My husband and I just decided to go to Thailand for his 15-day R&R in July. Last year for my R&R we went to Barcelona. We really enjoyed staying in an apartment, instead of a hotel, it made us both feel at home. Considering how we live when we are deployed, just having a kitchen to make coffee and toast in means a lot. We would like to duplicate that feel again this year in Bangkok and Chang Mai.
We know little about the area because this location wasn't even on our radar until today. Frankly, my husband could not care less where we go as long as we're together. I, on the other hand, like to shop, walk around, eat, and drink. I like museums and art galleries a lot; monuments not so much. I search out artists wherever I travel. I like fun experiences, for example the elephant orphanage in Nairobi was wonderful, go car'ing around Barcelona was fantastic, gorilla trek in Uganda was only marred by the gorillas running over the border to Rwanda and the bee attack kinda stunk at the time, buying the best coffee beans in the world in Addis was also fun (try getting 10 kilos of coffee through customs, I dare you), discovering the many little artists shops in the nooks and crannies of El Born was like a treasure hunt, the cat sanctuary in Rome was a bust, but the walk and bus rides looking for it was a blast. We're not good at organized tour groups because we tend to enjoy sleeping in. I love Thai food and would like to take a cooking class. A basic photo workshop would be great too. An elephant trek and river rafting in Chang Mai would be fantastic.
I know there are plenty of apartment rentals on another travel website, but I have no idea who is reliable and what neighborhood we should look in. We both enjoy public transportation and would like that close by.
How long should we stay in each location? Should we plant roots in Bangkok and then go to Chang Mai for just a few days, returning to Bangkok for a few days before we leave? Or, should we start out in one location and move to the other? Can we buy flights to Chang Mai after we get to Thailand? May not be in Chang Mai long enough to justify an apartment, any nice hotel recommendations for Chang Mai?
We appreciate any tips that you can give to us.
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i don't like chiang mai so i would not stay there more than 3 days at the most...
bkk has plenty to do...
try looking for serviced apartments... in thailand they are as nice or nicer than many hotels: marriott mayfair; emporium suites; chatrium suites riverside; centre point silom; adelphi suites; marriott sukhumvit park; ascott.
many are around $100 per night and are very nice with tons of room. some include breakfast. mayfair and chatrium are two of my favs.
Thailand will be a great location for your R&R. Personally, I love Bangkok and can never spend enough time there, but some people love Chiang Mai. Bangkok has more to do and see and has great public transport (the skytrain and the water taxis are especially recommended).
Chaing Mai really has no public transportation system, so you'll have to take tuk-tuks, songthews (pick-up trucks with benches in teh back) and taxis. Chaing Mai, while a large sprawling city, gives you access to teh countryside. You might to to Lampang to see and ride the elephants at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, for instance.
In Bangkok, you want to be close to a skytrain station. I like to stay along the river. Serviced apartments by the river include Centre Point Silom (ask for a river view room). Chatrium has serviced apartments, but thye told me that they only rent for 6 months at a time or longer. Ther eis also a hotel in the same location, but I don't know if they have kitchenettes.
Here is a website many of us use for booking hotels and serviced apartments in Thailand:
www.sawsdee.com Most prices include tax and service (adds 17.7%) and many include breakfast. Even serviced apartments often have a lavish breakfast buffet.
Have a wonderful time!
Last year I went to Bangkok and Chang Mai and then on to Loas and had a great time. We took cooking lessons in Chang Mai with a very relaxed group. And the best shopping around Chang Mai was Hang Dong. It's a bit of a drive but we just hired a driver to spend the day with us and he took us all around the various shops. If you end up going to Loas. The boat ride from Chang Mai is horrible. It's slow, overcrowed, stinks of gas and I could go on but you get the point.
I go to BKK and Chiang Mai twice a year and I love both of them for different reasons. In BKK lots of shopping, people watching, temples, Grand Palace, Jim Thompson house and so many things to do.
I love CM for the slower pace of life. I do lots of exploring around town. You can trek, raft, elephant camps, just hike-lots of outdoor sports. I love walking and riding the tuk tuk. Good and inexpensive cooking schools have people from many different places.
I love them both.
have you considered a beach location for a few days too??
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