Northern Thailand 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

anyone have any experience/advice booking for a trek if you're traveling solo? Someone said that if there is just me I might end up waiting a couple days for it to fill w/ other people. I am considering in Pai- or poss. CM. My time is limited so I don't want to run into that problem.

Looking to do a trek-hilltribes/elephants. Better to book one out of chiang mai, or in Pai? looking for one more authentic- where preferably can interact w/ hilltribes-or get true sence of culture.
If time is limited- should i stay in chiang mai and do a trek to Pai, or just also stay in Pai?
Thanks.

When is the festival in 2008?

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.)

Im realizing I can save A LOT of money if I go to Chiang Mai on my own-and book a tour there, however I have also heard of some having bad experiences doing this. Should I book a US based company ahead of time that takes you from Bangkok through the whole tour- or would I be better off booking something once I arrive myself in Chiang Mai? I just dont know how to tell if they're reputable through their travel agencies. Also, any idea about what id spend to fly/take train from bangkok to chiang mai?
Thanks!

This will be my first time traveling to Thailand-and solo. Would I be better off booking most of my trip w/ an organized group tour-or just booking everything seperately as I go? I want to trek in N. Thailand as well as go to some of the beaches.

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

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?

Thx

My school planned to take 15 students (age 16) and 2 teachers to northern Thailand with intrepid for 15 days. (based on www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/TSN)

They have been planning it for nearly 6 months with 3 months untill we actually go when they suddenly called it off and said it was deemed unsafe. Making us all extremely devostated!

For people who have been on this trip could you please tell me if it is unsafe or is the school just being over protective?

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.

How difficult is it to rent a car and drive around in Northern Thailand. How are the roads and the sign? We'd like to see the usual touristy things plus. Is it easy to get lost with a good map. We our not interested in spending time eating at restaurants and find this a problem with most tours. Who does one rent a car from? What is the average cost? Are the roads fairly safe?

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

I was wondering if this itinerary sounds feasible in one day?

Bus from Chiang Mai to Sukhothai (what is the earliest bus time?)I understand the trip takes 3 hours?
Tranfer to old city (from where, how & how long does it take?)
Hire bicyle & ride around ruins
Transfer back to Sukhothai (from where & how?)
Transfer by bus to Phitsanulok (from where & how long will this take?)

We want to go from Sukhothai to Phitsanulok to catch the early morning train to Ayuthaya. Does the above sound like the best way or is there a better way to get from Sukhothai to Ayuthaya?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Tania

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.

Iwant to travel from Mae Sai and work my way down the country to Chiang Mai
then possibly finish my 17 day holiday on one of the beaches near Bankok
could I do this in the time I have or is this a little bit ambitous.
Thanks for any answers in advance

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 : )

Hi everybody


are there bus companies going from Ayutthaya to Sukhotay, any advice on names or schedules or fares?

Thanks