Thanks to your help on my previous email. I need a bit more of your wisdom.

We plan to arrive in Thailand late afternoon of the 30th and wonder if better to head to Chiang Mai for New Years Eve or stay in Bangkok. We know we can find rowdy revellers in Bangkok but want to see more how Thai celebrate. Are we more likely to get a better flavor for this in Chiang Mai?

Work limits us to only 14 full days and we want to spend some time at Angkor Wat. We are thinking we need 3 days there and would like to keep 2 days at beginning or end for Bangkok. We'd love to see Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son. What do you suggest is best way to split our remaining 9 days between these three places - or is this too much for 9 days?

DJ

i think i might drop one of the three places....and i would add a couple of days to bkk...

i think if you do not have accomodations already for new years you may have to make some changes based on where you might want to stay, so may i suggest you pick the hotels and see if they have rooms at prices you want to pay first and then do your final schedule based on this...problems might center on dec 29- jan 4 or 5....you might not have any problems at all but prices will be stiff...highest of the year...

may i also suggest you fly out of SR on the last flight on day 3, thus giving you a full day to tour there..

I would seriously consider staying put in BKK for the weekend following NYE because everywhere upcountry is going to be hectic with all the Thai holiday makers, plus BKK's reasonably quiet at this time of year. This will give you a good opportunity to explore BKK and visit its many wonderful attractions. Once all the Thais have returned to work after the hols is a better time to head North.

Thank you for your information. I should have mentioned that we visited Bangkok and Phuket in Nov/04 so we've experienced quite a number of the BKK attractions.

Having said that, which of the three would you suggest dropping?

I've spent many a NYE in Bangkok and have always had a wonderful time. There are fireworks on the river that night.

You do need a minimum of three full days at Angkor not counting travel days.

What do you want from Northern Thailand? That will help you decide which places to go. If you want countryside ans treking, then MHS and the Golden Triangle area might be your best bets. If you want shopping, then go to Chaing Mai. And how are you planning to get from place to place? Air connections aren't all that good. And the drives mean engaging drivers, likely for one way trips.