I am going to thailand for 20 days in august, visiting Chian Mai, Bangkok, Phuket and Phi, will highly appreciate any advice about hotels, transportation, restaurants, shopping...and about the weather, is it too rainy?. Thanks

Weather-wise Phi Phi/Phuket side will proabably be very wet, around 10-11 inches per month. North and around Bangkok not so much rain. Samui/Gulf side is drier.

I've been in Thailand twice in August (and hope to be there again this September) and did not see a single day of rain in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or Ko Samui. If there is really that substantial a difference between Ko Samui and Phuket, I'd go to Ko Samui: it's lovely.

I am in Thailand right now (2 weeks) and did not have the chance to open my umbrella. The weather has been very good and not too hot. I do belive that it does not matter when you go to Thailand you will always enjoy it!

XX

There's normally a great deal of difference in rainfall between west coast which gets the monsoon rains from the Indian Ocean and the Guf side that gets it's weather from the China seas. The statistics shows Phuket side getting 11 to 15 inches of rain per month when gulf side gets around 3 inches. Big difference. But don't let the thought of rain spoil your trip, Thailand is wonderful rain or shine.