hi - i will be in BKK for 5 days in mid-dec and am looking for a quick 2- 3 day out-of-town trip (willing to fly if cheap). i know BKK well and have been to samui but have not seen any other part of the country.

any tips on worthwhile, not too expensive destinations (i am travelling solo) would be much appreciated! thanks!

chiang mai might be good for that amount of time if you just stayed close to the town....hotels might be a bit difficult to find...

i like hua hin....a 2+ hour drive south of bkk....nice hotels at all levels....can take the bus or train there too....

i would even save the $$ from the outside trip and stay a couple of extra days in bkk in a nicer hotel and eat at nicer places???

Given that you know Bangkok well andn the only other place you've been is Koh Samui, I'd recommend Chaing Mai. There are very cheap Asia Air flights (remember, limited luggage allowance and no advance seating). Those flights are cheaper the earlier you book them. Do check out accommodations, as you're traveling at the highest season.

Chiang Mai was wonderful.

You also could contact Cherry at Magical Tours and see what she and her husband suggest. She took us to Kanchanburi for the day and we saw some wonderful things.

thanks for all the great suggestions!

rhkkmk, you read my mind - "hmmm...why not just relax in bkk?"- but am trying to battle my indolence

have read a bit about chiang mai and know its popular but not getting a clear picture of what's really to do there. am going to look into hua hin and kanchanburi as well...

sen---imo, not much to do in CM....the main temple, elephants, shopping, rides/hikes in the forrest....BORING!!

stay in bkk!!

what about ko samet? is that easy to get to? worth going (alone)?

Koh Samet means a bus and a boat, it's 'ok' but not much to do there unless you just want to laze on beach.
if you want different, well Chiang mai is a city, depends what you want to do, Hua Hin as said is a cab ride or you can take an express a/c bus or ride the train ( train down cab back is a reasonable combination, about 4 hrs by train, 2.5 by cab/limo ), you can relax on the beach but also do Eklephant rides / elephant village or national park half and full day tours ( caves, temples, wetlands or jungle ), plenty of restaurants, spa/massage, night market etc. Hyatt/Sofitel/Hilton/Marriott/Regent etc plus lots of smaller places.

Sunset Village past Jomtien is beach bungalows on fairly quite beach within a couple of hours of BKK, another option.

Sen, if it were me, I'd probably just relax in Bangkok - it's supposed to be a vacation, isn't it?

I'd to for Kanchanaburi given the 2-3 days tag - for variety and ease of access from BKK. Chiang Mai is OK - great night market and Duthep Soi temple (spelling?) is gorgeous. But for a complete contrast K is the place. Stay by the river; hire a bicycle to explore- check out the WWII remembrance museum, very low key but very moving. Losds of choices for day trips out to the country - ride an elephant; have lunch in a village; walk a little along the route of the Burma Railway, take a ride on the train.

You don't need a guide - take a bus or bus/train. On the way back you can break the journey at Nakhon Pathom and check out the huge stupa.

Cheers.

these are all great suggestions, thanks! okay, so CM is nice but out. will look into kanchanaburi (though not so intrigued by WWII stuff) with fabulous BKK as default

Ah, you can't lose!

The Island I love the most is Phuket.
I think you will find it interesting coz you can find here all you are looking for. Nightlife, beaches, quiet resort etc. it's about 1:15 flight from BKK. flight ticket can start from 1700BHT till 3000BHT.

Johny

www.allaboutphuket.com