Help please!
I'm going to visit a Thai island this wkd, July 16th.

Weather-wise, as I wish to see gorgeous scenery and very green/blue waters like the beautiful pics and snorkel, which island should I chose?

Samui/Gulf or Phi Phi/Andaman?

I was thinking Phi Phi bc it seemed to have the most dramatic/gorgeous scenery and I wanted to see 'The Beach' but I am not sure now....too much research can confuse a solo travelling girl!!

Thank you very much for your kind advice!!!

i vote for phi phi

Take a look at www.weatherbase.com for stats on weather in each location in Thailand.

You'll note that this is rainy season on the Phuket side. So expect 10+ inches of rain this month. The weather will be better on the Samui side.

So even if Bob prefers Phi Phi, this isn't the time of the eyar to go.

Just so you know, even if it's not raining on Phi Phi, the seas may be too rough to enter Maya Bay (the Beach) at this time of year. I was there this past April and we couldn't even get in then. It was rather disappointing.

Sorry...I should have had more detail in my msg.

Basically, I think that Phi Phi will have worse weather. But if there is a few hours of good weather such that I can still see the gorgeous scenery while it looks good and I can still access Phi Phi Leh (the beach), then that is worth it to me than...nice but not as amazing scenery and more sunshine...know what I mean?

Any feedback is appreciated and thank you for the input thus far!!

Yes, LA_FADEAWAY I read your excellent, excellent travellogue (thank u so much!) and thanks to you I know about the chances of not getting into Maya beach...

Still unsure of what I should do...but I'll look out for responses and mull over

the reason i said phi phi had nothing to do with weather, but everything to do with scenery....i liked samui but did not find the scenery to be anything special and i saw no wonderfule blue water...

ok thank you very much rhkkmk i think we have the same thoughts...

even tho pp might have less good weather, it has the better scenery...

i am only there 1 nite anyways so just a few hours of incredibly beauty will make me one very happy camper

thank u everyone! any other feedback still welcome....

Be aware that if you go to the Andaman coast and the weather is very bad, you will not even get to Phi Phi as the boat will not run. It will run even if the weather is fairly bad but I wouldn't get on it in that case. It will be the boat trip you remember and not Phi Phi!

You will also not get the beautiful green blue waters if you have grey skies. Before going, take a look at the weather reports for phi phi so you don't have a wasted trip. Seriously - phi phi in bad weather might be dramatic but your experience will not be gorgeous or beautiful!

If you go to Samui and want to see some dramatic scenery, visit Ang Thong Marine Park. Not quite as dramatic as the Krabi coastline (which in my opinion knocked the socks off phi phi) but still beautiful.

btw, Maya Bay doesn't look the same as it does in the film - just to warn you!
BB

You might get lucky and have "less good" weather, but you might well have weather such that you won't have a chance to enjoy any of your very brief stay. Like Bella says, you may not be able to get to Phi Phi.

You 'could' be lucky but remember the heavy rainy season 'is' the rainy season, it could mean not being able to get a boat to where you want.

My personal tip: head down as other suggested around Koh Tao/Koh Phangan etc and then check weather 'local', most places will have a copy of the Nation newspaper even if a day late and that is a good source for local weather.
If there seems to be a patch of clear weather once back to the mainland ( say 1.5 hrs ) it's around 4 hrs or less to krabi by road, or, 40-45 minutes by air from Samui to Phuket.
Accommodation should be no problem at all so if there is a few days with fine weather forecast you can head down, I would keep your options open.

Phi Phi is by far the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. However, it was July when I was there, we got pretty lucky with weather the 3 days we were there. On the way back, the weather was pretty bad and the boat ride was one of the most horrific experiences of my life, I almost fell over the side of the boat while trying to get back in the door. I am still afraid of boats to this day.

Really, this is the best place to go by far in January.

Fully freaked out by the boat in bad weather possibility! I can't even do rollercoasters and couldnt stomach see-saw as a kid

I think I'll not book any hotels, keep my Phuket flight and play everything else by ear...try to do PP/PP Leh and I was planning on doing Krabi/Ao Phra Nang (hopefully this is the part of the coast Bella_Bluebell was talking about) on my way back from PP.

I'll have a full 1.5 days in the islands so I feel hopefully that I'll see 3 hours or more of those exquisite green/blue waters and some cool limestone thingies.

My trip is free and I have to go now, hence the rush/bad timing. Just a glimpe will satisfy me.

Crossing my fingers and big big thanks to all of u for your invaluable advice!!

ondine, all of the areas on that side of the Peninsula, Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi have the same weather pattern. The area Bella talked about that would have better weather is on the other side of the peninsula, in the Gulf of Thailand.