I have been checking airline prices for flights to BKK, and they are damn expensive these days.

This is high season. Hotels are at a premium as well

So, when is low season, and what are airfares like then?

Low season tends to be July/August through about the end of the year, as this is the monsoon season.

High Season run approx. from November through March. The rest of the year is Typhoon, summer & monsoon seasons. During these times of year you should be able to get flights from LAX or SFO for about $600 to $700. Hotels will run $20 to $60 for ** to **** quality.

What is hotel occupancy like during low season, like in the Nana hotel, the Majestic Suites, etc. Can I expect to be able to show up and have a room available, or should I reserve a room?

Also, are there any Thai holiday periods when no girls are available?

I've always had good luck in the past finding a room. If you want to stay near the Nana plaza, I think the dynasty ( just down the soi) is a good choice.

I'v even booked a room at the airport just inside the "fence" after customs. got a room at the century plaza for about $40 with breakfast buffet.

Very nice place, and no hassell with "guests".

If you have time, try to get down to Phuket, IMHO, the best value for your money/time.

I have stayed at the Neptuna (in patong/phuket) the last few times, very nice, close to everything. ( the fun stuff),and can access the net from my room ( with my laptop).

some of the other places I have stayed either had no access, or wanted a fee to connect.

Its great fun getting in irc #aspt in the am ( pm here) to tell the guys where I am checking in from.

As to holidays ( when the bars are closed) seems I can't remember any trip I made that there was not some kind of "goofey" holiday.

( Kings birthday, queens birthday, queens mothers funeral, kings dogs birtheay, yada yada..)

Still, it did not cut down the supply of girls, just made finding them a little more interesting, or plan ahead, and "stock up" beforehand/.

Pasathai....Phuket best value for money/time??? are you joking...maybe in 2001 it was. Nowadays its well on the tourist path so hotel prices are very high, the girls are hardened to the point of being like stone and their prices more expensive than the diamonds of Bangkok.

Totally agree-- I think Patong Beach especially is one of the biggest ripoffs in LOS. The hotels are overpriced, the barscene is for shit, the girls are second tier at best. Whenever I go to Phuket it's BYOP , as the times I did not I was bored to tears looking for something I could screw with the lights on. If you just want some quiet beach time then Karon or Kata beaches are not too bad. Krabi is better though.
Sorry Pasathai-- I cannot share your enthusiasm for Phuket. The best value for money is by far Pattaya. Best Quality IMHO is still Bangkok.

I have to agree in terms of cost and sheer quantity of girls Pattaya comes out top, for more better looking and classier girls BKK is better. I find the shopping in BKK is cheaper and better too, though I have not looked at tailors in Pattaya. Phuket seems more expensive in most ways, with less girls than Pattaya and certainly less quality than BKK. The beach is better than Pattaya, but you can always get your ideal lady and take her to Samui, Krabi or nicer beachside resorts.

Disagree with quality of girls Wicked....Pattaya has much better looking go go girls as a whole and there are more of them whereas the main hotties in Bangkok are concentrated in the Soapies and a few go go bars in Nana. After seeing how many absolute stunners are here in Pattaya right now compared to BKK, my opinion has not wavered. Saw some pics of you last night with some pooying in Epi's stash....good choices. We will have to get all of us to get to Thailand at the same time and rage .

Is there a "worst" time to go to Thailand? I would hate to plan a trip only to find out that all the girls went on vacation somewhere else, or find that the weather is completely unbarable. Can someone rate the months as best time to go -- to -- don't even bother going in ___".
High season/low season doesn't always mean best time/worst time to me. Sometimes it seems it is better to go off season.



(Message edited by tryer on April 27, 2004)

Well, I've been to Thailand for two long trips, both in low/wet season. Based on the quality and selection of ladies, I'd have figured it was "Welcome to Thailand, Wombat" season. The next trip I make will also be in low season as there is less competition and better rates on rooms (and sometimes gals).

Prices go up for Chinese New Year, Xmas/NewYear, and Songkran, otherwise it seems things are steady as they go.

As for rain ... big deal. The only thing better than a horny Thai babe is a soaking wet horny Thai babe.

Have the high/low seasons changed? Everywhere look there are different dates. I'm heading there in the middle of March.

Mid March is on the cusp of change. No one charges high season add ons, but no one gives low season discounts. The true low season is from the end of Song Kram (late April) to mid October.

Also, someone has mentioned a huge military exercise by foreign navies off the coast near Pattaya. I believe it occurs every year in May. So you might want to read up and factor that into your travel plans. Please correct if wrong on the dates.

You're thinking about Cobra Gold which will be Feb 1 - 11 this year. Only about 8,000 US marines, naval, and army personnel.

8,000 sounds like a lot to me if they were all on shore leave for 10 days. A quick read about the exercise sounds like they are actually working, so not 8,000 guys coming in and sampling the local wears for 10 days