Chiang Mai Travel Forum

Hello,
Has anyone stayed at the small and I think new Manathai Village Hotel near the Chiang Mai old city, off Loi Kroh road? Sounds nice, but always like to hear from VTers.
Gary

I'm really planning ahead here so please bear with me. I'm only going to be in Chiang mai Feb next year, which is supposed to be the peak season there. Am wondering if I should book any tours/ treks prior to going or are there THAT many operators that i can be safe getting a slot by just turning up then and signing up?
In any case, I've read some comments about how Chiang mai is rather commercialised and the surrounding areas are better like Pai and some other places for which i can't remember the names. Can anyone please suggest a few places/ trek routes? I'll be there for a week and I intend to trek a max of maybe 3-4days.

Thanks in advance.

Hi all
I'm planning to go to Chiang Mai and am wondering which is a better area to stay, the old city or the riverside?
I'd like to be walking distance from the Sunday market and the night bazaar, so which area should i look at?

Thanks

I am planning on visiting Thailand in November-everyone has said I can wait until I get there to find a hotel. If I am there during the festival in Nov.- I've heard that can be a problem. How far ahead should I book it, how long after the festival do places stay booked? (If I wanted to avoid the festival time and not worry about reservations.)

Thanks for all the replies. Am wondering if we made a mistake planning 4 days in Chiang Mai area. It will be hot so too much trekking seems difficult. We are interested in cultural things and nature; boat rides. How much can we do ourselves as a middle-aged coupkle? Can someone suggest an English speaking guide who will take us where we want to go for a day or two...we do not want to have to go to restaurants. The villages sound interesting.

Hi

I have a group of 7 pax (4 adults & 3kids).

(1) Is it possible to do a DIY tour for elephant ride & bamboo rafting? Would it be cost savings than joining a tour?

(2) I understand there are few options for elephant ride & bamboo rafting incl lunch.. Where is the best place to do the tour? My friend had 2 such tour with different agency last year when she was in CM. She said they brought her to different site for elephant ride & bamboo rafting and 1 is much more interesting than the other. However, she doesn't remember which tour agency nor the venue.

(2) Airport transfer - Do I need to book a van in advance for airport transfer to my hotel which is in town?

Thanks

WHat is best to see and do in and around CHiang Mai? My wife and I will be there for six days in June. WHat destinations are best done with a guide and what can be seden unguided?

> Hi i m jeffrey from malaysia,my family member (10 adults 6 childs)plan to travel to chiang mai for 4 nights and chiang rai for 2 nights on 23 may 08.
> i had problem finding coach from chiang mai to chiang rai,i need the coach information to plan my trip
> do you have 18 seat van with driver information

hi vters ,i'm going to chiang mai this july ,i need a transport from hotel to golf course and back to the hotel,can anybody help me ..please.... as i bring my client.....

Has anyone here stayed at The Top North HOTEL? Any feedback, pro or con? Any suggestions for a NICE clean hotel with a pool that gets sun all or most of the day? We will be 6 nights in Chiang Mai after a 6 week stay in other parts of Thailand. Want something not TOO expensive, but clean and nice.

We are planning to do an ATV 3 hour tour while in Chiang Mai in August 08.
Does anybody have any feedback on a similar tour they may have done?
Here's the link to the one I'm looking at:
http://www.chiangdao.com/chiangmai/atv.htme
Cheers

Will be in Chang Mai in May, can anybody tell me if there is a good quality Bike store in town for accessories and spares etc

Thanks

Marco

Good day! We are from Philippines.
Pls help. Thanks in advance!

Me and my sister are going to visit Chiang Mai for 6 days next month.

We are planning to go to Myanmar n Laos also but how? Pls help.

From Chaing Mai how to go to Myanmar(Burma) by bus?
From Chiang Mai how to go to Laos by bus?
Where is the exact address of the bus terminal in Chiang Mai? I cannot find it in the web.
How many hours is travel time?
Do we need a visa?
It is safe to travel by bus?
It is safe to have an overnight stay (Myanmar n Laos)? or it is better for a 1 day siteseeing?

thanks...

regards,
joyce : )

Hi
I've read a bit about various hilltribe treks from Chiang Mai and most seem to be 2-3 days. Do any companies do treks that are a bit longer (about 5 days) that won't be overpopulated by other tourists along the way and maybe pass in to Laos. Difficulty of the trek and price is not a problem.
If so, which trek company is best/most reliable.
I'm planning on booking once I arrive in Chiang Mai (From the general consensus on these fora, it seems the best, most cost effective way)

Any help and advice is most appreciated

Hello there.............i am planning for our trip in July and have got some qoutes from 2 agents for the following itinerary. I feel that it is expensive, could i get cheaper rates, please advise.
Day 1
Doi Suthep temple/ Huan Huay Kaew restaurant
Old city temples ( Wat Chedi & Wat Pra Singh)

Day 2 (rate includes tickets for entrance fee)
Chiangrai day tour
- Golden Triangle
- Mae Sai
-Chiang Saen
- Hilltribes
-White temple

Day 3
Ban Tawai Shopping
San Kampheang Hot Springs
San Kampheng

The rates i got are for THB5,400 per person and the other was THB4,500.

Any advise, including the itinerary would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Hi, I am planning to do an overnight trek tour in Chiang Mai (needs to be in Chiang Mai rather than Chiang Rai) with minimal walking! Can anybody recommend tour companies they used? So far I am leaning towards buddy tours (any info on them would be good). I know the tribes will be developed to an extent, but I am after a tour that doesnt exploit them (or exploit me!). Any info appreciated.

Jes - New Zealand

Hi

Could someone please tell me where to get authentic passport photos from in Chiang Mai suitable for border crossings?

Thanks.

Planning a trip to Chiang Mai in August 08 and would like to do a cooking class. Has anybody got any suggestions or recommendations to make?

Hi there,

We're going back to Thailand for our honeymoon and have three full days in Chiang Mai.
We've done a bit of research and there seems to be so much to do there.

Can anyone recommend to us what we should concentrate on while we are there in terms of sightseeing.
Also we're staying in the Holiday Inn (formerly Sheraton) and wondered how far away our hotel is from these attractions.

Is Chiang Mai like the rest of Thailand i.e. you can hop on a sky train or bus or tuk tuk to get where you need to be???

Cheers

Rach and Liam : )

I will be in Chiang Mai in May for a day or so on my way to Laos. I understand that there is a bus that goes from the Bus Terminal to the border. It takes about 7 hours. Is that correct? Has anyone done this? I really wanted to take an overnight bus and arrive at the border early morning so that I can take the slow boat to Luang Prabang. Any feedback is appreciated.

I'm arriving by train on Sunday at 6am into Chiang Mai. Can anyone tell me if there's a bus that goes past the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel on Huay Kaew Road? How much would it cost and how regularly does it run?

If not, how much should I pay for a Songtaew and which one to get?

If anyone is available Sunday to show me around Chiang Mai that would be great. I'd be happy to trade the opportunity to practice English for a free tour guide!

Leave me a number and I'll call you when (if) I get to my hotel!

Would like to know if there are any interesting dates in the first 8 months of the year that will be make a trip to Chiang Mai extra special. Or if there is a webiste i could go to for such info? It is quite urgent.

Wesak Day is quite important isn't it as Buddhists celebrate it? Is it a good time to go? Thank you.

Myself and a couple of friends will be travelling to chaing mai for a cpl of days towards the end of March this year and the various jungle treks have been recommended to me.
How long do they tend to be and how much are they? Also has anyone got any recommendations on which one to take?

Greetings!
We are planning to have a re-union in Chiang Mai from December 18-21, 2008 in Chiang Mai. Roughly 30 rooms for 50 people. Looking for clean, airy, cheerful hotel. Price range $75-125/night.

People are in the 50-60 years of age.

Would appreciate some recommendations.
Regards,
SKG

Hello,

We are travelling to Chiang Mai in February for 4 days.
I'm not interested in the typical touristic tours, spending the whole day in a bus & being taking to places to buy souvenirs.

I've read some great reviews on "Pai" the "Mae Kam Pong Village".
What is the best way to travel to these places, note that we wish to return to Chiang Mai in the evening. If worthwile we would consider to spend one night at one of these small villages. But first we need to get there :-))
Any ideas,I think that travelling by motorbike would be a bit dangerous as we plan to spend 2 more weeks in Thailand.

Recommendations for any other place to visit, far away from the touristic areas are also very welcome.....

Looking forward hearing from you soon.
Many thanks in advance.

Coming to Chiang Mai in March! Are there any good river cruises? I'm bringing my daughter and she loves boats! Maybe with lunch or drinks? Length of cruise? Thanks again-Darla

I'll be in Chiang Mai on the 26th Jan and want to make my way overland to Phomn Pehn to arrive there on the 30th. I'm wondering how easy it is to do this by train and what the best sights to see are on the way. I really like to see the local life and major sights - not so into the temples.

Any recommendations of where to stay will also be welcome - or even a travelling companion!

Hi all,

I'll be in CM from Jan 7-10th and am figuring out what to do... I have a few q's that I'd love some help with:

1. What's the best way to travle from CM to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep? (rent a car? moped? taxi?) How much time should I allot?

2) I'd like to learn a little about meditation. Where would you suggest I do this?

3) Should I go rafting here? or down south? I'll be down south from the 11-17th.

THANKS!
Lana

Hello:

does anyone know a good operator who organizes 3-4 day trips to the parks around Chiang Mai? In particular trips more directed to walking through forest and seing nature rather than riding elephants.

Thank you.

Hi all. Will be taking a trip to chiang mai with my mum and sis in january and this being our first time there, we have absolutely no idea where to stay. We're looking for a guest house that is clean, quiet, affordable (around 1000-1500 baht or less for 3 ppl a night), equipped with hot showers and a/c and within walking distance to the night bazaar as well as other attractions. We have these few in mind after reading some reviews online:

1) Lai Thai Guest house
2) Sri Pat
3) CM Blue House
4) Na Inn
5) All in 1 Guest House

Could anyone help us in making a decision or perhaps recommend someplace better? Thanks in advance!