September in Hua Hin

[luckyalf]

A Happy new year to all.I am thinking of coming to HH in September for a holiday,is this a good time to come ie weather,prices,is it still busy? etc.Any info greatly appreciated. Cheers

[Korkenzieher]

Well, alf, where to start...

September is really low season, but that is a bit of an arbitrary distinction these days! The high season isn't that busy in recent years. Obviously much depends on how long you are likely to be here, and what it is you seek to do. The main down side is that with that time of the year is that it can be wet, and occasionally quite cool in the evening. Prices in HH don't vary too much - there is no obvious 'high season' date where prices spike up, such as there is in the islands, where prices jump 1 November whatever the year and circumstances. That may not always have been true of some of the resort complexes and up-market hotels, but competition for people in that market is fierce right now. Take a look at prices for Hua Hin and Cha Am on any booking site, eg Agoda.com, and look at the price discounting that is going on this year deep into peak season.

The upside - and there are many - is that the weather can still be very good, and it isn't unbearably hot, the beach is less crowded, and if you are a golfer, that is when most of the courses have their low season 'specials' - again deep discounting - on green fees. Getting a round on a decent golf course comes down to around the 1000-1500 baht level, say 30quid. Hua Hin is a nice place to hang out but don't expect it to live up (or down...) to the more highly charged nightlife associated with Pattaya. Hua Hin generally attracts a slightly older and arguably more mature crowd and tends to be more family-friendly than other places. That said, there are places to hang around and party - they just aren't as 'in your face' as some places you could choose to go in Thailand.

[caller]

Hello Korkz, I was about to to pull you up on Hua Hin hotel offers as that wasn't my experience when last checking. But, because of your post I checked again and lo! Some resorts have woken up and smelt the roses, not all mind, but a good few, especailly for the low season, which interests the OP. Found one place charging less for when I stayed there in 2006!

Could interest me as well!

Edit - retraction. Just noticed prices advertised are exclusive of taxes etc. Total price still not unreasonable, but not as cheap as first appears!

[Korkenzieher]

Well, it is all in the small print I guess. But discounting of that tpe, not just in 'high season', but over the Christmas and New Year period. Well, it looks borderline desparate to me. There have been offers on Thai-bound flights and packages since the summer and business simply can't be good! You can add the increases in Air-Passenger-Duty in the UK and introduction in Germany to the mix too, and it is like adding insult to injury.

[luckyalf]

Thanks for the reply Korkenzieher, I will have to decide whether to risk September (how cold at night?) or hang on until the January after.

[Korkenzieher]

It isn't cold, just a bit cooler than at other times. You tend to notice it really only in the evening if you are on a bike say or if there is a bit of moisture in the air or dining outside on the beachfront in the ocean breeze. You might also find you can adjust to sleeping without air-con at that time somewhat easier than other periods. Daytime temperatures are still likely to be 25+ and evening temperatures still in the mid teens. Shorts and summer weather wear by any UK standard you could come up with. Starting a round of golf too late in the morning will still leave you plenty frazzled by the time you finish it - sunscreen still advisable! I certainly wouldn't *not* come at that time - many prefer it - but it is considered to be still low season.

[hhfarang]

September and October are considered the worst two months by many. Those months as well as the first half of November are the only times one is likely to encounter "extended" rains that are very heavy and last for more than just a few hours. April through August is also rainy season but usually with short passing afternoon showers. September and October are when the big thunderstorms arrive.

Those are also the "doldrum" two months as far as tourists go. You may like that as traffic, crowds, and prices are lower, but you also may find yourself lonely for other travelers. I know several restaurant owners here and those are traditionally their worst two months of the year. November to April is the high season which picks up slowly and tapers off at the end with the peak now through early February as the Skandis escape the below zero temps at home. It is also traditionally totally dry during these months with the rain beginning mid April around Songkhran. A second (not as) high season comes in July and August when mostly European families arrive taking their vacations while the kiddies are out of school.

Korkenzieher, I can't agree with mid teens as a nighttime temp in September. It is cooler at night because of the rains but I don't think it will ever get below 20 during that month and rarely any other month. I have a Fahrenheit thermometer outside and I think I've never seen it below 68 (which is 20 celcius) at night in six years, and that was in the December to February periods of a couple of those years. Here's the chart and there is nothing below (or even at) 20 on it:

[Korkenzieher]

Maybe not quite that low, I guess, but on the new(ish) revenue building in 88 there is a temperature read-out. Can't vouch for its accuracy, but I saw that at 18°C a couple of times in October. And it certainly can feel cooler if, as I say, you are in a reasonably stiff breeze. My basic point is really just that it is cooler at that time of year than at others, which may (or may not) be something which would influence the OP's decision.