Next step - drive or be driven - Mae Hong Son loop
 

Good evening

I have my hotels (all but one last night along the MHS loop).

I have my intra-country flights all squared away. Bangkok to CM, CM to Krabi, Krabi to Bangkok.

Now, to decide on my last night along the MHS loop and then decide if I want to drive myself or be driven (and logistics around having a driver).

I am taking four days to do the loop.

First stop will be Hotel des Artistes in Pai for one night.
Fern Resort in Mae Hong Son for two nights
LAST NIGHT - where?

When I wake up from my last night on this drive, I have to drive to Chiang Mai in time to make a 1230 flight to Krabi. I guess that means I should be at the airport at 1030 AM to give me time to drop the car and get inside and checked in. A three hour drive would be fine but closer would be better. It would be nice not to feel rushed to get to the airport.

As far as having a driver, how does that work? I would expect a driver for four days would be quite expensive - or do you just hire someone new at each destination? And if I do get a driver, how much would I expect to pay - is it on par with a rental car, more, less?

Should I rent a car instead? I typically rent in Europe (including the UK when I've been outside London) and it's no problem even when alone.

Kop Koon Kah, again!

I would drive myself and since you've driven abroad, like another right hand drive country like the UK then you should be fine IMO. Road signage are OK in Thailand and once you're outside of Chiang Mai you should not have any trouble navigating. If you have a smartphone then driving apps will be very useful, even the Tripadvisor app have map and direction functions which will navigate you to the resort or hotel of your choice. If you did hire a driver then you will be responsible for his meals and lodging which will be troublesome.

If you don't have a smartphone, which will require you to buy a local sim card for it, then you can rent a GPS like this: https://www.budget.co.th/Deals.aspx Just make sure from the people you rent from the proper instruction on how to use them and how to input the destination on your itinerary.

I highly suggest you get a local sim card for your phone and the service provider with the best coverage, especially for the area you're going to is AIS. http://www.ais.co.th/roaming/visitin...veller-en.aspx

As for your last night, if you are coming back via Mae Sariang the resorts around Doi Inthanon will be convenient. I have not stayed in that area but have driven past a lot so cannot recommend first hand a resort there. If you're coming back via Pai or the route you originally took from Chiang Mai then I suggest Mae Rim. Lots of nice little boutique resorts around and some with waterfalls on the property.

Don't forget to print out this map: http://www.budget.co.th/images/world...ss_mae_eng.pdf

Drive yourself. Once you leave CM and it's environs it's really only one road, so pretty easy to follow. Would you be comfortable leaving MHS and just going until you felt like stopping? There were some places about 1-2 hours or so from Pai in the direction of CM that had a couple nice resorts or hotels. We had lunch at one, but I can't recall the name. Maybe it was Mae Rim as Hanuman suggested. ( hi Hanuman! Hope you are well)

For the car rental we were nervous about driving in Cm so we picked it up at the airport which is only 20 minutes or so from the city. Thought it would be easier to get on the road and avoiding downtown CM which had pretty hectic traffic.

Thanks for the map Hanuman, we'll be doing the same drive a week before Flygirl so have downloaded it and I'm sure it will be handy !

Flygirl, if I get a chance I'll post some updates for you on my impressions.

Sorry to hijack Flygirl...
Yestravel, did you book in advance or just play it by ear ?

U r a woman traveling and driving alone in rural Thailand?

The actual drive takes some time, we spent 2 days, CM to Pai to MHS, stopping o'nite at MHS. We rented car from North Wheels near ThaPae Gate, others available. From DoiInthanon plan 2 hrs back to city.

U don\t say when u r going. Now the area is not crowded, but in mid Dec/Jan that will change and hotels may be jammed.

I would drive yourself but do take a phone with local SIM card with you as a precaution and check with the hire company what would happen in the event of a breakdown. Unlikely, but better to err on the side of caution.

Doi Inthanon would make a good last stop. Within a couple of hours of CM and lots to see in the vicinity We stayed at Uncle Dans Guesthouse which was pleasant enough but fairly basic and v.cold at night. Whilst there we took a look at the Inthanon Highland Resort, seem like the best place around by far.

First trip we booked in advance, but then changed things around, canceling some places and booking in new places. This was in February 2012. Second trip we did book in advance, that was this past year.

I'm no expert on the woman traveling alone, but this route didn't strike me as one that would be dangerous. Lots of folks on the road on both trips, both tourists and locals. Everyone was quite friendly.

Hello and thank you!

OK, self-driving it is. That was easy.

Are gas stations plentiful along this route or if you find one do you have two hours before you come across the next one? Anything a solo woman should consider/avoid?

Hanuman, what a fantastic map and guide! Thank you!

I just emailed Little Home Inthanon which looks great. It's not too far from the airport and roughly four hours driving time from MHS/Fern Resort.


Yestravel, pickup at the airport sounds like a good idea.

sartoric, would love to hear impressions!

Gas stations were not an issue. As I recall at least there was one in Pai and MHS. It's also not far mileage wise. When are you leaving?

Try not to use the name "gas station" in Thailand as it might be misinterpreted as a filling station for vehicles operating on natural gas! These gas stations will look similar to petrol station but will have signs like "NGV" or "LPG".

Petrol stations, in Thai is "Pump nam mun", are plentiful in the towns on the route. There are several in Pai and MHS so fill up in the towns. There are some along the way as well and if you opt for the GPS then they should have the petrol station marked on the map. When I do the drive I normally have a full tank leaving CM. Fill up full again in Pai and likewise in MHS. In the big towns credit cards are accepted at petrol stations but outside make sure you have cash available. Most petrol stations will have a mini mart and ATM machines.

When driving blink your high beam to tell the other driver or people that you're coming through or that you have the right of way.

Forgot to mention this but there will be at least 1 military check point on the route, this area is near to the border. The soldiers will just look into your car and wave you on, no worries.

Thank you Hanuman.

You mentioned the signage was good - by any chance, is it also in English?

ps. I looked more closely at Little Home and now I'm not sure (TA doesn't like it). So I emailed the one mentioned above...

Mae Sariang is a nice place to stay.........various levels of accommodation available and some day trips too.

Yes, signage was in English and Thai.

Don't drive, the road from chiang mai to Pai is known for having many dangerous curves up the mountain, unless you are very comfortable and adept driver. The signage is in both English and Thai.

I'm a huge advocate of self-drive - you'll find those curves very entertaining and also that they succumbe willingly to the use of the steering wheel....you'll find that in the front of the passenger compartment on the right-hand-side.

i think a bigger deal is made out of those curves than need be. it's a great, fun drive!

hear! hear!