Thailand: Sell off-peak to bag great deals
Heading to Thailand in its off-peak season, over the British summer, means bargain deals and more chance of selling upgrades. finds out more
As the sun heads for the horizon there’s a cluster off us standing with our beach towels under a tree on the edge of the sand. Laughing, we’ve just darted here to shelter from a sudden sharp downpour.
The rest of the day has been glorious. Taking a boat from Krabi’s Ao Nang beach we’ve been out for hours, sunbathing on tiny white sand islets, snorkelling and tucking into a packed lunch of chicken and fried rice, followed by fresh pineapple bought from a longtail boat snack shop.
We know that, unlike home, rain in Thailand is usually short lived, and if it continues, we’ll simply race through the warm shower to a nearby restaurant and watch some lightning over the sea - it’s still balmy enough to sit in short sleeves at an opened-sided bar. Tomorrow, there’s kayaking in mangroves to look forward to.
Right as rain
Savvy travellers still head to Thailand off-peak, with the fantastic bargains to be had between mid April and the end of October more than making up for the chance of tropical showers.
Debbie Haw, director of Far East
Collection, represents several well-known Thailand hotels, and says many in Phuket still run at 85% occupancy in low season, thanks to the great value for money.
Cape Panwa and Kantary Bay are among those with stay-four-nights-get-five-nights-free offers. “We even get retired people doing 20 nights plus 20 free as it’s cheaper for them to lie on the beach in Thailand than to spend the summer at home!” says Haw.
Premier Holidays’ Head of Faraway, David Carlaw, says: “Off-peak season in Thailand is perfect for deal hunters as they can potentially save hundreds of pounds per couple, especially for travel in April, May and June. It’s low season during this period but not rainy season - it gets hotter and more humid but is generally not wet.
“Krabi, Phuket and Phi Phi are good for visiting at this time as they see very little rain; if it does rain, it’s normally in the evening.” He says fourstar hotels here do well in last-minute flash sales. It’s also a good time to upgrade room types.
Haw often recommends friends go in
October. “It isn’t that different to November, when it’s double the price.” For those concerned about the higher humidity she points out “you’re lying on a beach and getting in a pool, you’re not going to work in it!”
Of course, the whole of Thailand is not off-peak in summer – sheltered Samui has an opposite climate, with its peak in July and August. This time is a good fit with particular clients like budget-conscious couples marrying in the UK in summer, and families who are used to being penalised by peak prices in the school holidays.
Top experiences
Festivals: Some key festivals fall during Thailand’s off peak months. Hua Hin Jazz festival in June involves international acts on several stages and on the beach.
Not for the faint-hearted, Phuket Vegetarian Festival in early October sees hair-raising feats of religious devotion from Taoists - expect fire-walking, climbing razor blade ladders and receiving multiple piercings. Processions take place in Phuket Town.
Active: Golfers can tee off on many golf courses in the North of Thailand where the air is cooler and some floodlit courses even allow play at night.
Light cycling excursions bring a welcoming breeze on humid days. The ruins at Historic Ayutthaya and Sukhothai and the leafy suburbs of Bangkok are popular places to do a bike tour.
Spa: Thailand’s famously good spas are a great refuge during any inclement weather. Look out for deals on the spa itself or point out that off-peak room savings can be spent on pampering.
Some of Thailand’s most famous spas include Chiva Som in Hua Hin and Kamalaya on Koh Samui - but almost every hotel offers some form of pampering or massage.
Diving: Among Thailand’s best-known diving spots, Koh Tao near Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand is perfect for beginners and sees its best weather between May and October.
What’s new
Hotels: The Sarojin at Khao Lak (sarojin. com) has launched a Summer Offer of 50% off stays April 16 - October 31 2018, plus an extra 10% off May 10 to September 30 2018, when booked 30 days or more in advance. The resort added two-bedroom residences last year, responding to demand from families.
Guests who stay at Soneva Kiri on Koh Kood (soneva.com) for three nights and participate in an environmental initiative receive three nights free under a new Stay for Good promotion running May 10 – September 28.
AVANI (minorhotels.com/en/avani) is set to open a hotel on Samui in September and its third Bangkok property at the end of the year. The 382-bedroom AVANI Sukhumvit Bangkok will be part of the Century The Movie
Plaza 2 shopping and cinema complex.
Cruise: Dream Yacht Charter (dreamyachtcharter. co.uk) is offering three ‘By the Cabin’ cruises departing its Phuket base and visiting islands in the Andaman Sea. The crewed catamarans have 10 cabins with private bathrooms.
Cruises follow four and eight day itineraries and are commissionable to agents.
Airlines: Bangkok Airways (bangkokair.com) began a new direct service between Chiang
Mai and Hanoi in March. It already offers Bangkok to Danang and Bangkok to Phu Quoc in Vietnam. It has also added a second daily service from Bangkok to Vientiane, Laos and signed a codeshare agreement with Oman
Air on eight domestic Thailand routes.
Philippine Airlines (philippineairlines.com) launched a thrice-weekly Cebu to Bangkok service in December last year.
Roadshows: The Amazing Thailand
Roadshow will be visiting Jersey on
September 4 and Guernsey on September
“Off-peak season in Thailand is perfect for deal hunters. They can save hundreds of pounds per couple, especially for travel in April, May and June”
David Carlaw, Head of Faraway, Premier Holidays
5. Agents can request a place by emailing marketing@tourismthailand.co.uk
Tourism talk
“The UK market to Thailand is stronger than just about any other because Brits travel for twelve months of the year. “You can get up to two-for-one discounts offpeak in Thailand and commonly get free night offers. Tropical rain is heavy and quick, you’re not going to get solid grey sky and solid rain.
The best Thailand holiday will always be one with a combination of jungle, countryside and beach and if you’re somewhere in the north of Thailand a little bit of rain doesn’t make any difference. People should also remember
July is when Samui is actually coming into peak season, and some hotels still discount either side of its July and August peak.”
Chris Lee, UK Marketing Manager,
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Where to book it
PREMIER HOLIDAYS – 08444 937 444
Premier Holidays has an offer for seven nights’ B&B staying at Krabi La Playa from £849pp, including return flights from Heathrow and transfers, valid for travel until June 30. trade.premierholidays.co.uk
EMIRATES HOLIDAYS – 0208 972 8949
Emirates Holidays is offering the Evason Hua Hin from £645pp for seven-nights in an Evason room with breakfast and return Emirates flights. The price is valid for travel on selected dates from May 13 to June 14 2018 from Gatwick. emiratesholidays.com