*Very* last minute itinerary help
 

Hi--
I'm scrambling to plan a very last minute trip to SE Asia and would love comments/feedback on my Thailand/Cambodia itinerary. About me--early 30's, travelling alone, very interested in art, history, nature, food. I am also a huuuge beach person, but my current itinerary has no beach at all since i'd really like to explore northern thailand a little (i've been to tons of beaches but have never experienced anything like what n. thailand seems to offer) and don't think i can do both that and a beach in the time i have. so, what do you all think of the following itinerary? do any of you think i could fit a beach in there somewhere?

March 30--Arrive in BKK, stay at airport hotel
March 31--early morning flight --BKK to Siem Reap
March 31-April 4--Siem Reap
April 4--fly to Chiang Mai
April 4-9--Chiang Mai and environs
April 9--fly to BKK
April 9-12--BKK

as for the flights--i'm looking into a Discovery pass but have not booked yet.
thanks!

The airport hotel is expensive. I noted from another post that you are looking at $50 in SR for as hotel. You could save money by staying in BKK for two nights at the beginning and end of your trip. $50 per night hotels are plentiful in BKK.

Gpanda--
I was looking at the Grand Inn Come Hotel near the airport, which seems to have rooms for $52 & change. I'm also interested in hearing your hotel recommendations in BKK?

It looks like you are spending a good amount of time in each place for the short time period you will be in the area.

I would not try to squeeze in a beach area as you would spend too much time on the road.

In Siem Reap there is a very nice but basic accomodation that I checked out when I was there last year. It is called Phuket Hostel and if I go there again this year (as part of a fund raising event) I would stay there in a heartbeat! It is only $15 USD per night. The Thai restaurant that is part of it serves good food as well.

If you want a little more luxury, try Auberge Mont Royal. that is where we stayed and I think it was about $40 a night.

In Chiang Mai, I highly recommend Ban Orapin. It is an old teak Lanna style place that has a couple of buildings to choose from. Being that this is last minute they are most likely full but worth a try. You can get a room for under $50 a night.

I stayed at Chiang Mai White house for a couple of nights during my second visit to Chiang Mai last year. Pretty basic but clean and friendly and in a great little area surrounded by fun bars and restaurants. As a solo female traveller this was great because I met LOTS of fun people!

In Bangkok I loved Suk 11. I paid about $16 a night for a nice room with air con, breakfast included, right near the sky train and some hip bars including Bed Supper and Q bar. This was another place to meet other travellers.

I am 41 and met other people around my age while staying at the places I mention in Thailand.

All the accomodations I mention had private bath and were very clean. They were also ideally located in areas where I could walk or take public transport easily.

Good luck and let me know if you have questions about my solo trip.

cheers!

I tried to book 4 nights at Grand Inn Come and they were booked,apparently. The nights I was booking were: March 25, April 6 and April 13/14

They were booked for all the nights at least through Asia Rooms. Ended up booking at Avana

Mark-

Check out www.bangkokair.com for flights to Koh Samui. You could fly down early morning, hire a car and check out some beaches and fly back the last flight, next day. I'm a great believer in a taste of everything, when I can possibly fit it in! You could cut a day from Siem Reap and a day from Chiang Mai. The airfares are and car hire are cheap and the island of Koh Samui has some fab beaches.

Check out www.bangkokair.com for flights to Koh Samui. You could fly down early morning, hire a car and check out some beaches and fly back the last flight, next day. I'm a great believer in a taste of everything, when I can possibly fit it in! You could cut a day from Siem Reap and a day from Chiang Mai. The airfares and car hire are cheap and the island of Koh Samui has some fab beaches.

Oops! I edited my original reply and re-posted. Sorry!

I think your itinerary sounds good. You are spending enough time in each place that you won't feel rushed all the time.

Adding in a beach will, I think, detract from the whole trip. Also, since Bangkok Air owns the Koh Samui airport, the flights there are rather expensive unless you stumble across a promotions by Bangkok Air.