Hi, my daughter & I have bought tickets to Thailand in November. Our current plans (we're trying to get together our itinerary) are to fly into Bangkok, then immediately to Chaing Mai, where we'll spend 3 days, fly to Krabi, for another 3 days, then back to Bangkok for 4 days. I'm looking for info on where to stay - safe, quiet, hot showers, air conditioned, for approximately $40 per night. Is there anything decent for that price? I'm also looking for any "must see" places. Does anyone know of a good day or half day trip at each of these destinations?
Thanks!

You could start your search for accommodations on www.sawadee.com They have a fairly comprehensive listing of accommodations in all 3 places you are visiting, with pictures and reviews. They also have a pretty good introduction to the major sightseeing spots and good maps. A Nancy Chandler map of Bangkok might be helpful for you - available at the BKK airport, hotels, book shops.

You could also do some searches here by typing "bangkok" or "chiang mai" or "krabi" in the search box at the top. The search here can be quirky, but those search words should pull up a long list of posts relating to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi as they are talked about often here.

Must sees in BKK might include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Po, Jim Thompson House, klongs, shopping.

In Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep, the Sunday Walking Street, shopping, the Elephant Conservation Center.

Krabi, maybe kayaking trip if that is interesting to you.

I also recommend you get at least one guidebook that you like, as the good ones have good information about sightseeing.

Definitely check out Baan Orapin in Chiang Mai! We were there in Feb. and it was perfect. It gets rave reviews here on Fodors for good reason.

In Bangkok you might want to check out Suk 11. It is a lot less than $40 a night but it is a budget place that gets rave reviews from most people who stay there. I will be staying there during my solo trip in November.

Can't help you with 440 a night in Krabi unless you stay at Suk 11 and put that money towards more lux accomodations in Krabi.

We stayed at the Sunrise Tropical on East Railay and we were ready to move in, it was so nice! It was about $80 a night.

Don't fret too much about whether or not to stay on East or West Railay as they are very close to one another, connected by a short cement walk way. Some of the rooms of hotels on West Railay are actually closer to east Railay due to the way the beaches are situated. They are basically back to back.

I hope that helps!

You can view photos of Baan Orapin and Sunrise Tropical at my photo album website:

www.windjammer.smugmug.com

It's possible to find a very clean, safe, quiet place in BKK for your price. I would suggest you look into Patumwan House. It is an easy walk to the MBK shopping mall, Siam Discovery mall, the new Paragon mall, as well as the National Stadium skytrain station.

I have photos of Patumwan House as well as other places I've stayed in Bangkok. Go to cjscollecion.com and click on the "photo gallery" link on the LEFT side of the home page. Then, click on Asia photo album. You can see a slide show, or one photo at a time. Have a look.

Thanks guys - for all your help - I have several guidebooks - all the main ones, but it's always nice to communicate with people who have been there.