Phuket · Month comparison
September vs November
November ranks #1 overall vs September at #12. Dry season returns — good conditions at shoulder prices before the Christmas peak.
September
#12 of 12 months
Strong option
The wettest month — avoid unless rock-bottom prices are the only priority.
- ↑Lowest hotel prices of the year: even top-tier Surin resort rates drop to their minimum
- ↑The island near-empty: Bangla Road and beach roads have genuine, unusual peace
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 | September | November |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 2 | 8 |
| Value score | 9 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 9 | 6 |
| Events score | 3 | 5 |
| Atmosphere | 4 | 7 |
| Avg high temp | 31°C | 31.7°C |
| Monthly rain | 280mm | 80mm |
| Daily sunshine | 4.5hrs | 7hrs |
September trade-offs
- ↓280mm of rainfall — statistically the worst weather month on Thailand's Andaman coast
- ↓Wave heights of 3–4m on west coast beaches: dangerous and impassable for any beach use
- ↓Many hotels partially close or operate on skeleton staff; some properties shut entirely
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 →