Chiang Mai

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sarnie
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Chiang Mai

Post by sarnie »

We are coming out to Hua Hin in December for almost a month and would like to visit Chiang Mai. Just wondered what the best way to get there would be. Also if anyone has any other suggestion for other places to visit. Cheers for any replies
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Post by BaaBaa. »

Id fly personally, you can get a return flight from Bangkok-Chiang Mai for 3900 baht.

Try http://www.nokair.com/ or http://www.fly12go.com/

There are also VIP buses from the new bus station in Hua Hin, I'd guess they'd be about 700 baht.
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Post by Randy Cornhole »

The bus is at least 12 hours and uncomfortable. Flying Bangkok to Chiang Mai is 55 mins, to short to get a numb bum.
I know what I would do, and in fact did. If your only here for a month why waste the time taking the bus.. :D
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Post by migrant »

We went to CM in October from Bangkok. All the airlines were running promotions based upon the date, and time of day, you fly.

To CM we too Air Asia for ~3400bt
Return was Thai Air ~2600bt
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Post by Super Joe »

Definately fly, bus ride will be a nightmare.

1) Went to a couple of the hill tribe set-ups, interesting enough but clearly set-up purely for tourists to walk round, have the ladies with the neck rings etc.
2) Chiang Mai zoo was good, had pandas, white tigers, hippos, giraffes, bears etc and a monorail I think.
3) Went to a waterfall, there's loads there and can't remember which one but it had a big pool at bottom for swimming around in, water freezing mind.
4) Went to a snake show with cobras etc, was ok but think they are drugged as seemed slow. But was funny as they do some joke stuff like throw a false snake into crowd and everyone dives for their life. But I've spoilt that one now.
5) Wat Phra Doi Suthep Temple a must, on a hill, walk up a lot of steps to it then has good views around city. Nice temple, good for photos.

Obviously as you can see we did all the easy touristy stuff, but there's trips a bit further afield, like Chiang Rai that might be more adventurous.

Big market area at night, lots of street side cafe/restaurants. Bars but very quiet although perfect for families.

That's about all I can remember. Worth getting hotel in town centre, not expensive like town centre hotels would normally be.
Is cold'ish in December, ie: jumper weather, no kidding.

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Post by Randy Cornhole »

I went to Wat Phra Doi Suthep Temple as well and i'm not kidding it was like the yorkshire moors on a december morning. Driving rain 2ft of visability and very very cold!! I amused the Thais as I was the only one in a short sleeved shirt shorts and open toe'd sandals! they all had ski jackets warm trousers and boots... :mrgreen:
Chiang Mai is a good place to try weird foods though. I had Ostrich, snake and crocadile. Very tasty...
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Post by BaaBaa. »

I'd definetely visit Wat Phra Doi Suthep while your in Chiang Mai, despite Randys bad luck with the weather. :mrgreen:

I noticed that Nok and 12Go are flying from Don Muang now, is that the case with all internal flights?

I flew from Suvarnhabumi to Chiang Mai in December 2006.
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Post by Super Joe »

BaaBaa. wrote:I flew from Suvarnhabumi to Chiang Mai in December 2006.
So did we, at the end of Dec though, got there day before New Years Eve.

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Chaing Mai by train

Post by Irish Kev »

My wife and I did the Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train last year and I must say it was a great way to see the country.
It takes a while to get there but you can sit back on the train and have a few beers and watch the world go by.
Geta bottom bunk and you also get a good nights sleep.

You can actually get the train from Hua Hin to Bangkok then hop on the train to Chiang Mai
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Post by bajm »

We visited Chiang Mai in March this year by car, which was rented at Suvarnabhumi.
You need some experience to drive in Thailand, otherwise I will not recommend it.
For us this way of travel was quite suitable, since we were 3 people and we wanted to make stops in Ayudhaya and Sukhothai.
The total driving time from BKK is about 8 hours, but because of the stops it took us 2 days.
Besides the attractions mentioned by other members, I can certainly recommend to visit Khum Khantoke http://www.khum-khantoke.com were you can enjoy a show and a diner in Lanna style. Lanna, the land of a million rice fields, is the name of the surroundings of Chiang Mai.
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Post by Rider »

Or ride on a bike like I did :D

But watch out for the buses!
Some backpacker folk got robbed and left in the middle of nowhere just recently! :O
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Chaing Mai

Post by sarnie »

Thanks everyone for your advise. Really shocked regarding the weather, perhaps I should have done some research.

Sandra
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Post by Digger »

At the present moment flight is impossible though anything concerning this subject seems to disappear from this wesite,why I havent a clue?.Uninterupted travel to Hua Hin from overseas seems to necesitate a flight through bangkok so most posters who seem to countdown moment to departure must surely be interested on whether airport is open or not or perhaps more importantly has total anarchy broken out in bangkok yet as it surely must soon.
However Sandra should you manage to get to Thailand for your holiday I truly recomend second class air con sleeper to Chang Mai,first class is over airconditioned and you will freeze.train travels through night so you save on 2 nights in a hotel as well.Chaps saunter through the carriage selling beer and about 10pm a steward comes through and turns the seats into bunks.You have curtains,blankets and a wee pillow.Booking is dead easy at Hualampong station,all clerks speak English.Do it for the sheer adventure of trying to be a traveller not another tourist
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Post by dtaai-maai »

Digger wrote:At the present moment flight is impossible though anything concerning this subject seems to disappear from this wesite,why I havent a clue?.Uninterupted travel to Hua Hin from overseas seems to necesitate a flight through bangkok so most posters who seem to countdown moment to departure must surely be interested on whether airport is open or not or perhaps more importantly has total anarchy broken out in bangkok yet as it surely must soon.
However Sandra should you manage to get to Thailand for your holiday I truly recomend second class air con sleeper to Chang Mai,first class is over airconditioned and you will freeze.train travels through night so you save on 2 nights in a hotel as well.Chaps saunter through the carriage selling beer and about 10pm a steward comes through and turns the seats into bunks.You have curtains,blankets and a wee pillow.Booking is dead easy at Hualampong station,all clerks speak English.Do it for the sheer adventure of trying to be a traveller not another tourist
Genuinely confused and not sure what you mean with most of this, digger. There is more than one thread on HHAD dealing with the current problems in Thailand - I haven't seen anything disappear (then again, I probably wouldn't, would I? How come you have :?)

When could you ever travel/fly 'uninterrupted' to HH?.

Nobody can fly in or out of Bangkok at the moment - that seems to be international news.

Why is a train passenger less of a tourist than a bus passenger, plane passenger or car driver/motorcycle rider? (Or hitchhiker, come to think of it...)
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Post by Digger »

Hi mate sorry you are confused will try my best to answer your questions

Genuinely confused and not sure what you mean with most of this, digger. There is more than one thread on HHAD dealing with the current problems in Thailand - I haven't seen anything disappear (then again, I probably wouldn't, would I? How come you have :?)

Thread terminated by Wanderlust yesterday.

When could you ever travel/fly 'uninterrupted' to HH?.

My error,what I was trying to get across was that every visitor to HO Hin is best served by flying via BKK so has a vested interest in whether airport is open

Nobody can fly in or out of Bangkok at the moment - that seems to be international news.
Certainly is except on this site

Why is a train passenger less of a tourist than a bus passenger, plane passenger or car driver/motorcycle rider? (Or hitchhiker, come to think of it...)[/quote]
Thats purely my opinion I am afraid,to travel you need to take advantage of all options not just plane,plane and more plane.Its the spirit of adventure that perhaps you do not have unfortunately.Luang Prabang to Chang Rai by boat as well.Thats travelling,plane hopping is tourism
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