CNX late arrival?
 

I'm looking at an award flights from the US to Chaing Mai for mid-January and they invariably seem to arrive between 2200 and midnight.

This has me concerned as I will be coming off a loooong flight, traveling solo, and in Thailand for the first time in 20 years.

In BKK I'd just book an airport hotel, and not be worried about late arrivals, taxis by myself, finding an ATM right away, etc.

I have plenty of days so that if I fly into BKK and head up to Chiang Mai a few days later that isn't an issue.

Suggestions? A good (affordable) CNX airport hotel for that night? Or ??

If you opt to make CNX your first stop, just take a taxi into the city. Pre-book your hotel on a reliable booking site. There are ATMs in the airport.

Thanks.

Should I be worried about being a lone female in a taxi around midnight? In Tokyo, no. In NYC, yes. In CNX ... ?

Reliable booking sites ... Agoda? Others?

Booking hotels is my next step -- this week's project -- after securing flights.

No worries about traveling alone in CNX at midnight. Use common sense, of course, but quite a safe city.

Booking sites: agoda, booking, sawasdee

or book directly with the hotel...

stay a couple of days in Bangkok to unwind and catch up.

anantara riverside is my fav.... renaissance club rooms are very nice with added club offerings and it's in town location

Thank you, all. I will start searching agoda, booking, sawasdee and tripadvisor for recommendations And Hostelworld ...

My nightly budget is $60 or preferably less. I am not looking for resorts or spas Well located (I walk a lot, and take public transportation) with local flavor/character, safe area, and strong WiFi.

Suggestions for Chiang Mai (where I will be based for a couple of weeks) and Bangkok (plan a week there at the end of my Thailand/Laos visit) are greatly appreciated.

We have stayed a couple of times at http://the3sis.com and would highly recommend it. Good location in the old city close to Chedi Luang, the markets and some great restaurants. It would meet all your stand requirements (very similar to my own!) Should come in around $50 per night.

CM is a pretty safe place so I wouldn't worry too much about taxis, even late at night. I agree with rhkkmk’s suggestion to stay in Bangkok for a night or two to get over the jet lag. Airport hotels are usually grim souless and expensive so definitely stay in town. you could easily find a flight to CM from either of the Bangkok airports. most budget airlines now fly from Dorn Muang.

If you do want to go straight to CM, there is no need to stay near the airport as it is very close to the old city.

Be aware that Chiang Mai has no public transport. Other than walking, you'll need to take a tuk-tuk, a songthew, or a taxi.

Thanks so very much, all! I booked my KE award flight today to CNX, and will hunker down there to recover from jet lag from the US -- which I do badly but fortunately I have loads of time as I don't depart Thailand (other than a visa excursion through Laos) for six weeks!

crellston, thank you (yet again!) for the 3sis suggestion; it looks promising! And as you suggested in another thread, I have moved the north of Thailand (and Laos) to the beginning of my trip, and will have fingers crossed for good air quality (arrive Jan 17th).

And thanks to everyone for your patience answering questions. My Asia travel skills/ knowledge is buried under 15+ years of rust (egads -- I was last in Chiang Mai in 1983! Bangkok in 1994, Kyoto and Singapore more recently for work....)

"I was last in Chiang Mai in 1983! Bangkok” I think you will find it has changed a bit !!

I was first in Chiang Mai about that same time. Yes, it has changed a bit.

Another guesthouse to consider is Baan Orapin, family owned and run. You'll need to book on their website.

I stayed some time ago at Baan Orapin, loved the esthetics, the people, the property, being close to town but not right in it but, for me, a problem arose. The partition between rooms, the wall down the middle that divides those beautiful buildings into 2 spaces, wasn't at the time soundproof. So when a couple moved in next door I could hear every cough and fart and "private" conversation as though they were in the room with me. I was alone so they may not have realized the problem. I even tried to make noises to clue them in, to no avail. Being so intimate with strangers was not the experience I wanted.

They may very well have corrected the problem by now and it is a great place otherwise. I, too, recommend it highly, but if it interests you do try to find out if the problem persists. Those lovely Lanna buildings with single wall construction aren't designed with soundproofing in mind, so do check. It would be well worth the bother finding out.

http://baanorapin.com/