The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Riviera Maya vs Thailand

Riviera Maya and Thailand, side by side: live travel advisories, our resort catalog's real guest data, and each destination's honest weather picture — everything you need to break the tie.

Riviera Maya guide · Thailand guide · How we score

By the numbers

Riviera MayaThailand
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog81
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.7
Nightly rates$300–$800+/night$300–$800/night
Adults-only resorts3 of 80 of 1
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonJune–October, heaviest September–OctoberMay–October, wettest September–October
Sweet spotDecember–AprilNovember–April (the Gulf side — Koh Samui — runs on a different clock, wettest October–December)
CurrencyMexican peso — USD widely accepted in resort corridorsThai baht (THB) — cards common, cash for markets

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Thailand — high °F899091918988888887878788
Riviera Maya — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5
Thailand — rain (in)1.41.22.34.313.58.710.210.515.512.17.13.0

Approximate climate normals for Playa del Carmen–Tulum and Phuket / Andaman coast — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Riviera Maya

  1. 1.Barceló Maya Riviera - All Inclusive Adults Only — · ★ 4.9
  2. 2.Grand Velas Riviera Maya — Playa del Carmen, Mexico · ★ 4.8
  3. 3.UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya — Riviera Maya, Mexico · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Barceló · Grand Velas · UNICO Hotel Collection

Full Riviera Maya guide

Best of Thailand

  1. 1.Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket — Karon Beach, Phuket, Thailand · ★ 4.7

Chains here: Centara Grand

Full Thailand guide

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