All about holidays in winter 2020-2021 in Thailand! Where is it better to go to rest? What is the weather like in December, January and February? What is the cost of the tours? How much are food and accommodation? Advice and reviews of tourists.
The land of exotic fruits and blooming orchids - picturesque Thailand - is most in demand among tourists in the winter. In November, the rainy season ends, dry and warm weather sets in with a warm sea and a comfortable air temperature of + 30 ° С. Thai winter is the best fit for a full beach holiday and excursions - without the sweltering heat and unexpected showers. Therefore, we will tell you where to relax in Thailand in December, January and February, what to do and what the weather is like, we will tell you about the prices for accommodation, food and travel packages, and also share reviews and tips from tourists.
Where to go to rest in Thailand in winter?
Thailand can be conditionally divided into several tourist areas.
Very popular with our compatriots, noisy and cheerful Pattaya: The vibrant nightlife with go-go dancing and adult shows is a magnet for adventure seekers. Here, the tourist season lasts almost all year round, however, the water in the bay is somewhat turbid, but the largest concentration of bars and nightclubs on the coast. Tourists enjoy diving, surfing, scooter riding, bananas, pills, etc. Families with children love to visit parks and animal shows, gardens and greenhouses with orchids. A few kilometers from Pattaya there are islands with amazing postcard beaches and clear water, where tourists go to swim (for example, Ko Lan).
Where is the best place to relax in the Land of Smiles - Pattaya or Phuket?
In Bangkok, the weather is always pleasant, a light breeze during the day does not allow the heat to turn into sweltering. The Thai capital has unique palaces and three hundred temples with Buddha statues, national parks and gardens - it's simply impossible to see everything in one trip. On December 5th, Thais celebrate the name day of the ruler, King Rama IX. Celebrations are held in grand style - with concerts and bright illumination, this sight is worth seeing. Metro, buses, taxis in Bangkok >>
Many for a vacation in Thailand in winter choose Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi province, Phi Phi, Khao Lak, etc.). Phuket is loved by divers and lovers of boat trips on yachts. Phuket's beaches have good infrastructure, hotels and bungalows of different price segments. Krabi province is more suitable for a relaxing beach holiday. The water here is clean and transparent, there is practically no rainfall or winds, it is warm and sunny, the water temperature in the Andaman Sea is +28 ... + 29 ° С. In addition, tourists can visit local temples, see the process of growing pearls, visit farms of butterflies, snakes and crocodiles, nearby islands.
Resort Samui delights its guests with beautiful beaches, fresh tropical fruits and seafood, it is the perfect place for a relaxing holiday. But during the winter months, Koh Samui and other resorts in the Gulf of Thailand experience heavy torrential rains and storms, especially in December and January. Only by the end of February clear and hot weather sets in.
Northern part of the country and the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are ideal for tourists who cannot tolerate tropical heat and humidity. Winter is mild and comfortable here, and December and January are considered the coldest months of the year, the temperature is + 28 ° C during the day, +10 ... + 15 ° C at night. In Chiang Mai, nature comes alive in winter. On the first Friday of February, a flower festival is held here every year. At this time, Chiang Mai is changing, there are tropical flowers everywhere, smart people walk the streets. A beauty contest is held where the most beautiful girl receives the title of Queen of Flowers.
New Year in Thailand
If the trip is planned for the New Year holidays and you want something bright and unusual, then it is better to choose large cities for recreation, there will be festivities on a grand scale - Bangkok, Huahin, Pattaya. "Dragons" walk the streets, and garland-decorated palm trees temporarily act as Christmas trees. Thais celebrate the New Year three times: January 1, Chinese New Year (late January - early February) and their Songkran holiday in April.
A fair opens in Pattaya from December 25 to December 31, the entire Beach Road is occupied by stalls with various goods, souvenirs and food. On New Year's Eve, a concert-festival is held, which attracts local musical groups and performers. Well, the most violent celebrations unfold on the Bangkok waterfront in Nathon and on Maenam Beach. At midnight on January 1, there is a compulsory festive fireworks display.
Find out more about Thailand New Year's Eve.
Thailand weather in winter
Winter is the best period for rest and excursions in the north, in the cities of Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai: it is dry, warm (and even cool by Thai standards), the average daytime air temperature is +27 ... + 28 ° С, at night +14 ... + 15 ° C. There is little rain.
On the island of Koh Samui, the temperature is high + 30 ° С, the water is warm, up to + 28 ° С, but about half of December and January it is cloudy, it may rain not only at night, but also during the day, so it is quite difficult to guess with a trip. In February, it gets hotter + 32 ... + 33 ° С, strong humidity leaves, and the number of rainy days is reduced to 5.
December weather
Thailand in December is recovering from the rainy season: the average air temperature is set in the range of +25 ... + 30 ° С, precipitation stops. Gradually, the temperature rises, and in February it already becomes hot - up to + 35 ° С, although some tourists feel comfortable even at such values. Most importantly, in winter there is no excess humidity, due to which travelers often call tropical countries a steam room or a sauna. The exception is the island of Koh Samui, from December to February it is humid there and quite heavy rains can occur.
January weather
January is the perfect time to travel to Phuket. The temperature rarely drops below + 30 ° С, most often +31 ... + 32 ° С, complete calm, the sea is + 28 ° С. It gets hotter in February. In Pattaya - no precipitation, sunny and warm + 30 ° С. In January in Pattaya, the average temperature is about +27 ... + 30 ° С, there is no precipitation, the sun is bright.
Weather in February
Thailand's weather in February is still good. You can easily buy a bronze tan, the air temperature is + 32 ° C, a little rain may pass a couple of times. Slightly hotter in Bangkok and Krabi province - about +31 ... + 32 ° С all winter.
See also the article on the weather in Thailand in spring: we describe the temperature of the water and air and advise which resort is better to go to rest.
Prices in Thailand in 2020-2021
Food prices
In Thailand in 2020, even despite the ruble exchange rate, democratic prices. Thai cuisine is replete with tropical fruits, vegetables and seafood, and a delicious meal at a local eatery or makashi can cost 30-60 baht per person (noodle soup, pad thai or a box of rice and a few toppings), various kebabs cost 10-20 baht a piece. In tourist cafes, of course, it is more expensive - sometimes the price can be 10 times higher (this is especially true for Patong in Phuket). Those who are afraid of exotic food and a lot of spices can eat in European restaurants or food courts, where food is more tourist-oriented. In general, Thais try to put a little pepper to the Europeans and understand the words perfectly no spicy.
Fruit is quite cheap, especially in season. When buying, you can bargain if you take a lot. It is better to do this in markets, farm vans (jeeps) or in supermarkets - sometimes in stalls on tourist streets, the cost is clearly overpriced.
The cost of food and accommodation in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket varies - here you can compare them and choose the best place to stay. Read about the prices in the Land of Smiles and our expenses for two trips in winter and spring here.
The cost of hotels in winter
With housing, everything is also not bad: there are a lot of hotels and guesthouses of various price categories, you can search for them on the Roomguru website - it finds the best options by comparing prices among popular booking systems.
In Thailand, in December, January, February and March, prices are kept at their maximum level (high season), and from April they begin to decline. Below we present the prices for double rooms in hotels in the resorts of Thailand for the winter 2020-2021.
In the center Bangkok, not far from the Grand Palace, you can rent a double room for $ 24 and more, a simple room on Khaosan Road - from $ 8, good rooms can be found for $ 10-13.
IN Pattaya many good options in the range of $ 16-25, about 500-1000 meters from the beach. Sea view rooms in four-star hotels cost $ 37-70 on average. Rooms in five-star hotels are usually expensive, but according to the promotion on Roomguru, you can sometimes find fabulously cheap rooms (especially if you search in advance) - for example, we saw offers from $ 28 for a double room in Pattaya Hiso Hotel and from $ 44 in Jomtien Beach Penthouses Pattaya. There are also many interesting hotels on Koh Lana - room rates from $ 16 per night for two.
On the Phuket hotels cost about the same as in Pattaya. Hostel - from $ 14, double rooms - from $ 18. A night in a three-star hotel for two near the beach will cost an average of $ 21-37, in a 4 * hotel - from $ 40 to $ 80, in a 5-star hotel - from $ 75. See also our roundup of the best hotels in Phuket.
See also our 10 tips for cheap hotel bookings!
Tours to Thailand in winter 2020-2021
Last Minute Tours you can search for the best prices on the Travelata and Level.Travel services - they compare the offers of 120 tour operators and therefore are able to find the best option. You can buy a ticket online, which is very convenient. Do you want to spend a minimum of money on your vacation? Our tips for finding cheap tours will help you save money.
At the beginning of December, prices for tours to Thailand are still at the November level. However, by the middle of the month they have already increased by 15-20%, and by Catholic Christmas by all 50-60% relative to November. Obviously, many people want to get away from winter to splash in the warm waves and soak up the sand. The cost of tours reaches its peak by January 1 (70-80% more expensive than at the beginning of December) and keeps with minor drops by 10-20% until the end of February.
But all this statistics does not at all exclude the possibility of catching cheap hot tours (for example, for 40-50 thousand rubles for two). Such last-minute tours to Thailand can cost even cheaper than just air tickets for regular flights. At the same time, the price of the tour includes flight, accommodation, transfer, insurance and meals of your choice. We write about the cheapest last-minute tours in a special section - stay tuned!
Approximate prices for tours for two people. Tours from Moscow to Thailand for December, January and February 2020-2021 cost from 52 thousand rubles (7 nights rest). The cost of tours from St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don and other large cities of Russia usually starts from 80 thousand rubles, but for some dates you can find vouchers for 70 thousand.
Take a look: What to bring from Thailand as a gift to friends and family.
On a note:
- As a rule, the cost of vouchers to Phuket and Pattaya is about the same.
- The price of tours for 10-12 nights is not much higher than the cost of tours for 7 nights.
- Closer to the departure date, the cost of vouchers can significantly decrease, for example, to 50-60 thousand rubles, and sometimes even lower. Follow the news on and travel cheap!
Reviews and advice of tourists
Judging by the reviews of tourists who traveled to Thailand in the winter months, they were satisfied with their trip to a warm sunny country: beautiful beaches, unique architecture, exotic flora and fauna, unusual cuisine. The only thing is that the prices for medical care in the Land of Smiles are very high, so we recommend buying travel insurance before the trip - after all, unfamiliar food, active sun, mosquitoes and other insects, and even an initial consultation with a doctor can cost $ 200-250. Leaving on vacation in Thailand and other countries, we always draw up an insurance policy.
Thais give the impression of benevolent and welcoming people, but there are also those who make money on gullible foreigners. We are talking about the so-called helpers who extort money for their services and promote tourists to purchase goods and services. In the Land of Smiles, it is easy to succumb to other people's persuasion, so vigilance never hurts. However, Thais in this regard are not as annoying as the Arabs in Egypt.
According to reviews of travelers, experienced travelers recommend buying souvenirs and jewelry in large shopping centers or proven stores, prices are very high on coral islands, where tourists are taken on excursions.
In general, Thailand in winter is extremely attractive in terms of weather conditions; this is a good time to fully relax, play sports or travel on excursions. The disadvantage of winter holidays in this country is high prices and a large influx of tourists, but if you want to save money, you can go in early December.
Look also at the reviews of tourists about the rest in Phuket.
