Is this an apples and orange comparision?

What do you like and dislike about each place?

I would go to LP instead. Chiang Mai is a city, Thailand's second largest after Bangkok, but cannot compare with Bangkok. LP, on the other hand, is a small town, village really, that is beautiful. The main street is lined with wats that are all colorful jewels. It is very laid back and relaxing, with very little traffic or the pollution of CM.

It really all depends on what your interests are though. CM has shopping, and you can do treks to hilltribes. I'm not an expert on CM, I spent a few days there but I was sick while there, but I can tell you that what I saw was not overly impressive. I spent four days in LP and wish it could have been more. In LP, you can take a boat ride on the Mekong, go to the Pak Ou Caves with over 3000 Buddah statues, and stop at small villages along the river. LP is a great place to sit back and relax. In the mornings, you can see procession of monks getting their daily alms (you have to be up pretty early for this though).

To put is simply, LP is lovely, CM is not.

Thanks for the frank response.

Where did you stay in LP? Did you plan it yourself or was it part of a tour?

I had friends who said CM was lovely, but I guess it is all relative. You don't know what you don't know.

We stayed at the Villa Santi Resort, about 15 minutes out of town. It was beautiful, with wonderful views from our balcony. Some on this forum think it's too far away but we liked it. The resort provides free shuttles into town several times a day and when we didn't use that, a "taxi" cost about a dollar or two. I planned the whole thing myself, as part of a three week vacation to Laos, Burma and Bangkok.

The Villa Santi now has a pool, which wasn't built when I was there two years ago. I also had a wonderful one hour massage in my room for $10. The breakfast there was very good also from what I can recall, eggs made to order included.

I went to the website and it looks superb.

I'm someone who loves Chiang Mai and I find it very different from Bangkok. Very laid back while haing a lot of energy at the same time. It is definitely more touristy than LP but for some reason I find it an acceptable kind of touristy.

Things to do -- there are temples, terrific markets of all kinds (local and tourist ones); the fabulous Elephant Conservation Center; cooking classes; spas at half the price of Bangkok; hilltribe treks, good and cheap restaurants and lots of opportunities to do volunteer work if you want -- Chiang Mai is where there are huge numbers of local NGOs doing great work with refugees, AIDS, hilltribes, orphans etc. It also is the heart of the craft industry and there are wonderful crafts being done in this area. It is also the center of the expat community. I sort of think there's a 60s/70s feel to the atmosphere which could be why I like it. I find the people very friendly and if you take the time to really talk to people I think you can have a wonderful experience.

I spent 3 days in LP in 1991 and I loved it and want to go back. It sounds as though there are a lot more hotels but otherwise it doesn't sound as though it has changed much. It is definitely more "relaxed" and sleepy.

I think they are both worth a tourist's time and you should get to both at some point in your life. Which one to go to now somewhat depends on what you are looking for and where else you are going on this trip.

I will be coming from Hawaii and only have 6-7 days. I have been to Bangkok and liked the temples and markets, but dsiliked the traffic and pollution.

Looking for some easy nature hikes, gardens, temples, a good massage or two, good food, meeting friendly people and a chance to ride an elephant. I like to look at crafts and markets, but don't buy too much.

Hope that helps.

Then I would suggest you go to Chiang mai for 3 days and then go to Chiang rai area for 3 days. From there you can go to the Queen Mother's garden which is absolutely spectacular as well as some treks.

In Chiang Mai consider staying at Baan Orapin ( a boutique B & B that is getting raves). In Chiang Rai try Anatara or perhaps go to Mae Hong Son and stay at Fern Resort.

Northern Thailand will give you everything you want -- friendly people, crafts, massages, easy treks. gardens, elephants, and markets. For great info on Chiang mai get the Nancy Chandler map.

There are certainly more cars than in LP but it's definitely NOT like Bangkok or anywhere near it. I think you'll have a great time.

Thanks, I'm thinking now that its not an either or situation.

NorthShore, considering your interests, I think Gloria's suggestion is good. You will be able to achieve all the activities that interest you between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I spent several days in Chiang Rai and loved it. Even though CM was not my cup of tea, many people do like it. And, I was sick while there which probably made me like it less than I normally would have. One day I will go back and give it another chance.

If you go to CR, be sure to take a trip to the Golden Triangle, take a boat on the Mekong and visit hilltribes. All of these can be done in day trips if you didn't want to overnight somewhere else.

Thanks for the feedback - lots of good ideas. I'll check out Chiang Rai.

Gloria, We are also CM fans, and we have been trying to put our finger on just what it was that we liked so much about it (in addition to the spas which I loved), and you just captured it in your description -- kind of a 60s 70s feel. Does that date us! But that's what it was.

I personally like Chiangmai, but haven't been to LP. Happy Travels!

Carole -- It took me a long time to figure out what I liked so much about the "feel" of CM and it finally came to me on my last trip. It seems a very tolerant city to me and the fact that there are so many people there working in the non profit sector probably helps. Just has that "give peace a chance" feel without being grubby. And, yes I guess that ages us. Anyway I like the place so much I'm going to spend 10 days there in January and am beginning to think it may be my base for a couple of months a year when I retire. I love Bangkok but, to be honest, one of the things I love most about it is the Oriental and my budget just won't let me make that place my base for more than a week or two.

glorialf, we are also seriously looking at taking early retirement and living in apartments, dividing our time amongst Asia (3 months), Mexico (3 months) and Europe (6 months).

Any thoughts you have on retiring to Asia would be appreciated.

For the retiring people...I'm also thinking of retiring in Bangkok. I have to probably work another 10 years in order to take early retirement though, but I have all the information at home. I've been researching this for a year. There's a book that you should buy by Robert Hein called "The Survival Guide to Living in Bangkok". He's lived there for 12 years. I also have booklets from the Thai Tourist board that has all the requirements for retiring there and the different visa types...like the over 50 visa...good for a year and then with an annual renewel every year and the over 55 visa. Different visas have different requirements...like the early retirement one requires that you either have approx.a minimum of $1650.00 of monthly retirement income or $20,000 in a Thai bank. Then for the over 50 visa there is a medical requirement in order to get that sort of visa. My plan would be to possibly buy a condominium in Bangkok...at some point. I plan to contact some realtors that I have on my list when I get back there next month. Hope this has helped. Happy Travels!

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Jeane and I have joked about retiring in Thailand - we are 10 - 15 years away though and a lot can happen in that amount of time (like it might get "discovered" and what is cheap today may no longer be). We would also be very far away from our families, located predominately on the east coast US and midwest/rockies.

I'm also considering retiring to Thailand (at least part time). Thanks for the book reference, Guenmai, I'll have to look for it.

I'm another one who would like to retire part time in bkk. Eric and I have planned on possibly retiring to Tasmania, but I would like to spend several months a year in bkk as well. Looks like we might have an expat community of fodorites there!