What's the Weather Like in Phuket in May
Thailand and in particular the island of Phuket has a welcome tropical climate that is warm all year round. It is a popular holiday spot for people to escape the chills and cold of a European winter. Temperatures vary very little here and even the sea temperatures remain fairly constant. The biggest climatic change is in the amount of rainfall each month receives. Phuket experiences a monsoon climate with only 3 seasons, hot, dry and monsoon. In May the dry season is over and the monsoon is on its way.
Rain
Average rainfall in May has increased from the 30 to 40mm of the dry season to around 200mm falling over 16 to 18 days. Rainfall will increase from now to the September high of 400mm.
Temperature
The average temperature is 29°C that lies between the average high/low temperatures of 25°C and 32°C.
Humidity
High night time temperatures and high average humidity of 85% can mean the nights can be uncomfortable but all major resorts are air conditioned and others will have fans for a more pleasant night. The humidity has increased from the dry season and will continue to increase as the May comes to an end and the humidity rises to 90% at the height of the monsoon.
Sunshine
Average sunshine hours vary from month to month in Phuket and in May the average sunshine hours have dropped from the April high of 9 hours a day to 8 hours a day. During the monsoon the hours of sun are diminished by the hours of cloud and rain each day. Being a prime holiday destination there are plenty of activities to do during those wet days.
Sea Temperature
Average ocean temperature varies little here and this month the average ocean temperature is 30°C that is the highest it reaches all year. This temperature will remain until August where it will drop 1 degree to 29°C.
Fog
There are foggy days in Phuket all year round and in May they have dropped to just 2 foggy days a month. These days remain low until they start to increase to 3 days a month in November.
If you're looking for a weather forecast for Phuket, you are advised to visit this page.
Hotels for Phuket in May
Patong Bay Garden Resort
Located at Patong Beach is the Patong Bay Garden resort, a family run business offering a variety of rooms to choose from: Andaman and Junior Suites, deluxe city and deluxe balcony and superior room. All superior rooms are located on the first and second floor and all have separate bathrooms with showers and the deluxe rooms are on the second and third floors with a view of the city or a balcony.
Balcony rooms are ideal for a late night snack or cocktail while enjoying the views. The Junior suite is a one bedroom apartment with separate living area and a large bathroom. Andaman studios are on the beach and are the largest rooms of offer here sleeping three adults. Breakfast is included with all rooms and takes advantage of booking more than 30 days in advance for a 20% discount.
All of the rooms feature a mini bar, coffee and tea making facilities, cable TV, air conditioning, hair dryers, bathrobes and slippers and in-room massage service as also available. Special promotions are available throughout the year and include a massage, a meal at one of the 2 restaurants, breakfasts and honeymooners are asked to let the hotel know when booking for a cake on arrival and special room set up.
There are 2 restaurants and a pool bar. The Baan Kamnan is open all day for meals and includes room service between 11am and 11pm. Enjoy a breakfast buffet, Thai and international cuisine and fresh local seafood. If you fancy an Italian feast visit the La Casa Pizzeria e ristorante open from 11am til 12 midnight. This has the reputation of being the best Italian food on the island of Phuket and the extensive wine list offers you a choice of wines for every occasion.
The Pool Bar is open from 11am to 12 midnight for all drinks including a great range of cocktails ideal for relaxing with at the end of a long day spent exploring the island or lazing by the beach.
Feeling tired and stressed? Then take advantage of the Massage Home Spa with its variety of skin therapies and treatments to rejuvenate and relax you. Treatments are available in your room or at the spa.
Merlin Beach Resort
The Merlin Beach Resort is hidden away at Tri Trang Beach, 3km from busy Patong Beach. This is a certified by the Green Leaf Foundation with designated smoking areas and welcomes families and couples. It was listed as one of the top 10 family resorts in Holidays with Kids magazine. Choose from a deluxe room, pool access room, Merlin Suite or Presidential Suite.
All rooms have air conditioning, mini bar, separate shower and bath tub, satellite TV with movies, tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer and private balcony. There are 37 rooms with direct pool access and there are several interconnecting rooms for larger groups and families. The suites have interconnecting rooms to deluxe beachfront rooms.
Eat at one of several restaurants and bars including the Bhukit Coffee Shop open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6am with Asian and international dishes. The Chang Thai offers you authentic Thai food from 6pm in the evenings and bookings are essential. For seafood lovers At Sea is open for dinner from 6pm with Asian influenced Mediterranean cuisine. If you fancy Italian try La Gondola open for dinner each night from 6pm. If you after a snack or a coffee go to Thea's coffee Shop or Zea Bar.
Just for kids here is the air conditioned Sabai Club that has large screen TVs, internet, play stations, pools and darts and is open all day from 9am. There is also a baby pool, children's pool, water slide and 3 larger pools to swim and relax by. Keep active at the Fitness Centre or enjoy a game of tennis or table tennis.
The spa here is open from 10am and offers a range of treatments including hydrotherapy and wonderful body scrubs, facials and massages.
Beaches for May for Phuket
Ao Sane Beach
Ao sane Beach can be seen from Nai Harn Beach but you need to go through a tunnel under the Yacht Club. Here there are 3 small bays, sandy and with tree backdrops. The largest of the bays has a restaurant and sun lounges and you can hire snorkelling gear from a nearby shop. The other 2 bays are used by the Baan Krating Resort but they are not private beaches and you can have a massage here if you want to.
Kamala Beach
Kamala Beach is at Kamala and it is a small bustling fishing village with a 2 kilometre stretch of white sand. This beach is quieter than other beaches and there are small shops and cafes to wander through after sun bathing or swimming.
Hua Beach
At the southern end of Kamala is Hua Beach a quiet and undeveloped spot where you may find you are the only person here. The beach is a bit rocky as is the sea bed but don't let this deter you from this pristine spot.
Surin Beach
Surin Beach is a beautiful clean beach with less people than the busy Patong Beach. The water here is noted for being clear and clean.
Restaurants and Bars for Phuket in May
Tatonka
One of the most popular places to eat in Phuket by both locals and tourists alike is Tatonka. The restaurant is located in Cherntalay near the Laguna Resort entrance and north of Patong Beach. This opened in 1996 by Chef Harold Schwarz who arrived in Thailand and fell in love with the people and the food.
His menu is a fusion of many styles that he calls Globetrotter cuisine. It is a mixture of Asian, Mediterranean and Latin food. Food is all locally sourced and much of the menu is a tapas style of small tasty morsels. Daily seafood special is available or try the chefs tasting menu.
Siam Supper Club
Nearby is the Siam Supper Club that is a bar and grill serving meat, fish and pizzas and decadent desserts of superior quality. The menu is a combination of time honoured dishes and new favourites such as French Onion Soup, Green Salad, Tiger Prawn and crab cocktail and some signature dishes such as SSC Caesar salad and Salt and Pepper calamari.
Enjoy a classic pasta dish or pizza from the extensive menu and seafood dishes include mahi-mahi, yellow finned tuna and Tasmanian salmon. Steaks come from Australia and are all Angus beef of top quality. Also available is classic Thai and some great desserts such as cheesecake, and crème brulee.
Suay
The Suay is located at Talat Nuea in Mueang and is open daily from 5pm til 12 midnight. The cuisine is influenced by the tastes from the north east of Thailand using fresh and healthy ingredients. There is an extensive drinks menu using herbs and fruit to provide food for the mind, body and soul. The drinks choices include healthy, refreshing and signature non-alcoholic drinks as well as red and white wine and beer.
Choose a salad, soup, starter, main and dessert from an extensive menu. Try the crispy fried chicken wings or frog legs, grilled lamb chops, NZ mussels, butterfly pea steamed sticky rice, yellow fin tuna salad and pork dishes. Suay also offers a cooking school where you can learn the basics of Thai cuisine.
Things to Do in Phuket in May
Blue Canyon Country Club
Golfers are well catered for on the island of Phuket and the Blue Canyon Country Cluboffers you 2 courses to choose from: the Canyon Course or the Lakes Course. The 2 courses were designed to interfere as little as possible with the natural landscape and woodlands here. The Johnnie Walker Classic has been held here 3 times and no other course can boast such a pedigree. The Pro Shop is one of the largest in Thailand and has many golf clubs and accessories for sale and rental and is open from 6 am.
The Canyon Course is a mix of undulating fairways, narrow fairways, tall trees, water hazards and hole 17 is in the Top 500 Best holes in the World. The Lakes Course has water on 17 holes and winds across natural water courses and lakes left after the tin mining was abandoned. Hole 18 has been voted one of the best par 4 holes in Asia.
Old Phuket Town
A visit to Old Phuket Town is a history lesson and was once filled the rich tin mining barons in the Sino-colonial mansions. The area is concentrated enough to just wander around at your leisure and see the old shops and buildings preserved as they were when first constructed. There are a collection of Chinese and Buddhist temples and shrines and will give you an insight into early life here. There are plenty of places for drinks and snacks here and to spend some time soaking up the atmosphere.
