eduard_ostrovsky

Hey. I am planning a trip to Thailand with my fiancée and this is what Im thinking:

Day 1 (Jan 11): Arrive at Bangkok 12 am, sleep in.

Day 2 (Jan 12): Bangkok

Day 3 (Jan 13): Day trip to Ayutthaya, Bangkok at night

Day 4 (Jan 14): Bangkok, night train to Chiang Mai

Day 5 (Jan 15): Chiang Mai area

Day 6 (Jan 16): Chiang Mai area

Day 7 (Jan 17): Chiang Mai area

Day 8 (Jan 18): Chiang Mai area, night train to Bangkok

Day 9 (Jan 19): Pattaya

Day 10 (Jan 20): Pattaya

Day 11 (Jan 21): Leave to Bangkok, overnight at Bangkok

Day 12 (Jan 22): Catch flight at 6 am Jan 22
_________________________________________________
This comes to 3 days and 4 nights at Bangkok, 1 day at Ayutthaya,
4 days and 3 nights at Chiang Mai area, 2 days and 2 nights at Pattaya.

What do you guys think? Would a day trip to Kanchanaburi be worth it? (instead of something I guess since I am short on time). Thanks for your input. All the best.

Eddie

Kathie

Unless your purpose is sex tourism, I'd avoid Pattaya. If you don't want to fly to Phuket, go to Hua Hin - about a two to two and a half hour drive from Bangkok.

Is there a particular reason you want to spend all of that time in Chiang Mai? If not, consider taking a day from CM and adding it to Bangkok or Hua Hin.

There are very cheap intra-Thailand flights - check out Thai Air Asia.

MmePerdu

Regarding your overnight train to Chiang Mai, they've been working on the tracks and part of the trip is currently by bus. It was planned to be completed by the end of the this month but, according to the Seat61 website, has been delayed. You may want to keep an eye on it. http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#B...20Chiang%20Mai

MmePerdu

I should have mentioned, the information about the track work is well down the page I gave you in a red box.

Regarding how long to spend in Chiang Mai (or any place for that matter), it's a highly subjective thing, how long is too long. I personally like Chiang Mai very much and have spent weeks at a time there. I like it much better than I do Bangkok which I find oppressive. My point, take any such advise on "how long" with a grain of salt. Also, if you find that it's too long for you anywhere it's very easy to change your mind in Thailand, hop on the next flight to somewhere else. So don't feel you must stick absolutely to your original plan.

eduard_ostrovsky

Thanks for the replies. Pattaya is a must, as it is a nostalgia for me, went there about 10 years ago for a training trip. Don't see why my fiancée wouldn't enjoy it. I am aware of the construction at the tracks, hope fully it will be done by December like they promise. cheapest flights made it at least double from traveling by night train. In the process of making the itinerary I alternated a few things.
Day 1 (Jan 11): Arrive at Bangkok 12 am.
Day 2 (Jan 12): Bangkok
Day 3 (Jan 13): Day trip to Ayutthaya, Bangkok at night
Day 4 (Jan 14): Bangkok, night train to Chiang Mai
Day 5 (Jan 15): Chiang Mai
Day 6 (Jan 16): Chiang Mai
Day 7 (Jan 17): Chiang Mai
Day 8 (Jan 18): Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle, night train to Bangkok
Day 9 (Jan 19): Pattaya
Day 10 (Jan 20): Koh Samet, Pattaya at night
Day 11 (Jan 21): Bangkok
Day 12 (Jan 22): Depart to airport and catch flight at 6 am

What do you guys think? Thanks.

Eddie

Kathie

Do you know there is no train from Chiang Rai? It will be bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, then train (as long as the track work is finished) from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.

MmePerdu

For such a short trip I'd skip the Chiang Rai area. It's fine if you have plenty of time but not worthwhile, I don't think, for you this time. Maybe next time. Add that day to an island.

eduard_ostrovsky

I knew that, but didn't take it into consideration. Do you think in that I case it would be better to make the Chiang Ray trip on day 6 or 7 instead of 8- since for day 8 I would have a problem with the baggage, since I would be checked out? Thanks.

Eddie

eduard_ostrovsky

Interesting. Well, what would you suggest to do as another island day? If you have a good suggestion I could talk it over with my fiancée. Thanks.

Eddie

MmePerdu

"...what would you suggest to do as another island day?"

That I cannot tell you, I'm not a beach person, but since you have only 2 island days you might add a day or have another day in BKK if you think it would appeal. My suggestion was to avoid another day of travel to a place that's just so-so and instead add it to a place you'll already be visiting for a more relaxing trip.

Hanuman

Pattaya is not attractive anymore with hardly any beach left (erosion) and awful traffic especially on weekends. Koh Samet is nice so I would recommend spending the night on the little island vs staying in Pattaya.

Also, Chiang Mai in January has very good weather warm days and cool nights.

eduard_ostrovsky

I like to party hard and even though pattaya is a sex capital, the party scene is what attracts me. People go there to party and have a good time- exactly what Im looking for, not necessarily sex related. Would someone be able to recommend any other beaches in the Bangkok area? I only know Koh Samet and Hua Hin, but they are in opposite directions.. Thought Koh Samet would work better since its right next to Pattaya which I want to visit anyways. Thanks

Eddie

pinkpeony

If you are going to Ayuthaya before Chiang Mai by train, you don't need to go back to Bangkok. You can take train from Ayuthaya to Ching Mai direct. It's waste of time, isn't it?

eduard_ostrovsky

I thought of going to Chiang Mai from Ayutthaya since the train stops there, but what will I do with the baggage, since I will be leaving in the PM, hence have no hotel at Ayutthaya?

MmePerdu

The trip to Ayutthaya, 1 way by boat, 1 way by coach, is infinitely doable as a relaxed day trip from Bangkok. I don't think I'd like to squeeze it in between trains to Chiang Mai.

SirHalberd

Everyone mentions the Pattaya nightlife and crappy beach but Pattaya also attracts family groups with children, couples and female tourists traveling alone because they get good value for their money! On the weekends Thai family groups arrive by the many hundreds to relax. Every now and then band concerts are scheduled for Pattaya Beach Road which attracts thousands of young tourists from many places in Asia. There also have been marathons and a touring car races. Even horseback riding.

In Pattaya many hotels are cheaper than Phuket, local transportation is only 10 baht, easy to get to from Bangkok in 2 hours by cheap bus too. Pattaya is not just Beach Road and Second Road - tourists also choose hotels in Naklua, Jomtien and closer to Sukhumvit. There are many expensive hotels in the Pattaya area that seem to do okay. (Some have scheduled conferences.) I can think of 10 big malls that on any day you will see them busy with tourist family groups and couples.

Tourists do sunbathe on Pattaya Beach. There is some beach type swimming at Jomtien Beach and swimming at Koh Larn. Many hotels have pools.

http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/patt...p_pattaya.html

Some tourists who visit Pattaya are content to just relax in a nice hotel, walk to restaurants, malls and modern supermarkets and never visit nightlife. Like Bangkok and Chiang Mai there are many travel agencies that provide tours on short notice.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...vince.html#TtD


Have fun.

JamesA

As previous post thousands of Thai families and families from all over head to Pattaya, simple fact. There are lots of upmarket and trendy restaurants and night spots in the Pattaya area. Also lots now of 5 star hotels / resorts and more comming.
There is also a great deal to do with lots of attractions, Cartoon Network (US) has chosen the pattaya area for their first theme park in Asia and that surely is simply becuase of the huge numbers of Thai and other families who head to the area.
It is also way cheaper than many other areas, it is not a tropical island, it is a large city at the sea, if you remember that and not compare with places like Koh samui / Tao / Khao Lak / Khanom / Koh Chang etc as they are very different.