Getting a handle on a Thailand Itinerary
Mar 24th, 2010, 07:50 AM
#21
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OK, I'm nixing the car idea. Just don't think I want the "pressure" including the automatic thing and the left hand thing. Bus or driver between towns and flying between Chiang Mai and Luang Prabang.
So tell me -- how should I divide my time up in "the North"?
For the sake of argument, let's say I have 9 nights to spend "up there" Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Saen, Luang Prabang -- in addition to my week in Bangkok and three nights in Siem Reap. Which of those towns should I drop if any? Since I can fly direct between Luang Prabang and Siem Reap (either way I do it) but not between Chiang Mai and Siem Reap, it seems I do want to keep Luang Prabang in the mix.
So tell me -- how should I divide my time up in "the North"?
For the sake of argument, let's say I have 9 nights to spend "up there" Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chiang Saen, Luang Prabang -- in addition to my week in Bangkok and three nights in Siem Reap. Which of those towns should I drop if any? Since I can fly direct between Luang Prabang and Siem Reap (either way I do it) but not between Chiang Mai and Siem Reap, it seems I do want to keep Luang Prabang in the mix.
Mar 24th, 2010, 08:19 AM
#22
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I'd spend anywhere from 3 to 5 nights in LP, as I find it the most interesting of those places. So if you start in LP, then fly to CM, that may be a good way to organize it.
Chiang Mai is a huge, sprawling city. If you stay inside the city walls you can stroll around, but much of what you might want to see and do is some distance away so you'll need a taxi (like Doi Suthep). Chiang Rai is smaller, and Chiang Sean is smaller still. You might want contrasts, in which case I'd suggest you skip (or spend one night) in CR and two in CS. However, you may feel there isn't enough to do in CS for two nights. It depends on how quiet a town you ae looking for.
Chiang Mai is a huge, sprawling city. If you stay inside the city walls you can stroll around, but much of what you might want to see and do is some distance away so you'll need a taxi (like Doi Suthep). Chiang Rai is smaller, and Chiang Sean is smaller still. You might want contrasts, in which case I'd suggest you skip (or spend one night) in CR and two in CS. However, you may feel there isn't enough to do in CS for two nights. It depends on how quiet a town you ae looking for.
Mar 24th, 2010, 08:59 AM
#23
Hi Patrick! Just thought I'd mention the hotel in LP we really enjoyed - The Apsara
http://www.theapsara.com/
More pics on our blog....
http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/2...luang_prabang/
(on the left hand margin of the blog is Bangkok and Siem Reap if you're interested as well)
http://www.theapsara.com/
More pics on our blog....
http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/2...luang_prabang/
(on the left hand margin of the blog is Bangkok and Siem Reap if you're interested as well)
Mar 24th, 2010, 10:27 AM
#24
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Liz
I just spent about 45 minutes browsing your blog (when I should be working). Awesome! Thanks for the link. I hope Patrick takes the time to have a look as well. Your BKK and other S E Asia photos are lovely! I'll be making my 20th trip to BKK in just a little under one month from now.
I also just got back from a trip to Sydney, so I enjoyed your OZ photos... rather SOME of them. I didn't look at them all. I've been in all of the Australian capital cities (incl Hobart) so will no doubt be looking at some of your other photos and blog notes.
Anyway, just wanted you to know that you have a very nice and very interesting blog.
Carol
I just spent about 45 minutes browsing your blog (when I should be working). Awesome! Thanks for the link. I hope Patrick takes the time to have a look as well. Your BKK and other S E Asia photos are lovely! I'll be making my 20th trip to BKK in just a little under one month from now.
I also just got back from a trip to Sydney, so I enjoyed your OZ photos... rather SOME of them. I didn't look at them all. I've been in all of the Australian capital cities (incl Hobart) so will no doubt be looking at some of your other photos and blog notes.
Anyway, just wanted you to know that you have a very nice and very interesting blog.
Carol
Mar 24th, 2010, 10:33 AM
#25
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Carol, I await your imput on my itinerary as well.
Any thoughts from anyone as to whether it makes more sense on arrival in Bangkok to stay there then for a week to "familiarize" myself with Thai culture and customs before embarking on my other Thai adventures as opposed to doing those first and then coming back to Bangkok to "rest and absorb" for a week?
Any thoughts from anyone as to whether it makes more sense on arrival in Bangkok to stay there then for a week to "familiarize" myself with Thai culture and customs before embarking on my other Thai adventures as opposed to doing those first and then coming back to Bangkok to "rest and absorb" for a week?
Mar 24th, 2010, 11:51 AM
#26
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Elizabeth, I have one complaint about your blog. I just gained 4 pounds reading it and looking at the food pictures.
I hadn't even started looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang but that looks like a perfect one. I'm guessing the upstairs rooms (including the "standard" ones in the other building have much better views that the downstairs ones? I like the big showers better than a tub with shower.
I hadn't even started looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang but that looks like a perfect one. I'm guessing the upstairs rooms (including the "standard" ones in the other building have much better views that the downstairs ones? I like the big showers better than a tub with shower.
Mar 24th, 2010, 02:14 PM
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Elizabeth, your hotel w/balcony overlooking the river in BKK also looked good. If it weren't so darn far away from all my friends in the Sukhumvit (soi 8/soi 11) area, I'd maybe think about it. I'd like the view, for sure. But I would also miss my one-bedroom apartment-sized "home away from home" on soi 8, with all the people I've grown accustomed to over the last 2 years+ of staying in that same place.
Patrick, I've only been to Thailand, so I can't really say much about Cambodia and Laos as side trips. But I would maybe suggest that you split your time in Bangkok. Are you flying in and out from there, when you begin and end your trip? If so, you should spend a few days at Silom, along the river, and then on a second stop in BKK, spend time in my favorite area, Sukhumvit (as mentioned above).
Do your side trips to Laos and Cambodia and northern Thailand in between those two stops in BKK. I'd do the river location first, sort of as an oasis, and a place to unwind. I'd do the Sukhumvit area stop once you "know" Bangkok and Thailand a little bit better. Just a suggestion.
The only place I've been in northern Thailand is Chiang Mai. I enjoy my visits there everytime; but I go there for shopping, not sight seeing. But I agree that you would want a driver in each location that you visit. It's the easiest way to get around, for sure. And if you have a rough idea of the things you want to see/accomplish each day, the driver should be able to get you there more quickly than if you tried going from each place to the next one, by hailing a taxi each time!
If you do a search for Mae Hong Son and Pai, you might get information that would be of interest, and make you want to see those places as well as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Everyone here tries to be helpful, so just run your ideas past this group of fodorites!
Carol
Patrick, I've only been to Thailand, so I can't really say much about Cambodia and Laos as side trips. But I would maybe suggest that you split your time in Bangkok. Are you flying in and out from there, when you begin and end your trip? If so, you should spend a few days at Silom, along the river, and then on a second stop in BKK, spend time in my favorite area, Sukhumvit (as mentioned above).
Do your side trips to Laos and Cambodia and northern Thailand in between those two stops in BKK. I'd do the river location first, sort of as an oasis, and a place to unwind. I'd do the Sukhumvit area stop once you "know" Bangkok and Thailand a little bit better. Just a suggestion.
The only place I've been in northern Thailand is Chiang Mai. I enjoy my visits there everytime; but I go there for shopping, not sight seeing. But I agree that you would want a driver in each location that you visit. It's the easiest way to get around, for sure. And if you have a rough idea of the things you want to see/accomplish each day, the driver should be able to get you there more quickly than if you tried going from each place to the next one, by hailing a taxi each time!
If you do a search for Mae Hong Son and Pai, you might get information that would be of interest, and make you want to see those places as well as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Everyone here tries to be helpful, so just run your ideas past this group of fodorites!
Carol
Mar 25th, 2010, 06:34 AM
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I would suggest staying in Bangkok first to get your bearings and get over your jetlag.
I would spend more time in Chiang Mai (dont miss the Sunday Night Walking Market!!!) and Luang Prabang. Chiange Rai could be done in one overnight. The most interesting thing there was the White Temple. The Saturday Market is interesting and very local.
Seriously you dont need to worry about the driver until you get here. There are people waiting everywhere to take you where you need to go. Loads of drivers, tuk tuks, songthews, or taxis.
I would spend more time in Chiang Mai (dont miss the Sunday Night Walking Market!!!) and Luang Prabang. Chiange Rai could be done in one overnight. The most interesting thing there was the White Temple. The Saturday Market is interesting and very local.
Seriously you dont need to worry about the driver until you get here. There are people waiting everywhere to take you where you need to go. Loads of drivers, tuk tuks, songthews, or taxis.
Mar 25th, 2010, 08:08 AM
#29
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I think I'm starting to get a handle on it, if I can organize it. Still uncertain about the stay/stays in Bangkok.
I will be at the Tawana Hotel (included) which is adjacent to the Patpong night market. (Ignore my mistake of Tamara Hotel in my original post above -- wrong name). This will be for my final night in Bangkok the first time before leaving with the OAT tour to Vietnam, and on return from Vietnam I'll be there again for essentially two nights (leaving after midnight though the second night.
So should I really still divide up the rest of my Bangkok stays to 3 and 4 nights in two different hotels, picking a third in addition to the Tawana and the Center Point Silom? I was kind of looking forward to staying put in one place for a week after over a month of hopping around China, etc. and before hopping around VietNam.
I will be at the Tawana Hotel (included) which is adjacent to the Patpong night market. (Ignore my mistake of Tamara Hotel in my original post above -- wrong name). This will be for my final night in Bangkok the first time before leaving with the OAT tour to Vietnam, and on return from Vietnam I'll be there again for essentially two nights (leaving after midnight though the second night.
So should I really still divide up the rest of my Bangkok stays to 3 and 4 nights in two different hotels, picking a third in addition to the Tawana and the Center Point Silom? I was kind of looking forward to staying put in one place for a week after over a month of hopping around China, etc. and before hopping around VietNam.
Mar 25th, 2010, 05:06 PM
#32
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So let me ask an elephant question. I have sort of mixed feelings about the whole "elephant riding" experience. On one hand it seems sort of exploitative but everyone seems to rave about the experience. If I should do it -- where? There seem to be so many options.
Mar 25th, 2010, 06:26 PM
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If you want to ride an elephant in a less exploitive environment, choose the Thai Elephant Conservation Center at Lamphang, near Chiang Mai. In any case, visit the center, even if you choose not to ride.
Mar 25th, 2010, 06:51 PM
#34
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...or look at the Elephant Nature Park (must make reservations in advance though--and they provide complimentary transport from your hotel in Chiang Mai)
The woman who runs it has received many humanitarian awards for her work in saving SE Asian elephants from abuse and exploitation.
The DH and I didn't get to spend nearly enough time there.
They have a website...definitely worth checking out:
http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/
I should also mention that the surroundings are breathtaking!
The woman who runs it has received many humanitarian awards for her work in saving SE Asian elephants from abuse and exploitation.
The DH and I didn't get to spend nearly enough time there.
They have a website...definitely worth checking out:
http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/
I should also mention that the surroundings are breathtaking!
Apr 1st, 2010, 05:13 AM
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We just returned from a trip to Thailand in most of the places you mentioned + a 3-day extension in Siem Reap. I can tell you that I took as many pictures in 3 days in Cambodia as I did in 2 weeks in Thailand. It's not that Thailand wasn't great, especially northern Thailand. But Cambodia is 30 years behind. So it's a chance to see a culture as it was. All of Bangkok is like being in the middle of Times Square. Most Cambodians don't have running water or electricity. The floating villages were a highlight.
Apr 8th, 2010, 12:16 PM
#36
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I've done tons of reading, tons of looking at trip reports and pictures. I've determined I'm more interested in "seeing a lot" than in any rest and relaxation.
I know this sounds like a lot, but what do you think (I'm not 100% about the travel logistics between places, but think I do)
Arrive Bangkok from Hong Kong at 5:30 PM on Monday (Aug 30)
spent 7 nights in Bangkok at Silom Center. Fly on Monday to Chiang Rai, then go on to stay in Bon Sop Ruak for two nights and do a one day three country loop with private driver. Take a bus to Chiang Mai for three nights. Take the 8 hour bus to Mae Hong Son for two nights. Fly from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai then on to Luang Prabang for three nights. Fly to Siem Reap for three nights. Fly back to Bangkok to meet my group at the hotel there for a night before departing on the VietNam tour.
Sure it's a lot. If I really need to cut something, what should it be -- I'm assuming either Mae Hong Son or Golden Triangle, maybe adding a night in Chiang Rai and a night to Luang Prabang ?
Or I suppose I could steal a night from Bangkok since I'll have two to three more nights there later on if I needed an additional day to add to the above itinerary.
I know this sounds like a lot, but what do you think (I'm not 100% about the travel logistics between places, but think I do)
Arrive Bangkok from Hong Kong at 5:30 PM on Monday (Aug 30)
spent 7 nights in Bangkok at Silom Center. Fly on Monday to Chiang Rai, then go on to stay in Bon Sop Ruak for two nights and do a one day three country loop with private driver. Take a bus to Chiang Mai for three nights. Take the 8 hour bus to Mae Hong Son for two nights. Fly from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai then on to Luang Prabang for three nights. Fly to Siem Reap for three nights. Fly back to Bangkok to meet my group at the hotel there for a night before departing on the VietNam tour.
Sure it's a lot. If I really need to cut something, what should it be -- I'm assuming either Mae Hong Son or Golden Triangle, maybe adding a night in Chiang Rai and a night to Luang Prabang ?
Or I suppose I could steal a night from Bangkok since I'll have two to three more nights there later on if I needed an additional day to add to the above itinerary.
Apr 8th, 2010, 02:32 PM
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"One day three country loop with a private driver" - not possible. I assume you mean you think you could go into Burma and Laos from the Golden Triangle.
From the Golden Triangle, you can make a short stop by boat in Laos at a "market" set up with cheap (Chinese) goods for tourists. Not worth the $5 charge to enter Loas there. You cannot drive into Laos from the Golden Triangle area.
You can also cross the border into Burma on foot, leave your passport at the border and walk around a bit, maybe take a tuk tuk into town. This is a border town experience (think Tijauna), not an experience of Burma.
So I'd cut that, the rest looks busy but do-able.
From the Golden Triangle, you can make a short stop by boat in Laos at a "market" set up with cheap (Chinese) goods for tourists. Not worth the $5 charge to enter Loas there. You cannot drive into Laos from the Golden Triangle area.
You can also cross the border into Burma on foot, leave your passport at the border and walk around a bit, maybe take a tuk tuk into town. This is a border town experience (think Tijauna), not an experience of Burma.
So I'd cut that, the rest looks busy but do-able.
Apr 9th, 2010, 06:14 AM
#38
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Kathie what I was looking at were private driver/guide trips that the hotels including Antares and Golden Triangle Resort mention -- described as a three country day trip. Maybe it isn't worth doing, but it seems to be a major thing that the Golden Triangle hotels advertise. Here's how the Anantara Resort describes the one day trip: "Three-Country Tour: Visit Mae Sai and Chiang Saen in Thailand, Tachilek in Myanmar, and Don Sao in Laos. Driver and guide provided."
On the other hand, I'm not into crossing a border to say I have done so -- and not into the "I'll cross to Tijuana to say I've been to Mexico" either.
So is there then no real reason to go up to the Golden Triangle if only for two nights. Just go as far as Chiang Rai? Or are you saying it might be "worth it" to go to Bon Sap Ruak, just not bother with the 3 country thing.
On the other hand, I'm not into crossing a border to say I have done so -- and not into the "I'll cross to Tijuana to say I've been to Mexico" either.
So is there then no real reason to go up to the Golden Triangle if only for two nights. Just go as far as Chiang Rai? Or are you saying it might be "worth it" to go to Bon Sap Ruak, just not bother with the 3 country thing.
