Chiang Mai

I have been to Chiang Mai several times, its a very nice and relaxing part of Thailand. Below are some comments ffrom my first visit - some more recent (and maybe useful) comments are given from my trip with my parents in August 2007.

Hotels

• Surawongse Hotel: This is a large 3-4 star tourist hotel near the night bazaar in Chiang Mai. Paid about 1600 Baht in September 2005, spending only 1 night there. Rooms and service are good, as one would expect in most Western hotels. However, I looked for a cheaper hotel while in Chiang Mai.
• Top North Hotel and Guest House: Found this hotel on the edge of the old city on Moon Muang Rd, near the corner with Ratchadamnoen Rd. Paid 650 Baht for a standard room and 850 Baht for Deluxe room which was larger and included some table chairs. Pretty convenient hotel for the price. Short tuk-tuk ride to the night bazaar and other restaurants, and within walking distance of plenty of shops and eataries. The shower pressure in the rooms isn't great though. There is a nice pool at the hotel and a convenient cafe and Internet shop next door.

Things To Do and See

• Doi Inthanon:
• Doi Suthep:
• Treks and Camping:
• Eating and Entertainment: There are a couple of good places for eating and drinking by the riverside, one called the Riverside and the other, next door, The Good View. I always get them mixed up, but one was a smallish bar/restaurant with a live band, while the other was a very big restuarant (also with a live band sometimes). A tuk-tuk from the Night Bazaar or old town is 40-80Baht - just tell the driver "Riverside" or "The Good View" restaurant. There are one or two other restaurants next door as well.
• Shopping: All the guidebooks and websites mention the Night Bazaar for shopping. For me it was rather disappointing - seemed to be aimed primarily at tourists looking for t-shirts and typical Thai souvenirs etc. The two nights I went there there wasn't much atmosphere, mainly Westerners walking around all the stalls. As an alternative, by chance I wandered into XXX street in the centre of Chiang Mai one night and found a much more vibrant market packed with Thai's and some Westerners with plenty of Thai knick knacks and food to buy. Much better atmosphere and products than the Night Bazaar. However I'm not sure how regular it is - I was there on Christmas night, which was also a Sunday.

Created on Sun, 30 Apr 2006, 5:37pm

Last changed on Sun, 19 Sep 2010, 9:01pm