Chiang Mai
 

I'm going to Thailand in December and would like some advice from any Thailand experts on this board on how many days I should allow for Chiang Mai and how many in Bangkok. Hotel recomendations would be a great help also.
Thank you
Ivygirl

you need to tell us more...how long is your trip?...what kind of budget are you working with? tell us who is travelling? what do you like?? etc...

i would vote for -1 day in CM....

rhkkmk
I'm going with my husband so there will be just the two of us. Our total vacation time is 14 days. We'd also like to travel to Myanmar for 6 days. We are open to any suggestions on this trip. We're not backpacker types anymore but we don't have to spend alot of money either.
Thank you
Ivygirl

I would allow 3 to 4 days in Bangkok at the beginning, plus 1 to 2 at the end. Chiang Mai can be done easily in 3 to 4 days.

At the budget end in Chiang Mai are the Pornping and Suriwong. Neither is very special, but the locations are very good and the value for money is excellent. More 'unique' places include Baan Orapin, Yang Come Village and several others. At the high end is the Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental, or the Chedi in town.

There will be some more options open by December. I think both the Le Meridien and Shangri-La are supposed to open this year, among others.

If you really want to go to Burma I would spend much more than 6 days there -- at least 10. So if I were you I would either do Bangkok and Burma or I would do just thailand. If you did Bangkok and Burma I would spend 2 days in Bangkok at the beginning and end of the trip. If you do just thailand I would spend 3 days in Bangkok at the beginning and 3-4 days in the end with the remaining time in nothern thailand -- chaing mai, Mae Hon Song, Chiang Rai etc.

I agree with Gloria - its not worth going to Myanmar for just 6 days. If it is your first trip to SE Asia, you will probably be happier doing doing your entire 14 days in Thailand. You can do Myanamar on your next trip since you WILL want to return...

Suriwongse, central Duangtawan etc is Chiang mai around the USD 40-50 range are quite ok if you are not wanting lux but happy with air-con rooms, private bathroom, tv etc, mini bar, that helps you on budget.
As to how many days, it depends really on how you want to spend your time.
Perhaps you could within that include perhaps a 'smaller' location away from the cities.

Ivygirl-if this is your first trip to Thailand, the usual split is BKK-5 days (3 in the beginning and two at the end), fly to CM-4 days, direct flight CM-Phuket (on Thai Air at @11:00 a.m.)-4 days. This is actually only 13 days. I would add the extra day to BKK, if you're a city person, CM, if you're a nature person and Phuket if you're a beach person. This split gives a chance to see 3 very different parts of Thailand.

If you've been to Thailand, I would consider Myanmar for 10 days with 2 in BKK at the fromt and 2 at the end.