coopnik

We are thinking of spending 5 days or so at Costa Lanta in the middle of May, but am concerned about the weather. Any experience or suggestions? We are not fixed on this, just want a luxurious relaxing beach stay.

JamesA

It's rainy season Monsoon time, not a good time to choose an island reached by ferry boats (basic ones at that), you could hit the jackpot and get 5 days of sunshine or you could be stuck on a windswept island for a week. My advice would be stick to the mainland or Koh Samui(where you can fly to/from), Koh Samui could be wet but not as wet as Koh Lanta. if you want as close to 'guarenteed' dry weather keep to the north of the Gulf and go for Hua Hin if you want quiet or Pattaya area if you want very lively or try perhaps just past Pattaya and Jomtien a great beach place called Sunset Village. It's tropical island style, right on the beach, yet under 2 hours by cab from Bangkok. Then, even if the weather patterns turn upside down and by bad luck you start to get rain there, if it's drier on Koh Samui you have a Daily flight from U-Tapao Airport ( serves Pattaya and Jomtien ) and it's a 1 hr flight.
Another place which honestly would be as nice as Koh lanta anyway would be the Panviman Resort( about $130) or the Aiyapura Resort and Spa($ 115-$450) on Koh Chang. Koh Chang is an island further down from Pattaya near Trat, you can fly to Trat from bangkok in 40 minutes or travel by Limo from bangkok, boat service is quick and regular and again, you 'should' be Ok weatherwise.
Hua Hin though has the lowest rainfall(1 inch!) in May, you have the choice of the Anantara, Hyatt Regency, Sofitel, Marriott, but the beraches no where as nice as Koh Chang.

I think if you were on the lines of Koh Lanta if you check out about Koh Chang you will see it is very similar but far better weather and easier to get to.

Here's a link for the Panviman on Koh Chang

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/th...viman/details/

JamesA

Here's the rainfall stats in inches for May

Phuket area(inc Koh Lanta) 13.7
Koh Samui 7.3
Bangkok 2.8
Hua Hin 1.0

Koh Chang might be a little more than Bangkok, Pattaya/Jomtien would be almost same as Bangkok.

You can see there is a huge difference. Hope this helps.

coopnik

Thanks so much for your reply, it is a big help. We are now trying to decide between Koh Samui and the Anantara Hua Hin. We are not party people and just want a beautiful relaxed experience. Any thoughts?

JamesA

Koh Samui has far better beaches than Hua Hin. Hua Hin is good if you have say done Bangkok, Chiang Mai and say River Kwai and just want a few days to relax on the beach that is just a few hours by cab from bangkok Airport, though for a 'beach vacation/holiday' Koh Samui would be better.