Please critique my Thailand itinerary

Old Aug 19th, 2014, 12:35 PM
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Please critique my Thailand itinerary

Good afternoon

Thank you so much for helping me so far. I have gotten several library books to scope this out, as well as a very loose itinerary. No lodging yet so this is open. Sixteen nights.

Arrival day one: late arrival to BKK.

First three nights will be BKK. This only means two full days as the first night I arrive in time to go straight to sleep.

When I leave BKK after the three nights, based on what Kathie told me I will go north before I go to the beaches.

I will still have 13 nights left on my trip, and I believe I will use the last two nights for BKK again so that I have one full day before I fly home.

That leaves 11 nights to split among Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and one of the beaches. I am currently thinking of Krabi.

I'm not a "lay out on the beach person" although I do like to hike and take photos (and I love beaches at sunrise and sunset - just not sitting around all day on them). I also like boat rides. Would you split the 11 nights outside of BKK to something like:

4 nights Chiang Mai
3 nights Chiang Rai
4 nights Krabi

or some other combination? I know that I will lose some time moving around.

Given that I will put Krabi near the end (which will be mid November) is there any reason to put either of the other two first after I leave BKK?

I understand there are beautiful drives in the north. I may or may not rent a car - I usually do in Europe, but it might be nice to sit back and let someone else do the driving who already knows how to get around well. Any thoughts in this regard would be nice.

In the past month I read (perhaps on Fodors) that reserving online for hotels is the best strategy for pricing although there was some other trick involved to getting even better pricing. If that rings a bell, please chime in, thanks. Maybe it merely involved checking back as the time gets closer, I can't recall.

I have been skimming these forums for hotel names in all locations so no need to add new hotels unless you would like to (I'd appreciate it but not necessary - although I may have targeted hotel questions...)

I see that Kathie likes the Renaissance (Marriott) which is downtown/not on the river in BKK. I have a F&F status there and should be able to get a nice room for under 4000 bahts. Would that be as good a choice as any or should I strive for the river?

My flight home is EARLY. 7 AM. Any issues with staying right in town, and, is a three hour pre-flight arrival a good idea? Or should I plan to exit the hotel three hours before the flight and be in the cab at that time, etc. Staying at the airport would give me an extra hour of sleep although I don't want to do that for two nights - changing after a night would be silly.

I'll have other questions as they arise but this is a good start. Thank you so much!
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 12:50 PM
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I think your plan looks reasonable. Think about what you want to do in Northern Thailand. I don't recommend the "cross the border into Laos or Burma for an hour" tours as the places they take you make Tijuana look like a cultural capital. If you don't have specific things you want to do in Northern Thailand, I'd spend more time in Bangkok.

Krabi is a nice beach location.

For hotels, I've never stayed at the Renaissance downtown, but was considering it for my next trip until I read Bob's review. I like the hotels by the river. For me, staying on the river makes me feel like I'm in Bangkok. The downtown locations feel to me like they could be anywhere. I've often stayed at the Sheraton Royal Orchid in the Towers rooms. The Chatrium has become a popular choice.

Most of us have flights out of BKK at 7 am or before. No need to stay out at the airport. If you want to be conservative, leave for the airport 3 hours before your flight. It should be a 30 minute drive at that hour of the morning.

For the best hotel prices, do book in advance. I always check a local booking site like www.sawasdee.com a big international site like www.booking.com or www.hotels.com and check the hotel's own website. For the big chains (like Marriott) the chain's own website often has the best price, IME.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 01:03 PM
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Thanks Kathie. I was basing Marriott on your post earlier as well as the fact I can get a good price for it. Although I suspect I can do that in other places. Although isn't the Renaissance a 5-star? That would be nice.

If the river is better I will look there, though!

I don't plan to cross a border. Too much to see on my first trip.

I will be back with other questions. Most of my library book reading was a month ago and I mentally made notes but didn't write down anything specific.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 01:46 PM
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you won't believe this Kathie, but I am giving renaissance another try this year, and the price is fantastic...
location could not be better..

we, too, prefer riverside hotels: anantara riverside, ROS, chatrium to name 3.

courtyard, Marriott mayfair, Marriott sukhumvit park are also favorites.

I personally do not like the ao nang section of krabi---too tacky, but I do like the area where the Sheraton, Sofitel and amari vogue are located...

we love the jw Marriott at khao lak, 1+ hour north of Phuket airport... the renaissance and jw at Phuket are also really lovely and just a few minutes north of the airport---good place for a car rental as both are isolated---I like pure car rentals in Phuket..

chiag rai is also a great place for a car rental
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 01:57 PM
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We spent about 10 days in the north of Thailand this past Feb, loved it so much we're returning in Nov.

I used info from two excellent reports on this forum, one by Yestravel, and one by Progol. You've already found Crellstons terrific report.

I'd highly recommend the guide Jermsak in CR, and we had a fantastic day with a lady named Tik of Cook Thai Yourself. You can find her on Tripadvisor.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 02:07 PM
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Bob, you'll have to let me know if you liked the Renaissance better this time around. Your review was sufficiently negative that I crossed it off my list.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 04:34 PM
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For your time up North I like to suggest that you spend around 3 - 4 nights in Chiang Mai and the rest of the time do a driving tour.

Suggestion for the driving:

1. From Chiang Mai to Pai, around 3 hours driving, spend the night and check out the little town and surroundings.
2. Pai to Mae Hong Son, around 2.5 hours driving, spend a couple of nights and explore the area.
3. Mae Hong Son to Mae Sariang and then back to Chiang Mai. You can spend the night at Mae Sariang but I suggest you just drive through.

http://www.budget.co.th/images/world...ss_mae_eng.pdf

IMO this will be better than going to Chaing Rai.

While in Mae Hong Son drive North to see "Ban Rak Thai" - an old enclave of the former KMT Nationalist from China. Interesting.

Accommodations suggestion:
Pai - Hotel Des Artists http://www.hotelartists.com/pai/home.htm
Mae Hong Son - Fern Resort http://www.fernresort.info
Chiang Mai - 137 Pillars House http://www.snhcollection.com/137pillarshouse/
*Or stay just North of Chiang Mai around Mae Rim.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 05:24 PM
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I second Mae hong son. Also U need more time in Bkk, imo!.. So much to do in one of the world's greatest cities.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 06:53 PM
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Easy driving up north. I recommend

http://www.northwheels.com

The best value rooms are in the 800 to 2000 baht bracket. Quality for low price.

The more expensive rooms are priced like the west. Inflated prices.

Look at reviews on booking.com

Skip Rai. Dull town.

CM to Chiang Dao cave. Have lunch then drive onto Pai. They have a resort with hotsprings pools. Can stay there.

Drive onto Tham Lot cave near soppong. Have lunch then drive onto MHS. Stay there.

Then onto Mae Sariang and back to CM

CM 2N
Pai 1n
MHS 2 nights
Mae Sariang 1 night

Drive to airport for afternoon flight.


Krabi is a good choice. Lots to do.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 07:00 PM
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Resort near Doi Inthanon for 1 night at the end would be good too.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 07:06 PM
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I agree that the beach town in Aonang was tacky and to be avoided.
Hanuman's suggestion for skipping CR and doing a loop drive from CM to Mae Hong Son is a great one. My only concern would be driving it alone. I loved the drive, but I wasn't driving and had the advantage of watching all the lovely scenery go by. and of course, his hotel suggestions are the best.
I do think CR offers some interesting sites. It really just depends upon what you want to see.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 09:50 PM
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CM is more tacky than Ao Nang. The AN tacky bit is 1 km square. Easy to hire a motorbike to visit local markets, Krabi town and various beaches.

The food markets are only 2km from the tacky tourist part and yet Ive never seen more than 7 or 8 tourists at these mkts.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 04:49 AM
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Wow, good morning everyone! This is wonderful. Thank you.

Sounds like the consensus is that 4 nights in Chiang Mai is too much? While there I can do day trips, too. I won't be chained to Chiang Mai. I will look into the above suggestions.

I like the idea of hot springs pools - will I want to leave?

I will also look into skipping CR, then, and doing the drive (which I wanted to do anyway). I have to refresh my memory on what CR offered but the driving sounds great. I am still considering a driver versus doing the driving - yestravel is right, it will be nice to have someone else drive while I look out the window.

I will have three full days in Bangkok - two at the front and one at the end. I know this is short but there is so much so see.

When I am in Krabi I will probably take a boat to a nearby island - maybe Koh Phi Phi?

More to come, this is great, thank you!
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 04:58 AM
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My husband and I had a fabulous time in Chiang Mai. We stayed in the old city, right across from a wat, where we could sit on our balcony and watch the monks and people with offerings, and walk to temples, the insect museum (wonderful) and street markets, and stop for delicious Thai food and massage on a whim. We stayed three nights and could have stayed several days longer. And we are not city people!

People seem to think that Bangkok is even more interesting, but I have no basis for comparison.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 06:48 AM
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hanuman's drives sound fantastic
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 10:52 AM
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Hanuman's suggested drive is fabulous and easy once you get out of CM.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 03:23 PM
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Take two days from ur CM stay and add to Bkk..
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 03:31 PM
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Krabi has the Khlong Thom hotsprings and crystal lagoon. Very nice.

http://www.yourkrabi.com/krabi-hot-springs/

Phi Phi is a good daytour for snorkelling as is Ko Hong.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 03:41 PM
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Thailand is not really famous for hot springs, most are small, murky, smell of sulphur and when the parts where the water cools down a bit there is often a lot of algae growth. Try searching for reviews instead of the pictures provided in the link above from a travel agent.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 03:41 PM
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Bangkok is a good city but it takes time to get to know and not everyone likes it the first time.

Id do it at the beginning and add more time for Krabi at the end. If flights match you could go from Krabi to Bangkok and back home without staying in Bkk again.

3 nights bkk would be fine at the start.

Krabi needs at least 6 nights as their is much to do and its much more relaxing than Bkk.
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