Hi everyone,

During Songkran weekend 4/12 - 4/14, where would it be more fun to be at: Bangkok, Pattaya or Chiang Mai?

Thanks

2 hours ago, TomNg said:

During Songkran weekend 4/12 - 4/14, where would it be more fun to be at: Bangkok, Pattaya or Chiang Mai?

My opinion is in Bangkok in the Silom area. Pattaya has the most fun on April 18th and 19th

6 hours ago, TomNg said:

Hi everyone,

During Songkran weekend 4/12 - 4/14, where would it be more fun to be at: Bangkok, Pattaya or Chiang Mai?

Thanks

don't be surprised  if somebody responds ' as far from all three as possible'  as Songkran seems to be one of those events people tend to have strong opinion about. Some of our member love it and some hate. I have no personal opinion as never  been in Thailand  at that time but as with all things where opinions differ I advise ' go and see for yourself" . Kostik seems to be right as Pattaya Songkran is observed after Bangkok, that's all I know.

17 hours ago, TomNg said:

Hi everyone,

During Songkran weekend 4/12 - 4/14, where would it be more fun to be at: Bangkok, Pattaya or Chiang Mai?

Thanks

Depends on what you are into...

BKK will be filled with the "white party" crowd, younger white ravers that think they are gods gift to mankind and their admirers, along with Chinese/Taiwan panda types doing their conga trains.

Clubs will be mobbed and dangerously overcrowded, long queues will ensue. No taxi will want to take you anywhere when you are dripping wet.

Pattaya will be filled with the Songkran "terrorists" that some of our members seem to be so scared of. Unlike Bkk, the water play is probably going to go from April 12th straight through April 20th, based on recent years, nightfall is no longer the guaranteed ending time (especially in Soi 6/7/Buakow/Beach Road and Jomtien Complex)....It will be mayhem, but at least you can get transported on a Songtaew. 

Whichever location, as long as you are willing to go with the flow, smile and be happy, you will have a ball! Just booked my flights and cant wait for it!

19 hours ago, vinapu said:

don't be surprised  if somebody responds ' as far from all three as possible'  as Songkran seems to be one of those events people tend to have strong opinion about. 

Thank you vinapu for answering this question on my behalf

My plane on Don Muang airport to leave Bangkok and fly to Bali is scheduled on 12 April in the morning...

1 hour ago, stijntje said:

Thank you vinapu for answering this question on my behalf

My plane on Don Muang airport to leave Bangkok and fly to Bali is scheduled on 12 April in the morning...

to be fair , I know that one of our members can't wait to land in Bangkok on the same day so as we said before, Songkran is one of those love-hate affairs.

17 hours ago, vinapu said:

to be fair , I know that one of our members can't wait to land in Bangkok on the same day so as we said before, Songkran is one of those love-hate affairs.

Songkran for me is hate-hate afair. You can't get out of the room without being water pulled , madness everywhere.not for me.

Nor for me. Other people have a right to their own enjoyment but not to impinge on mine, such as throwing a bucket-full of water in my face when I'm in a crowded a baht-bus. 

Not a fan of songkran but I don't hate it, what I do hate is when you get dressed up nicely to go out at night (cabaret, show etc) and some twit thinks it's funny to throw a bucket of ice cold water over you. If you plan on wanting to go out and stay dry then I suggest you get a taxi to come to the hotels front door or you will get soaked. 

I’ve done sogkran once about 15 years ago in Pattaya and recall it being fun, but I wouldn’t book that period again. When contemplating a trip in March/April I check the songktan dates so as to avoid it. 

On the topic of Songkran, just wondering how is the crowd like in Bangkok after that weekend? (E.g. will it continue to be crowded throughout April or most would leave after the Songkran weekend)

6 hours ago, Shax said:

On the topic of Songkran, just wondering how is the crowd like in Bangkok after that weekend? (E.g. will it continue to be crowded throughout April or most would leave after the Songkran weekend)

I'm not in position to give you firm answer but judging by the drop in hotel prices right after Songkran weekend  I suspect that crowds are thinning out right after celebrations are over. Hopefully somebody with real experience will confirm (or not) 

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

I'm not in position to give you firm answer but judging by the drop in hotel prices right after Songkran weekend  I suspect that crowds are thinning out right after celebrations are over. Hopefully somebody with real experience will confirm (or not) 

Thanks for the reply @vinapu. I'm planning a trip to BKK end of April, hoping to miss the Songkran crowd 😅

On 2/17/2024 at 4:19 PM, TomNg said:

Hi everyone,

During Songkran weekend 4/12 - 4/14, where would it be more fun to be at: Bangkok, Pattaya or Chiang Mai?

Thanks

Locked in my room from 12th to 14th  (12/4-14/4) with sufficient beer! Actually longer this year, damn.

22 hours ago, Shax said:

On the topic of Songkran, just wondering how is the crowd like in Bangkok after that weekend? (E.g. will it continue to be crowded throughout April or most would leave after the Songkran weekend)

Most years, there's a noticeable drop off in tourist numbers after Songkran. Overall much less crowded if that's your preference.

I also hide in my condo in  Pattaya from 12th to 16th, then I flee to Bangkok as the nonsense finishes there on 15th, and then return to Pattaya on 20th as 19th is the most stupid day in Pattaya. I see though that the "government" intends to lengthen Songkran this year but I have not seen any details of those plans as yet. I remember on my first trip to Thailand in 1998 that Songkran even in Pattaya was more civilised in those days, with all the water throwing stopping as the sun went down about 6pm so you could dress decently and go out for dinner with no threat of stupid drunk farang dumping buckets of iced water over your head.  

It's a shame that so much needful water are wasted. The government could limit it to one day water festival and to avoid this stupid waste.

Is this not, in the main, an urban "thing"? In rural areas, Songkran is more traditionally-celebrated. Farmer know the value of water in Isaan and so on and don't waste it.

I am also escaping the water bazooka squirting madness of Pattaya - I leave for Vietnam on 12 April and return after the last squirts and water splashing should have been concluded on 22 April.

Some years back, I participated in the Songkran madness but one of my eyes got an infection from some of the dirty water that is splashed around and it took 1 entire week for the infection to go away - so I want to avoid this year's festivities.  Many of my friends are saying that I should wear googles but I also wear glasses and it is just so inconvenient to do that for 7 continuous days of water madness.....

Already here the stores are selling these GIANT bazooka water pistols - OMG 

Edited March 3, 20242 yr by bkkmfj2648
fix typo

Just for interest --- if you end up here in Bangkok and are really 'pissed off' with all the cretinous farang firing their giant water cannons, make your way to Silom Soi 4 (Sala Daeng skytrain exit 1?), which will be water free (security at the head of the soi to confiscate guns).
These days are the busiest 3 days of the year in soi 4, it will be packed from 7ish till closing, continuously!
My choice is Balcony Pub or Connections.
They open for alcohol at 17:00 and are there, dry, till late.
Oh, and forget stories that it all finishes (the water throwing, at 18:00 or 21:00).  This is Thailand (T.I.T.) and rules are meant to be broken.

Me?    I'll be locked in my room, stocked with Leo Beer.

Oh and another VERY important point ---- do not take money, jewellery, passports etc out with you.  Pickpockets abound.
Everywhere, you will see plastic pouches for sale (about 100 Baht) to keep dry any personal items needed to be kept dry. But they are not thief proof.
Finally, have fun.

I found the schedule of the Songkran Festival in Chonburi province.

But keep in mind that fun watering in Pattaya will be at least from April 13 to April 19. April 18 will be the most fun day on Naklua Street, and April 19 will be the wettest day in all of Pattaya. These days (18 and 19), you should not plan trips around the city, because all transport will be in one traffic jam.

Thank you for the information.  Looking forwards to getting wet 😅

7 hours ago, TomNg said:

Thank you for the information.  Looking forwards to getting wet 😅

we are looking forward to your report, after you dry out of course

13 hours ago, vinapu said:

report

I will suggest you to see how the Songkran is held in the Jomtien complex in 2019. The video is not mine, but I was in that place at the time. Appeared on the video once (in the shadow of the bar, almost imperceptibly)
But I would like to note that in 2023 Songkran is celebrated with great fun, more water

lots of great young bodies on display, that's sure thing