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Thailand in April By VIPASAI NIYAMABHA SPECIAL TO THE NATION Published on February 2, 2011 Could you suggest a relaxing beach holiday within easy reach of Bangkok? Q: I am planning a trip to Thailand this April. I have two nights in Bangkok and planning to spend the next seven in another parts of the country. This is my first trip and I'd like to see the best of Thailand. Could you suggest a relaxing beach holiday within easy reach of Bangkok? Thank you, Steve A: If you prefer to spend the time outside Bangkok by the beach, the easiest way is to fly there. Places to go include Phuket, Samui, Krabi or Trang, all of which are about one hour by plane from the capital. Phuket has the most frequent flights from Bangkok but the other destinations are also convenient to reach. Phuket is Thailand's biggest island and a province with many beaches and smaller islands nearby. It's also a city, so has plenty to offer in terms of activities and places to visit. Phuket is connected by bridge to Phang-nga, Krabi and other provinces. While Phuket is the most popular beach destination, Krabi is catching up with its lovely Au Nang beach, Railey Bay and Phi Phi islands, which can also be reached from Phuket. Trang on the Andaman coastline is a charming destination and the least touristy of them all. It has a rugged landscape and national parks with small islands nearby. It can also be reached by train from Bangkok. Koh Samui in Surat Thani province is the only island in the Gulf of Thailand to which you can fly from Bangkok. It's the third largest island in Thailand with many beaches and islands and the popular Mu Koh Angthong Marine National Park. April is Thailand's hottest month and your travel dates may coincide with the Songkran festival, Thailand's traditional new year, which runs from April 13 to 15. Flights and hotels are likely to be busy at that time so you do need to book well in advance. It is a fun time to be in the Kingdom, as you'll be able to participate in the water throwing ritual with local people. Q: I am planning on visiting Thailand and Hong Kong this year. I'll probably go during low season, when and hotels are much cheaper. Last year I went to Bali in September, which is low season, but still enjoyed great weather plus good hotel deals. What's the best time to visit Bangkok and Koh Samui off season? Thank you, Lee A: The high season in this part of the world is December to February when westerners escape the cold to bake in the tropical sun. In Thailand's case, high season rates apply from November to April, as Thais tend to take their holiday in April, the hottest month, to coincide with the long school holidays and the Thai New Year festival. The so-called the rainy season is when many hotels offer low season promotions and these usually run from May to October, though the rains usually don't start earlier than June in most parts of Thailand. However, in the case of Samui, which is located on the Gulf of Thailand, the rainy season starts later, around October. So even when the monsoon rains get heavier from late August until late October in the rest of Thailand, you can still enjoy Samui. Samui tends to be wet in November and December, occasionally in January too. The best time to come to Bangkok and Samui for lovely sunny weather and good low season deals is from mid May to the beginning of July. Do note though that if you change your destination to Phuket and Krabi, the marine national parks around there will be closed from May 15 until October 15 due to the monsoon season. As a result, low season deals with good weather are probably best found in early May and the end of October. http://www.cometruethailand.com/index.php?mo=14&newsid=256786

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