A Favourite Thing - Chiang Mai

Advantages: see op
Disadvantages: see op

...Chiang Mai is one of the biggest cities in the North of Thailand and I?m lucky enough to have recently returned from there. I visited Thailand for a fortnight as a break from a trip to Singapore visiting relatives, and although I?ve been to Thailand before, this was my first trip to the North and to Chiang Mai. I had spent 2 days in Pattaya before we set off on the journey up to Chiang Mai, that took a 2 hour trip to Bangkok and then a 16 hour coach ride to take us to Chiang Mai itself. To be perfectly honest, I was dreading this and would have then preferred to spend some more time in Pattaya but it proved worthwhile! Part of me was also quite looking forward to this leg of the trip too as I?d been told that Chiang Mai was a nice quiet retreat after spending time in the bustling atmosphere of Bangkok and Pattaya. My first...

Celia86 07.08.2002 (10.09.2004) · Read review
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Review of Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Chiang Mai - Rose of the North

Advantages: Little pollution, friendly people, opportunities to explore the countryside
Disadvantages: Not a big nightlife if you like that sort of thing, for some people a limited range of things to do.

...people where ever you go. Depending on your interests, you may actually find that after a few days that you have done all you want because it is a relatively small town but don?t let that sway you. Its still well worth going no matter what interests you have. There is the usual heat but the air is much cleaner than Bangkok so you don?t notice it as much. Update - Oct 2002. I managed to pay a quick visit to Chiang Mai coming back from Chiang Rai. The city centre is now as developed as almost every other tourist destination in Thailand and there seems to be even more souvenir shops round the night market area. All the usual suspect shops are now here including Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut and so on. It seems the price of progress is uniformity. It has spoiled the atmosphere of the centre somewhat as it is more more...

ultras67 04.08.2000 (11.07.2003) · Read review
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Good base in Chiang Mai

Advantages: Great pool and breakfast buffet
Disadvantages: Expensive Italian restaurant

...Highly recommend this hotel as a base in Chiang Mai. It is slightly out of town but depending on your interests that can be a bonus. Certainly if you have a family and don't want to be right in the middle of the city or the Night Market it is a great choice as a cheap songthaew ride will take you there in 5 minutes. We have stayed there a number of times and would recommend you ask for a room overlooking the pool. The pool itself is excellent and the hotel also has a tennis court if you can play in the heat! There is also a Happy Hour at the pool bar (2 drinks for the price of 1) at 4pm. Watch out for the Italian restaurant in the hotel - the food is good but it is (by Chiang Mai standards) expensive and there are so many great options elsewhere. The rooms are comfortable rather than luxurious and we have found the staff to...

megget 23.03.2006 · Read review
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Review of Amari Rincome Hotel, Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai of Thailand

Advantages: good food, nice nature
Disadvantages: -

...I am the one who like Chiang Mai, there are good food, good atmosphere, good sceneries, and good nature. I paid more for the accomodation to stay in the resort, out of the city in order to get close to the nature, I didn't feel sorry at all. I had rent the bikecycle to go around the city and outside the city because it was so convenient. I certainly visited Pra-That-Doi-Suthep temple which is located on the top of the mountain. It was not easy for me to reach the temple, there were hundreds of steps that I had to climb up, anyway who don't want to experience these steps, there are also cable cars provided. Eventually, I reached the temple, I did not feel disappointed with my attempt. I looked down from the temple to the Chiang Mai landscape. For the night life, there are bars and shops to spend some money. A famous one is Night...

Naryn 04.12.2000 (05.12.2000) · Read review
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Review of Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Oh Me Oh Mai

Advantages: Fitter, Happier, Cleaner.
Disadvantages: The Overnight Train.

...the Night Bazaar is a godsend. Stretching on both sides of Thannon Chang Klang between Thanon Tha Phae. & Thanon Si Donchai it contains just about every item imaginable. You have to bargain and aim low. Department stores, fixed prices.. There are several good bookshops in Chaing Mai. The best we came across was Gecko books just off Thanon Tha Phae. As well as selling second hand books the shop offers good prices for anyone willing to sell their own books. There are huge fiction and non-fiction sections in several languages. The shop did seem to lack a comprehensive travel section however. You are spoilt for choice for internet options in Chaing Mai. Most places offer a standard 1 hour for 30 baht. Our favourite cafe was My Corner.com which you can find in the outdoor pavilion that has a huge climbing wall on Thannon Tha Phae. The cafe...

indiecater 14.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Star Inn - Chiang Mai

Advantages: quiet location, good rooms, centrally located
Disadvantages: might not have a pretty view

......

ultras67 03.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Backpacking in Chaing Mai

Advantages: Vibrant capital of the North, Scenery, Choice of activities
Disadvantages: none

...Just because it hasn't got a beach, don't whatever you do put off a trip to Chiang Mai if you visit Thailand. This place is the friendliest and most vibrant place in the whole of the Kingdom. Its situated about 8 hours from Bangkok be it by train or coach.There are also regular flights direct from most of Thailands major cities. Once here it makes a perfect base for exploring the rest of the North, or to visit other countries such as Burma and Laos. Places to stay are plentiful, and you'll find prices a lot less than you would pay down south. We stayed in an original thai teak house which had been converted into a medium size hotel. The place was spotless, with a swimming pool, restaurant, and all mod cons. The price was 250Baht a night! Chang Mai is known as the cultural centre of Thailand.It has over three hundred temples...

rj_1973 17.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Take a walk on the wild side

Advantages: The trekking is the main attraction although Doi Suthep and the shopping are both appealing
Disadvantages: More relaxed and less polluted than the Bangkok but still suffers from an abundance of touts and pollution

...Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and the 'capital' of the north, it was also my destination of choice in seeking to escape the horrendous pollution of the nation's capital. Northern Thailand and Chiang Mai in particular are mostly visited by those that wish to go trekking through the jungle and mountain regions that typify the area. This is not to say that Chiang Mai does not have attractions in its own right but I should mention that much of this opinion will be dedicated to trekking as it was my main reason for visiting. Getting to Chiang Mai As most people who travel to Chiang Mai do so from Bangkok I thought it might be useful to briefly discuss the options. Essentially the choice is between bus, train or plane for the 700km (420 mile) trip, with each having advantages and disadvantages. In my case a 13...

Mercury 27.07.2001 · Read review
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Nice Setting, Shame about the Zoo!

Advantages: Nice Location
Disadvantages: Everything Else

...Chaing Mai Zoo is located at the bottom of Doi Suthep and as a result is frequently stopped at whilst waiting for taxis taking people up to the far more impressive Doi Suthep Wat. The reason we went is because we had a spare couple of hours after visting the temple and were curious to see what the Zoo would be like. First impressions are good with a modern entrance surrounded by forests which are the main selling point of the location. As it is set at the bottom of the mountain the whole zoo slopes upwards and is covered by thick vegetation in places. If you don't mind walking then I would certainly recommend going alone and not taking the train around the park as there are many secluded parts of the park which you may miss. The cost of the park is reasonable but there are individual parts of the zoo which require an additional fee...

richardallan100 09.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Chiang Mai Zoo, Chiang Mai

There is more to Thailand than beaches and Bangkok

Advantages: great base for exploring from; great value
Disadvantages: can get busy in season

...I am lucky enough to have visited Chiang Mai a number of times and always found it to be a city that is well worth a visit. It is only a short (cheap) flight from Bangkok and, whilst it is still a city it is only a fraction of the size of the capital. The benefit of that is that it offers a different type of experience from the more commonly seen parts of Thailand, namely the beaches. There are a few sights to see in the city but the main attraction is the impressive Doi Suthep temple on the mountain overlooking the city. You can easily get a taxi there or go on an organised tour through any number of operators who will collect you from your hotel. Often those tours will return via a never-ending series of handicraft shops which is ok once but a nightmare if you have seen it all before. Trouble is you can't say that you don't want...

megget 24.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of Chiang Mai (Thailand)