mario2040

Hello!

I'll have my honeymoon on Thailand in November
I will arrive on a Wednesday 6am to BKK and will fly from CNX on Sunday 11am to Phuket.
So, I have 4 complete days to split between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
I am not sure if it is best to go half and half, or 1 day at the capital and 3 at the north.
In the first option I would fly BKK-CNX on Thursday at 7:40am, and in the second one at 22:30.
I've made extensive research, and I have identified these musts:
Bangkok: Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Chinatown, Chao Phraya dinner cruise.
Chiang Mai: Tiger Kingdom, Pattara Elephant Park, Baan Tong Luang, Snake Farm

I am not vey interested in nightlife, mall shopping (just maybe a local typical market), and just want to see the very top 2 or 3 temples

What would you recommend??
Thanks!

Kathie

A mere 4 days, I'd spend it all in Bangkok. There is so much to see and do!

Bangkok: Grand Palace/Emerald Budddha, Wat Po, Wat Arun for the top wats. Skip the dinner cruise - take the public water taxi to/from the wats and have a fabulous dinner somewhere with good food (the cruises are renowned for poor food). Consider the Jim Thompson House and the Erawan shrine as well.

Chiang Mai - if you are an animal lover don't go to either the Tiger Kingdom, or Pattara Elephant Park. Both treat the animals badly. If you want to interact with elephants, choose the Thai Elephant conservation center near lam pang or The Elephant Nature Park. Do vist Doi Suthep first thing in the morning.

Where are you staying in Bangkok?

Prachuap

There are no must sees. Wat Arun has nice river views but the temple itself is nothing special. Grand Palace is kind of boring too. National Museum and Suan Pakkard are more interesting.

Safari World in Bangkok has lots of animals. Tigers and Lions roam around a park while you drive through.

(Kathie is always anti elephant camps and always promotes the same places. Both the places she promotes get bad reviews as well )

I find Kanchanaburi better than CM but if you cant change your flights too late now.

Doi Suthep is crawling with tourists. I wouldnt bother.

rhkkmk

stay in bkk the whole time... some of the same things can be seen in bkk..

pick your hotel carefully, to have a nice pool. tell umuch you can spend and we will give you ideas..

filmwill

Elephant Nature Park gets bad reviews?

The Grand Palace is boring?

Just come clean an admit you've never been to Thailand. But those guidebooks you copied and pasted all the essential Thai phrases from sure are pretty to looks at, no?

(...and the countdown begins before you sign into another username to congratulate your own advice...)

mario2040

I booked at Bangkok at Centre Sukhumuvit 10 and in Chiang Mai at The Balcony Chiang Mai Village.. both are cancellable or modifiable.

filmwill

To the OP: if you had more than 4 days, I'd say try to cover both places but I do agree with Bob that you're probably better served just staying in one place. I don't agree that you can see mostly the same stuff in BKK that you can see in Chiang Mai -- or vice versa. But the issue still stands that once you factor in packing, travel time, unpacking, etc...it's just more worth visiting once place (in this case: BKK). Plus, from how you've described your main interested, Bangkok does seem more fitting.

Prachuap

Suk 10 is near skytrain but far from Wat Arun, Grand Palace and Nat Museum.

If you only have 2 nights and want to see these places stay on river or near KSR.

New Siam Riverside or Ibis Riverside might be better.

Kathie

mario, I'd highly recommend that you stay along the river. It will be convenient for getting to the wats, you can just take the water taxi (more like a water bus - public transport unique to Bangkok.

I'm not interested in ratings on Trip Advisor for places with animals - I'm interested in what the animal welfare agencies have to say. While Pattara Elephant Park gets good marks on Trip Advisor, even people who have been there report seeing fresh gashes on the elephants from the use of hooks. The two I recommend get excellent grades from animal welfare groups. But it is up to each individual as to how they spend their time and money. I'm just offering information.

Cattail

My husband and I have volunteered at the Elephant Nature Park, and can attest to its kind treatment of elephants (and dogs, cats and other critters). No hooks. No painting. Just elephants being elephants, as much as possible.

Mario, google "Elephant Nature Park." And while you're at it, google "elephant crush". You decide.

mario2040

I changed my booking to Centre Point Shilom, to follow your advice to stay near the river...

I think I am deciding to split 2 and 2 days, because I see the best elephant parks are by Chiang Mai

Prachuap

Have a nice trip.

kuranosuke

mario, i've stayed in the garden wing at center point suk on soi 10 twice, and it was great. i think its one of the best value in the mid level properties.

i did a ck on agoda for mid nov. and see that you can get a 1 bedroom suite with breakfast for 66usd. this is a fabulous deal. i've not stayed at centerpoint silom, so i can't speak for its value, but i don't think the location is that great. so, you get a river view? do you plan to gaze at the river all day and night long?





btw, the breakfast at cpsuk is excellent.

Cattail

Mario, I have not been to Bangkok, but absolutely loved Chiang Mai. We stayed in the old section, near the wall, right across from a wat. We could walk to beautiful temples and lively night markets. We had the best massages too.

You can actually overnight at Elephant Nature Park. They include transportation to and from Chiang Mai and the most amazing meals. You get to go into the river and bathe the elephants - great fun! The caveat is that the accommodations are comfortable, but maybe not what you have in mind for your honeymoon There was a honeymoon couple there and they seemed super-happy, so maybe so!

jobin

Mario, you are so lucky to have honeymoon in front of you. From reading this thread I'm worn out. But i do recommend in Chiang Mai the World Museum of Insects, etc. Fabulous place. Info here http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/...-mai-treasure/

And, when the bride wants shopping but you need fresh air, CM has many nearby and great golf courses. So check those out too. CM has a zoo, too and nice quiet botanic garden. Those are the kind of slow tropical activities i like. The trees, esp the wild fruits, really interesting. Lots of trees in the wats the dot the city.
Massage parlors on every corner and i am not kidding. CM is good for walking and bicycle but air along the moat road needs improvement. Nice to see the cloud topped mountains above the city just as the summer rain begins. Weather here much better than coastal BK. Nights cool, no A/C needed.
Enjoy, that's the thing.

Kathie

Mario, I do think you will like staying on the river. Have a wonderful trip!

Cattail

Yes, absolutely the insect museum!!! We came across the smaller one actually, and got to meet the elderly male curator. jobin, are you lucky enough to live there?

"From reading this thread I'm worn out! lol!

Cattail

Ummm, I meant to ask if you live in the city, not in the insect museum...

jobin

Yes, luv it here. On 'retirement visa', walking and biking daily round the city.

mario2040

I am choosing between two hotels in Chiang Mai:

Thannatee Boutique Hotel or
The Balcony Chiang Mai Village

Does anybody know them??