Travel companies lure travelers with low prices, offering cheap trips to Thailand for May. But is it worth it to give in to the temptation to fly to the Kingdom of Smiles at the end of spring, will such a trip not disappoint? We will take a comprehensive look at this in this article. The information material for it was by no means beautiful phrases of tour operators who want to send clients to the resort and get their money.
We took into account the reviews about Thailand in May, and, importantly, the long-term statistics of observing the weather in different parts of the country. A good rest depends not only on temperature indicators, which near the equator never fall below +22 degrees. For a tourist going to a seaside resort, the state of the water element is important. Agree that contemplating the raging ocean the whole vacation, and swimming only in the pool, is not very pleasant.
Short lessongeography
Thailand lies in the subequatorial climate zone. We will briefly explain what this means for the average tourist. In winter, when the sun goes south across the sky, the country is dominated by a tropical climate. The northeast monsoon brings clear and dry weather. Therefore, the period from December to March is the high tourist season in Thailand. In May (reviews on this score are unanimous) the weather changes. Planet Earth turns to the Sun with the northern hemisphere.
On a May afternoon, the luminary stands directly overhead. At the same time, the southwestern monsoon begins to blow, which brings clouds and showers from the humid equatorial latitudes. The rainy season continues until October, when the dry tropical climate returns. Thus, in Thailand there are three seasons: winter (clear, but not very hot by local standards), summer (still dry, but the heat increases to +34 in the shade) and, finally, the rainy season.
Thailand in May: reviews of tourists about the weather
As paradoxical as it sounds, the last month of spring marks the end of summer for the locals. But May in Thailand is not August in Europe at all. The fifth month of the year is considered the hottest in this country. Surprisingly, it gets cooler in July thanks to high cloud cover and rain. But the humidity in May is already rising, even if the sky has not yet been covered with a thick veil of clouds. Therefore, if you have heart or respiratory problems, tourists do not recommend coming to Thailand this month.
The rainy season in every possible way shows that it is just around the corner. Occasionallya downpour begins - a sudden, stormy, but lasting hour at most. Most often it rains in the evening and at night, but no one is safe from them during the day. The southwest monsoon begins to bring more than just precipitation. This wind raises high waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand of the Indian Ocean.
Transition period
But May still belongs to the off-season - both in Europe and in Thailand. This means that your vacation largely depends on what decade of the month you are going to visit the Kingdom of Smiles. Reviews about the weather in Thailand in early May are mostly enthusiastic. It rained, if at all, only at night. By morning everything dried up, and only the greenery filled with moisture pleased the eye. The sea is warmest in May, it seems like you are taking a bath. Alas, bathing does not bring cooling from the heat. Every day the thermometer fluctuates between +30-33 degrees. Nights also do not bring the long-awaited coolness. The temperature rarely drops to +25 degrees. Moreover, clouds create a "greenhouse effect" and prevent heat from dissipating in space.
But even more extreme is the weather in Thailand at the end of May. In reviews, tourists complain about very high humidity. Because of it, things do not dry at all and even the clothes in the suitcase become damp. Breathing becomes difficult. It seems that you are constantly in the bath. Therefore, if you are going to travel to Thailand in the second half of May, be sure to book a room with air conditioning. This period is not for traveling with children, tourists assure. It will be difficult for the child to adapt to conditions of wet andsticky heat.
So what is May like in Thailand?
The country is located between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Therefore, in May, a month and a half after the vernal equinox, the sun is directly above the territory of Thailand. It is at this time that the temperature maximum occurs. The thermometer in May rarely drops below +30 degrees. At the same time, the relative humidity of the air rises. This is the southwest monsoon. It brings not only cloudiness and rain, which by the end of the month are becoming more and more frequent guests in Thailand, but also raises huge waves in the sea.
May is the end of the tourist season, and hence the collapse in prices. Of course, they reach their minimum during the summer months and in September, when the downpours completely overwhelm Thailand. But tempting offers can still be caught. The beaches are empty, and hoteliers and restaurant owners are starting a furious fight for the remaining clientele, offering unprecedented discounts. However, keep in mind that the heat is not conducive to land excursions, and the raging Andaman Sea is not conducive to water excursions.
Regions of Thailand in May. Phuket weather reviews
Our analysis of Thailand's climate patterns in May will be too generalized if we don't pay attention to individual regions of the country. After all, the Kingdom of smiles is quite extensive. The country's coastline stretches along the Andaman Sea and delineates the west, north and east of the Gulf of Thailand. Since the monsoon in May begins to blow from the southwest, the first blowPhuket takes over the elements. Due to the high cloudiness, the temperature on this island is lower than in other regions of the country. The thermometer at noon occasionally crosses the mark of +30 degrees.
But tourists do not recommend going to Phuket in May. According to meteorological observations, it will be rainy on 21 days of the month. Heavy rains can lead to floods. But rains - often short - are not the main obstacle to relaxation. The Andaman Sea seems to be changing. Huge waves and dangerous tidal currents make swimming simply impossible. Only brave surfers dare to enter the sea at this time. If you are brought to Phuket in May, choose the eastern coast of the island for relaxation - the water area is calmer there. But in excursions the tourist will be limited. Trips to the Semilane Islands and all boat trips are cancelled.
Koh Samui and Krabi Province
The most famous island in Thailand in May, reviews characterize as very rainy. But meteorological statistics claim that compared to Phuket, Koh Samui has less rainfall. There are 17 rainy days in May. But the temperature indicators are also higher. Tourists may be glad that the Gulf of Thailand, unlike the Andaman Sea, is not yet covered by storms. Navigation does not stop, so Koh Samui, as well as Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, can be reached by ferry.
Tourists say that the weather on Koh Samui is generally very unpredictable. It is dry and clear only in the winter months, and for the rest of the year it can rain for days or not for weeks. Those who rested on the island in May,say conflicting things. Either they caught one 10-minute rain for the entire vacation, or showers did not allow them to lean out of the hotel. Approximately the same situation with the weather is observed in the southwestern province of Krabi.
Resorts on the northern coast of the Gulf of Thailand
If you decide to visit Thailand in May, tourists in the reviews strongly recommend choosing cities such as Pattaya or Hua Hin for relaxation. They are located on the mainland and not far from the capital. The southwestern season gets here later, by June. And throughout May, sunny weather reigns on the northern coast of the Gulf of Thailand. If it rains, it only happens at night. The sea is also calm here.
You should take into account the specifics of the resorts. Pattaya is called the city of sin. Mostly young people rest there, longing for evening entertainment. Hua Hin is the exact opposite of Pattaya. The royal family comes here during the season. This respectable resort is chosen by families with children and pensioners.
East Gulf of Thailand
Tourists in reviews of Thailand in May in every possible way praise the resorts located near the border with Cambodia. Travelers especially like the second largest island in the country (after Phuket) - Koh Chang. Here is a perfect balance of untouched nature and tourist infrastructure.
As for the climate in May, the southwest monsoon has less effect here. You can safely go here in the last month of spring: Koh Chang, as well as another island in the region -Koh Kut will welcome you with clear skies and calm seas.
North of the country
There is a whole layer of tourists who come to Thailand not for the sake of the beaches, but for excursions to the historical sights of this country. They are interested in the ancient capital of Siam - Ayutthaya, such cities in the north as Lopburi, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. But is it possible to have a sightseeing holiday in Thailand in May?
In the reviews, tourists mention that there is almost no rain during this period in the north of the country. But to enjoy excursions does not give a terrible heat. In the depths of the mainland, the air heats up to + 35-40 degrees in the shade. Relaxation can only be found high in the mountains, where the temperature is more comfortable (+25-28 degrees).
