Breath-taking scenery
Hat Yai, like most destinations in Thailand, boasts breath-taking scenery, and a variety of vantage points from which to observe it.
Hat Yai is a major tourist destination in the south of Thailand. With close to 200 000 residents, it is the largest city in the Songkhla Province. Hat Yai offers you the chance to enjoy its many exciting attractions. This destination’s top sights include the Hat Yai Park, Wat Hat Yai Nai, and the Ton Nga Chang Waterfall.
To help you discover this amazing holiday destination, cheap flights to Hat Yai are now available for a limited period! Hat Yai is served by the Hat Yai International Airport (HDY), which is a 30-minute drive from the city centre. This international airport serves the regional airline company of Bangkok Airways. Popular flights to Hat Yai are now available from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. The average flight duration is 22 hours.
| Flight Route | Airline | Trip Type | Travel Dates | Searched | Price From |
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Hat Yai, like most destinations in Thailand, boasts breath-taking scenery, and a variety of vantage points from which to observe it.
The temples in Hat Yai are well worth your time, and will amaze you with their beautiful designs and their magnificent proportions.
The high volume of tourists that visit Hat Yai has resulted in numerous popular nightclubs springing up throughout the city.
Essential details you need to know before your trip
| Country | Thailand |
|---|---|
| Currency | Thai Baht |
| Exchange Rate | 1 ZAR = 2.70 THB |
| Language | Thai |
| Hub Airport | Hat Yai International Airport |
| Airline | Thai Airways Company |
| Time Zone | GMT + 7 |
| Travel Adaptor | Type A / B / C / F/ O |
Hat Yai experiences plenty of rain throughout the year. February (the cool season – from November to February), is the driest month, with November being the wettest. The cool season is a popular time to visit, with events such as New Year, bullfighting, Children’s Day and the Chinese New Year. With all that happens over this period, this is the peak tourist season, meaning you will have to book accommodation months in advance and be prepared to pay higher hotel rates and mingle with large crowds. For cheaper hotel rates and fewer tourists, visit Hat Yai from April to June (during the hot season) and from September to October (during the wet season). April and May are the hottest months of the year, so make sure to bring plenty of sunblock and light clothing. From September to October, you can enjoy cooler weather, but will have to endure heavy rain; you’d better pack some waterproof clothing if this is the time you choose to go.
Average temperature (°C) & rainfall (mm) per month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low °C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 24°C | 24°C | 24°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C |
| High °C | 30°C | 31°C | 33°C | 33°C | 33°C | 33°C | 33°C | 32°C | 32°C | 31°C | 30°C | 29°C |
| Rainfall (mm) | 90 | 21 | 41 | 92 | 167 | 102 | 119 | 114 | 167 | 244 | 408 | 312 |
Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination just 30 kilometres from the Malaysian border. The largest city in the south of Thailand, Hat Yai boasts numerous markets, excellent seafood and an energetic night-time scene.
Besides boasting the standard features any holiday destination should have, this city offers so many other things that will guarantee you a memorable travelling experience. Visit the scenic Hat Yai Park and Observatory, which includes a cable car. On your way there, admire the Hat Yai Ice Dome, famed for its seasonal displays of ice sculptures by Chinese sculptors.
Other attractions of Hat Yai include bullfighting, a 15-metre waterslide at Bhasawang Big Splash, the enormous Buddha statue at Wat Hat Yai Nai, the huge Songkhla Lake and the majestic Ton Nga Chang Waterfall.
Compare several airlines and book your cheap flights to Hat Yai online at Travelstart!
South African passport holders will not need a Visa to enter Thailand. All you will need is your passport, which must be valid for at least six months left before expiring.
South African Embassy in Thailand
Address: Floor 12 A, M Thai Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pratumwan, Bangkok, 10330
Phone: + 66 659 2900 Fax: + 66 250 1064
Visit your doctor to learn what routine vaccinations you need to get before travelling to Thailand. Diseases that may pose a threat include hepatitis A and hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, malaria and dengue. Avoid contaminated water, which will cause diarrhoea. Take an antibiotic with you in case you fail to properly guard against this disease.
Watch out for pickpockets and bag snatchers. Beware of walking along busy streets (where criminals may snatch your bag from a motorcycle). If you travel with open transport, make sure all your valuables are secure and out of sight. Avoid going for walks alone at night.
Since 2006, there have been irregular periods of political unrest. Avoid all the demonstrations and pay attention to the news and social media outlets.
| Item | Cape Town | Johannesburg | Hat Yai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | R100 | R100 | R17 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) | R25 | R25 | R18 |
| Cappucino (regular) | R22 | R22 | R12 |
| Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) | R38 | RR38 | R46 |
A large number of credible hotels are available throughout Hat Yai, some with restaurants, live music, pools, spas, gyms, free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi. The price range for staying at one of these establishments ranges from around ฿ 267 to nearly ฿ 1607. The most popular establishments are Hatyai Merridian Hotel, The Rings Hotel, Get Guesthouse, and La Pause Hatyai.
There are plenty of taxis (tuk-tuks and motorbikes) around Hat Yai and they are available at any hotel. A ride with them around the city costs anywhere from under ฿ 26 to over ฿ 53. Make sure to get an address from where you are staying to show to the driver. Rides to areas outside the city are negotiable.
You could also rent a motorbike from the various bike rental companies around Hat Yai. The cost for renting ranges from around ฿ 267. Be cautious, however, as some of them may ask you to leave your passport as returnable deposit for renting a motorbike, which you will have to buy back. Some establishments simply require a photocopy of your passport.
Car rental agencies are available at the airport.
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