76 replies to this topic

[larrylarry]

I met a fellow that just came back from Ciang Mai. He spent about 2 months in northern Thailand and is a frequent visitor. He travels with his wife and as such I didn't ask him about mongering. I did mention Pattaya and he flashed a big grin so I would bet the poor bugger would love to break away from the Mrs and enjoy some local talent. Here are some of his recomendations.

Here is some info that should be useful on your trip to Chiang Mai.

I have stayed at a few hotels in the same area near the eastern gate (TaePae
Gate) to the city. We have found this area to be very convenient to
restaurants, bars, and other places of interest.


Hotels

The Lux Hotel was built just a couple years ago and is clean and well
managed. We have stayed there for a total of four months and have been very
satisfied with it. Underpriced at about $40/night

The Montri Hotel is directly opposite TaePae Gate and is also on the Sunday
walking street. It has an indoor and outside restaurant that is nice for
watching the passing street activities.

The De Naga is on the same street (it runs parallel to the old wall and moat
that surround the city) as the above two hotels but is a bit up-scale. Nice
restaurant and outdoor dining. Probably about $70 to $100/night.

Whichever hotel you choose it does not have to be a permanent decision. We
have found that most hotels are rarely fully booked.

Details, address, tel.nos. on these and other hotels are accessable on Trip
Advisor or by searching their names on Google. We have found Trip Asdvisor
to be a useful resource in Thailand.


Restaurants

"The Café" is on the same street as the above hotels. Good reasonably priced
Thai and Western food and a friendly bar. Street side tables.

"The Riverside" is a must see. It is an institution for both Thais and
Westerners. Very scenic on the river, good food, music nightly, friendly
crowd. It’s out side the city wall, a 10 min. tuk tuk ride from TaePae Gate.

"Huen Phen" has very good real Thai food. You will find more locals than
westerners eating there. By day it is set up with tables street side. At
night the food is served inside among many Thai artifacts. It is inside the
walled city, a 10 min. tuk tuk ride from TaePae Gate.

"The Rachamankha" Upscale but well worth it for special occasions.

"The House" Up scale, near the Lux hotel.

At night there are many street vendors and tables along the street near the
Lux and De Naga hotels. There is a morning food market near the Lux hotel.

If you are interested in a Thai cooking class there is one called Baan Thai
House. Well organized and fun.

I'm sure you will find your own favorites...there are probably a couple
hundred restaurants in Chiang Mai.

Getting to your hotel from the airport just use the fixed rate taxi service
at 120 baht. Its reliable and not much more than any other means.

[patrick]

Good info there larry, on the restaurant list I would add Chez Marco on Loi Khroh Rd, very good french food, the rib eye is the best steak I've ever eaten in Thailand.
Booked in to the Duangtawan for a couple of nights at the end of October

[katana57]

Stay here...

Much better than a hotel room.Anyone friendly,any number ok!
Much cheaper on Agoda than booking direct.

[larrylarry]

Made my reservations at the Royal Lanna for three nights in Dec. Anyone with any suggestions on some cool things to do or see while I am there?

[Ivor Biggun]

Good info there larry, on the restaurant list I would add Chez Marco on Loi Khroh Rd, very good french food, the rib eye is the best steak I've ever eaten in Thailand.
Booked in to the Duangtawan for a couple of nights at the end of October

Ditto on Chez marco- they do a great beef carpaccio as well and generous portions. I also recomment the Art Cafe at Tah Pae Gate on the funny junction. Very good pizzas, mexican and thai food. Run by an American and they do fresh home made cheese as well.

[larrylarry]

Thanks fellows for all the great dinning tips. I was also interested in what there is to do other than eat and monger. I enjoy getting out a doing the tourist stuff so any suggestions would be appreciated as its tuff to filter whats good from the guide books.

I will be in CM from Dec 11 to Dec 14 if anyone is around and care to meet up

Cheers

[patrick]

One place we love to go is Huay Tung Lake.
http://www.earthoria...chiang-mai.html
Loads of little eating places around the shore, it might be a bit cool for swimming in December, but still a nice day out, LB's enjoy.

[kliome]

Made my reservations at the Royal Lanna for three nights in Dec. Anyone with any suggestions on some cool things to do or see while I am there?

Larry, if you can stomach a temple the Doi Satthep Wat (bad spelling) is a definite. It's about a 45 min drive up in the mountains but well worth the visit.

There's also Chiang Mai Zoo about half way between the temple and the city if you want to make a day of it. It's a pretty mediocre Zoo but kind of OK if you are on a date and need some chill out things to do. They make a big fuss of the Pandas there, to the extent where you'd think they are the last set of Pandas in existence. You need to pay extra to go in and watch them sleeping behind a bush..

I haven't done it for a while, but they also do a lot of treks, from a day to a week, on the day treks you usually get to meet a tribe, try some fo their food, a ride on a elephant, have a swim in a waterfall, that kind of stuff. It's fun if you don't over think it. They also do white water rafting which is good fun, you can usually do this without going on a trek, nothing like abit of water sport when you are in Thailand

My favourite thing about Chaing Mai is just walking around. It has the coolest vibe and the city is so small and pedestrain freindly. It's nice to just uncover all these little coffee houses, artisan and
craft shops, markets and restaurants. The people are friendly and even the expats seem cool.

Same goes for the evening, a really nice chilled out vibe with lots of hidden surprises, a big night market and a little bar scene whith ladyboys, if you need a fix.

Enjoy, dude!

[Ivor Biggun]

I may be up in the hills to the West of CM in Dec, normally get down every 10 days or so for a bit of civilisation and a change from eating rice!

I agree with the comments above about the vibe of ChiangMai- if I ever re-locate within Thailand it would be my location of choice.

[larrylarry]

Thanks guys For the couple of days I will be spending there my itineray seems to be comming together. Of course TIT so once on the ground all plans are tentitive at best. I am posting below some stuff I found out from other non BM friends who have been there. I hope its helpful to anyone else planning a trip....

Sunday you should got to the Sunday Night Walking Street. It starts just inside the moat on Ratchadamnoen Rd. Many dozens of vendors plus many food stands at two of the temples along the way. Very popular with Thais and foreigners.

Have a drink at one of the bars along Moon Muang Rd. (inside the eastern moat wall) and you will probably meet some expats that can fill you in on current things of interest.

We did not take many excursions outside the city. The one that is worthwhile in my opinion is the Elephant Nature Park. There are a number of elephant shows not far from Chiang Mai but the Elephant Nature Park is by far the best. It is an all day thing but well worth the time and results in some great photographs and memories. see http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/. Their booking office is just inside the moat from your hotel.

Definitely see the night market and Warot Market.

There are dozens of temples of course but Wat Phra Singh is one of if not the best to see. Have at least one dinner at the Riverside Restaurant.

The Lonely Plant guide books do a good job covering Chiang Mai.

Unlike Bangkok, Chiang Mai is very easy to navigate . There is little traffic and Tuk Tuks can get you to almost anyplace within 15 min. or less.

[patrick]

Thanks guys For the couple of days I will be spending there my itineray seems to be comming together. Of course TIT so once on the ground all plans are tentitive at best. I am posting below some stuff I found out from other non BM friends who have been there. I hope its helpful to anyone else planning a trip....

Sunday you should got to the Sunday Night Walking Street. It starts just inside the moat on Ratchadamnoen Rd. Many dozens of vendors plus many food stands at two of the temples along the way. Very popular with Thais and foreigners.

Spot on, forget the Night bazaar, the Sunday walking street market is not to be missed. Find the Barli Bar (on Ratchadamnoen) selltledown in a comfy chair enjoy the music and the people watching.

Have a drink at one of the bars along Moon Muang Rd. (inside the eastern moat wall) and you will probably meet some expats that can fill you in on current things of interest.

The Old Bell in Loi Kroh rd about 100m from the moat, tends to be my local, good mix of expats and visitors, it's a bit UK/Aus but not exclusively, all are welcome. We even join in the weekly pub quiz if we're in town on Tuesday. Another nice place for a drink is Tiger Kingdom, fairly new and quite swank, but not expensive, there is live music each evening not loud but usually quirky blues/jazz/pop, standing at the top of Loi Kroh it is 100m left on the other side of the moat.

We did not take many excursions outside the city. The one that is worthwhile in my opinion is the Elephant Nature Park. There are a number of elephant shows not far from Chiang Mai but the Elephant Nature Park is by far the best. It is an all day thing but well worth the time and results in some great photographs and memories. see http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/. Their booking office is just inside the moat from your hotel.

There are lots of Elephant places, but this would be my choice, they don't believe in Elephant rides, but you certainly get up close, feeding and wasing them etc. The wife even returned for an overnight experience, I had a night of freedom and had an entirely different experience that started at Marina Bar

Definitely see the night market and Warot Market.
Warorot is certainly worth a visit and as Kliome said above just walking down the little sois of the city is great fun.

There are dozens of temples of course but Wat Phra Singh is one of if not the best to see. Have at least one dinner at the Riverside Restaurant.

The Lonely Plant guide books do a good job covering Chiang Mai.

Unlike Bangkok, Chiang Mai is very easy to navigate . There is little traffic and Tuk Tuks can get you to almost anyplace within 15 min. or less.

[larrylarry]

Made my reservations at the Royal Lanna for three nights in Dec. Anyone with any suggestions on some cool things to do or see while I am there?