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Weather Conditions in Phuket
Phuket is one of those places that is filled with tourists all through the year. After all, who doesn’t want to spend a vacation lazing by the beach, or swimming in the cool and clear waters that surround the islands. Phuket is a favoured vacation choice for many people for many reasons. White sands and beautiful beaches, along with the charm of the old town. Restaurants where you can dine on delicious Thai food, or the freshest seafood. Night markets where you can shop for quirky souvenirs and gifts to take back home. Everything has its own charm.
Yet, there are certain times when the crowd is more, when the throng seems to be overwhelming. You can barely see the sand because of the huge number of people sunning themselves and taking a leisurely swim can become chaotic. Before you book your tickets to Phuket, a good idea would be to check what would be the best time to go to Phuket.
The factors to consider would be weather, crowd and costs. Here’s a look at the best time to visit Phuket based on all three factors.
Phuket is known for its tropical climate. This means that the weather is warm throughout the year. Since Phuket is in the Andaman sea, the weather is mostly mild with most typhoons and other storms that typically wreak havoc on Hong Kong skipping the islands. However, it’s good to remember that Phuket can get quite hot in the months of April to May. Humidity can also be high making it sticky and uncomfortable. Temperatures can go up to 36 degrees although sometimes thunderstorms do dispel the heat. Since it’s also Songkran time in April, visitors might find respite from the heat when they are constantly drenched with water! However, the months of June, July and August are manageable and not quite as hot.
The months from December until March are considered to be the best time to travel to Phuket. Visitors can avoid the monsoon rains while the skies are blue and the sea is bluer. What can possibly be closer to heaven? Indeed, when it is winter for the rest of the world, it’s the best season to go to Phuket. There is very little humidity and the cool breezes make it for a refreshing vacation. The average temperature at this time is a pleasant 24 degrees, so while most of the world shivers, those in Phuket can put on their sarongs, slip their feet into their flip flops and go ahead and have fun.
In the months of September and October, there is heavy rainfall and the seas can be quite rough. This is not conducive to travel or vacations as travellers choose not to visit Phuket at this time. However, even during the rainy season, there will be tourists because people often don’t need a reason to visit Phuket.
If you don’t mind the crowds, then the best time to visit Phuket would be in the holiday season of December and January. This is when most of the world decides to pack their bags and come to Phuket, whether it is to lie by the beach or to indulge in any sort of water sports.
The interesting thing about Phuket is that there are crowds during most of the year. People don’t really seem to take weather forecasts seriously unless there’s a typhoon or something worse brewing. Everyone wants to have the perfect holiday and they are intent on having it no matter what.
If you don’t like crowds however, and don’t mind inclement weather, then you might want to consider visiting in September or October. Even though the rains may be beating down relentlessly, there’s always something to enjoy in Phuket. In fact, it could be the best time to visit Phuket for surfers as there are hardly any people at the beach. During this time, restaurants are mostly free while roads are empty. Even during the thundershowers though, there could be sunshine as well, which makes the trip all the more worthwhile.
It’s rather obvious that during high season for tourists, everything will cost more. From hotel bookings to flight tickets. Even the water sports operators will charge higher as this is the time they can make money. If you think the best time to visit Phuket is when the weather is perfect and the beaches beckon, then be prepared to pay more. However, there are still a few hidden spots where you can find some peace and quiet and enjoy downtime with your loved ones. If you look hard enough, you can actually get away far from the madding crowd.
Low season might have its downsides in the way of rainy weather and thunderstorms or the opposite, hot weather and humidity. But cost-wise, there could be huge savings. If you’re looking for a budget vacation and you don’t care about the weather whichever way it chooses to lean, then it would be a good idea to check out room rates and hotel bookings during either May or October. As many have found out, sometimes none of these factors seem to matter to those who are determined to enjoy a vacation in Phuket.
If you’ve decided your best time to visit Phuket, then a good idea would be to check out some of the offers and deals which SOTC has for your Phuket trip. You are sure to find something that will fit in with your plans.
