Thinking of hiring either a driver or a guide/driver for some or all daytrips from CM. How much would it cost for each and which individuals or companies would you recommend.

Or can many trips be done on small tour groups at much less cost? Which ones would you recommend? Any to avoid at all costs?

I'm thinking a mix of days with a small tour group and a driver or guide might be the way to go.

My head is spinning from all the possible options.

I highly recommend getting your own driver. The small tour groups often include shopping stops (at places that take a large commission) and don't allow you teh flexibility to choose what you want to do and when. Sargent Kai gets a lot of good recommendations here on Fodors.

Yes, definitely Sergeant Kai. He's terrific and will tailor the day to your wishes. Let him know what you're interested in and he'll make suggestions or you can be very specific if you already know what you want to do. We had a great day with him (and also a really good time with a guide/driver who works for him, Sutee). Both Sergeant Kai and Sutee spoke very good English and were extremely easy to be with. Trips can also be easily arranged with small tour groups if you'd like to go with others. A woman we met at Baan Orapin did that, and it was a bit cheaper. But Sergeant Kai is wonderful and well worth it. Here's the link to his website.

http://www.chiangmaitours.com/index.html

Degas, type in Sergeant Kai in the search function and you will pull up tons of raves & also get some ideas of some of options for day trips. He can also help suggest some things that suit your interests.

If you want a small family business I can recommend www.paewtravel.com I have been travelling to chiang mai for several years and I always call in to see them. Sargent Kai is also very good.

Definitely get your own driver and/or guide. If you want an excellent driver try Poon (do a search on this site for info about her). She is a lovely woman. I have used her twice for a total of 15 days and love her. I haven't used a guide but several have been suggested on this site so do a search for Chiang Mai.

We used Poon for 3 1/2 days. She is lovely and her car an older Mercedes has EXCELLENT A/C which is important for 7-8 months out of the year even up there. She charges about 2500 Baht for a 10 hour day but does not count the minutes. Actually one time she took us to dinner at the Four Seasons, waited 2 hours, and did not add the time but we made it up in the gratuity ($70). She is quite knowledge but is not what theyy call a licenced guide but is a guide/driver.Sargent Kai may be better I cannot compare. She did absolutely everything you could imagine to satisfy us.
But to be totally banced in my comments I must say her spoken English is only fair though her comprehension is very good.
You can source her through this site by just seaching Ratt who is her sister and got her into the business. I think in busy season she books up 2-3 months in advance.

We have used both Poon & Sergeant Kai and they are very different. Both are lovely kind people. Poon is more reserved and her English not nearly as good as Sergeant Kai's, though we were able to communicate with her without too much trouble. Sergeant Kai is a guide (but not the boring kind that memorizes and spews out a million facts that you could care less about) as well as a driver, very outgoing, and had great ideas for "off the beaten path" places to go, particularly hilltribe villages that are not on the tourist circuit. His English is excellent and we really enjoyed spending time with him.

Thank you all for the feedback.