Bangkok Or Chiangmai First?

[FondueUSA]

For a first time visitor to Thailand, is it better to travel Bangkok first or to travel ChiangMai first?

[roamer]

Going to Bangkok first allows you to appreciate the relative calm of CM afterward. Going to CM first in no way prepares you for Bangkok.

[thrilled]

Why go to chiang mai?Theres better places to go to really understand Thailand than Chiang Mai.It might be an ok place to visit,maybe.Definitely explore bangkok.

[thedistillers]

I don't see what difference it would make, or are you afraid you'll find Chiang Mai boring if you visit it after Bangkok?

[sunnyhor]

Why go to chiang mai?Theres better places to go to really understand Thailand than Chiang Mai.It might be an ok place to visit,maybe.Definitely explore bangkok.

I strongly recommend Chiangmai...head to the North if you are a nature lover. Mountains, buffalo, temples. monks , long neck tribe, hill tribe, Waterfalls etc. Bangkok is suppose to be the busiest in Thailand, everything is so expensive. It's a good place for shopping though.

Whereas Chiangmai, good weather during the winter period. Lot's of heritage and old buildings to explore. People there tend to be more polite and not forgetting their Waterfalls.......if I were to choose, I will stay 7 days heading the North and back to Bangkok for 3 days of shopping. Here are some of my photos shoot during my Northern Thailand explore...hope this help. Enjoy Thailand!!!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/nusaba/ and http://sunnyhor.blogspot.com/

[moe666]

Northern Thailand is very nice and worth the trip. But you will arrive in Bangkok and may as well spend a few days there over coming jet lag. Then fly up to Chaing Mai. I stay at the Chaing Mai gate hotel they have a website 1,000baht a night clean room and quiet.

Look around Chaing Mai and then take a trip over to mae Hong Son express van from bus station about 250 baht. lots to see and do there. I spent a month at Wat Tam Wua 1 hour outside Mae Hong Son.

You can take the train to Chaing Mai cheaper than flying but no sleep and arrive tired, I think flying better 1 hour and arrive refreshed ready to do things.

[jackr]

Going to Bangkok first allows you to appreciate the relative calm of CM afterward. Going to CM first in no way prepares you for Bangkok.

I disagree. Always advise newbies to go elsewhere first to soften the blow. Best get used to the heat in relaxed surrounds before heading into the bustle me thinks.

Why go to chiang mai?Theres better places to go to really understand Thailand than Chiang Mai.It might be an ok place to visit,maybe.Definitely explore bangkok.

Spoken like a true Bangkokian. And where would be the better place to go in your opinion, Pattaya? He didn't specify he wanted to 'really understand Thailand', whatever that means, although if you were to, CM would certainly be more enlightening than the characterless capital.

[LuckyLew]

IMO since you are going to visit both it does not matter which one you see first

To me it would depend on what time your plane arrives in Thailand. If it gets in

during the da you might as well stay at the airport and go to Chiang Mai, it would

save you a trip to the Airport, also might as well go to the farthest destination and

work your way back.

[boney]

Going to Bangkok first allows you to appreciate the relative calm of CM afterward. Going to CM first in no way prepares you for Bangkok.

I would do CM first, as it lets you relax and get into the Thai relax mode, easy and unstressed calm in CM.

Then when you get to Bangkok you will wonder what you are doing there apart from seeing the tourist attractions in busy and rush rush atmosphere.. but as always the choice is yours...

The calm after the storm could be your choice. "up to you"

[donx]

Based upon your username, I'm going to assume you are from the US and will be arriving from the US into Bangkok.

I don't know how much time you have to spend in Thailand, but this is what I did some 11 years ago. I had three weeks to spend. I spent the first few days in Bangkok just to get myself adjusted to the time change. Then I spent a week in Chiang Mai. The second week I went to Phuket to get certified in scuba diving. I left the third week open planning to either go to Koh Samui or somewhere else depending upon what I found. I then planned to returned to Bangkok for a day or two before going home.

I didn't spend as much time in Bangkok as you probably will because I had visited Bangkok twice before on business trips and I had already visited many of the top places of interest there.

So assuming you have two weeks in Thailand, I would suggest half a week in Bangkok, a week in Chiang Mai, followed by a few more days in Bangkok.

[Kwasaki]

A lot already said but your question needs more input.

1. How long you here for, very important ?

2. Are you alone or with family, very important ?

3. No.1. & No.2. important to suit a sight see if tour ?

4. Do you just want to see Bangkok and Chiangmay ?

5. If it's No.4. the choice is yours from the posts already.

Answers these and I'm sure your get flooded with replies.

[samtam]

Well according to Travel + Leisure magazine Bangkok is First and Chiang Mai is Second.....top city destination. In the WORLD. Yes, truly Amazing Thailand.

[tw25rw]

Well according to Travel + Leisure magazine Bangkok is First and Chiang Mai is Second.....top city destination. In the WORLD. Yes, truly Amazing Thailand.

Yeah, but no one believes that was a genuine result apart from the few that agree with it..

I thought CM was just another scruffy Thai town and didn't see the attraction. But then I didn't go elephant trekking etc.

[FondueUSA]

Donx - Although I am from America I am living in Japan, so my flight is just from Tokyo

Kwasaki1. How long you here for, very important ?

2. Are you alone or with family, very important ?

3. No.1. & No.2. important to suit a sight see if tour ?

4. Do you just want to see Bangkok and Chiangmay ?

5. If it's No.4. the choice is yours from the posts already.

1. I will be in Thailand for 10 days

2. Alone

3. I want to sight see by myself, no god awful tours

4. I want to see both Chiangmai and Bangkok

Thanks for everyones advice

[donx]

Donx - Although I am from America I am living in Japan, so my flight is just from Tokyo

Kwasaki1. How long you here for, very important ?

2. Are you alone or with family, very important ?

3. No.1. & No.2. important to suit a sight see if tour ?

4. Do you just want to see Bangkok and Chiangmay ?

5. If it's No.4. the choice is yours from the posts already.

1. I will be in Thailand for 10 days

2. Alone

3. I want to sight see by myself, no god awful tours

4. I want to see both Chiangmai and Bangkok

Thanks for everyones advice

Fair enough. From Japan you won't have much jetlag.

I agree that you can do your own touring around in Bangkok, but in Chiang Mai I do recommend you set up at least one day tour especially if you want to do elephant riding in the jungle or see some of the remote villages. The problem you will have in Chiang Mai is transportation. A taxi will charge you way too much. You will be better off going with a group around to the various areas. You could rent a car but unless you know where you're going, I don't think you will enjoy it that much. Getting around the town of Chiang Mai will be no problem and getting a ride up to the mountain top temple is easy as well.

I was in Chiang Mai last year with my family. This was the second time I rode on an elephant in the jungle and I have to say that this was the highlight of my visit.

[FondueUSA]

Donx

Would it be best to arrange the tours before I get there or is it easier to do it when I arrive?

Thanks

[donx]

Donx

Would it be best to arrange the tours before I get there or is it easier to do it when I arrive?

Thanks

Both times I've been to Chiang Mai I just booked the tours once I was there. Don't just book at the first place you see. Any hotel or travel agent can book the tour. They even have people with small stands in the night markets booking tours. The tour itself is handled independently from whomever you pay for the tour. The tour bus will go around in the morning to the various hotels and pick up everyone that booked for that day.

[wileycoyote]

Why go to chiang mai?Theres better places to go to really understand Thailand than Chiang Mai.It might be an ok place to visit,maybe.Definitely explore bangkok.

I strongly recommend Chiangmai...head to the North if you are a nature lover. Mountains, buffalo, temples. monks , long neck tribe, hill tribe, Waterfalls etc. Bangkok is suppose to be the busiest in Thailand, everything is so expensive. It's a good place for shopping though.

Whereas Chiangmai, good weather during the winter period. Lot's of heritage and old buildings to explore. People there tend to be more polite and not forgetting their Waterfalls.......if I were to choose, I will stay 7 days heading the North and back to Bangkok for 3 days of shopping. Here are some of my photos shoot during my Northern Thailand explore...hope this help. Enjoy Thailand!!!!

I agree Bangkok First ,Chiang Mai second

[TheLittlestHobo]

I usually prefer to spend the last few days in the city/place I will be leaving from - thus, I would see Chiang Mai first, Bangkok second.

[Thighlander]

A cheap hotel can actually work good in CM, because it is cool enought to not require a/c. My last apartment in CM,was inside the moat, 2500 per month inc. water/cable/electric. Much more cheap entertainment in CM. 3 large Tiger for 150 thb at a rooftop bar--can you find that in bkk?