Driving in Phuket in the rainy season

How the rain behaves

• Downpours start within minutes and are very heavy — visibility can drop to a few dozen metres.
• Most of them pass in an hour or two. Waiting in a café is often faster than driving through.
• The west coast gets the strongest weather; the sea can be rough and some beaches fly red flags.
• September and October are usually the wettest months.

Where the roads get difficult

• Hill roads — Patong Hill, the Kata–Karon coast road, the road to the Big Buddha — are slippery for the first half-hour of rain, when oil comes up from the surface.
• Low streets in Patong and parts of Phuket Town can flood for a short time after a heavy storm. Do not drive into water you cannot see the bottom of.
• Steep concrete villa driveways are slick when wet.
• Road works and potholes hide under standing water.

Simple rules for the wet season

• Switch on the headlights when it rains, even in the daytime.
• Double the distance to the car in front and brake earlier.
• On hills, use a low gear going down instead of holding the brake.
• Let motorbikes pass; many of them stop suddenly to shelter under roofs.
• If a flooded section looks deeper than the middle of the wheel, turn around.

Why the low season suits a car

Hotels and rentals are cheaper, the roads are quieter, and the island is green. A car keeps you and your bags dry between the dry spells, and you can drive to the east coast or to Phang Nga, where the weather is often calmer than on the west side.