moremiles

We will be going to BKK arriving late May 31st from LAX and I have to be home on June 6th or 7th so am considering one of the Four Seasons comb. pkg of BKK 2nts and 3nts at either Chang Mai or Tented Camp. My husband will be with me but staying on longer after I leave. Which do you recommend for that time of year and for such a quick trip? We have been to BKK before so sightseeing will not be so much a priority there. Of course, the tented camp is much more expensive an option and if it's going to be very rainy, don't know how worthwhile that may be for the price. Any advice? Thanks!

cruisinred

Wish I could say I've been to either of the 4Seasons in the north of Thailand...but my thought for you would be do you and your husband enjoy more outdoorsy, nature activities (tented camp) or more cultural stuff and shopping (chiang mai)?

moremiles

We enjoy both but if the temp is more comfortable in CM, that would be a plus.

Kathie

I haven't stayed at either Four Seasons in northern Thailand. Both are in rural areas - the Chaing Mai hotel is a good half hour out of town, so I wouldn't consider it to be in CM or especially close to cultural activities or shopping. If it were me (and it isn't) I'd opt for the tented camp. It would be a really different experience from Bangkok, with the on-site elephant camp and such. There was a good report on the tented camp here within the last few months. Do a search so you can see the specific comments of that traveler.

Kathie

Oh, yes, for weather info: www.weatherbase.com

moremiles

Thanks and Chang Rai does seem to be rainy in June-before spending that much $ for it, I may just hope to get back in a better month!

rhkkmk

i have been in thailand twice in recent years during that period....rain we found arrived late in the day, but not all days....generally it clouded up each day by noon or 1PM....it is hot then...

i guess the question is which experience do you want....a remote "camp" type experience, albeit a lux camp or a pampered experience at a world class conventional hotel with fabulous grounds....

for me it would be CM and vedge...

moremiles

I think I will need some "vedge" time with traveling 20hrs to get to Thailand for only 6nts!

moremiles

I seem to be reading a lot more favorable reviews of the new Mandarin Oriental D.Devi in Chang Mai-has anyone stayed there or someplace else that they recommend?

Kathie

Do read some of the reviews here (if the search function is working). The general consensus is that the decor was totally over the top - Disney-esque. The people on this forum who were there didn't like it.

With a mere 5 nights in Thailand, do something as simple as possible. If you want to relax, and are willing to pay the price, the Four Seasons outside of CM is beautiful. If you stay there, don't plan to spend much time in CM - maybe one day hire a car and driver to go to Doi Suthep and some shopping. Otherwise stay out at the Four Seasons.

Lindsey

Agree with the above reccomendation. FS in CM is about the most perfect veg spot you can imagine. (We've stayed there 3 times.) My blood pressure drops just arriving there. It's serenity and pampering defined. The spa has been voted the best in Asia by several polls. If you do a day off property, don't use the hotel guide and driver....way too expensive. Use Poon, Ratt's sister, discussed extensively in other posts on this board. Another great thing to do there....take the complimentary bicycles from the hotel and ride around the area. Interesting little shops and temples all around there.

moremiles

Thank you so much and the bicycles and spa sound great. I believe the hotel has a shuttle into town for some shopping so maybe we'll just do that one half day and the remainder of the time what you suggest. Next trip when we have longer, and the weather will be less rainy, we'll go to the GT.

jenskar

The 4S CM definitely has shuttles and they run quite late so you can even do the night market and dinner in town that way. We hired our own driver, a local Karen guide who took us up to meet various hill tribe craftswomen he knew. A trip to Doi Suthep (temple on top of a mountain) can be combined with something like that.
If you're not doing the Tented Camp which has an extensive elephant program, you might want to check out the threads on the elephant camp/mahout training.
The 4S is really a lovely property -- their spa is world class and so nicely laid out, you feel as if you're the only people there. One of their ritual treatments (rub, scrub, etc) involves wrapping you in banana leafs, which start out hard and cold and then mold around you like vegetal armor. My hsb walked around for two days saying "my skin is so SOFT" and I wouldn't call him a metrosexual.
Make sure you're having drinks one night on the terrace when the rice farmers get called in at the end of the day with bells and gongs, and then light little (and not so little) lanterns all along the terraces and into the trees. It's very special. I do think it gets pretty hot that time of year but Kathie's link will answer that.