Chang Rai vs. Chang Mai -- one or the other? Or neither??
 

Can you help us with opinions/experiences on your stays in either of these areas? We'll be in Thailand for 15 days next Feb. and have contemplated taking a few days up north to see a different side of the country. My girlfriend who visited Thailand 2 years ago loved CM, but said that she's heard great things about Pai b/c it gives you a true opp. to see tinier villages and country culture. Any experiences out there for that city? Would our visit to Thailand be incomplete w/o a visit up north? I've heard good and bad about doing the elephant thing, etc., etc.
Thanks!

Personally, I'm not fond of Chiang Mai. It's a huge sprawling city with no public transport and more particulates in the air than Bangkok. If you are interested in going to Northern Thailand, I assume you are intrested in countryside and small towns and villages. I loved my stay at the Anantara at the Golden Triangle (and they have elephants on site if you are interested). Ther are lots of other scenic areas, such as the area arounf Pai or Mae Hong Son. Do a search on these towns here on the board and you'll find lots of info. Hanuman recently posted about a great place to stay in Pai.

All visits to Thailand (or any other country) are incomplete. There is no way to see it all. So determine what kinds of things you are interested in and choose your locations on that basis.

I stayed in Chiang Rai and did a day trip to Chiang Mai. I probably would have been happier following Kathie's advice.

I had also anticipated great shopping opportunities and was dissappointed.

I would also prefer Chiang Rai, it's smaller than Chiang Mai and there are probably better trekking options. When I was there ten years ago I stayed in an Akha village for a week. If you do a search for "Akha Hill House" you will probably find them. I don'tknow what it's like ten years after though.

http://www.travelsinasia.com/Thailand/Thailand.htm

With 15 days you could do both. I liked CM much better than CR. But you do need to see the area around CR - do not miss CM. If the person who wrote CM was busy, I wonder what they thougt of Bangkok. John

John, I love cities and Bangkok is my favorite city in the world. So if I love Bangkok, why don't I love Chiang Mai? CM is a city that has grown too fast and doesn't have the infrastructure to make it a real city - such things as public transportration. They have serious air problems, as they still burn trash - which is one of the major reasons they have so many particulates in the air. They do no have the variety of wonderful hotels and restaurants that Bangkok has, and the formerly renowned shopping is frankly pretty mediocre for the most part. The sprawl also means that the countryside that people go there to see is farther and farther away. If you want countrside, go to a much smaller town. If you want city, go to Bangkok.

Thanks for the opinions! The reports on CM seem to be most commonly in the same vein of "too big, not as much countryside as you'll want," which has us leaning towards skipping going up north altogether or going instead to the golden triangle area. It's so hard to plan this trip! I'm sure I'll have more questions as we continue finalizing things. Many thanks again!