Cattail

My husband and I will be arriving in Bangkok in February. Our itinerary is pretty much set; what we need to figure out is the best way to travel between destinations. We will be going to Chiang Mai for transport to the Elephant Nature Foundation, and to Phutak, (sp) where we will be picked up for a trip to the islands. Which area would you do first? Is it more sensible to travel from one to the other, or back to Bangkok in between? Would you do train, bus or plane? Thanks for your help!

Hanuman

If "Phutak" is Phuket then it is located in the South of Thailand. Chiang Mai is in the North and the flying time between the two cities, direct, is about two hours. Would definitely fly!

Cicerone

As noted above, flying is probably your best option. However, you could take a train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, which might be an interesting experience. You have the choice of a day train or an overnight train, both take about 12 hours; if you have the time I would opt for the day train so you can see the countryside. (I also personally am too old for night trains as I don’t get any sleep on them and am too washed out the next day….) You should find it to be quite a bit cheaper than flying, unless Bangkok Air is running a special. Day train in an air con car is about US$20. Up to you as to how much time or money you want to spend getting from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. (You can also take a train/bus combo from Bangkok or Chiang Mai to Phuket, however it will take much longer and I would not really recommend it.) For info, see the State Railway of Thailand website at http://www.railway.co.th/home/

Unless things have changed, you can’t fly non-stop between Chiang Mai and Phuket, you have to change planes in Bangkok. (There is one direct flight, i.e. with a stop in Bangkok but no change of planes. All flights, whether connecting or direct, will take about 4 hours, not including travel time to and from the airports.) So it doesn’t matter a whole lot which you do first. I always like to do a beach vacation last, as you usually are not trying to sightsee, just relax, so having it at the end gives you time to do so. You probably would want to do Bangkok first, then Chiang Mai, then Phuket. But look into whether it is possible to connect from your inbound international flight directly to a flight to Chiang Mai. If that is possible, you will save yourself a trip out and back from the airport to Bangkok, which can be a good thing. You could then do Chiang Mai, Bangkok and then Phuket. (One slight reason to do Phuket in the middle might be if doing Phuket last requires an overnight in Bangkok to be able to make your international flight home. But again, if you can work out flights to connect from a flight from Phuket to your international flight, that would be ideal.)

I hope you will go on-line or buy a map of Thailand so you can take a look to see where you are going. For example, Phuket is itself an island, so I am not sure what you mean by being picked up “for a trip to the islands” when you are in Phuket. A map would also show you the location and relative distances of the three places on your itin.

Kathie

What time does your international flight arrive in Bangkok and what time does it leave? How much time total do you have on the ground in Thailand? With that info we can give you better guidance using transport efficiently.

rhkkmk

flying is the best way to move around.....air asia provides good low cost flights....so does bangkok air and thai air...
nok air is another..

where will you be coming from? it may take a bit of time to adjust to the new enviornment, heat and humidity in thailand, so sometimes a beach destination works well for that at first...

most flights require a stop in bkk, but not all

Cattail

Thank you - so helpful! Yes, I do mean Phuket. We are being picked up there for a kayaking expedition (so not altogether relaxing!) The fact that the destinations are at either ends of the country is what made me wonder if we wanted to spend an entire day on travel. Cicerone, you do make an enticing point for doing so, as we'd enjoy seeing a bit more of the country enroute.

We haven't purchased tickets yet; we have a good deal of flexibility in this, but we'll probably leave in January or February. Much to think about - thank you all!

Kathie

Unless you have lots of time, (or are a train buff) I wouldn't waste time on the train.

Hanuman

Cicerone from Amedeus.net, the reservation agency for most of the world's airline and for next February 2012 schedule as per the OP's question:

Thai Airways Intl
Chiang Mai (CNX) - Phuket (HKT)
Wed 1 Feb 12:40 - 14:35
1h 55
0 Stop
e-ticket Seat availbility:
Business Economy Restricted economy Select this flight Delete flight Print this flight Show flight details Best fares
1. Chiang Mai/Phuket TG129 Flight duration: 1h 55
Thai Airways Intl

Departure
12:40 Wed 1 Feb Chiang Mai (CNX), Thailand , Chiang Mai International
terminal Arrival
14:35 Wed 1 Feb Phuket (HKT), Thailand , Phuket International
terminal Flight information:
e-ticket Meal is served on board Airbus Industrie A300-600/600C
Seat availability:
Business 9+ seats Economy 9+ seats Restricted economy 9+ seats


Flight numbers: FD3975 Thai AirAsia
Chiang Mai (CNX) - Phuket (HKT)
Wed 1 Feb 13:00 - 15:05
2h 05
0 Stop
Seat availbility:
First Economy Restricted economy Select this flight Delete flight Print this flight Show flight details Best fares
1. Chiang Mai/Phuket FD3975 Flight duration: 2h 05
Thai AirAsia

Departure
13:00 Wed 1 Feb Chiang Mai (CNX), Thailand , Chiang Mai International
terminal Arrival
15:05 Wed 1 Feb Phuket (HKT), Thailand , Phuket International
terminal 1 Flight information:
Airbus Industrie A320-100/200
Seat availability:
First 1 seat Economy 1 seat Restricted economy 1 seat


Flight numbers: FD3977 Thai AirAsia
Chiang Mai (CNX) - Phuket (HKT)
Thu 2 Feb 21:45 - 23:50
2h 05
0 Stop

As usual you would not probably post a response but what the heck I think I should post this and quoting form my all time favourite TV show - "the truth is out there"

Kathie

We've all posted mis-information from time time to because we didn't recheck old information or made an error. I know I have. And I've always appreciated it when others have given me the correct info.

Thanks for the up to date info, Hanuman.

Hanuman

As usual you are right Kathie but the poster above has in the past MIScorrected several of my post and gave incorrect information without acknowledging it. Just annoying when you are trying to help people and have someone else say that the information you've given is wrong when it is not.

KimJapan

There has been a non-stop flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket for at least 7 years - we took one 7 years ago.

Hanuman

Yes Kim Thai has been flying this route non-stop for a long time and now Air Asia is doing it as well. Very convenient IMO.

Cattail

Thanks for the terrific, corrected information. I don't think we want a bus, but I haven't completely out-ruled the train option. I think that 1-2 days will have to be "crash time" upon arrival in Bangkok, as it looks like a long haul from Boston. I'm thinking maybe 1 night Bangkok, overnight train to Chiang Mai, flight to Phuket and finally flight from Phuket to Bangkok, either directly or through connector. How does this sound?

KimJapan

You can opt to fly all routes non-stop on Air Asia (no frills) or full service Thai Air. Thai offers a pass that might be cost effective, the Discover Thailand pass. It is only available on a calendar year basis so not yet for 2012. It's been offered for years and I doubt will be discontinueed, but of course, no guarantee. Other airlines flying BKK - CNX and HKT - BKK include Nok Air and Bangkok Air and Orient Thai.

If you like trains then train is fine. But not so much cheaper than a promo Air Asia fare and night travel you can't see anything. If you want the experience that's one thing, but if you want to just save money then watch Air Asiafor promotions.

From Boston you'll likely arrive late night so a night or two in Bangkok to start makes good sense.

Cattail

Thanks! I will look into the pass.

rhkkmk

we find that the 2nd and 3rd day after arrival in bkk from boston is the hardest... for that reason i would fly to CM instead of spending a not so comfortable night on a train... i just don't get the train to CM...

Kathie

If you are concerned about jet lag, it doesn't make sense to take the night train as it will mean you'll be even more fatigued. If you opt for Air Asia the flights are very cheap, not much more than taking the train.

Cattail

It sure pays to ask those more experienced. Plane it will be. Thanks so much!