Will be off to Bangkok and chiang mai end dec.Planning to go for a day trip to hua hin as we have only 3 days in Bangkok.any suggestions as to the best way to go ab this and what all can one do during the day in HH-any restaurants(we are vegetarians)one can suggest?Also for the 2nd day we want to go a bit out of the city again so any suggestions?

From chiang mai (we have 4 nights there), am planning on a day's trip to the national park-love rainforests.Any ideas how one can best do this and any other ways of getting to see the rainforests in maximum tho in a sorta medium easy manner-not one of those exhausting hikes?...what else can one do there?Tho we live in Hong KOng, we are Indians so don't really wnat to do elephant parks unless they are really worth it..We do love animals tho...
I find this site to be extremely informative so waiting for all those tips from all u seasoned travellers!!!!!!!

i would suggest to you that a day trip to HH is more than most people would want to do....why would you do this? i don't think with your short time in bkk, that you would gain anything from it except maybe a quick dip in the sea...i would consider eliminating it and just using that time in bkk...it is not really an appealing place on its surface, the trip there is boring and uninteresting as well...staying there on the other hand can be quite pleasant as it is a laid back type place with good hotels and nice beaches...

sorry to say that i feel the same way about the national park outside of chiang mai....we took a whole day with a driver to go there...i have two lasting impressions: the monuments (wats) on top of the mountain dedicated to the king and queen were interesting and the water fall we hiked down to in all that heat was not worthy of the effort...there were a couple of nice views, especially one across a rice field but other than that i could have been in the green mountains of vermont....very green, tons of trees, but nothing uniquely thai....

sorry to be discouraging, but i think you are wasting two great days doing these outings...thought it might save time for other things if i pointed my experiences out to you...

I'm with Bob. Definitely skip HH. National Park outside of CM is ok but instead of going there I would go to the Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang -- about an hour and a half outside of CM. It is a must for all animal lovers and unique. Avoid all the other ones.

I've pulled up a few previous threads for vegetarians. Just type in,"vegetarian" above and the appropriate threads will appear. I'm vegetarian, but will eat fish. In Thailand you just have to be careful because there is chicken/meat stock added to dishes that can look vegetarian. Happy Travels!

Skip Hua Hin. While it's a relaxing place to stay, it's not worth a day trip from BKK. In Chiang Mai, you might want to check with Sergeant Kai at ChiangMaiTours.com and see if he can help. He was very accomodating to us last year. Skip HH.

thanx for all the advise-everyone seems unanimous in advising us not to go to HH.what else can one do in Bankok then-in my last 2 day trip did all the buddha sites and shopping so anything else?what ab kosamet?thot one day at the beach would be nice???what ab something nature oriented?and also for chiang mai,what all can one do in 4 days?thanx and really look fwrd to heraing from u all and the others soon..

Koh Samed is also not a day trip from Bangkok. It is a 3+ hour drive so not worth the effort for just a day. It seems you are not too much fo a Bangkok fan/city person. if you really want some time at the beach and away from Bangkok plan an overnight trip, to either Hua Hin, Koh Samed or Kanchanaburi (River Kwai). All 3 are motorable in 2.5-3 hours one way making them worthwhile only for an overnight stay.

Ko Kret? We're doing this by bicycle and a klong tour in one day, probably privately arranged with spiceroads.com - they've been excellent with communicating and very flexible to our wants and needs...pretty much everything I ask for is possible for a reasonable price.

thanx once again.. and its not that i'm not a bangkok person but we did the sightseeing within the city so was wondering what else one can do which involves some time on the outskirts or around the city.and apart from the weekend market dont really wnat to do any more shopping..