I will arrive in Bangkok on Tuesday to spend three weeks in Thailand.

 

I've already been to most main locations in southern Thailand and I'm thinking about trying something else this time.

 

With three weeks, would it make sense to go to Chiang Mai and Koh Chang?

(I probably can't afford a flight so it would be by bus in that case).

sure, it makes sense... you have enough time... and if Koh Chang is too touristy there are some smaller islands to venture to... have fun.

Watch out for the way they drive in Koh Chang...I heard it's really awful considering that Thailand in general is so unsafe for driving... Koh Chang takes it up a notch.

If renting a bike, you will need an international bike license to have any medical insurance cover you.

If you have neither....give the motorbikes a miss !

Hope you enjoy your stay, Chiang Mai nice and cool at night at the moment. Don't dismiss flying, there can be some good deals around.

They are rather a long way apart, so allow for that in your schedule.

Just come back from Koh Chang last week and wasn’t too busy.

I disagree with a previous post about ‘the way they drive’, but the mountainous terrain creates some very challenging corners so please be aware.

(if you’re into girlie bars, the best area is in Whitesands Beach near Makro ????????)

good luck

3 hours ago, alant said:

Hope you enjoy your stay, Chiang Mai nice and cool at night at the moment. Don't dismiss flying, there can be some good deals around.

Exactly. It's around 1000 baht each way. 

Could even fly bkk to chiang rai and then chiang rai to pattaya to shorten the bus ride to ko Chang. 

 

4 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Watch out for the way they drive in Koh Chang...I heard it's really awful considering that Thailand in general is so unsafe for driving... Koh Chang takes it up a notch.

Koh Chang is not bad at all. Speed limit is 30 km/h and most people stick to it. The only thing to be aware of is farangs on bikes going around corners.

OK, just heard some comment from 2 online guys that it was pretty hairy in town with the style there...cool.

See my Koh Chang trip report.  I've visited there about 30 times

 

 

Wow, good pointers here guys, thanks!

 

By the way.... assuming I start with Chiang Mai... should I travel directly from Chiang Mai to Koh Chang, or will I need to go back to Bangkok in between?

To look up prices for flights, what website should I use?

To look up prices for flights, what website should I use?

Two last two years and probably 20 flights I always used Google flights for short and medium duration ahead bookings (like in your case)

On 2/12/2019 at 8:54 AM, alant said:

Hope you enjoy your stay, Chiang Mai nice and cool at night at the moment. Don't dismiss flying, there can be some good deals around.

If you do go to Koh Chang after Chang Mai, why not fly to U Tapao and then hire a mini bus to take you to the Koh Chang ferry, about a 4 hour trip. You will need to pre book the mini bus or taxi as there isn't a rank at that airport. Koh Chang is nice, but one week is more than enough to see all you would want to see there, in my view.