Thailand, Koh Chang and Chiang Mai ?

PompeyPete

I'd have spent 3 nights in BKK on arrival and a couple on the way home.
Flying everywhere is boring, you miss so much.
It's best to visit less and linger longer (imo).

Dave_6

I think we'd have spent longer in Bangkok if the holiday was longer, wanted a good amount of time in both Chiang Mai & on Koh Chang though so that's been the sacrifice.

Flying to & from Chiang Mai as the railway is still currently offline, were not flying to Trat/Koh Chang though

fifeken

alwaysskint96 wrote: »

As for Chiang Mai the Loy Krathong festival is on 16-18 Nobv so if you can be there for thast ( I am ) its fab.

If you've not already heard, the celebrations will be very subdued, if they take place at all due to the recent death of the head monk.

The tourist association have said they are postponing the festival but they can't exactly stop individuals from doing their own thing.

Tiggy_Wiggy

Was in Samui in June, yes Chaweng isn't great but not all of it is commercialised or 'ruined' as the OP put it. We stayed in the Bophut Resort & Spa which was really nice.

I would definitely do Bangkok at the end of the holiday.

sarah69696pink

I think people's interpretations of 'commercialised' and 'ruined' really differ - also been to Bophut and although it was lovely if thats what you like to me that was more ruined than built up areas with lots of fast food places, the luxury type resorts in that area are tailored to European holiday makers and not exactly natural Thailand at all....all depends what you're after though

vegasvisitor

Reading this with interest, as we are going to Bangkok in January, and have decided to do it differently from most. We are staying 8 nights in Bangkok, however we are staying at the Riverside in the hope that it will be a bit more peaceful. We are staying at the Chatrium Riverside Hotel, which are sort of apartments with a mini kitchen. This will also be useful if we want to have some drinks or food in the room.

We haven't planned out what we will do yet, it's our first visit to Thailand. So far I'm thinking the boat trips on the river in the evening sound good (although we are vegetarian and they seem to include dinner which we will need to check if it's suitable). We are also hoping to go to Asiatique some evenings, other evenings we might still be out and about. We will also spend a few hours a day at the pool where possible, we want to relax there too.

When I started reading the thread the impression I got was that Bangkok is too crazy for more than a few days, but I know two people who have been for a whole week, stayed in the same area, and highly recommend the extended visit. I hope they are right. We have booked our hotel and paid it along with our flights (not cancellable), so we intend to keep those plans as they are.

PompeyPete

Lesley. If you intend spending your whole holiday in Bangkok then I think that Riverside is a good choice.
But I hope that you don't end up judging the whole of Thailand on your experience of 8 nights in a crazy 24/7, in your face city.

boatman

Make sure if you go to Chang Mai you are there for the sunday night market, huge!!

sarah69696pink

Lesley I LOVE Bangkok - one of my fave cities in the world and could happily spend over a week there - but also love the sea, so have split my breaks on my last two Thailand visits - this thread is helpful for me as when we go next year I want to venture somewhere totally new - possibly Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai area.
I've stayed in various places in BKK and personally like the riverside area - if you get a river view that alone can be fascinating to sit and watch with a nice cool drink
I too am veggie and can recommend the Loy Nava cruise - their veggie food was lovely. One tip I would say is clarify everything you are served in hotels etc - the Hilton have given me both chicken and foie gras as veggie options (because they are not beef!) generally though everywhere has been fine and there are lots of veggie streetfood options like pad thai and spring rolls....I also did a cookery class that was brilliant and they happily amended all the food for me to be able to cook veggie options.
There is loads to do in BKK itself and lots of day trips you can go to from there too - enjoy!

Doshwaster

I too think that Bangkok is one of the most exciting and amazing cities in the world - but for me 3 nights is enough. I find it's a city that is best experienced in short visits before moving on. I have been to Bangkok 6 times and there is still a lot that I haven't seen or done, but that just means that there is something left for next time. I could easily spend a week or longer in Bangkok but you have to balance that with getting out and seeing s

Personally, I like visiting the Riverside area during the day and using the riverboat services to explore random areas but in the evening I like to return to the Sukhummvit area for the nightlife.

I'm just back from my annual trip to Thailand. After 3 nights in Bangkok I flew down to Ao Nang, Krabi. It was my first time there and found it very relaxing and laid back - far better than anything across the bay on Phuket. I then flew over to Samui for my 4th visit there but I was slightly disappointed this time - there is endless development going on (there's a shopping mall and cinema being built in Chaweng!) but visitor numbers are down with many bars and restaurants being virtually empty.