9 of the best ways to beat the heat in Thailand

While it’s great to feel that welcome warmth when you arrive in Thailand, the heat and humidity in Thailand can take some getting used to. The good news, though, is that unlike the UK and Ireland, Thailand is geared up to dealing with the heat. Cool concrete or wooden floors replace carpets. Air-conditioning is standard in most hotels, taxis, shopping centres and a range of other venues such as the BTS Skytrain and MRT Metro in Bangkok.

Whether you’re visiting Thailand for the first time or are a repeat visitor, we hope that these tips (shown below in no particular order) help you on your next trip.

What is the best month to visit Thailand?
The hottest months in Thailand are March to May. If you’re visiting during the cool season (November to February) temperatures are more comfortable and can get quite cool in the mornings and evenings, especially in the North and North-East
Check out our month-by-month weather guides for Thailand

1) Keep hydrated

When you’re on holiday in Thailand, it’s easy to underestimate how much water you need to drink to replace the fluid you are losing. Often what travellers attribute to food poisoning is in fact due to dehydration. Unfortunately, that ice-cold bottle Chang, Singha or Leo doesn’t count toward your fluid intake! Absolutely, you should enjoy a cold beer or a cheeky cocktail on your holiday, but make sure you are drinking plenty of water during the day to go with it.

Don’t drink the tap water in Thailand. Buy bottled water and carry a refillable water bottle with you. Ice is generally safe so try not to overthink too much about whether to put ice in your drinks or not.

If you find water too bland you could add some cordial to it or simply opt for some local favourites. One of these is known as Utaitip, a syrup made from herb and flower extracts including cinnamon, jasmine, lotus and sappan wood. Add a few drops to water for a refreshing and healthy drink. Drinks similar to this or which use the colourful blue butterfly pea flower are often used by hotels as welcome drinks. Ask your hotel where you can buy something similar or check for yourself at the nearest convenience store. These types of traditional Thai drinks can also be found on the menu at some restaurants and at markets in Thailand.

Wherever you are staying in Thailand you won’t have to venture too far to find a smoothie stand. Fruit smoothies are a tasty way to keep your fluid levels up. Many vendors will also sell coconuts with coconut water an excellent way to replace electrolytes. Thai iced tea (cha yen) and lemon tea (cha manao) are two other thirst-quenchers to look out for in Thailand.

2) Eat your way cooler

If you’ve been to Thailand before, you’ll already know the importance of food in Thai culture. Thais tend to eat little and often and this approach is a sensible one in the heat. And as counter-intuitive as it may seem, eating spicy Thai food can help you cool down. This philosophy of fighting fire with fire works because the heat from the chillies prompts your body’s ‘internal air-conditioning’ to kick-in. Spicy food may make you sweat, but that’s a good thing in the Thai heat because it evaporates and cools you down. So don’t worry about ordering that plate of pad kaprao!

You may find that the heat in Thailand decreases your appetite when you are here on holiday, but there are some delicious local treats that you can buy to help keep you cool.

Listen out for the gentle tinkle of the bell from the vendors pushing their ice-cream carts. Known in Thai as i-tim, this sorbet-like ice-cream is often made from coconut. I-tim may be served in a cone or even in a sandwich and provides a quick, cheap and tasty way to beat the heat.

You won’t have to walk too far to find the local fruit vendor with watermelon (taengmo) one of the best fruits to replace water. Rose apple (chompoo) is another good choice. If you’re a tad more adventurous, try some local desserts. When the heat ramps up, Thai people like to eat cups or bowls of shaved ice known as nam khaeng sai. Sweet syrup, fruit, herbs or toppings are added to the ice to give it flavour and some of the added ingredients also help your body cool down.

3) Plan your activities

If you’re visiting Thailand for the first time, understandably you want to see and do as much as you can in your time here. Wherever possible, try to plan sightseeing trips and outdoor activities for the morning or later in the afternoon or early evening. Take the opportunity to seek out shade at lunchtime or find an air-conditioned cafe to have a cooling drink.

4) Dress for the heat

Loose-fitting linen or cotton clothing is your best friend in the Thai heat. Looser clothing results in more air between the fabric and your skin and allows for more effective evaporation of sweat. There is a popular belief that light colours are better than dark colours, but it seems that the key to being comfortable is to have a looser fit. Technical hot-weather fabrics like those used for golf wear are another practical choice. Even if you don’t normally wear a hat, wearing one can make a big difference.

Be sun safe
Even on cloudy days in Thailand, UV levels are high. Wear sunscreen and carry some with you in your day bag or handbag if you need to reapply. Sunscreen is one of those items which can be more expensive in Thailand than in Europe, especially if you can get your sunscreen on a 2-for-1 deal in the UK or Ireland.

We know it’s hot in Thailand and the temptation might be for gents to go shirtless, but resist that temptation. Despite the image portrayed in some tourist areas, Thailand is a conservative country. Unless you are at the beach or a pool party, it isn’t polite to go shirtless in Thailand. The same applies to women sunbathing topless; it isn’t culturally appropriate.

5) Do the cha cha

We’re not talking about getting out your sequins and auditioning for Strictly Come Dancing, we mean slow down. In Thai, the word for slow is cha (with a different tone to the cha used for tea) and like many Thai words it is used twice for emphasis so cha cha simply means slow down. Thai people will usually walk at a slower pace to conserve energy; you’re on holiday you should slow down too! Cha cha na khap!

6) Hit the shower

A lukewarm shower (not hot or cold) is a great way to cool down. If you’ve been out sightseeing in the morning, take the chance to have a refreshing shower when you return to your hotel. You may find yourself showering four or five times a day in Thailand, but it’s the best way to stay cool and fresh.

7) Use the air-con wisely

If you’ve not used air-conditioning in your room before, the temptation can be to set the temperature to what you think will be pleasantly cool e.g. 18 or 19 degrees Celsius. However, do this at night and you’ll almost certainly wake up in the middle of the night feeling too cold. The optimum air-con temperature setting in your room in Thailand is around 25 degrees Celsius. Experiment with what works best for you, but for most people to enjoy a good night’s sleep it will be between 23-27 degrees Celsius.

8) Fans are your friend

Air-con can dry your skin and can make your throat dry when used a lot. If you have a room with a fan and air-conditioning, you have the best of both worlds. Use the air-con for an hour or so before you go to bed to cool the room quickly, then switch to the fan.

There is another tip that some people like to use to keep cool and it works well if you only have a fan in your room and no air conditioning. Place some ice in a bowl in front of your fan and as the ice melts, the breeze from the fan will pick up cold water and create a cooling mist.

When you are out and about, a folding handheld fan can be surprisingly effective. They are cheap to buy and make a good souvenir too. Handheld electric fans are another option, but in most cases aren’t that effective. Using a misting bottle filled with cool water is a better option.

9) Take tips from the locals

The average Thai person is probably more adept at dealing with the heat than the average Westerner. And tuk-tuk drivers in Thailand know what to do when the mercury rises. They soak a small towel in cold water, wring it out and wear it on the back of their neck. It might not look fashionable, but who cares when it’s keeping you cool and reduces sweating.

Umbrellas or parasols are often used by Thai people to shield from the sun. Most umbrellas sold in Thailand will have UV protection and are effective against the sun and rain. Pack a small folding umbrella in your day bag and you’re good to go.

Another top tip you can take from Thai people is to use cooling powder. There are different versions available with some labelled in English as “prickly heat powder”. Protex does a version available in convenience stores and supermarkets, but the best known is probably Snake Brand which uses a combination of ingredients including talc, menthol and camphor. Best used after a shower when the skin is clean but damp, the cooling powder is a great way to keep fresh and reduce sweat and skin irritation from the heat.

How about you? Do you have any top tips to share for keeping cool in Thailand? Let us know on the Fan Club Thailand Facebook page.

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