glorialf

I'm not a fan of the location of the Sheraton in Chiang Mai -- too out of the way. I'm a big walker and it didn't suit me. I also found the hotel a bit "tired". If I'm going to stay in a bland western commercial hotel I want to be in a great location.

gilawi01

Thanks Glorialf and Carol for your recommendations. I will look into it. By the way, I've just receive my copy of Conde Nast Traveller Magazine and the Rachmankha was included in the 116 Best new hotels in the world. The highly recommended by some Fodorites, (specially by Kathie) Anantara Resort in Chiang Rai was in the list too. Kathie: are the elephants in the Anantara Resort well treated? I mention this because I've came across some articles regarding the bad treatment of elephants in some of the camps.

rhkkmk

i think the elephants at anantara are very well treated....

i also stayed last time at the sheraton/westin....it was fine but is removed from most everything, but that did not present a problem for us...

simpsonc510

In Chiang Mai we always have a driver who picks us up at the Sheraton and takes us to the places we want to go. He speaks "some" English. For 1000 baht a day, and a long day at that, he does a great job.
Carol

rhkkmk

i have done the same as carol hiring a driver for much of my CM stay....

glorialf

I also have a driver for much of my Chiang Mai stays.

Guenmai

Personally I would skip the Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok all together...even the Towers section of the hotel.I really didn't like that one. As for shopping, the river hotels are NOT in the heart of the shopping. The Four Seasons is. All of us on this board have extremely strong hotel opinions when it comes to hotels in Bangkok. If I were you I would pick one hotel in town and one on the river in order to get a different experience and to not have to spend so much time on transportation.If you choose one hotel in town, then you can zip around to all the main malls on the sky train or walk to many of them. As for which hotel to pick on the river...well...we've been arguing about that for over a year. As far as I'm concerned I found the Pen cold..although very modern and high tech...if that's what you're into.Others love it.I think it's Glorialf who only stays across the river at the Oriental and Kathie at the Royal Orchid Sheraton. I personally have not stayed at the Oriental, but might just bite the bullet this coming trip and stay one night to see what all the hoopla is about.I'm a die-hard Four Seasons fan...like Hobbes... who also stays there. But, I have stayed all over Bangkok so I have many hotel experiences and a lot to compare different hotels to. But, wherever you stay in Bangkok you'll have a great time because the bottom line is that it's a great city with even greater people. Happy Travels!

gilawi01

Some of you are recommending to stay some nights at a hotel in the city of Bangkok and end in a hotel at the river. What would be your suggestions for hotels in the city?

rhkkmk

depends on your budget

upscale: jw marriott, conrad, four seasons, hyatt, sheraton grande, sukhuthai (sp),& westin

step down: holiday inn silom, new holiday inn near former world trade center, davis hotel, landmark, centre point serviced apartments, chateau de bangkok, sofitel, novotel, asia hotel and on and on...

gilawi01

I'm not looking for upscale nor three star hotels in the city. It could be one of the "step downs" hotels that you mentioned, but with a good location for transportation and shopping areas, maybe near one the Skytrain stations. I'd rather spend the money in one of the Luxury hotels by the river at the end of the trip. Question: When making arrangement for flights to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai and then to Siam Reap, do you wait until you get to Bangkok, or make reservations before leaving home?