questions for Thai fodorites
 

Hi everyone
I've been reading the posts avidly-they're a great help with my trip planning. Our family (2 oldies and a 16 y.old) have booked tickets flying from Australia to Bangkok on Xmas Day. I would really appreciate any comments on my itinerary and questions I have about Thailand. Here it is:

25-27 dec: relax from flight at marriot
27 - catch the afternoon flight to Sukhothai, spend 2 nights there, one day temple gazing
29- fly to chiang mai, probably stay at baan orapin if possible. Spend 4 days in CM, taking it easy, a day at the elephant coservation centre, etc.
1 Jan - catch the overnight train back to bangkok
2- 6 Jan: Hang out in bangkok. Will book into Siam City Hotel because a friend of my daughter's will be there with her family
6 Jan -make our way to koh chang, either by bus or plane, depending on finances.
6-14 Jan: Hang out in Koh Chang, blissfully doing nothing. Not sure where to stay...
14 Jan -fly back to Bangkok, leave that night for oz.

What do you think -is that the right mix of ambition and taking it easy required for such a short time in Thailand?

My other questions are: I have seen posts about KC being a malarial risk area, and yet have also seen posts from people who have been there in early Jan who don't mention mozzies and say they had a good time. Can anyone comment from experience about KC -are there heaps of mozzies? Is it hot? I would prefer that we avoid taking tablets.
Is Sukhothai worth the fly in? I know thats kind of subjective, hard to answer...
And finally -is Chiang Mai cold this time of year? I have read on the internet that its both 21 and 29 degrees!

Sorry for all the qs, just trying to sort it all out soon!
Many thanks in advance :)

first comment....fly from CM to bkk....don't waste the time on the train...so cheap and quick...

generally i think you have a good plan..

i would return to the marriott---stretch that budget...you will miss it if you don't....

chang is very laid back....not a lot to do there other than beach activities and pools....some elephants up into the hills (you really need malaria protection there).....our travel clinic said precautions for all of koh chang....and we did....bugs were not a problem but we did not hang outside at dusk or dawn...plenty attracted to lites at nite however...

CM will be cooler but i have been there in jan and still found it very hot....

Thanks Bob. When you say that you took precautions in KC, do you mean you put alot of DEET repellant on or took the malaria pills?

I think that you have a very good itinerary; one that does not try to do too much.

Sukhothat is certainly worth the trip. You will need transport and preferably a guide. If you decide to go without a guide, spend some time in the visitor centre in the park before doing your tour.

Around New Year I would expect daily temperatures here in Chiang Mai to range from an overnight of around 13 to a high of around 28. However, we do get extremes and in January it can get as hot as 33 and as cold as 5. In the hills, night time temperatures are lower and can fall to below freezing.

I would stay with the train, for the experience and for the night’s accommodation it saves you.

New Year is very big in Thailand and many Thais will be travelling, so you do need to pre book accommodation and transport.

Thanks Tangata. My question around Chiang Mai was really to ascertain the need for a pool or not. The 16 y.old has thrived during trips to hot and trying places by the end of the day poolside dip. if CM wasn't too hot, then we could get by without it.
We have travelled on overnight trains through india and Europe and while I never get a great nights sleep, I agree that its a definite experience!
Thanks for your replies -I feel confident now that we're on the right track to enjoying Thailand.

We were in Chiang Mai last December from December 23 - 30. While the daytime was warm, a couple of times hot, the nights were cool, sometimes cold. I wore a light fleece pullover every night.

We stayed in a place with a lovely pool, but only my daughter swam, and not every day...it was too cold for me. We easily could have done without the pool, though I admit we made our choice then largely based on the pool.

I'm also considering doing the overnight train from BKK to CM (actually to Lampang where the Elephant Conservation Center is...she is BEGGING to go back, and I'm thinking about it...) with my daughter...not to save money, because the price is about the same, but for the overnight train experience.

You might consider doing the mahout training for 3 days/2 nights at the ECC...that's the place my daughter is really pushing for a return visit to this next trip.

we take malerone....

train--- i have read of security problems on trains in thailand and why would you give up a nites sleep to save a few bucks....not me anyways...

if i wanted an overnite train experience i would go to europe...

Thai trains give you more privacy than European unless you can afford a whole compartment. The berths are parallel to the side of the carriages, and when you pull the curtains you have complete visual privacy. That's provided you get a sleeper - if you're in 3rd class you'll sit up all night - NOT recommended!

Yep, the pool can be a big drawcard but I think in Chiang Mai we will skip it and stay at the Baan orapin (now the choice is just between a deluxe suite in the back or a suite at the front!)

Malarone -I'm not familiar with that Bob, but might check it out. i've heard that there can be some bad side effects from malaria pills and dont want us taking them unless its unwise not to.

In terms of elephant training, the mahout gig sounds great Kim but I was interested in going to this place: http://www.elephantkingdom.com

They don't 'do' elephant rides and really seem to be genuine about conservation.

The train question -I guess its a matter of personal taste! We travelled from Venice to Nice and were kept awake all night by drunken travellers in the next cabin. However, a really long overnight trip from Delhi to jaisalmer -no separate cabin - was absolutely fine, just a bit of snoring. No theieving then or on any other trips, I think first class is pretty safe. But, if I was on a tighter deadline I can see the sense in getting a plane.

spenny - I also take Malarone, with no problems. I tried Lariam, and gave up after one pill - nightmares & paranoia. I think the bad stories you've heard are probably about Lariam, but everyone reacts differently. You might take a look at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ or check to see if there's a travel clinic in your area.

Spenny,

My family (with a 16 y/o) will be staying at the Baan Orapin as well Dec 29-Jan 2. Maybe we can meet up.

Re Malarone- We will be visiting Siem Reap during this trip and either malarone or doxyccycline are recommended for Cambodia (the same for border areas of Thailand). I'm still researching which one to take. Malarone is a combo of 2 drugs that is taken for a shorter period of time. Doxycycline is an antibiotic and is taken for a longer period.