and back between the months of November and March, I waited another year to go.

Then, in 2000 - 2005. I had the joy and privilege of living in Bali for 2 1/2 years and Thailand for 2 1/2. On the basis of that experience, I'll tell you frankly: any amount of rain in that part of the world comes nowhere near comparing to the Thai holiday of Songkran. HAHA.

The truth is, even though I was in Thailand for years in a row, I cannot remember a single negative experience about being caught out in the rain. This isn't to say that, if I had only 10 days there, I'd want 6 of them to be rainy. But -- especially in the Thai islands -- the rain often falls in spurts, giving episodes of sunshine between.

It might, for example, rain overnight and then again in the late afternoon. This gives you a window of opportunity until about 2 PM or so to get out and about pleasantly.

Thus, as Mitch04 suggested above, I wouldn't let weather get in the way of a holiday overseas. Rain, sleet or hail -- if you don't like getting wet -- be glad you're not visitng during Songkran.

braziliantraveller

It's amazing that from time to time people on this forum tend to be ironic or make bad jokes instead of going straight to the point.

Thank goodness, tha the vast majority of the Fodorites are not like this. So, thank you Michael, Tangata, Katie, filmwill, and Ladyhawk.

And, yes I would let weather get in the way.If I only have a 7-day break in a period of a year, why would I bother going to a place that is rainy if I can go to Samoa, Fiji or other places. Thailand could wait!

But based to the answers to my question, I decided to go to Thailand. Thanks guys.

kaneda

I was in Thailand last December, January and February. In 3 months, I had 2 days with a little rain and one day of heavy rain. Obviously the time to go.

When I was in Singapore a decade ago, we had rain everyday. It lasted ten minutes, was very light and in the heat there, you were dry within ten minutes.


If you are unfortunate to catch heavy rain in Bangkok, plenty of shopping centres to visit till it passes.

Guenmai

The rain comes and usually rains for a short period of time. I've been vacationing in Bangkok 1-3 times a year since the 90s and rain has never been a major problem or ruined a vacation. Plus, since the arrival of the skytrain, some years ago, getting around is much easier as it's an elevated system...not like possibly sitting in a taxi stuck in rain on some flooded streets. So, I'd say go for it, have a great time, and there are plenty of places to duck into if it rains. Happy Travels!

pat

Just got back from Thailand today, after a 2 week trip. The weather was perfect. No rain at all. Lots of blue skies and sun. I worried about the rain too.