Guest Houses

[femi fan]

Coming from mai to rai at the weekend for a week or so. Any recommendations for a nice guest house in a sort of garden setting, in the 500 to 1000 baht price range (or less)? We'll be in the car, so a couple of ks out of town won't be a big problem, although being able to walk to town is a nice proposition.

Also, any must visits? Is pu chi faa worth the driving time?

Any cheap golf courses? Or do the big two have any deals this month?

Any restaurants with a nice setting/ambience/outside garden area? Any decent pubs with good pool and/or music?

Any comments at all about enjoying a few days in a town i like will be most welcome. Not been there for about three years now, so looking forward to it.

[sceadugenga]

There's a number of guesthouses that would fall into your price range, or under it, in JedYod Street, a short walk from the night bazaar and many bars and restaruants.

Several half day drives are available in most directions check our Google map in the pinned topics. A friend and I went out to Don's Cafe at Doi Hang for lunch today and continued on past the elephant camp to the Lisu village, a very pleasant drive.

Edited October 7, 2009 by sceadugenga

[femi fan]

I tried the google map, but all i get is a map and nothing i can do with it! I just can't make it work.

[ImageDude]

I tried the google map, but all i get is a map and nothing i can do with it! I just can't make it work.

PM sent

[Limbo]

I always recommend the 'old airport area' (sanaam bin kao), about two kilometer from the center/nightbazaar.

Several good and relatively new hotels 350 - 600 Baht, among which the Pimann Inn has a great 25 meter salt water swimming pool and on top of it you will probably be the only person using it (unless I am there). 450 Baht including breakfast and 500 including the use of the swimming pool and the state of the arts fittness center.

Just google to Pimann Inn for details. La Luna, a couple of hundred meters further is also said to be very good (about 800 Baht?). Sports Hotel, a little bit more sober, also (400 Baht). Excellent restaurant at the beginning of the Sanaam Bin Road, Took Thong (spelling?) with classical Thai dance and music during the weekends, performed by Thais for Thais, thus not the usual tourist stuff.

The old runway, about hundred meters from the hotel, is between 5 and 7 pm flooded with hundreds of joggers aside of those playing football, takraw or other ball sports.

Sitting in the garden of Barry's 9 hole golfcourse (it is said to a difficult one), about 150 meter from the hotel, and enjoying one of his super-de-luxe world class hamburgers or steaks you can enjoy the ambience and, if your timing permits it, the sunset.

The area has several restaurants with live music, even some venues where rather scarcely dressed ladies show their dancing abilities.

On walking distance you also find the popular Sperm Pub, the new Funfunfun and the Par Club.

It's a nice area for elderly youngsters!

Pu Chi Fah, if you like to stand with five hundred other people at the edge of a cliff looking at clouds, you should certainly go there. It's about 115 km from town. Don't forget that you are supposed to be there early morning at sunrise. That's what I am told, then the view is supposed to be best. I never heard about somebody going there twice ...

The best part of Chiang Rai however is and remains its country side. I would recommend to hire some bicycles a day and be in the middle of it.

Welcome and have a good time!

Limbo

PS: If you happen to be here Saturday October 17 and like football, I also recommend to visit the game between Chiangrai United and Narathiwat at the Municipal Stadium (20 Baht). Be early because the stadium has less than 4000 seats.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Limbo

[femi fan]

Thanks for all that info limbo, just what i was looking for! Nice one.

I have already anticipated what pu chi faa will be like, but i said no last time to my wife, and i'm not sure i'm going to be able to avoid it. Thais like to do the thai things! I have imagined though that we can stay overnight somewhere nearby, and was kind of hoping that at this time of the year it wouldn't be so overcrowded...

The entertainment you talk of all sounds good and makes my stay seem even more enjoyable. For some reason i've never been to that area of town, and my mate had already mentioned it to me since i started this thread.

The restaurant is a good call because i've had problems in the past finding such a place. By the beginning i assume you mean the more northern end of the road?

Better bring my walking shoes.

Any particular directions you recommend to get into the countryside, or are you talking near the old airport area? I'm a keen photographer so the countryside is a number one priority.

Cheers again for the info mate.

[svenivan]

Phu Chi Fah is not just the "sunrise looking at clouds". The whole area is just beautiful IF you like mountains. I dont think there will be more than 4-5 people this time of year. Stop at Phu Sang Waterfall on the road, walk up over the waterfall (just 200 m) and see the hot springs there. After Phu Chi Fah you can go to Gate of Siam with almost same beautiful view over Mekong, then down to Chiang Kong and over Chiang Saen back to CR.

(Limbo, I have been to P C F at least 6 times and love to go back again! )

Golf: Santiburi has Sportsday on Tuesdays and that is 1020 baht incl caddie. Great golfcourse!

More to see is Doi Mae Salong, Doi Tung and then Mae Sai taking the old mountainroad from Doi Tung.

Golden Triangle, take a longtailboat over to Laos from there. Pay 20 baht to Immigration in Laos, no passport. Special shopping there where you can find good whisky with a beautiful snake in the bottle etc etc. And Beer Lao! Buy at least one box! The dark one is soooo tasteful!

Have a nice week!

Edited October 8, 2009 by svenivan

[Limbo]

(Limbo, I have been to P C F at least 6 times and love to go back again! )

Nobody is perfect 555!

Limbo

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Edited October 9, 2009 by Limbo

[toybits]

There is also the Moon and Sun Hotel near the King Meng Rai Monunent. Located in a relatively quite part of town but walking distance to a 7-Eleven and some Thai restaurants. Make sure to go to the Hall of Opium at Sop Ruak (Golden Triangle). Entrance fee is 300 baht for foreigners - but worth every stang.

[femi fan]

Phu Chi Fah is not just the "sunrise looking at clouds". The whole area is just beautiful IF you like mountains. I dont think there will be more than 4-5 people this time of year. Stop at Phu Sang Waterfall on the road, walk up over the waterfall (just 200 m) and see the hot springs there. After Phu Chi Fah you can go to Gate of Siam with almost same beautiful view over Mekong, then down to Chiang Kong and over Chiang Saen back to CR.

(Limbo, I have been to P C F at least 6 times and love to go back again! )

Golf: Santiburi has Sportsday on Tuesdays and that is 1020 baht incl caddie. Great golfcourse!

More to see is Doi Mae Salong, Doi Tung and then Mae Sai taking the old mountainroad from Doi Tung.

Golden Triangle, take a longtailboat over to Laos from there. Pay 20 baht to Immigration in Laos, no passport. Special shopping there where you can find good whisky with a beautiful snake in the bottle etc etc. And Beer Lao! Buy at least one box! The dark one is soooo tasteful!

Have a nice week!

Thanks for your tips, my holiday is getting even better and i've not left CM yet!

Looking at the map, it seems there's a few choices on how to get to PCF. Do you have a recommended journey in terms of which roads to choose from chiang rai town? Where is pu sang waterfall in relation to PCF, and on which road? I have imagined driving there will take a couple of hours and perhaps we might stay at a guest house nearby PCF, any ideas or tips on this? Furthermore, i always read about being there for the sunrise, but what about the sunset?

I think i might have to get to santiburi in that case. Any pub or place in chaing rai where i might find any interested golfers to play the round with? Is there a sort of meeting place for chiang rai golfers?

Did i read that right? At the goldern triange get a boat to laos? When i went a few years ago i took a boat to Burma. I'd much rather go to laos, so that could be a good trip for us. Cracking idea about the dark beer lao!!

A final question, how long is the drive roughly to mae salong? I'm tempted to stay there a night or two.

Thanks to all for their kind advice.

[klikster]

I can personally recommend a stop at the coffee/pie place on the main CM/CR highway.

[femi fan]

I can personally recommend a stop at the coffee/pie place on the main CM/CR highway.

it's a long road...! Where is it?

[klikster]

I can personally recommend a stop at the coffee/pie place on the main CM/CR highway.

it's a long road...! Where is it?

Not sure exactly, but something like 20 - 30 k before C'rai? Right hand side.

[mumbojumbo]

I can personally recommend a stop at the coffee/pie place on the main CM/CR highway.

it's a long road...! Where is it?

Not sure exactly, but something like 20 - 30 k before C'rai? Right hand side.

It is about 6-8k out of mae suway (sp) towards CR and it has a sign=Charon resort

[Limbo]

Phu Chi Fah is not just the "sunrise looking at clouds". The whole area is just beautiful IF you like mountains. I dont think there will be more than 4-5 people this time of year. Stop at Phu Sang Waterfall on the road, walk up over the waterfall (just 200 m) and see the hot springs there. After Phu Chi Fah you can go to Gate of Siam with almost same beautiful view over Mekong, then down to Chiang Kong and over Chiang Saen back to CR.

Golf: Santiburi has Sportsday on Tuesdays and that is 1020 baht incl caddie. Great golfcourse!

....and perhaps we might stay at a guest house nearby PCF, any ideas or tips on this? Furthermore, i always read about being there for the sunrise, but what about the sunset?

I think Chiang Khong is not too far (Sven?) and Luxemburger Victor's place is always nice to stay at the river. The only sound you hear is from the disco at the Lao side.

I think i might have to get to santiburi in that case. Any pub or place in chaing rai where i might find any interested golfers to play the round with? Is there a sort of meeting place for chiang rai golfers?

Rico's of course, though most of the gentlemen there play at the military golf course. Rico's is the supporters home of Chiangrai United opposite the Condotel. See the football thread somewhere in the beginning for the exact location.

Did i read that right? At the goldern triange get a boat to laos? When i went a few years ago i took a boat to Burma. I'd much rather go to laos, so that could be a good trip for us. Cracking idea about the dark beer lao!!

I am curious about that one too. I know that the new casino at the Lao side was opened the 9th of the 9th, but I didn't know it was ready yet. My informers told me that it was still a big mess, 555! I know that in the future a kind of ski-lift thing will be built that connect the three countries there.

A final question, how long is the drive roughly to mae salong? I'm tempted to stay there a night or two.

About 70 kms from CR town I gues. You come at a certain moment at Sam Yek, about 12 kms before Mae Salong. You have the option to go straight on there to Hin Taek or Thoed Thai as it was named later, the old base of Khun Sa. Rimtaan guesthouse of Khun John (fluent in English). Unique morning market where I guess more than ten languages are whispered. Two nights in Mae Sa Long might be a little bit too much (OK Sven, did you really stay three weeks there? 555!).

Limbo

[svenivan]

Thanks for your tips, my holiday is getting even better and i've not left CM yet!

Looking at the map, it seems there's a few choices on how to get to PCF. Do you have a recommended journey in terms of which roads to choose from chiang rai town? Where is pu sang waterfall in relation to PCF, and on which road? I have imagined driving there will take a couple of hours and perhaps we might stay at a guest house nearby PCF, any ideas or tips on this? Furthermore, i always read about being there for the sunrise, but what about the sunset?

You take road 1020 to Thoeng, then 1021 towards Chiang Kahm. If you want to go "the beautiful road" you donot take 1155 and take 1093 instead. That is about 20 km from Thoeng. Phu Sang is about 15 km into that road.

There are two roads going up the last kilometers to Phu Chi Fah. Both ends with a parking and then you have to walk about 1.5 km to the top.

Coming from Phu Sang you arrive to the village Rohm Fah Tai, pass that and the first road up to the top is on your right after a couple of hundred meters. Passing that then you have a big road to the left going down to the valley, might be 1155. But you go to the right, maybe 1-2 km then there is a small, steep road up to the right with a dozen guesthouses.

We stayed in the last one on the left side (high up with a good view, my wife thinks the name was Phi Chi fah Hill). Good bungalows and they had a good restaurant and we paid 400 baht per person incl both dinner and breakfast.

I think i might have to get to santiburi in that case. Any pub or place in chaing rai where i might find any interested golfers to play the round with? Is there a sort of meeting place for chiang rai golfers?

To meet the locals I think Chiang Rai Corner/Ricos Beach Bar is the best.

Did i read that right? At the goldern triange get a boat to laos? When i went a few years ago i took a boat to Burma. I'd much rather go to laos, so that could be a good trip for us. Cracking idea about the dark beer lao!!

There is a parkingplace with thairestaurants just 50 m east of the big, big Buddha. There you can find a "desk" where to rent a boat to Laos.

A final question, how long is the drive roughly to mae salong? I'm tempted to stay there a night or two.

It depends how many times you stop to take photos! But you will make it in 2 hours. I was there with friends on motorbikes Friday and we saw lots of guesthouses for 200-300 baht. Donot forget to go up to the top, to Princess Mothers Hall. Absolut fantastic views on the road and at the temple. Just a short, steep ride for maybe 4 km on good roads.

There is also a Chinese KMT Museum that is quite interesting. I learn a lot about Thailands history there!

We had lunch in Mae Salong and then drove 1234 about 12-13 km and then took 3051 to the left to Thoed Thai where we stayed over night in a very nice guesthouse Rim Taan. 300 baht for a bungalow on the river excl breakfast.

Beautiful area and you can go further up to Mae Moh and Phayaprai. Remember to have lots of film(!) to your camera!

Thanks to all for their kind advice.

Edited October 12, 2009 by svenivan