Travelers like you and I are often looking for the most exotic and far afield places to visit to gain new experiences and new perspectives on life.
The world is an interesting place and so is its weather, therefore it’s wise to understand when to travel to destinations like Bali & Thailand. Things can happen at any time of the year, but some seasons are more prone to major weather events than others so it’s good to know when they are to plan your trip.
The last thing you want to do is pay lots of money for a long-haul flight to tick off the next destination on your scratch map, to arrive somewhere in Monsoon season when you wanted a sunny break.
Here’s a high-level overview of popular places to visit and the best times to visit them.
The Philippines
The Philippines are most popular during the dry season, between November and April. At this time the country is fully accessible, including its many beautiful islands and more remote areas.
Temperatures are high during March and April, so it’s best to travel during the cooler months from December to February. The wet season falls between May and October, but the rain isn’t constant so should have little impact on your travel. You’ll still enjoy hot, sunny days and it’ll be less crowded.
Good value for money comes in the shoulder months of May and November. It’s less crowded and the weather is nice, plus the flights are cheaper. Always remember, the weather can be unpredictable in the Philippines and people can be caught out from adverse conditions. Typhoons can sometimes occur as early as August or as late as January.
Indonesia
The dry season in Indonesia starts in May and runs until September, this has proven to be the most popular time to visit Indonesia. The wet season runs between October & April. Temperatures remain fairly constant year-round with averages of 28°C throughout the region.
Most travelers feel the best time to visit Indonesia is between May and September due to it being dryer and sunny. Temperatures do remain high at this time of year and rainfall can be pretty intense, but they’re typically just a few hours so won’t ruin your trip.
Thailand
The climate varies a lot throughout Thailand, it’s a place you can visit all year round. Most visitors opt to travel during the cool, dry season between November and April.
In the south, the climate differs between east and west with the west more favorable during the winter months. The weather on the east coast is generally good throughout the year, with the lowest rainfall in January and February. The highest rainfall comes in November.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is well-known for having great weather most of the year-round and that’s why it’s so popular. The weather patterns vary slightly around the islands but one thing that is for sure is that it never gets cold. The winter months are dry and warm, the summer months are hot and humid and the in-between months are a mixture between the two. The Caribbean sees some rain in the summer but even that falls in a fairly predictable pattern, often in the afternoons.
One thing to be aware of is the hurricane season which runs through the summer and the early part of the autumn. Although this is the official season, the peak of this and where most action happens is from mid-August to early October. If you’re visiting the Caribbean during hurricane season you can still enjoy lots of sunny weather, especially in June, July, and November, many people visit in these months. If you are concerned, the islands closest to South America typically see fewer hurricanes. These include Aruba, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago.
There you have it. I hope that gives you an insight into when is a good time to visit these popular tropical destinations. Have you been to any? Let us know when you visited and what it was like in the comments.
One last thing, always remember to get your travel insurance because it can be very costly if something goes wrong and you’re a long way from home. World Nomads is our choice.
Until next time
David – for the Outlook Global Project
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