Wanted to go and check out Chiang Mai for so long. Looks like a very cool place. I often here the traffic etc compared to Bangkok. Is it really that bad? I hate that sort of scene particularly getting close to Bangkok with all the flyovers, turnoffs etc not to mention the traffic jams and traffic in the city. Is it anything like that in CM? Is it possible to park in the city? Can someone paint me a bit of a picture?

 

Other question best time of year to come re pollution. Definitely don't want to be there in the burning season. Appreciate any info thanks.

If you don't want to be there in the burning season , then go when it isn't the burning season .

  Closest place to park a car is Chiang Rai 

Skip CM and holiday in Loei, Nan and Phrae [much less Farang and associated].

December and January are pretty good with mild weather.  There are places to park just need to drive around to find a spot.

19 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Skip CM and holiday in Loei, Nan and Phrae [much less Farang and associated].

We're not far from Loei now, go camping there and Nam Nao regularly. It is beautiful 

23 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

If you don't want to be there in the burning season , then go when it isn't the burning season .

  Closest place to park a car is Chiang Rai 

Thanks for your detailed useless SA reply 

14 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

December and January are pretty good with mild weather.  There are places to park just need to drive around to find a spot.

We may be better off flying up and just stay based in the city. Is the city center spread out or walkable? Thanks for your reply

43 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

We may be better off flying up and just stay based in the city. Is the city center spread out or walkable? Thanks for your reply

It is walkable but fairly large area to walk.  The center is full of vegan places, coffee shops, massage and restaurants.   I suggest you take a trip outside to see some of the nature spots. 

6 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

It is walkable but fairly large area to walk.  The center is full of vegan places, coffee shops, massage and restaurants.   I suggest you take a trip outside to see some of the nature spots. 

Whereabout is the center on Chiang Mai ?

There seems to be carious different locations all over the place without one place being the center 

1 hour ago, Kenny202 said:

We may be better off flying up and just stay based in the city. Is the city center spread out or walkable? Thanks for your reply

Just sent you a PM.

Yes it's possible to park in the city, in general. Traffic can be bad in CM too at rush hour along a few major arteries. City "center" is usually understood as the area inside the moat, a square-shaped canal that you can easily see on maps. Unless you want to see temples and tour agents and rental places and backpackers all the time, better avoid it. Other magnet areas for tourists are Nimmanhaemin road and Doi Suthep. ChangKlan/Night Bazar used to be but currently dead. Plenty of interesting places to see just outside the city. Shopping malls nice but nothing special if you come from BKK. Also don't expect too much of night life. The airport is inside the city area, planes can be noisy try to avoid staying under their take off route unless in a place with soundproof windows. Pollution is really bad mid-Feb to April, rest of the year quite ok. As a general recommendation: IMO the beauty of CM is in the kindness of the people, low crime, good food, nice garden cafes and restaurants, relaxed life compared to comparable sized cities. Also the fact that you can do 3-4 errands in the time it takes to do maybe 1 in BKK. Try to savor that, and not be a typical Tripadvisor tourist.

I don't find the traffic that bad - some people scream when they are stopped at a red light... 

 

Same with burning season - it mostly doesn't bother me much - but it is from end of Feb until mid April - 

 

Parking, now that is a problem. If you are coming by car just park at your hotel and take songthaews or Grab taxi... 

 

Enjoy. 

19 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

Other question best time of year to come re pollution. Definitely don't want to be there in the burning season. Appreciate any info thanks.

Nov and December, cool, sunny, dry and no pollution.

2 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I refer to Tae pae gate as the center using CMU area as west and highway as east...as it tends to be the zone the tourists stick to when referring to the "center" of CM.....

For reference: Map of Central Chiang Mai surrounding, and within the the moat. Tae Pae Gate is mid-way along the east side of the moat.

 

Thanks so much guys, have a pretty good picture of when and where I want to go now. Probably plan trip for November. Thanks all for your help

 

Old City, walk around. Better than Loei. Loei is only good for driving. Towns arent much. Find a hotel near centre of Old City. Best spot. The place is a joy to walk around. Best city walking in Thailand, 2nd best would be Songkhla Old Town.

 

 

23 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

park in the city

Park at your hotel and rent a scooter.

 

Great food, very clean, good shopping.

 

I enjoy a few nights in the old walled section at a nice hotel. 

 

My Issan wife thinks it's totally boring.

 

 

Two suggestions for out of town visits:- Wat Umong and Sankampaeng Hot Spring.

On 9/28/2023 at 4:21 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

If you don't want to be there in the burning season , then go when it isn't the burning season .

 

Could we start a competition of "most unhelpful post of the week"? 

1 minute ago, nglodnig said:

Could we start a competition of "most unhelpful post of the week"? 

How would you help any better ?

If a person stated that they dont want to go to Chiang Mai in the burning season, what (better) advice would you give them ?

Go May to January.