Thailand in Dec -- which 2 week span?
 

Hi.

I have a wedding in BKK to attend from the eastern USA December 16. The closest I've been is HKG, so outside of preliminary reading I am mostly unfamiliar.

A friend and I would like to consider visiting the usual places (Chang Mai, Phuket, Ko Samui, Angkor Wat, Bali, etc are in play) over 2weeks+. If it matters, I am more of a historical/natural-wonders (eg elephant/hill-people) traveller and less of a city/shopping traveller.

We are flexible enough to travel: a) first half of December, b) second half of December, c) or straddle the wedding in the middle.

I am hoping those knowledgable about holidays, crowds, tourist demand could help me choose our timing wisely. For instance, I've been told by the wife-to-be (who is Thai) that there's a holiday in early Dec; however, she couldn't predict whether that made it a better or worse time to go.

Bonus question: I'm looking to fly TG or SQ out of NYC. Can those familiar with pricing levels between now and December tell me when -- in general -- the best time to buy airfare would be (or is the price steady)?

Thanks much.

I was in Thailand last December (23-31). From what I understand, this week is the PEAK of the peak season, when some hotels are charging their maximum rates, and are more likely to be full.

The weather was very comfortable (BKK/CNX) and although there were lots of tourists around the major sites, nothing was so overcrowded to be a hassle or bothersome.

So I would probably choose any week other than the last week of December.

We were in Chinag Mai last year in mid December and it was wonderful in terms of weather. Definitely take in the elephant show, it was amazing. In terms of people, there are various different tribes in and around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai including the 'long neck' tribe. We are NOT hikers but lots of places to hike around Chiang Mai. In terms of shopping, it is hard to avoid it in Thailand. Arts and crafts and just so beautiful and in Chnag Mai, you can see it all being done. We loved the night bazzar and eventhough we did not buy much there, the ambiance and eating at night bazzar was a highlight of our trip. We plan to go back this year in late December and a cursory look at the hotels suggest that prices continue to be reasonable during the holdiay period.

Bali, Phuket on the other hand may be charging a premium during the holdiay season.

You might check prices for the first half of December. Particularly down on Phuket late Dec and Jan are high season and prices go very high then as well. Early Dec will be a little less crowded also.

Appreciate the opinions thusfar. First half of Dec seems to be winning, despite the holidays therein. More reading...here I come.

For three years in a row, I have spent nearly two weeks in Southeast Asia in late December, leading up to New Year's. We're always based in Bangkok, where Mr. Megatop lives. In 2003, we split two four-day stays in Bangkok with four days in Saigon (historically significant for one interested in the war and Vietnamese diaspora but not much culturally, as the most cultural bits of Vietname are farther north). In 2004, we did a few days in Singapore followed by thirteen days in Bangkok, with side trips around town. In 2005, it was Bangkok, then Japan, then Hong Kong, and back to BKK. While I found all of those destinations interesting, Thailand remains my favorite and I could spend a whole lot more time there than I have.

As others have posted, the Christmas-New Year's period is the peak of the peak season throughout Thailand. Especially around New Year's, you will be paying rack rate at just about at hotel (still a tremendous value, but rack rate is rack rate). As much as I've wanted to go to Phuket, the rates at good resorts have been astronomical between Christmas and New Year's compared to other times of the year. Many resorts have compulsory gala dinners on Christmas and New Year's, and dinner in Thailand for US$100++ a head is obscene. Many Phuket resorts have minimum stay requirements too, meaning six-day spans are required. Most Phuket resorts sell rooms through travel agents that hoard the rooms and fib about availability in order to maximise the rates they get, all very frustrating. My friend who went on to Phuket last year after I flew home said that after loving Bangkok, Phuket was disappointing primarily because there were more Germans and Scandinavians around than Thais. Nothing wrong with Germans or Scandinavians, of course, but he was troubled that it was easier to find a beer garden than a plate of pad kra prow gai (stir-fried spicy chicken with basil leaves). Just two weeks in December makes all the difference in the world, I understand. Rates in early December could be half what they are in late December, with more flexible stay requirements and the crowds haven't arrived yet. It's not just limited to Phuket: during my stay in Bankok at the beginning of my trip in 2005, we paid hotel rates about 40% cheaper than we paid over New Year's. And the crowds at New Year's in Bangkok can be insanity, making the major temples practically inaccessible. Go to Thailand in early December.

I believe Bali has historically been a lot like Phuket at Christmas-New Year's, in terms of the crowds, rates, etc. It's one of Bali's two peak tourism seasons.

Thailand has two major holidays in early December: King's Birthday on December 5th, and Constitution Day on December 10th. Some offices will close for both of those public holidays, but most tourist facilities will remain open. For a foreign tourist, the holidays should be a non-event, except that there will be lots of royal regalia (such as portraits and flags) around Bangkok to mark the King's Birthday especially.

I haven't been Chiang Mai yet, but Mr. Megatop just happens to be here in Atlanta at the moment, visiting for the Songkran Thai New Year holiday period, and he has the following comments:

I've been told that Chiang Mai offers lots of opportunities to shop for local Thai goods, such a beautiful lacquers and silks and such.

You may also find yourself arriving at one BKK and departing from another. The long-delayed New Bangkok International Airport called Suvarnabhumi is nearing (and nearing, and nearing) completion. The promised opening date, which no one thinks will actually happen, is still sometime in the summer. The end of the year is more realistic and, depending on how things are going, may now be somewhat optimistic, as various certification and dry-run things take six months to complete and it's unclear what has been started. Given its significance, I'm still betting on an opening timed to the King's Birthday, though the authorities may decide it's better to get past the peak tourist season and open early next year.

TG and SQ Executive Economy to BKK should run about $1800 roundtrip. You can get standard economy for a couple of hundred dollars less, and TG's JFK nonstops have fairly generous pitch in standard economy class. Other airlines, like Korean or China Airlines, might have NYC-BKK fares closer to $1100. Buy early, as soon as you are ready to pay and you've found a cheap ticket. In July 2004, my mom bought her tix on a DL codeshare BOS-JFK-ICN-BKK for outbound on Christmas Day and returning Jan. 2nd for about $1000. If you're getting prices in that range, buy 'em before they vanish.

thank you mr/mrs megatop for the incredibly informative post.

I wouldn't plan your trip to avoid either of the holidays in early December. In fact it might be good to be here for the King's Birthday, 5 December, which is also celebrated as Father's Day (the King being the father of the country), so you could take your future father-in-law out for dinner? The other Holiday, Constitution Day is 10 Dec but will result in a Monday-holiday (bank/school/gov't/business/post office, etc.) on 11 Dec this year. Note that for this year (2006/2549), in celebration of the King's 60th anniversary of his ascension, flags (country/royal) and portraits are on display for the entire year.

tips
 

Hi,
I think first half of Dec. is a better time. TG flying time is shorter, of course, and direct to BKK from NYC. Chiang Mai is nice but Ko Samui is also cool during the period. TG, I think, has package around BKK and beyond with reasonal package deal. For Cambodia, airfare and accommodation is pretty unbelievably expensive, I heard. After all, you are probably lucky to have the navigator-to-be, for the place you will land.
bkkres

Along with most everyone else, I recommend early December - enjoy the more comforable temperatures and avoid the Christmas/New Year hype and prices.
The Chiang Mai area is a center for many artifactories with outlet stores - furniture, laquerware, pottery and celadon, fabrics, jewelry, etc. People come to Chiang Mai from all over Thailand to furnish their homes and condos, and many worldwide customers make wholesale purchases for their shops abroad. I recommend avoiding Chiang Mai's Night Market ripoff (something to be endured rather than enjoyed), but the Thapae Gate street market (Sundays ONLY) is one of my favorite markets in all of Thailand, second only to Bangkok's Chatuchak (or, as they seem to be calling it lately, Jatujak) Weekend Market.

If you can afford it, spare 3 days for a trip to Angkor Wat. It truly is one of the wonders of the world. The airfare is not as cheap as many of the intra-Thailand fares, but it is not inordinately expensive either (about $250??). There are some very expensive hotels in Siem Reap, but there are also many smaller hotels and guesthouses that are quite reasonable.

As MegatopLover also indicated, Thai Air's nonstop Premium Economy seat seems to be running around $1700-$1800 right now. Last year I paid about $1550 and I read a recent post somewhere that someone was able to obtain this price through an Asian discount travel agency. Last year regular economy on the nonstop ran about $1100, so figure a couple of hundred more currently. The price of fuel makes it iffy as to when and if fares will drop.

Thank you for the continued posts with specific information, especially with respect to ticket pricing and trends! Chang Mai, Angkor Wat are high priorities for my friend and I. Ko Samui, Phuket, Bali are secondary. Hopefully reading will help me whittle down wisely or find alternative gems.

With the general date-window decided, my focus now is deciding the mixture of award and paid travel amongst TG/SQ/XX from NYC to BKK. I'm a US top tier elite with enough miles for 2 biz (J) tix, but have been advised to use my miles to "buy" an award tix for my friend (e.g. 60K on a 2-class A345), then have friend reimburse me for a tix I pay cash for, so that I can accumulate miles and use my *G benefits (unlike me, he has no status anywhere).

Hi Chowder,

If you look at the post "Advise for visitors to Chiang mai" you will find loads of info about the city and surrounding area. This should help you enjoy a wonderful experience in North Thailand. Living here for more than 17 years I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the Chiang Mai area. If I don't know the answer i will try to get the information for you.

Randy and Ning

I dug around a little and found the name of the travel agency: Star Tours ... 1-323-644-1063. I have NOT used this agency, but the poster said that they recently were able to get him a Premium Economy ticket for $1545 on the JFK-BKK flight.

Re: Angkor Wat, you can purchase a 1-day ($20), a 3-day($40) or a 1-week pass ($60). The prices have been static for several years now and I believe that they are still valid. Most visitors seem to opt for the 3-day pass - one day is much too short and one week can result in a bad case of "temple overload" - plus most of the year it is hot as hell.