We are planning our honeymoon in April and with the flights we've chosen, we will be in Bangkok during Songkran, the New Year festival. It's possible that the celebration will be going on the entire time we're there (April 13-15). Is that good? Is that bad? Will busineses and temples and other places be closed? Should we stick with these dates or switch our itinerary to be in Bangkok during another part of our trip?
Thanks for your help. This will probably only be the beginning of my questions so thanks in advance!

Songkran typically runs for more than three or four days. Businesses will be closed but tourist attractions and shops will be open.

A lot of people leave Bangkok for Songkran, so it is easier to get around and more pleasant.

If you really want to experience Songkran then you need to be up here in Chiang Mai. We normally shut the gate and stay at home.

I agree, outside of Bangkok can be more fun and more natural and not such a water throwing thing, nicest places I think are smaller locations at the local temples.

It's unfortunate that the songkran festival has been allowed to degenerate over the past few decades into a ridiculous totally inconsiderate hooligan event. And it's unfortunate that your honeymoon will conincide with it. Yes, it will be going on from the 13th-14th-15th, even longer in CM & Pattaya. It's almost impossible to avoid, make sure you take nothing that can be ruined by water (such as electronic goods) outside with you. Watch your eyes & ears, as people will throw filthy water into your faces, which will cause infections. Yeah! gee-whizz songran is fun, thousands die, tens of thousands are maimed & injured in accidents. Last year in Narathiwat & Pattani many muslims mixed para-rubber acid with water in the spray guns and squirted it into the faces of Thai (Buddhist) children. That story hit the news but was instantly squashed.

<i>&quot;many muslims mixed para-rubber acid with water in the spray guns and squirted it into the faces of Thai (Buddhist) children. &quot;</i>

Texas-thanks for giving me just one more thing to worry about. That is one of the most horrifying things I've ever heard.

Jodi-Congrats on your wedding!
We'll be there during those days too. There's not much we can do about it as we fly home on the 15th. I was mostly concerned about my camera getting wet, but now, TexasSlim's comments make me want to hole up in the hotel and not leave my room.

Can anyone recommend things to do in Bangkok during this time besides leave or hide? Or, barring that, places to avoid?

Thanks!

Having spent at least seven Songkrans in Bangkok I can’t recall ever getting water thrown at me. However, if you frequent somewhere like the Khao San Road area, or some of the girlie bar areas, then you probably will get wet – most likely soaked by western tourists. But on the whole Bangkok is fairly staid at Songkran.

In Chiang Mai, if you go down by the moat you can expect to get wet, elsewhere if you use a tuk-tuk you could get wet, but it can be avoided quite easily.

The traffic toll is fairly horrendous at Songkran, (tens of thousands are maimed is a gross exaggeration) as it is during the western New Year, but unless you are planning on using long distance buses that should not be too much of a concern.

As for the myth of the para rubber acid I would ignore it completely

If we are at home ( Jomtien ) we stay local and go to our local temple, it is good humoured and fine in our local community but I would not venture further into busy areas. We have also spent in Hua Hin which had a lovely parade through town and was all very good natured. If you are in Bangkok at a river side hotel you would enjoy, as said you can avoid if you want.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think we're going to switch our plans to go the next week, from April 21 to May 6. Since it's my first time in Bangkok, I think I'd prefer to the city when it's not a holiday. Will the weather be much different by waiting a week?

Wise move jodi, my wife and I are returning to Thailand in April and we're sceduling our arrival for after songkran too - this is my wife's idea and she's Thai, so that tells you something. No, one week won't make any difference with the weather, it'll still be stinking hot.

i was in bangkok during songkran last year, and had a blast. i think its a good time to go, as the city is nearly empty, and you can travel freely and easily in the city by taxi. great time to go to chinatown during the evening.

like tangata, no one threw water on me as i walked along suk., however, a young lady did stop me, and gently rubbed powder on my face. i considered this as my songkran baptism.

however, i did participate in hooligan activities by buying a water pistol(should have been a bazooka), and went marching into khao san with orgy riding shotgun. it was alot of fun, but it was difficult keeping the water out of the beer mug....speaking of orgy, where is the ole boy?