Rainy season on Samui: what nobody tells you

Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand, so its weather works differently from Phuket. While the Andaman side gets its rain in the summer months, our big rains usually come from October to December.

What it means in daily life

Some days of heavy rain in a row, rough seas on the east coast, sometimes a flooded road for a few hours, and ferries that get cancelled when the sea is too rough. What it also means: green hills, fewer tourists, no queues and a calmer island.

My checklist for the rainy months

A good rain poncho for the scooter, a car rental for the worst weeks, a home on higher ground or with a good driveway, and a dehumidifier for your wardrobe.