Thailand during the rainy season (June)

May 2, 2023 1:48 PM

I am going to be traveling to Bangkok for the first time on a work trip in mid-June. I have another 5-6 days to explore on my own. However, my understanding is that June is the rainy season and I should expect the weather to be very hot and humid.

Since I will be in Bangkok so also trying to solicit some ideas for places in Thailand to visit that 1) would still be fun even in the hot/humid weather (maybe beaches or mountains?) 2) are fairly easy to get to from Bangkok.

I'm looking for places that have a more laid back vibe. I'm really not interested in going clubbing or being around hordes of drunk backpackers. One initial idea would be a low-key beach town where I could do some snorkeling.

Also! If you have any suggestions for exploring in Bangkok during June when the weather is hot and humid or rainy.

posted by forkisbetter to Travel & Transportation around Thailand (4 answers total)

I had a BLAST in Bangkok in mid-June! My method was: get up early to sightsee (the temples etc mostly opened around 8 a.m., so I'd be there as the doors opened), have an early-ish lunch, then spend the hot sticky afternoon either at a mall, a movie, or hanging around my hotel room (or the pool). In the evening I'd head back out for a late dinner and wander-around, usually to some kind of food or craft market. This method has served me well in a lot of hot climates. Just make sure your hotel has good air conditioning :)
posted by goodbyewaffles at 5:07 PM on May 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

Carry a folding umbrella. Please be aware that when it rains, it can be a deluge that quickly overwhelms gutters and floods narrow streets. Wading through 5-6” of murky water is not fun or particularly healthy. Be prepared to wait it out. Catching a movie in the afternoon is a great way to beat the heat. All the big malls have them, usually on the top floor. They are virtual palaces and very inexpensive. Getting spa treatments is another wonderful afternoon pastime. Foot massages are practically the national sport.

Getting out of Bangkok, Chiang Mai up north is an hour’s cheap flight away (or an overnight train ride if you want to experience a Pullman berth—2nd class air con). It’s much less intense than BKK, a fun place to poke around but it will be raining there too.

My beach experience during the monsoon was the water was cloudy with run off but this was not in Thailand.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:58 PM on May 2, 2023

Best answer: I've been to Thailand more than a few times now (my best friend is Thai). The monsoon season is A Lot (a couple of those trips I was coming from Houston, rather notorious for its humid and hot weather, and I was not prepared) so definitely plan to take advantage of the AC. We stayed at the Grande Centre Point Ratchadamri this last trip and it was perfect, if you get a choice in where to stay after your work trip (right on two BTS lines and not hard to connect to the MRT).

Chiang Mai is pretty temperate and Doi Inthanon gets downright cold (sweatshirt weather). It's very different from Bangkok, from food to climate and all the cultural touchpoints in between. And yes, super easy and cheap flight from Don Mueang.

In terms of beach towns, my secret go-to is Koh Kood or one of the other islands in the chain. Absolutely amazing and the snorkeling is still really good (unlike the very over-touristed Ko Phi Phi and Ko Samui and etc.). The vibe is low-key, not a party at all. We stayed at Shantaa and if it's open then it was worth every penny. You do have to take a direct flight to Trat and then a ferry ride but they're super easy to arrange. Looks like staying there is feasible during monsoon season.
posted by librarylis at 9:23 PM on May 2, 2023

Omg, get the hell out of BKK! Get thee to chang mai!

And enjoy the food, take lots of showers (v common in humid conditions, even at work), and enjoy a massage at the wats!
posted by esoteric things at 11:16 PM on May 5, 2023