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Travel Chiang Mai -Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand inc Golden Triangle

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TSpucman
post Jan 6 2009, 07:49 PM, updated 15y ago

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Compiled by mphpopular thumbup.gif :

Accomodation

Suriwongse Hotels THB 1,050
Royal Lanna THB 1,050
Portico 21 THB 1,150 (10min walking to NIGHT BAZAAR)
Centara Hotels THB 1,020
CH Hotel THB 850
YMCA (cheap, but non walking distance to NIGHT BAZAAR)

City Map
http://chiangmai.sawadee.com/chiangmaimap.htm

Place to Go picture attach
1) Did you ever try non-halal food in fast food shop?
Go try PORK BURGER in Burger King

2) Doi Suthep Temple
Northern Thailand’s most famous and sacred temple containing a holy relic of the Lord Buddha, a panoramic view of the city can be seen from this mountain temple and a waterfall is visited before returning to the city.

3) Doi Inthanon
The Thailand’s highest mountain, which offers beautiful Scenery,everygreen mountain forests, rare bird and impressive waterfalls. On this tour stops are made at: the summit a short trek along Michael’s Trail offer a beautiful and unforgettable experience Visit great twin royal pagodas

4) Elephant works, show, riding ; Bamboo Rafting ; Ox-Cart riding (place : Mae Sa)

5) Tiger Kingdom - you can hug tiger here, kiss tiger here, but you juz nid to pay
(Place : Mae Rim)
http://www.tigerkingdom.com/Home.htm

6) ATV Trip (Place : Mae Rim)
I think price can negotiate to 1300baht
http://www.atv-chiangmai-tours.com/english...-programme.html

7) Mai Zoo (they got panda inside)
http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/chiang_mai...ng_mai_zoo.html

8) Flight of the gibbon ( I DARE U )
http://www.treetopasia.com/thailand-holiday/chiang-mai

9) Khantoke dinner in Khantoke Palace (traditional food + tradional show = thai culture)
http://www.kantokepalace.com/liveshows.php

10) Transportation :
TUK TUK - got 3 wheel, muz try
Song taew - their so called red mini bus, with behind got two row of seats

11) Water rafting (place : Mae Wang)
http://www.hotelthailand.com/thailand-acti...i-thailand.html

12) MASSAGE - the link got provide some nice massage centre and price is around 100baht - 200baht
http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/what_to_do/massage/

13) ChiangDao Cave, do some Caving by using lamp
http://www.chiangdao.com/chiangdao/cave.htm

14) Shopping :
MALL - ChiangMai Airport Plaza , Kad suan kaew shopping mall
ROADSIDE - they have daily night bazaar, also have weekend sunday night bazaar

daily night market stuff are very expensive. U probably need to chop 50-80% when u buy anything from there. While the weekend market prices are cheap and they will probably give you 10 - 20% discount only

Beside, I recommended to stay more near to these night markets is bcoz of there is a lot food around there. Besides, you can always go for massage as there is lots of massage services provided there with cheap price. Juz imagine, after you go out for one whole day, then night you go for massage. WOW~~~

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now we are getting out from CHIANG MAI. Head for CHIANG RAI & Golden Triangle (1day trip / 2 day 1 night trip)

15) Wat Rong Khun also known as White Temple (CHIANG RAI, can be overnight or no overnight)

16) Mae Sa Border City (nice place to buy stuff!)
Name is Mae Saai if I not mistaken

17) Golden Triangle Boat Trip

Local Tour Guide
http://www.top-thai.com/
http://www.chokchaitour.com/main.html











This post has been edited by stimix: Feb 20 2010, 08:49 AM
bluesky_king
post Jan 7 2009, 12:04 PM

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yes i agree Chinag Mai ppl very polite always keep tis word "sawadeekap" in their mouth in everywhere...shopping mall or gerai in tepi jalan ..sure its not hot like bangkok city ..
xynthian
post Jan 8 2009, 02:15 AM

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Wow thanks for sharing! Anyone with more info? I might be going with airASIA, still thinking. If chiang mai alone 3 nights enough? Or need more nights?
stimix
post Jan 8 2009, 07:11 AM

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Actually there is another extensive thread on Chiang Mai but dunno where already..That one full of photos & full itineraries
ranchu
post Jan 8 2009, 09:44 AM

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Muz try strawberry wine if u r in chiang mai / chiang rai.. very good! can't find it in M'sia leh.. smile.gif
stimix
post Jan 8 2009, 10:14 AM

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Well since I can't find what happen to the old chiang Mai thread, Here's abit of photos taken during my trip in Nov 2007:

http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n59/stimix/Chiang%20Mai/

My itineraries for 4D3N include:

1) 1st day..rent 2 bicycle & ride around old city & visited almost all the Wats inside the old walled city (Actually most of the old wall gone already except at few location. The moat is still there. The famous wat..is the middle one..almost 800yr old & the stupa collapsed abit due to past earth quake.

2) 2nd day rent a suzuki jeep (RM70/day) & start my journey to Doi Suthip & the aboriginal village at the end of the mountain...saw poppy tree & flower for the 1st time...chk my photo..also venture further North to the village of Mae rim (If I still can recalled) & wanted to see the long neck village & also elephant ride..too bad the elephant show closed so early at 4pm!! & the long nect village is like blood sucker..wanted to charge >USD20/pax...decided not to enter!!

3) 3rd day - Venture to the South to the highest mountain in Thailand at Doi Ithanon..Beware- foreigner will be charged 400bath per person (Children 200Bath) to enter the mountain...Local only 40Bath mad.gif ...Managed to find my way to the largest waterfall in Thailand (Damn huge..but not so high..Nothing in Malaysia beat this one in term of size not the height). Continue up to Doi Ithanon..temp falls to ~12C here....so cold...On the way bck visited Bo Umbrella village/factory....The owner is actually local chinese..no wonder the famous Chiang Mai umbrella similar to Chinese pattern...U can ask those guy to paint nice elephant/dragon & etc for a minimal RM5/painting. thumbup.gif

Oh yeah..Every nite in Chiangmai is a shopping spree & massage spree....Souvenirs here are slightly cheaper than Bangkok even the massage....boy just luv the massage....Imagine 1 hr full body at RM12 only... thumbup.gif but avg is ~RM15.

Although souvenirs are cheaper than Bangkok, dun expect it's dirt cheap..compare to M'sia..as what TS found.out...infact almost in whole Thailand, prices of those thingies also their food pricing almost similar to M'sia sad.gif

This post has been edited by stimix: Feb 20 2010, 08:48 AM
TSpucman
post Jan 8 2009, 11:41 AM

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QUOTE(xynthian @ Jan 8 2009, 02:15 AM)
Wow thanks for sharing! Anyone with more info? I might be going with airASIA, still thinking. If chiang mai alone 3 nights enough? Or need more nights?
*
The best is one week as there are lots of things to see and do.

There are many shops advertising tours of the following:

Elephant ride
Fast water rafting
Slow water ride on bamboo
Flight of the gibbon (seen on AXN amazing race asia)
Long neck karen tribe (not really interesting because you can watch on TV)

These trips outside the city center itself takes one to two days. Price range from rm 100 to rm 200.

There's a sunday night market near to Wat phra singh where I took the pictures (see first post) so you must be there on sunday only. They have all sorts of cheap and interesting things. Strawberry can be quite cheap in sunday market.

Then there is a famous spa resort outside the city for good health

http://www.tao-garden.com/


I didn't bring enough money with me so I just stuck to the city center and I was only there for 3 nights.

Click for more pictures:

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


This post has been edited by pucman: Jan 8 2009, 12:29 PM
stimix
post Jan 8 2009, 12:08 PM

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For RM50..that's damn dirt cheap & value for money hotel thumbup.gif BTW, is it near Nite Bazaar? hmm.gif


TSpucman
post Jan 8 2009, 12:25 PM

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QUOTE(stimix @ Jan 8 2009, 12:08 PM)
For RM50..that's damn dirt cheap & value for money hotel  thumbup.gif BTW, is it near Nite Bazaar?  hmm.gif
*
Poor people like me can only afford value for money hotel. laugh.gif

Yes, it's cheap because there's air-cond brows.gif because other hotels with similar price can give you only fan. Furthermore, the room is big enough for two persons.

YMCA also has a free swimming pool for guest, the pool is not very clean but only good for sunbathing. laugh.gif

The other complaint is the bath shower water is not hot enough just warm water.

But other than that, no complaints as it is not near to main road, the only noise you hear are dogs barking.

YMCA is walking distance to Kad Suan Kaew Shopping center which is 5 mins ride to night bazaar/city center.

PS: I loaded 5 more new pictures in second post.

This post has been edited by pucman: Jan 8 2009, 12:27 PM
xynthian
post Jan 8 2009, 05:17 PM

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This is really good. Thanks for sharing. All these information will be really useful. But one question the prices quoted are all per person? I might be considering YMCA hotel too. I’m bringing my parents there for a short break so have to plan out everything carefully. I’m still in a dilemma, not sure whether wanna spend more to put them like in a guesthouse for them to relax better or stay in YMCA which is cheaper (since most of the time will be out sightseeing and not in the hotel).

I think the most will be 5 nights for me. sad.gif Have to rush back for gf’s birthday. sad.gif So I’ll start planning out the itineraries now and start reading up. Once again thanks ppl….

stimix
post Jan 8 2009, 05:31 PM

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Another side trip from Chiang Mai is Chiang Rai & Golden triangle...5 days shoul dbe OK & Golden triangle is within the time frame...Too bad I choose Doi Ithanon instead of Golden triangle previously..wth 5 days...u can do both Doi Ithanon & Golden triangle!!

As what pucman mentioned, YMCA is 5 min rides away from Nite bazaar which might not be walking distance away (Correct me if I'm wrong..pucman hmm.gif ) if one of the highlights is to visit nite bazaar every nites!!

If your hotel is located within nite bazaar...imagine every day after the day tour back to hotel, take a nice bath & down again for shopping spree in front of th hotel & having nice full body massage...that's the cheapest full body massage in whole Thailand!! thumbup.gif

If ur up your budget, try getting Seriwongse, Cenhtra duatawan & etc...(~Rm120-RM150/nite) It's in the middle of nite bazaar!

This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 8 2009, 05:33 PM
TSpucman
post Jan 8 2009, 05:48 PM

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QUOTE(stimix @ Jan 8 2009, 05:31 PM)
As what pucman mentioned, YMCA is 5 min rides away from Nite bazaar which might not be walking distance away (Correct me if I'm wrong..pucman hmm.gif ) if one of the highlights is to visit nite bazaar every nites!!
Too far to walk to night bazaar from YMCA, must take taxi or bus for 10 to 15 mins. What I mean is 5 mins drive to sunday bazaar. blush.gif

If you want to stay near night bazaar, it is better to stay in one of the guesthouses in 'Ta Pae' road as it is within walking distance.

The problem with these guest houses is it is not as large as YMCA. In YMCA, the floors inside the rooms are made of tile, I am not sure whether the floors in guest houses are made of wood or tile.

This post has been edited by pucman: Jan 8 2009, 05:50 PM
zacevox
post Jan 8 2009, 10:14 PM

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did you visit the temple on hill top?
TSpucman
post Jan 8 2009, 10:43 PM

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QUOTE(xynthian @ Jan 8 2009, 05:17 PM)
But one question the prices quoted are all per person?


For hotel, it is charged per room. In YMCA, a standard room for 2 person is rm 60 , 1 person is rm 50. Just rm 10 more.


You can book online.

http://www.ymcachiangmai.org/h-reservation.htm

They will fetch you from airport which is cheaper at 100 baht (YMCA has their own taxis), if you call any taxi from airport it is more expensive at 120 baht.

This post has been edited by pucman: Jan 8 2009, 10:45 PM
xynthian
post Jan 8 2009, 10:55 PM

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QUOTE(pucman @ Jan 8 2009, 10:43 PM)
For hotel, it is charged per room. In YMCA, a standard room for 2 person is rm 60 , 1 person is rm 50. Just rm 10 more.
You can book online.

http://www.ymcachiangmai.org/h-reservation.htm

They will fetch you from airport which is cheaper at 100 baht (YMCA has their own taxis), if you call any taxi from airport it is more expensive at 120 baht.
*
Oh that’s great! Direct from airport. I will look at it tonight. Erm, I’ve looked at a couple of hotels/guestrooms in Ta pae road like you suggested, some in city centre, price around >70 for 3 persons. I think not bad. But have to use fan, no air con! Hahaaa…. I thinking of staying in town centre is easier because don’t have to get taxi or bus or tut tut. Within walking distance. What you think?

Talked to mom on the phone just now, she takut those cheap places dirty. Lol, I told her I read the reviews, none of the guests complain before. Old people worry about these things. A little bit troublesome.

The other excursion, like the elephant/trekking and stuff like that. All we need to do is ask around the shop there for the package is it? My parents I think they like travel guide more, since we don’t really know the place and time is limited (4-5nights), don’t really want to waste time getting lost. But then again, the tour guide will sometimes bring us to expensive place so he/she can get commission.

TSpucman
post Jan 9 2009, 10:36 AM

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QUOTE(xynthian @ Jan 8 2009, 10:55 PM)
Oh that’s great! Direct from airport. I will look at it tonight. Erm, I’ve looked at a couple of hotels/guestrooms in Ta pae road like you suggested, some in city centre, price around >70 for 3 persons. I think not bad. But have to use fan, no air con! Hahaaa….  I thinking of staying in town centre is easier because don’t have to get taxi or bus or tut tut. Within walking distance. What you think?
I've never been to the inside of the guesthouses in Ta Pae road. But viewing from the outside, I know it is much smaller compared to YMCA and I prefer bigger places. I am not sure whether stimix lived in those guesthouses before.

The advantage of YMCA is it is cheap, huge and clean with air-cond. But the disadvantage is, you got to travel 10 mins to Ta pae road which is not too far because the taxi there drive slowly.

You can either walk to the many small travel guide shops in city center for the excursion or ask the hotel to arrange for the travel guide to pick you up.

The excursion comes in packages and they advertise in brochures. So they will take you to elephant riding, then after that water rafting, lunch etc.

I saw a lot of travel guide brochures in YMCA and the counter staff told me that they will pick you up to and fro the hotel when you book one or two days earlier. I am not sure of other hotels arrangements.

There was a travel booth at the airport trying to sell me another hotel by lying to me that YMCA is full. mad.gif It is best you phone YMCA upon arrival so that they can fetch you with their own taxi.

Tell us your experience once you reach there and post some pictures here.

This post has been edited by pucman: Jan 9 2009, 10:45 AM
stimix
post Jan 9 2009, 10:45 AM

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Yes it's really a good idea to get hotel closer to town esp in Chiang Mai bcos that's where the nite life started..esp at Nite bazaar. Tapae gate is not far from Nite bazaar but it's still a distance to walk to that area....It's not so noisy honestly as I stayed at Suriwongse hotel which is exactly & surrounded by Nite bazaars.....(Yes not only one but few nite bazaar....FYI the nite bazaar is something like KL Central Market but not 1 ..many of them...My last count about 6 nite bazaars or more surrounding that area.. shocking.gif thumbup.gif ) coupled wth road side sellers...

List of my recommendation at the middle or surrounding Nite bazaar price =RM90-RM160:
http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/chiangmai/suriwongse/
http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/chiangmai/royallanna/
http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/chiangmai/duangtawan/ (Probably the hisghest building in Chiang Mai- nxt to Suroiwongse)


Out of nite bazaar & located at Tapae gate are..suprising saw such a nice boutique & cheap hotel drool.gif only RM85:

http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/chiangmai/portico21/

& also this one: http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/chiangmai/burigallery/

For more check here...this the so far the cheapest & reliable hotel reservation in Thailand. I used them few times oledi. (Or u can also check agoda..not bad too)

http://www.sawadee.com/hotels/chiangmai.html

http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/chiang_mai.html

For tour, yes surrounding Tapae gate/ niote bazaar & also few fronting Centara Duatawan hotel, u can find tour agent cum car/motorbike & bicycle rental)..I rent my bicycle & suzuki jeep from the tour agent beside 7-11 opposite Centara Duantawan...pretty std rate & reasonable....Others in those nite bazaars...


QUOTE(xynthian @ Jan 8 2009, 10:55 PM)
Oh that’s great! Direct from airport. I will look at it tonight. Erm, I’ve looked at a couple of hotels/guestrooms in Ta pae road like you suggested, some in city centre, price around >70 for 3 persons. I think not bad. But have to use fan, no air con! Hahaaa….  I thinking of staying in town centre is easier because don’t have to get taxi or bus or tut tut. Within walking distance. What you think?

Talked to mom on the phone just now, she takut those cheap places dirty. Lol, I told her I read the reviews, none of the guests complain before. Old people worry about these things. A little bit troublesome.

The other excursion, like the elephant/trekking and stuff like that. All we need to do is ask around the shop there for the package is it? My parents I think they like travel guide more, since we don’t really know the place and time is limited (4-5nights), don’t really want to waste time getting lost. But then again, the tour guide will sometimes bring us to expensive place so he/she can get commission.
*
This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 9 2009, 10:48 AM
TSpucman
post Jan 9 2009, 10:48 AM

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QUOTE(stimix @ Jan 9 2009, 10:45 AM)
...It's not so noisy honestly as I stayed at Suriwongse hotel which is exactly & surrounded by Nite bazaars.....(Yes


The guesthouses that you stayed, are the walls and floor made of wood rather than concrete and tiles ? Do the bedrooms have any windows ? Is bathroom shared or attached ?

How much you paid for aircond room for double bed ?

This post has been edited by pucman: Jan 9 2009, 10:51 AM
rubeniser
post Jan 9 2009, 10:55 AM

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went there during christmas last year. stayed in the hotel near the nite bazaar, which is opposite the new le meridien. basically the nite bazaar sells alomost the same things. there are several vendors selling the same kind of products. so bargain! there are also alot of women dressing as tribal people walking around selling tribal souveniors.

the climate was awesome! u wont sweat yet no too cold.

try the pork burger in burger king if u havent been eating in a non halal fast food chain. dere is also the samurai pork burger in mcd just opposite BK but i perfer BK 1.

remember to go for the elephant ride in the elephant farm! i noe its abit cruel but damn it was fun like a really slow roller coaster when it is walking down a hill slope!
stimix
post Jan 9 2009, 11:08 AM

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That's not a guesthouse-lah..It's a proper 3 star hotel but abit old. biggrin.gif cum wth Starbuck as part of Hotel complex & tiny shopping alley. Big room and if spread out the beds & divans probably can feed in 6ppl.. biggrin.gif .I paid RM120/nite for the room..yes attached batroom & bathtub if I'm not mistaken...but room abit dull & old...well.. the important thing is ..it's surrounded by nite bazaars..left/right, back & front!! rclxms.gif ..Oh yah at the back of Suriwaongse is the Phontip Plaza of Chiangmai..(Similar to Bangkok Photip Plaza or Low Yat Plaza of KL..but abit small)

Didn't I recommended this to you previously.. hmm.gif

@Rubeniser..I think the same Suriwongse hotel wth starbuck in front right?..I remembered they are building another new hotel in front...but I forgotten the name oledi.. hmm.gif

QUOTE(pucman @ Jan 9 2009, 10:48 AM)
The guesthouses that you stayed, are the walls and floor made of wood rather than concrete and tiles ? Do the bedrooms have any windows ? Is bathroom shared or attached ?

How much you paid for aircond room for double bed ?
*
This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 9 2009, 11:14 AM

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