Phuket · Month comparison
May vs November
November ranks #1 overall vs May at #9. Dry season returns — good conditions at shoulder prices before the Christmas peak.
May
#9 of 12 months
Strong option
Monsoon arrives — west coast beaches close and prices drop sharply.
- ↑Prices drop 40–50% from peak season: beachfront hotels at their most affordable rates of the year
- ↑Phuket Old Town and east coast less affected by the monsoon — good alternative focus
November
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Dry season returns — good conditions at shoulder prices before the Christmas peak.
- ↑Dry season beginning: rainfall drops sharply, sea conditions calm week by week from mid-month
- ↑Prices 30–40% below the December–February peak: the best value window for quality beach time
| Factor | May | November |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 4 | 8 |
| Value score | 8 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 3 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 5 | 7 |
| Avg high temp | 32.6°C | 31.7°C |
| Monthly rain | 200mm | 80mm |
| Daily sunshine | 6hrs | 7hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓West coast beaches under red flags from mid-May: swimming prohibited due to dangerous rip currents and 2m+ swells
- ↓Many boat trips suspended: Phi Phi and Similan Islands day trips cancelled or unreliable
- ↓Some beach clubs and water sports operators close entirely for the season
November trade-offs
- ↓Early November still variable: some rain days linger from the monsoon transition
- ↓Sea conditions improving but not yet at the February optimum — some choppier days on the west coast
- ↓Accommodation fills quickly from mid-November as the peak season accelerates toward Christmas
Scores compare months within Phuket. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →