Kenny202 Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nick Carter icp Posted September 28, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2023 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 1 10 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post zzaa09 Posted September 28, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2023 Skip CM and holiday in Loei, Nan and Phrae [much less Farang and associated]. 1 2 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bkk6060 Posted September 28, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2023 December and January are pretty good with mild weather. There are places to park just need to drive around to find a spot. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kenny202 Posted September 28, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2023 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 1 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kenny202 Posted September 28, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2023 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 2 12 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny202 Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkk6060 Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Carter icp Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeps Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post arithai12 Posted September 28, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 28, 2023 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. 1 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1FinickyOne Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 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. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sticky Rice Balls Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 15 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said: Whereabout is the center on Chiang Mai ? There seems to be carious different locations all over the place without one place being the center 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..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sticky Rice Balls Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 I ride my mbike to city from behind airport and switch over to the bike which is locked up there.....cops cant nab me and much...much easier to get about when traffic kicks in...and no parking worries.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritManToo Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burma Bill Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny202 Posted September 29, 2023 Author Share Posted September 29, 2023 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignok Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrJ2U Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maybole Posted September 29, 2023 Share Posted September 29, 2023 Two suggestions for out of town visits:- Wat Umong and Sankampaeng Hot Spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sticky Rice Balls Posted September 30, 2023 Share Posted September 30, 2023 (edited) 23 hours ago, Burma Bill said: 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. is my reference with telling tourist as everyone know TP gate and is a popular meeting point Edited September 30, 2023 by Sticky Rice Balls 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nglodnig Posted September 30, 2023 Share Posted September 30, 2023 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Carter icp Posted September 30, 2023 Share Posted September 30, 2023 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 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignok Posted September 30, 2023 Share Posted September 30, 2023 Go May to January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now