I know that October is the end of the rainy season for Thailand but I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to plan a trip there for that time? I've read that prices are obviously less, crowds as well, but I wouldn't want the rain to put such a damper on our once in a lifetime trip. We're specifically interested in visiting Bangkok, Phuket area, and Chiang Mai. Some rain we can certainly deal with just not inundations of it every day. We're aiming towards late next year (2012) so November is the second contender if October was a bad time to go.

Thank you in advance for your response.

I'd highly recommend that you opt for November. October is rainy in most areas of Thailand. I usually go to Thailand in Nov/Dec, but have been a number of times in the later part of October and was amazed at how much difference the couple of weeks made in the rainfall. Often, in October, the river in Bangkok is so high that river side hotels sandbag around their terraces and even the path from the water taxis to the skytrain has sandbags. Beach areas will not only be rainy, but the water will likely be rough enough that swimming is not advised (other than in your hotel pool).

Take a look at one of the weather site for stats on rainfall in each of the areas you are considering. I use www.weatherbase.com

Agree with Kathie, the later the better! IMO Dec - Jan is the prime time but Nov will be better than Oct, usually!

www.weather2travel.com Climate Guides

late Nov and on to be safe for me...

do not like to sit in my hotel room

watching torrential monsoonal rains.

LOL, it's mid-March - supposedly the height of the hot season - and the third rainstorm of the day has just started here in Bangkok. The first was before sunrise. The second was just about 90 minutes ago, just before sunset, and was the worst storm I can remember for quite some time. For a few minutes I couldn't see the ground from my 9th floor place, which I've just discovered leaks when the rain comes sideways.

Actually, it wasn't a bad day between sunrise and about 5:00 pm, but I'm glad I wasn't out when things turned bad.

The weather has been crazy the last couple of years, so no guarantees on October or November any more.

I have to laugh, Michael. I've opted not to let BKK weather patterns determine my travel plans. I'll be there in April, the hottest month of the year. I'm assuming we'll have rain as well. It'll be sticky all the time. Doesn't matter...

(but I'll also be there in mid December/early January for a few weeks, and get some of the best weather!)

I'm also laughing, Michael. It's a good reminder that past performance does not guarantee future performance.

I agree with the last few posters! I have done 3 weeks in September 2002, 2 weeks in October 2008 and 2 weeks April 2009, the April trip I experienced the most rainfall by far!
This is just my experience and I would definitely recommend October as it was much cheaper and so quiet it was almost magical!
All trips included BKK, Chiang Mai and southern islands.

October is the month when people start asking "when will the rain go away"
and lo and behold by November it usually has.
Look at a rainfall map and select the driest places.....or just experience some tropical rain.