Chiang Rai / Golden Triangle advice
 

Need advice on where to stay. We are looking at staying at the Anantara. Or possibly at the Four Seasons in the Golden Triangle -- has anyone stayed there and can you tell me what you thought of it?

More questions: We are thinking of renting a jeep and driving from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai. Is that reasonable?

Would you recommend a driver/tour person in Chiang Mai and who?

We won't have a car in Bangkok -- should we have a tour guide or is it something we can do on our own?

one more question!
What is appropriate attire there? Are conservative shorts/skirts okay?

I personally like having a driver who 1)knows and can take me to out of the way places; 2) can give me some insight into thai current events etc and 3) enables me to travel hassle free. I don't think you need a guide. I have used Poon -- a lovely woman located in Chiang Mai several times. If you do a search on this forum you can get more information on her. Her sister, Ratt has been my driver in bangkok for several years.

The price difference between the Anantara and the Four Seasons in considerable. Use the search box above, and you'll find dozens and dozens of reviews of the Anantara and several reviews of the Four Seasons.

You don't need a jeep to drive from CR to CM. Whether you want to rent a car and do it depends on how you like to spend your time. Driving is pretty far down on my list.

Believe me, you won't want a car in Bangkok! Some people like to hire a car and driver for a day or two in Bangkok or a guide. I prefer to go on my own, using mostly public transport (the water taxis and the Skytrain are easy and quicker than any other transport) and taxis. Ther are some out-of town- destinations for which you will need a car and driver.

You will want to dress conservatively. Shorts are considered resort wear, and not appropriate in Bangkok. At the Grand Palace/Emerald Buddha, they have a strictly enforced dress code. In general, being more covered will be more comfortable (culturally sensitive as well as protecting you from the very hot sun) than wearing skimpy things like tank tops.

As far as driving from Chiang Rai to Chang Mai, I was thinking it might be fun just to drive and see some of the countryside and stop at places along the way if we see something of interest. Do you not recommend that?
Also, as far as attire -- are conservative shorts, shirt appropriate for areas such as Chiang Rai when hiking, etc?

Short are fine, though I don't think you'll want to be wearing them hiking in August...rainy season mosquitos, dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis...this is a very bad year for dengue in SEA.

I'd opt for breathable sports/hiking pants and a Coolmax or similar shirts.

I recommend against driving yourself. Having a driver means you can concentrate on sights and not navigation.

Thanks Kim. Where would be the best way for us to locate a driver to take us from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai? And how long of a drive is it?

the drive is an easy one...about one hour...road is excellent...

jeep---i myself cannot imagine ever having an open car in thailand...you need the a/c...

i would rent from budget at airport and drive north....there are only about 4 turns from the airport to the anantara if you can believe it....very easy....

you will be very glad to have the car for your touring up north...

a guide in bkk can be quite helpful for first time tourists, but it is not essential...

cherry, tong and ratt, often spoken of on this board are tons of fun and will take you to places that normal tourists never go....

Bob is describing the drive from the Chaing Rai airport to the Anantara when he says it's an hour. From CR to CM is a bit over three hours. Any travel agency in Thailand can set you up with a car and driver, your hotel can recommend one, etc. It's very easy and need not be arranged in advance. You can get there then decide whether you want to do that drive.

kathie is right...i read the question wrong...3-4 hours drive from CR to CM

Thank you all so much for your help!

I stayed at the Anantara this April and loved the hotel. Try joining and booking through www.slh.com the rates are the best I good find and some ofthem include a free upgrade to a suite (which are really nice). As for travelling around, if you are happy driving I would recommend hiring a car for your stay in the north as it gives you so much freedom and the driving in the north is really very easy and the roads are generally good. If you source a car and driver from the hotel it will be VERY expensive. I have always used Budget in Thailand www.budget.co.th check out their website as they have some excellent driving guides for the area.

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I really want to try to see both Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, if possible, so here's the itinerary I've come up with. Please let me know what you think:

Aug 18 (arrive from India at 4:05am!) - Aug 21 (til mid afternoon) -- BKK
Aug 21-24 CR/Golden Triangle; Anantara
Aug 24 -- drive from CR to CM
Aug 24 -27 -- CM; Four Season
Aug 27 early am -- fly home.

Am I spending too little/too much time somewhere? Am I still trying to do too much?

I think you are trying to do too much. For the amount of time you have it would make better sense to choose two places. If it were me, I'd opt for Bangkok and the Golden Triangle, By all accounts, the Four Seasons near CM (it's 30-40 mintes out of town) is lovely, but save it for the next trip.

You'll lose most of a day each time you change locations, so realistically, you have two days in each location, not enough to get more than a cursory feel for any of the places.

Ok. So if we just pick Golden Triangle, and Bangkok, of course, what would you recommend as must sees in Golden Triangle? would you recommend we book any of the packages with the Anantara, or just book the room and select tours, etc. separately? Should we rent a car?

It really depends on how you want to spend your time. You can certainly fill your time at the Anantara, with the elephants, cooking class and spa. The Opium Museum across the road from the entrance to the Anantara is quite interesting.

We hired a car and driver for one day when we were there, and spent the morning visiting some of the ancient ruins in Chiang Sean and the museum there, plus several wats in the Golden Triangle area, a boat trip on the river, and after lunch a trip to Doi Tung, the propjects of the now deceased Princess Mother (King's mother). She was committed to economic development as the key to reducing the drug trade (this a a traditonal opium-poppy growing area). She funded projects that are now self-sustaing such as coffee growing and roasting, handicrafts projects and other agricultural projects. If you like gardens, visiting her garden at her estate atop the "mountain" is a nice trip.

I wouldn't book any packages with the Anantara, just wait until you are there and decide what you want to do. Unless you are opting for the three day mahout trainign (sounds unlikely), you really don't need to book anything ahead of time. If you want one of teh cooking classes, do book it as soon as you get to the Anantara. Some people do rent a car and drive from the Chiang Rai airport. That does give you the use of a car while you are there.

the opium museum and doi tung were my highlights up north

Thank you all for your input. We are really looking forward to our time at that Anantara.

How would I get a hold of the guides that were recommended for Bangkok -- Cherry, Tong or Ratt? Would the hotel help me connect with them when I get there?

And last question -- I think!!-- Can men wear shorts in Bangkok or is that not appropriate as well?

Driving in the north areas is a piece of cake. Light, orderly traffic and good paved roads. Went from CR to CM and got around to many of the towns in the area, including the hills around Mae Salong. That trip didn't require a jeep or anything. Budget will let you pick up one place and drop in the other. They're not at the airport, but will bring the car to meet you and will pick it up at your hotel in CM.