Is it worth the extra money, booked-up hotels/flights and extra aggro for Songkran? (As it's Easter this year as well)

I've never been.. but I'm desperate for a holiday in the next month or two...

Nick

It kind of depends which town might you spend Sonkran in?

Hi Priority

I have been told that its the best party of the year,
and one not to miss, so i will be there, got a good price ticket, cant wait, have fun if you go.

Regards

Paul

Hi Nick,

I think it depends on what you like and where you go. I spent Songkran in the village and in Nong Khai and loved it. Just a 4 to 5 day party

Bangkok airport the weekend before was a nightmare as you would expect.

John

Was in Pattaya a few years back, and after a couple of days of getting completly soaked and covered in flour every time you went out of the Hotel you get a bit fed up with it.

Don't forget to invest in a very large pump action water pistol ...

Bring some plastic bags to put your phone and wallet in.

We were in Pattaya with the family last year for 3 days over songkrun (runs for 7 days in Pattaya) and it was awful.
Forget putting on some good clobber and going out for something to eat, even as myself my wife, daughter, mother in law and friend walked down the soi with no obvious water squiting devices there was still some idiot p****d up farang's soaking you with ice cold water.
If thats what you enjoy go for it.

Upcountry it can be a lot more laid back but can still get a little tedious but the real songkrun were elders are blessed and a trip to the wat plus parties after can be very enjoyable.

We celebrated Songkran in Chiang Mai a couple of years ago. It was great fun (for 1 day), people swimming in the moat and getting completed soaked. After 4/5 days it became a real drag - couldnt go anywhere without getting drenched.

Do it! It's worth it, especially in the provinces.

Most of BKK is awfully quiet during Songkran as everyone goes back home. Thannon Khao San is, of course, an exception (but it's just full of tourists who don't know/want to go upcountry)

Packpao

P.S. On a serious note though, watch out who's driving and how much they've had to drink. The number of fatalities and serious injuries is always very high for the 5 days. Personally, I wouldn't ride on two wheels.

quote:

Is it worth the extra money

depends on what your idea of fun is

mine is certainly not walking around soaking wt for 3 days and getting ice cold water thrown all over me every few minutes

i went last year to khonkean it was absolutely great best time ever everyone is on a high it is one big party go if just for the experience i recommend it !!!!

About a 50/50 split...

Will have to chat with my mate...Seems it might get on your nerves after a few days...

Not sure where I might be...Bkk, Samui, Koh Chang, or maybe Petchaburi, Petchabun or even Khon Kaen....

Outside chance of Pattaya...As I've never been there...(seriously)


Nick

If you do the Pattaya songkran week,or just the mad last day,don't be suprised to get eye or ear infections as a result of the poor quality of the water.

Watch the songkran video on the FLB site!
colin244

Its definately good fun..the first couple of times, after that i am like the others here fed up of getting soaked, but what can you do? for the past 2 years i have celebrated it in our village, which only consists of moderate water throwing as Songkran tends to be the hottest time of the year so water is quit sparce, and Prakonchai Town where its very serious water mugging, and no matter how many times you say to them "NO" you are only making things worse, sometimes the water is quite refreshing, the flour and Talc that sticks to you for hours after though is not.

Khaosan road in Bangkok is heaving for 3-4 days of basically drunken Louts, not uncommon to have some serious trouble there to, but i agree with other posts here, avoid motorbike taxis, the amount of deaths over the Thai new year period involving not just Motorcycle taxis, but bikes in all as a rule is quite frankly shocking and appalling, just enjoy it where ever you go, and remember your bags for Phones, wallet etc.etc.

quote:

i went last year to khonkean it was absolutely great best time ever everyone is on a high it is one big party go if just for the experience i recommend it !!!!

Yes, Khon Kaen still manages to strike a nice balance. Celebrations are generally limited to the three days. The main roads are closed down and taken over by processions and concert stands. Shops and restaurants provide water buckets and the fire service drive around topping everyone up. The concerts go on through the night but, in the main, water stops getting thrown after dark.

A very fun-filled time with little of the nonsense you get in the resorts. Hopefully it will stay that way and the ever increasing farang community doesn't spoil it.

Songkran in the resorts is a oncer once you have done it you never want to do it again, in the villages and smaller towns it is great the water play is mainly by the kids, last year I even had to stop the car so a little girl of about 4 years could throw water at it everybody laughed it was the first time she had hit anything. There is also the religious side to Songkran and the sand castles at the temples where they get rid of deceased ashes over three years. In the village I love Songkran but try and avoid it like the plague in Pattaya & Bangkok too many idiotic falang. About three years ago in Pattaya I did see a girl knocked off her motorbike in traffic by a bucket of water thrown over her from a truck going past - she was very lucky to get off with light injuries.

I found the experience very off putting. The only year I tried it , I got soaked from head to toe with filthy water up north. I had to spend a night in hospital and I still suffer from a form of dermintisis. On returning back up north I witnessed for the next 4 days of village fighting by drunken thais. Police were everywhere thank god and police were not polite. Road accidents up by 100%.

However as others have said it can be pleasent , it just depends where your going. The cost of tickets over easter period can be up to twice the cost if you go after 23th April.

Hello Everybody,
Going to be in Thailand on the 6th April for 2 weeks.
Does anyone know the exact dates that Songkran will be
in Pattaya.
Going to the Island of Koh Samui, but the wife wants to be in Pattaya
for Songhran.
Never been during this time.

Thanks
Peter

Not sure if Pattaya is longer but I think 13-17th?


Nick

Hi Peter,
This is my third time of going to Thailand for songkran,(Fourteen times in all) I have to take my holidys then as thats when my boss is away, I just join in with the fun, let them throw the water, not had much experience with the flour though, last year they had stoped most of the water throwing after six o'clock, my wife tells me that it starts on the 12th till about the 17th April we will both be there then up to Surin first on the 6th to see the family then the 11th till the 22 second spent in Jomtien, can't wait.
David

I would say that if you enjoy birthday parties, easter, bonfire night, christmas and New Year here in the UK, then Songkran will be an all-in-one experience in Thailsnd. If you don't then steer clear. I agree farangs can "over" celebrate, but I have in the villages and it is a bad influence

Aom did not like me getting the talcum (not flour) over my face because she was not sure of the intentions of the women that did it (what worried me is it was mostly the men!).

Songkran is definately something I enjoy experiencing, but I would steer well clear of the roads and ENSURE I was GAME FOR A LAUGH. If either of these are unavoidable I hear that Iceland is also good at the same time of year.

Nick

Pattaya's Songkran festival is scheduled for 18/19 April this year.

It may be scheduled for jst two days but for the last four years it's gone on for a week.
But the water play is supposed to stop at 6pm

well i will be in Patong for the third year running for songkran,i am also incorporating my Thai stag night with some local friends there.
Best of it is my dear old dad is coming and YES i have warned him but i know he is in for a big shock and a big laugh.
Last year in patong they kept the main farang/water fight and beer to soi bangla ,with a few locals staying in the side streets else ,where so you did have a chance of sitting some where dry and actually enjoy a cold beer in peace.