Amari Pulse

Are you fortunate enough to be visiting Thailand during Songkran? Be sure to make the most of it as this is one of the most colourful and festive times of the year. To mark the occasion, there are an array of events to enjoy, from traditional merit making ceremonies and beauty pageants, to parades brimming with life and entertainment.

The highlight of this festival though has to be the fun-filled water fights - where thousands of residents and tourists take to the streets to drench each other in water, whether for cleansing and good luck, or just to enjoy a good time! And whilst this may seem a little off from your run-of-the-mill holiday, the Thai Lunar New Year celebrations is an experience you will not soon forget.

To ensure you are well prepared, we bring you our top 8 Songkran survival tips:

• Arm yourself - Head to your nearest shopping centre, supermarket, or convenience store and buy yourself a water gun. They come in all shapes and sizes, but we recommend getting something that can shoot long distances, and has a sizeable water reservoir.
• Invest in a disposable waterproof camera - Capture all your favourite moments - snapshots full with colour, so you can take them back home to show friends and family.
• Leave valuables at home - Leave your jewellery, cameras, and anything easily lost or damaged behind before participating in the festivities (more on that below).
• Carry zip lock bags - For those items which you need take with you, don't leave your room without a ziplock bag. Use to store necessities such as enough local currency to get you through the day, and of course essential travel documents. 
• Dress accordingly - Dress down, wear an old T-shirt and pair of shorts. If you don’t have these types of clothing, swing by a street vendor where you can pick some up for relatively cheap. Avoid white clothing as they tend to become see through when wet.
• Wear sunblock, lots of it! - And make sure its waterproof! We recommend at least SPF 50 to be safe.
• Use waterproof makeup - Should you decide wear makeup, use the waterproof kind to ensure you are looking your best throughout the celebrations.
• Avoid roads - Be careful and try to stay clear of the roads when possible. People often tend to enjoy themselves a little too much then take to the roads intoxicated, especially motorcyclists!

So there you have it, everything you could possibly need for the Songkran festivities. Get prepared and most importantly, have fun and enjoy yourself!

Sawasdee Pee Mai!

5. You taught your kids to cook Phad Thai – but they always add gummy bears instead of shrimp. 

4. You purchased a heater for your closet to keep it at a consistent 30c, added sand, and a loop recording of the tide. 

3. On the way to work you were scowled at six times, pushed three, and found out the mail carrier deliberately loses your letters because you forgot his Christmas gift. 

2. After realizing your kids don’t cook very well – you actually paid $15.95 for an order of Phad Thai that would cost you $2.00 in Bangkok. 

1. The Snowpacalypse as seen here, here, and here. 

More reasons you would like to share? Leave a comment below! 

5. Bangkok – Central World Plaza

Thailand’s version of the Times Square countdown in the Big Apple draws massive crowds to the heart of Bangkok across the street from the Amari Watergate. Revelry lasts well into the wee hours of the morning as throngs of people enjoy libations at a series of large beer gardens. Leave the kiddies at home for this one as the crowds can be intimidating at times.  

 4. Phuket – Patong Beach 

This tourist haven near Amari Coral Beach Phuket lights up with festivities on New Year’s Eve with what seems like a competition between bars for the best party. The streets and beaches are jam packed with partiers all night long and the sky lights up with an impressive array of fireworks and lanterns at the stroke of midnight.    

3. Chiang Mai – Nimmanhaeminda Road 

The largest New Year’s celebration in Northern Thailand near the Amari Rincome Chiang Mai is a culinary paradise with different types of food from all over Thailand and the world represented. A kaleidoscope of cultural showcases, concerts, and craft merchants line Chiang Mai’s main road culminating in an impressive array of fireworks at midnight.  

2. Pattaya – Walking Street 

Perhaps the wildest New Year’s party in Thailand is on Pattaya’s Walking Street not far from Amari Orchid and Amari Nova Suites. This densely packed thoroughfare comes alive with huge crowds partying till the break of dawn. A seemingly endless array of pubs and open air bars provide revelers with non-stop action and memorable experiences. 

1. Koh Samui – Chaweng Beach 

A few steps from the Amari Palm Reef Koh Samui is our pick for the top party spot – Chaweng Beach. This chill expanse of shoreline plays host to throngs of revelers from around the world. As the sun drops the party starts with outdoor concerts and dance sessions on the beach that last well into the morning.