Chiang Mai Family Day outing

Old Jan 28th, 2008, 05:36 AM
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Chiang Mai Family Day outing

There was a very active CM board going on in Tripadvisor so decided to post my inquiry. That was l 24 hours ago, still no bites. Wonder why I even bother- have read Kathie's, Kim Japan's, Bob's& Andy's & many others' entries & have gleaned a lot from their CM input - many thanks !

So I am back to the good folks of Fodor's to ask your opinion on a short family day out that I am planning for Sunday.

I am doing a cut & paste - sort of - of my TA entry:

I am trying to finalize our day with Sgt Kai for our March trip & would like some input on an easy day out of town. We arrive Saturday & will stay at the Holiday Inn (Wanted to use PC points & earn them as well). YCV was so tempting !!! We have booked a private cooking class with Yui for our family of 5- 3 kids 15, 13 & 10 after hanging out in the pool. Am planning on an Oasis Spa date with my eldest daughter before lights out.

We have to move to the Empress Hotel to join our colleagues for a week long conference starting Monday & would like a fairly late(?) 8 AM start for our Sunday outing to visit:

1) Doi Suthep with a side trip to

2) Mae Sa Valley Craft Village so the kids & do some fun things & take home their hand made souvenirs.
- Kim , where did T do her umbrella decorating? Is this the only place where the kids could do hands on activities?

3) Non commercial Hill Tribe Village along the way to these 2 other venues- any one have any recommendations for this?

I am hoping to get back to the hotel by 5 PM to freshen up & then head out to the Sunday Market.
We will be in meetings all week & would like suggestions for family friendly dinner/after dinner activities around town.

Sgt Kai has been "recommending" Doi Ithanon saying that my preferred itinerary is too touristy. I prefer not to go that far. Am having quite a challenge trying to get our schedule together. I realize many of you have used him & he is well liked but have also heard that he may switch on you last minute & endorsing you to his other team members . He seems to be more expensive than other guides & am only using him upon the recommendation of Tong herself as well as your good words about him. Do I have other options for drivers who are fairly good English speakers?

Any input on any of these would be much appreciated.
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 06:00 AM
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I expect that any hilltribe village along the way to your other destinations would be very commercialized, indeed. You really have to get off the beaten path to find something different. So I'd cut the hilltribe village.

If you want less touristy, I'd listen to Sgt. Kai. I've not used him, but he is renowned for knowing his stuff about the area. However, it sounds like you don't want that much driving. Ask if he has any closer suggestions.
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 01:12 PM
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Thanks for getting back to me Kathie. An easy day is what I had in mind so would prefer to stay close. I'll continue to the dialogue with Sgt Kai & will see what happens.
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 01:27 PM
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i would not waste any time doing the so-called hill-tribe village above doi sutep and the royal palace....its a dump!!!

sunday weekend market in town in the PM gets rave reviews....

elephanr camps
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 01:27 PM
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elephant
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 01:41 PM
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Thanks Bob,

I'll skip the HIll tribe then . I am still interested in having the kids do hand on stuff & was wondering where we could do that best. We will head back after that to the hotel so the kids can swim & we'll do the Sunday Market for dinner & some shopping.

Tong took us to play & bathe the elephants while we were in Kanchanaburi so we're good with that.
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 01:46 PM
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meant handS on
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 01:57 PM
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When you see Sgt. Kai give him a hug from me. He was the best guide. We used him for a 5 day tour of CM-CR & the Golden triangle.
I vote for the elephant show-my husband is still talking about it.If you go to any of the villages bring some treats for the children. Luckily I had some candy in my bags to give them. He also includes our accomodations and meals in our tour so I really didn't think it was so bad. He is wonderful-Chris
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Old Jan 28th, 2008, 02:01 PM
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You will love Yui. We did a private class with her that was outstanding.

Teaghan painted her umbrella at a place along the big road where all the umbrella painting places are. The first place we visited wouldn't let her paint, but the second place did...we just asked the painting ladies, and one said "sure" and that was it.

The hill tribe village near Doi Suthep is a tourist trap, but if you do end up there, there is a great shop there run by a Japanese man and his "something hill tribe" wife that has a fantastically clean toilet...signs in Japanese so you can't miss it.

There are food stalls set up in the temples grounds at the Sunday Walking street that would make a great dinner.

I'm not sure about the craft village. We had intended to go there, and actually intended to stay there....but I got some bad feelings about the place when they would not respond to inquiries by e-mail, read a few bad reviews...so we didn't go. I've since read soome good reviews, and some bad ones, including a few that said that there were no crafts happening at all and that it was a bus tour lunch stop. Maybe ask a local about it or guide or Yui.

Sgt. Kai gets good reviews....There have also been quite a few reports of Sgt. Kai promising to be your guide and then someone else showing up...not sure if that would bother you. It would me. Tong recommends him, though.
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Old Jan 29th, 2008, 03:27 AM
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Chris- I'll deliver your hug if I get to see him.

Kim- Thanks as always for your input. Looking forward to meeting Yui & Kwan. This will be our first family kitchen adventure.

Which Oasis did you go to? I hear there are 2 venues.
DId T make her umbrellas in the downtown area? For a sec I thought you guys went to Mae Sa Craft Village. We'll be skipping that too.

So If I go to the Japanese owned shop by Doi Suthep, am I to expect to see Northern Thailand's only WASHLET toilet there?

Bob- I am leaning towards just doing Doi Suthep & skipping both the Craft Village & the Hilltribes . Perhaps at another time, Sgt Kai can take us to the Hill Tribes where a lot of you have been writing about.

I am really looking forward to spending the day with Sgt Kai but I am concerned about the possibility of him doing an unexpected switch on us. I emailed one of the agencies mentioned in one of the threads & they came up with a 7000 BHT quote for the 3 places we were planning on seeing.

I am appreciating Tong even more so with her class act & her great $$$ value tours when compared to the other guides I am hearing about. I'll try Sgt Kai once more & ask him if he would do our simple DS trip. For now, he is quoting us 5450 BHT for a Doi Ithanon, Twin Chedi, Hmong Tribe trips with lunch, entry fees, transportation all inclusive.

Do any of you have suggestions who else we can contact to do a Doi Suthep RT for the day in case Sgt Kai does not work out for us?

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH !!!
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Old Jan 29th, 2008, 05:38 AM
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Any taxi driver can take you to Doi Suthep. All the CM taxis have the price posted. If that's really all you want to do outside of town, I'd say just use a taxi. One of the problems with CM is that there is no public transport. So even if you just want to shop or visit a cceledon factory you need a car and driver. Since there are 5 of you, you ned a driver with a van. That should be easy to arrange on the spot in CM. If you don't want/need a guide then I'd just wait and arrange transport there.
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Old Jan 29th, 2008, 05:50 AM
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You can do Doi Suthep on your own. Kathie is correct, you can easily hire a van.

Note: we used SK's services twice and had other team members both times. Both were very good guides.
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Old Jan 29th, 2008, 06:28 AM
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Appreciate your suggestions.

I just emailed Sgt Kai & am awaiting his response about doing a half day Doi Suthep trip. I do not mind spending the extra money on Sgt Kai since I would appreciate learning from him. If it does not pan out, then I'll try to do the van hire in town. Still have a question though- where can I find these vans for hire?

Thanks for your patience.

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Old Jan 29th, 2008, 02:20 PM
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The umbrella painting place was in one of the "factories" along the strip of them just outside of town. We wouldn't make a repeat visit there to be honest...but the painting was fun. Probably a crapshoot as to whether your kids would be allowed to try it as it isn't really an option, we just asked and got lucky the second place.

Unfortunately, the Japanese owned shop in the hill tribe village just past Doi Suthep does not have a washlet. But it does have a ceramic squat toilet, which is better than what many other places offer. And it's lovely, cleaner than many I've encountered here in Japan. Nice couple, too.

I would directly ask Sgt. Kai about the possibility of having someone else show up, and clearly state that you have heard this sometimes happens and you certainly do not want this to be the case with you...then if it happens, be prepared to bail (if it's important to you)...have a plan B in other words. We didn't find it hard at all to get around the Chiang Mai area, and drivers and guides are in good supply.
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Old Jan 29th, 2008, 07:01 PM
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Thanks Kim. Waiting to hear from Sgt Kai. I'll address the substitution issue with him. Thanks for your assurance of good subs from Sgt Kai's team, Panda.

Are Plan B drivers/guides available just in any corner in CM. I guess Yui & Kwan could also be good sources.
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Old Jan 30th, 2008, 03:42 PM
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Heard from Sgt Kai who sent me a form to fill requesting my CC information for a guarantee if we do a no show. I very nicely made it clear that I was expecting to see him & not one of his staffers. In typical Asian fashion, the topic was not broached. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will be seeing him. I am glad Panda had a good experience with his other guides though.

What did you folks do in the evenings ? We will be in meetings all day & I am sure we will be looking forward to getting us at night.

We're pretty easy. We'll go with the flow !!! We expect a great time whoever we hang out with. March 1st- CM here we come !!!
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Old Jan 31st, 2008, 01:31 PM
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Chris, SK says hello. Am working on details now since he got the wrong date. Is FS on the way back to the city?Checking if I could say hello to jodo there.
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