followingjames

So we are going to have 22 days on the ground in SE ASIA landing BKK 2 Feb. 2017. We have decided for sure we are going to Bagan (3 full days) and Siem Reap (4 full days).

The issue is this: we don't want to be spending too many days flying and transferring, etc. It's not so bad in many of the trips because the airports are close and flights short.

However, we are coming to the conclusion that we're going to have to leave something off and our choices are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or Luang Prabang.

Right now, we are leaning to leaving out Chiang Rai and heading right to Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai. ur reasoning for this is that both LP and CM are more rural, ad we don't have a lot of interest in staring at the border of 3 countries and we believe the trip to Luang Prabang will be at least somewhat less touristy than Chiang Rai - maybe we are wrong - that's why we are here.

So right now our trip would look like this: BKK>Bagan>Chiang Mai>Luang Prabang>Siem Reap.

If we left out Luang Prabang we would go BKK>Bagan>Chiang Mai>(drive to) Chaing Rai>Siem Reap.

Happy to hear all opinions.

Adjunct question: is there a flight from Chiang Rai right to Luang Prabang without having to go back through BKK? Would love to know about it.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Kathie

If it was me - and it isn't - I'd cut Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. These are much less interesting destinations than the others. Add another location in Myanmar/Burma. It's a shame to go there for just three days. I'd recommend Inle Lake as a great addition.

Kathie

While you have a reasonable "best of" itinerary, you won't have any real sense of the culture of the countries you are visiting as you will be visiting 4 different countries. You could have a fascinating and more in-depth trip choosing just two countries, or focussing your time and attention on just one country, Burma/Myanmar.

followingjames

Understand that you love Burma/Myanmar but we are interested in Chiang Mai both as itself and as a jumping off point to local day trips and then to fly to Luang Prabang - we may be able to extend one more day in Myanmar for total of 4, or maybe even 5 in which case we would add Inle. Our principle is to travel as if we will be back, which has not let us down since we have been to our favorite locations several times, so we will probably be back to this area again at some point. Thanks for your input though - it is highly regarded and appreciated.

MmePerdu

I can see spending 3 days in Luang Prabang. I cannot see spending only 3 days (or 4 or 5) in all of Burma. LP is a relatively small town with some okay side trips. Burma is stunning and entirely different in each region, simply no comparison.

I think, from your mission statement above, that you think you're doing it in a way that serves you. But with apparently no experience of the places you mention, giving some weight to that of those you're asking, because they do have experience, seems to be in order. Or why ask. Nothing terrible will happen if you do it "your way", other than missing a great deal, so carry on.

followingjames

Great, so when we want to do a 22 day trip to Burma (actually, Myanmar) we'll do that - right now we're doing a "survey trip" and spending time in a few places as mentioned. I know some people have to pick one place and go there, but we do things another way. No one is right, no one is wrong, it's just different. All I asked is about which area to eave out, not for someone to tell me what "their trip" would look like. We will go back to Myanmar - this time we are just visiting Bagan - why is that a problem? You can't spend 4 full days in Bagan? You have to go to three more places in Myanmar? Why? Why can't one go to Chiang Mai for 4-5 days as well? No one has ever done that ever? I find the alarming nature of the responses strange at best. Be nice, respectful. We have travelled all over the world - we're not 20 year old backpackers! Have a nice day! This is the problem with the internet - too many angry people! What are you so mad about?

MmePerdu

When you ask a question, you are soliciting opinions. Now you've got them and apparently don't like them. If what you actually want is confirmation that everything you do is wonderful, ask your mother.

MmePerdu

Well, I just read the rest of your rant, you charmer, you. Who's angry? Not I.

janisj

>>Be nice, respectful. We have travelled all over the world - we're not 20 year old backpackers! Have a nice day! This is the problem with the internet - too many angry people! What are you so mad about?<<

Uh -- the <i>only</i> 'angry' person I see is you . . .

thursdaysd

And why was the advice to spend more time in Myanmar acceptable on your other thread and not this one? Simply adding a day to Bagan does not give you a better feel for the country. It simply means you spend longer in the biggest tourist magnet in the country.

Not that I feel inclined to offer more suggestions to someone who is uninterested in hearing them, and is rude to people who are simply trying to help.

followingjames

I think you're all nuts really. This is our trip, not yours - I didn't ask what anyone else would do or what their favorite ride at Disneyland is. So, thanks, but forget it. Rude, crude and alarmist hardly begins to describe it! I could go on TripAdvisor and have people say "Inle Lake" - but then to say that this tourist trap is the "must do" rather than Chiang Mai is just silly.

followingjames

...I find that most of you people don't really know anything from personal experience but are parroting what you see on TV or read on the internet and are not really knowledgeable or sophisticated travelers at all - more like bucket list and trip of a lifetime travelers - just because you went somewhere once or twice doesn't make you an expert - and by the way Mme Perdu, you are a complete jerk: my mother passed away last month...

Kathie

James, I don't know what people wrote that pushed your buttons. I thought the responses were quite civil. MmePerdu did push on you a bit to think differently about your trip, but no one was nasty or insulting. It is your trip, please do it as you wish. But you asked for input and we gave it.

You are the one who got nasty and insulting. If you think the people responding to you are "bucket list and trip of a lifetime travelers" you are mistaken. All three of us who responded to your questions are very well traveled in this part of the world. It's the TA people who are more likely of that ilk. Those who think Inle Lake is a tourist trap are those who were not well-prepared before they arrived and they just got in a boat and let the boatman take them to the various workshops on the lake rather than visiting the real highlights. But I'll save that info for when you want to talk about a different trip.

I am sorry for your loss.

thursdaysd

"Happy to hear all opinions."

Turns out to have been a lie.

"more like bucket list"

Good description of the proposed trip.

Try getting out of bed on the other side.

MmePerdu

"...my mother passed away last month..."

I suspect not, too convenient. In any case Kathie, being a nicer person than I, seems to have given you the benefit of the doubt. She's also given you the benefit of her experience which you've trashed along with my tougher approach. Who's the jerk?

I sincerely hope you don't try crawling back here for information in future. I'll do my best to alert our best & brightest with some favorite quotes from above, you very sad pitiful thing.

janisj

This was your attitude on your other thread: >>Thanks for all these excellent suggestions. I am going to rework some of this in and see what it looks like. Totally appreciate the input from people experienced with the area!

James<<

Now we get this: >>You're a loser...I should know better than to come for the make believe world of Disney travelers!!!! The only person crawling around is you, out from the rock under which you live!<<

And >>I think you're all nuts really. This is our trip, not yours - I didn't ask what anyone else would do or what their favorite ride at Disneyland is. So, thanks, but forget it. Rude, crude and alarmist hardly begins to describe it!<<

You have either had a personality transplant . . . or your teenaged son is trolling on your computer . . .

Lolazahra

This is so funny. Thanks for the laughs. I find it hysterical that he chose some of the most well-traveled posters to trash. I mean really. Great responses all. Now as my teenagers tell me Beyonce says in her new song "Boy Bye!"