Monsoon Season

People cancel trips over the words "monsoon season". They should not. Hua Hin sits in one of the driest pockets of the Thai coast, and even in the wettest months the rain mostly arrives as a spectacular hour in the afternoon rather than a week of grey.

The year, roughly

• November to February — cool and dry. The best weather of the year, and the busiest.
• March to May — hot and dry, peaking in April.
• June to October — the wet months, heaviest around September and October.

A week in the rainy season will normally still give you most of your beach time, at lower prices and with far fewer people.

What a real downpour is like

There is no build-up. The sky darkens and within minutes the rain is loud enough to make conversation difficult and the road becomes a stream. Then, usually within the hour, it stops and the sun comes back.

• Roads flood and drain quickly. Standing water hides potholes and open drains.
• The first ten minutes are the most slippery — oil lifts off the road. On a scooter, pull over and shelter. Everyone does.
• Brief power cuts are more common in this season.
• The sea gets murkier and rougher for a day or two afterwards.

Bring a light rain jacket and sandals you do not mind soaking, and the green season is a genuinely lovely time to be here.

Tours that work whatever the weather