Just how bad are the mosquitoes on Thai islands, and are they seasonal?

Mosquitoes are worst (anywhere) early morning and late afternoon/early evening. In Thailand, they are also worse June–October.

In Thailand, mosquitoes are at their worst during and just after the rainy season (June through October), but they are a nuisance all year round—though the risk of catching Dengue Fever and Japanese B encephalitis from one of them is greater during the rainy season.

However, it's really more a time-of-day, issue than a time-of-year one. Mosquitoes are out feeding in the early morning and again in the late afternoon/early evening. In the end, it's easiest just to plan to be indoors during these swarming hours.

In general:

• Use bug spray with DEET.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, baggy clothing that covers you from ankle to wrist (spray your clothes with Permethrin for extra protection).
• Keep windows and doors closed during those morning and evening hours.
• Treat that mosquito netting around your bed with respect.
• Always sleep under mosquito netting or go for the air-conditioned rooms (even cheap Thai hotels often offer A/C rooms at a premium price; these invariably feel a bit mildewy, but do suffer far fewer mosquitoes.)
• When all those efforts still prove only 90% effective, relieve the itch with After Bite or some Tiger Balm from a local 7-11 (Thailand's full of 7-11s).

That said, Thai islands are actually infinitely better than the Thailand interior when it comes to flying blood-suckers—if for no other reason than the steady light breeze coming off the water keeps them at bay.

Seriously; you can be sitting at a beachside restaurant, completely bug-free, then walk just one block inland to where the buildings cut off the breeze, and all of a sudden it's feeding frenzy time for mosquitoes.

This is also an argument for splurging on a sea-view room at a beachside hotel rather than saving a bit of money by booking a hotel even a block inland from the shore. Those breezes really can make all the difference.

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