My husband and I are looking to possibly go to Thailand in October, November or December of 2004. We'd like to go to Bangkok but also spend some time on the beach. Is that time frame a good time to do a trip like that? Any recommendations for destinations?

late october to february are the overall best times for thailand...you will read here about beach problems in parts of thailand at certain times of year, but i do not know them...others will tell you..

Well you have plenty of time to pla. First off skip October. It's a terrible month when whichever side of Thailand you are on weather can be bad, also into mid-November, Koh Samui at the moment totally flooded. The later you can go the better.

I would add Authaya and maybe Sukhothai to Bangkok or perhaps River Kwai area, close to Bangkok, excellent if you are into history. For beach go for Krabi for scenary, Phuket for lots to do, Hua Hin close to Bangkok if you just want classy resorts, golf, and relaxation.

JamesA -

I know you certainly know Thailand better than about anyone here - but mid-October and November doesn't have such terrible weather.

We were there last year arriving mid-October thru first week November and had only one brief thunderstorm (all of 15-minutes) while in BKK; a sprinkle one evening (almost didn't feel it except for wet ground) in Chiang Sean; and while in Phuket a brief thunderstorm arriving into Phuket. That was it! Otherwise is was just plain hot and humid and bright sunshine every day - boring lovely weather.

Ideally, they say Jan - Mar is perfect, but friends have been in Thailand at that time and also had thunderstorms.

I checked the weather maps for Thailand for period up to our departure and sure enough - by 10th or 12th of October the "ugly monsoons" simply ended! And the projected 10-day weather report was "right on" for our time in SEAsia.

i visited a little early for me last year...arrived in late october...in bkk it rained most afternoons or got very cloudy....by november it was better and always in the past november has been fabulous...i prefer to go about mid-november and return to usa by mid-december

With all due respect Oct/Nove,ber is famous for heavy rains and flooding. I guess you were lucky. The whole raod from Bangkok to the South was knee deep in water for 4-5 days, many villages under 2m of water. At the moment Koh Samui has flooded roads and much of the island cut-off from other parts. Rail line heading south Oct/Nov gets closed for several days every year. Chaing Mai has different weather but manu ateas of Central and Northern Thailand have floods too.
According to Yahoo I have been sitting in Thunderstorms and heavy rain, look out the window, ouch! Clear skies and hot!

Phuket also has had very heavy rains and flooding over past 3-4 weeks.

Then I guess we were just lucky!
You're "right on" then, James.
Anyways, thanks for all your detailed information for those of us interested in travel here.