Thailand Low Season Travel Guide with Bangkok Pattaya Prices
After two days in Pattaya, I returned to Bangkok and found the city surprisingly busy. Even though it was the low season, there were large numbers of tourists in the city and at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The airport was unusually crowded with arrivals and departures. In the high season you expect to see plenty of visitors, but the number of tourists at the airport was striking for this time of year. The weather was also unsettled, with heavy rain and thunderstorms making travel difficult at times.
Asiatique Chao Phraya Boat and Wat Arun
Despite the rain, Asiatique was lively. There were many tourists, restaurants and new things to do beside the more traditional Bangkok attractions. A dinner cruise from Asiatique along the Chao Phraya River is one option, and the riverside also has a dinosaur experience that can appeal to children and adults.
The blue-line boat is an inexpensive way to explore the river. A one-way ticket costs only 40 Thai Baht. You can get off at different stops, continue to the end of the route, and pay another 40 Thai Baht for the return journey.
The best time to take the boat is around sunset if the weather is good. The views around Wat Arun are particularly attractive, and even with unsettled weather there can be beautiful scenes and good opportunities for photographs.
Pattaya Is a Calmer Escape from Bangkok
Pattaya felt much calmer than Bangkok. Although it rained on and off, the daytime atmosphere was relaxed enough to walk, sit, eat and drink without the crowds and congestion that can make the city feel overwhelming during high season.
Pattaya remains one of the cheapest escapes from Bangkok if you want to visit the beach and enjoy some nightlife. A hotel in the middle of the action cost around 1,200 Thai Baht, which made the short trip especially affordable.
Low Season Thailand Prices and Tourists
Accommodation prices in Bangkok were another reason to visit. Four-star and five-star hotels were available from around 2,000 to 3,000 Thai Baht, while the same rooms can cost between 6,000 and 10,000 Thai Baht during high season. Promotions are worth checking because prices can rise by 50 to 100 percent after September.
Resort prices can be much higher in high season. A resort on the trip to Koh Yai, for example, usually costs between 12,000 and 15,000 Thai Baht per night. Domestic flights and hotel promotions can make exploring Thailand more affordable during the low season.
The exchange rate was another reason to visit, with the Thai Baht at around 33 Thai Baht to 1 US dollar. Shopping promotions were also common. A Lacoste sale offered discounts of up to 70 percent, while some sales lasted only two or three days before another brand replaced them.
Visitors could also find fixed prices on items such as hard drives, with a four-terabyte model priced at 5,590 Thai Baht and a five-terabyte model at 6,590 Thai Baht. There was no discount or bargaining on those products.
Many of the tourists appeared to be from Europe, where summer holidays were underway, as well as from the Middle East and the Gulf. Shopping is especially popular with many visitors from those regions, which helped make Bangkok’s malls so busy.
Thailand Weather from July to Mid-October
There is a big difference between July, August, and September in Thailand. If you are coming in July or August, the weather is acceptable. It does not rain every day, and I am sure you are going to have sunny days. From September until mid-October, however, it is the peak of the rainy season.
Never forget to take your raincoat with you when you go out because you never know when you are going to get a shower. My advice is to avoid September until mid-October if you are coming mainly for outdoor activities. At other times, it rains, but it does not rain every day.
Outside can be cool and rainy, but inside the BTS is freezing, so keep a jacket with you if you are going to use public transport.
Low Season Island Trips and Beach Safety
If you want to visit the islands during this period, there are some important facts you should know. I have been to Koh Kood, Koh Samui, and Phuket in recent weeks. It is not a bad time to visit the islands, but it is not the best time, and I would avoid mid-September until mid-October.
The shores are quieter, more beautiful, and not crowded with too many tourists. However, always check the red flags. If you see a red flag, do not swim. Many people ignore the signs and get into trouble, so please be careful.
Cheap Flights Hotels and Quiet Shores
Last week, my return flight to Phuket cost only 2,000 Thai Baht. Hotels are also very cheap during the low season. I booked a beautiful hotel for only 900 Thai Baht, including breakfast.
If you are wondering whether you should visit Thailand in the low season, go for it. You can enjoy quieter shores, cheaper travel, and less crowded places, while still expecting a mixture of sunny and rainy days.
Bangkok Shopping Discounts in the Rainy Season
This is a good time for shopping, especially in Bangkok. I saw discounts of more than 70%, and one shop was offering 90% off. One item was only 900 Thai Baht. If you are here for shopping, the rainy season does not have to be a problem.
Original items such as Apple products are different because their prices stay much the same. Depending on the series, the Apple Watches I checked ranged from 10,000 to 35,000 Thai Baht.
Thailand Nightlife During the Low Season
For people who travel to Thailand for the nightlife, it remains active in Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya. The major nightlife areas are busy in both the low season and the high season, with plenty of places to sit and relax.
If you have the chance to visit Thailand during this period, you can still have a good vacation. There will be sunny days and rainy days, but cheaper prices, quieter destinations, shopping discounts, and active nightlife can make the low season worthwhile.
