6-Month Stay In Cm

[Hollywood13]

I'm going to be in Thailand from mid-August 2011 until mid-February 2012 and Chiang Mai is on my short list of places to go. So, I have a few questions...

1. My budget will be 100k baht per month, will that go further in CM than it will in BKK...and if so, how much further (percentage)?

2. Is there a reputable Thai language school there?

3. Is there a reputable English language school there?

4. Is the pollution during those months as bad as it is in BKK (heard it can be bad in CM during certain months, but am unaware which months those are)?

5. I'll need a one-bedroom place with a kitchen and reliable internet (most important). How much should I expect to pay?

6. Will I be pulling my hair out and scratching at the walls due to boredom? I have no interst in beer bars/gogos/ladies of the night, but a nice place to kick back and have a few rum & cokes would be welcomed. I enjoy experiencing Thai culture (eating the food, going to temples, sightseeing, etc), so is CM a good place to go for that?

Thank you for any information you can provide!

[lannarebirth]

1) Yes. 200%-250%

2) Yes, several

3) Not sure, but probably.

4) Mid February till early April can be rather polluted around here, though I would have to say, given January, so far, I have high hopes of this being a better year than normal

5) Can't help you there, but I imaginge somewheer between 5k and 15k Bt.

6) Your mileage may vary, but Chiang Mai is the best place I've ever been, and I've been to 58 countries. It's the only place I never felt like moving on from. If you find yourself bored here please know that will be entirely you own fault.

[Hollywood13]

Thank you for the response Lannarebirth!

I'm shocked at I can get at least twice as much for my money in CM as I can in BKK! That certainly takes BKK off my short-list. CM is looking very promising so I'll start reading though the various threads here to get a feel for that area.

If anyone else has anything to add, feel free.

[wolf5370]

1) Agree with LB - money will go at least twice as far - travel / rent / food all cheaper up here (although few metered taxis up here actually have meters! Airport ones only IME). But use the SongTaew from 10Baht up (normal 20Baht in town) and save a packet - or rent a bike.

2) Yes, YMCA is good and cheap.

3) Yes, but plenty of poor ones too.

4) CM is surrounded by farms which tend to (illegally) clear their fields for planting by burning them - this leads to a lot of smoke in the atmosphere for a few weeks - the more rural the worse it gets - CR is worse. BKK is mostly car fumes - CM has that as well, but way lower than BKK.

5) If you are only here for 6 months, you will get slightly penalised as its a short term rent. You should be able to get a small house out of town for around 6k, bills and internet extra. If you want to spend more, than you can, the place will become newer with more marble and better moo bahn facilities or be closer to town centre (why?). Make sure they already have internet installed otherwise you will have to wait for the installation guys to come (a couple of weeks) and they usually expect a 1 year contract I believe.

6) Probably not. Plenty to see and do. Pop to the expat bars during the day or evening and make some friends. Plenty of places to go - and the best festivals are up here too (biassed )

// Edit: Oh, don't decide on a rental based on the internet (or over the phone etc) - book a room for a few nights in a hotel here and then go look for a place here - most Thai one's don't advertise other than a board tied to their fence/lamp post - or with a local agent - you will save a fortune over 6 months this way //

Edited January 25, 2011 by wolf5370

[Hollywood13]

Wolf...I've traveled a bit around Thailand this past year (a little over 4 months total within the past 9 months) and will be back there for 3 weeks next month and another 3 weeks in June, all prior to the 6-month trip. So fortunately I'm pretty familiar with getting around (taxis, song taew, motorbikes, feet ). It will cut down on the learning curve when I get there.

I hadn't a clue there was a YMCA in Thailand...much less one where you can take Thai language classes....that's a solid bit of info there! Thanks! Do you happen to know of a good English language school?

This topic was posted in the CR section of the forum, so I guess CM will win the pollution battle part of my decision.

6 months is "short term"? Hahaha...seems like a long time for me...although I'm used to bouncing around. Still, a HOUSE for 6k baht a month sounds incredible. I'll likely stay closer to the city center (hustle & bustle) though. The reason for doing that is because I won't be renting a car or motorbike while there (okay...maybe a motorbike eventually...will be a wait & see thing) and so the closer I am to a song taew route and various convienences, the better. Thanks for the tip about ensuring the place I choose has an internet connection already installed.

I'm of the same mindset as you when it comes to renting a place...want to see it in person first. I've already decided I'll just book a hotel for the first week or two wherever I settle down and then go apartment/condo/house hunting. It will give me the opportunity to see how far the place is from the language schools, places of interest, and to ensure there are plenty of meals-on-wheels food carts in the area (which is mostly where I get my meals from).

[wolf5370]

Wolf...I've traveled a bit around Thailand this past year (a little over 4 months total within the past 9 months) and will be back there for 3 weeks next month and another 3 weeks in June, all prior to the 6-month trip. So fortunately I'm pretty familiar with getting around (taxis, song taew, motorbikes, feet ). It will cut down on the learning curve when I get there.

I hadn't a clue there was a YMCA in Thailand...much less one where you can take Thai language classes....that's a solid bit of info there! Thanks! Do you happen to know of a good English language school?

This topic was posted in the CR section of the forum, so I guess CM will win the pollution battle part of my decision.

6 months is "short term"? Hahaha...seems like a long time for me...although I'm used to bouncing around. Still, a HOUSE for 6k baht a month sounds incredible. I'll likely stay closer to the city center (hustle & bustle) though. The reason for doing that is because I won't be renting a car or motorbike while there (okay...maybe a motorbike eventually...will be a wait & see thing) and so the closer I am to a song taew route and various convienences, the better. Thanks for the tip about ensuring the place I choose has an internet connection already installed.

I'm of the same mindset as you when it comes to renting a place...want to see it in person first. I've already decided I'll just book a hotel for the first week or two wherever I settle down and then go apartment/condo/house hunting. It will give me the opportunity to see how far the place is from the language schools, places of interest, and to ensure there are plenty of meals-on-wheels food carts in the area (which is mostly where I get my meals from).

I have less knowledge of English Language Schools of course, but theone I know is EFL (see SEE TEFL - its their English Language part). Also NIS (I think) advertise everywhere and some say they are good.

CR is much quiter in my experience with a lot less "going on", but still places to go for siteseeing. There is an active expat community up there, so you could do worse than jumping into that. Personally though, for a short once in a lifetime sort of sabatical, I would choose CM.

As far as rentals - I didn't mean you need to be in the country to get a 6k rental - plenty near the Airport / Hang Dong road (20 Baht Song Taew to town - Yellow ones) for example. Plenty of local eateries/music/beer places around for day to day socialising and even a late night tuktuk home if you do go to town (if too late for SongTaew) costs between 100 and 150 baht (unless you get suckered). 6 months is short term rental I'm affraid, most want one year - however, you will probably still be able to make deals as there seems to be plenty of empty places about right now.

Edited January 25, 2011 by wolf5370

[CMX]

As someone who has seen a lot of Thailand, you'll have your own standards. So air-con is personal. It affects price, and kitchen and separate b'room and location may require more than 6K. But with your budget, you've got no worries. Suggestions here will have you saving half.

Advice to set up somewhere (lots of threads about hotels, guest houses plus travel sites) for a week or two to get a sense of town as well as transport to your tastes is invaluable. Best thinking.

"Reliable internet" is an expression that you use without hesitation, even though you've traveled here. I have not had your luck - hiccups and sneezes from time to time. And I read that I am not alone in this, even though I have done my best in selections and they in theirs. Some business types carry two services. Again, your budget can support such a solution.

Chiang Mai's pleasures are many but not all of those of a very big western city, but we're all different in our tastes. Guidebooks don't always capture everything, missing - I think - the atmosphere and pace and ambiance that only you can judge.

Conventional wisdom suggesting the avoidance of estate agents in order to save money have value. For one thing, their posted prices are inevitably very hopeful. But you'll find sites on the web that give one a notion, however, though they are puffy. Also, estate agents can custom fit your requirements to a fairly broad knowledge of the market, compared to the one the renter must develop. I think their use, at least for refining your understanding, might well be invaluable, if you take time with several outfits.

Edited January 26, 2011 by CMX

[Ulysses G.]

If you like Thai food, maybe skip the kitchen. It will probably add a lot to your rent and be more expensive that eating Thai food at the cheap to moderate Thai-run places.

[WtFugarwe]

Why do you want a kitchen? Costs more to cook than to eat out, and you can get any kind of food you want in CM. A studio serviced apt with A/C, fridge, wireless, and satellite TV can be rented for 6 months for under 5,000 (CM Loft Residence-- google it). A 1 BR is about 7000. There are others, mostly near CM University in the NW part of the city.

Agree with Shivers-- get a hotel for a week or so and scout out places. Everything near Tha Pae Gate is much more expensive and touristic. There is English language cinema, lecture series in English at the University...lots of interesting things to do.

For that period of time I would rent a motorcycle--3000 baht per month for a Honda 110, works just fine as the town is pretty flat (no big hills except Doi Suthep). Your budget is staggeringly plush--maybe you could PM me and buy me dinner (trust me, you can afford it). lol

[jayjay0]

Well there has beeen lotgs of good sugestions.

For the time you will be here smog will not be a problem. You will be hitting the last two months of the rainy season.

The one thing I would like to comment on is the Thai Language schools. I myself went to AIS it was a fine school but not for me. I found that lessons one on one worked best for me. I had a teacher at 200 baht per hour that came twice a week for a two hour session.

I had trouble with English in school. A class did not allow me to take the time I needed to learn. With a private lesson I was able to learn some thing before I moved on.

I like you have no means of transportation and have no intention of getting any. I have lived here for 5 years now and have no problem getting around. I live in the Night Bazaar area and transportation is plentiful.

As has been mentioned there is English movies here in two locations. I prefer the airport mall. From the night Bazaar area I can get a free song-tel to and back. If you want to cook both mall's with movies have a super market in them.

[Hollywood13]

Wolf...I've traveled a bit around Thailand this past year (a little over 4 months total within the past 9 months) and will be back there for 3 weeks next month and another 3 weeks in June, all prior to the 6-month trip. So fortunately I'm pretty familiar with getting around (taxis, song taew, motorbikes, feet ). It will cut down on the learning curve when I get there.

I hadn't a clue there was a YMCA in Thailand...much less one where you can take Thai language classes....that's a solid bit of info there! Thanks! Do you happen to know of a good English language school?

This topic was posted in the CR section of the forum, so I guess CM will win the pollution battle part of my decision.

6 months is "short term"? Hahaha...seems like a long time for me...although I'm used to bouncing around. Still, a HOUSE for 6k baht a month sounds incredible. I'll likely stay closer to the city center (hustle & bustle) though. The reason for doing that is because I won't be renting a car or motorbike while there (okay...maybe a motorbike eventually...will be a wait & see thing) and so the closer I am to a song taew route and various convienences, the better. Thanks for the tip about ensuring the place I choose has an internet connection already installed.

I'm of the same mindset as you when it comes to renting a place...want to see it in person first. I've already decided I'll just book a hotel for the first week or two wherever I settle down and then go apartment/condo/house hunting. It will give me the opportunity to see how far the place is from the language schools, places of interest, and to ensure there are plenty of meals-on-wheels food carts in the area (which is mostly where I get my meals from).

I have less knowledge of English Language Schools of course, but theone I know is EFL (see SEE TEFL - its their English Language part). Also NIS (I think) advertise everywhere and some say they are good.

CR is much quiter in my experience with a lot less "going on", but still places to go for siteseeing. There is an active expat community up there, so you could do worse than jumping into that. Personally though, for a short once in a lifetime sort of sabatical, I would choose CM.

As far as rentals - I didn't mean you need to be in the country to get a 6k rental - plenty near the Airport / Hang Dong road (20 Baht Song Taew to town - Yellow ones) for example. Plenty of local eateries/music/beer places around for day to day socialising and even a late night tuktuk home if you do go to town (if too late for SongTaew) costs between 100 and 150 baht (unless you get suckered). 6 months is short term rental I'm affraid, most want one year - however, you will probably still be able to make deals as there seems to be plenty of empty places about right now.

I've decided CM would be a better place to base myself in and I can then take the occasional trip up to CR when the mood strikes to visit the locations of interest up there.

I think arriving in August will make it easy to find a place (as opposed to arriving during high or peak season)...shouldn't be a stressful process.

Good to know there is plenty of transportation available there. Honestly, I enjoy walking and will do that the majority of the time (can see and experience so much more at a walking pace rather than when in a vehicle).

As someone who has seen a lot of Thailand, you'll have your own standards. So air-con is personal. It affects price, and kitchen and separate b'room and location may require more than 6K. But with your budget, you've got no worries. Suggestions here will have you saving half.

Advice to set up somewhere (lots of threads about hotels, guest houses plus travel sites) for a week or two to get a sense of town as well as transport to your tastes is invaluable. Best thinking.

"Reliable internet" is an expression that you use without hesitation, even though you've traveled here. I have not had your luck - hiccups and sneezes from time to time. And I read that I am not alone in this, even though I have done my best in selections and they in theirs. Some business types carry two services. Again, your budget can support such a solution.

Chiang Mai's pleasures are many but not all of those of a very big western city, but we're all different in our tastes. Guidebooks don't always capture everything, missing - I think - the atmosphere and pace and ambiance that only you can judge.

Conventional wisdom suggesting the avoidance of estate agents in order to save money have value. For one thing, their posted prices are inevitably very hopeful. But you'll find sites on the web that give one a notion, however, though they are puffy. Also, estate agents can custom fit your requirements to a fairly broad knowledge of the market, compared to the one the renter must develop. I think their use, at least for refining your understanding, might well be invaluable, if you take time with several outfits.

Hahaha...I'd consider "reliable internet" to be anything better than what I currently have in Afghanistan, which shouldn't be too difficult to find. It's all about one's perspective. I'll be continuing my college courses on-line, which is the most important reason I need a good interenet connection. However, if the connection goes down, I can hit up an internet cafe if need be.

Pace of life is an important aspect you bring up. I don't want to live somewhere as busy as Bangkok or Pattaya, but not quite as slow as an Isaan village. Something in between would be ideal, which is why I think CM is a good option.

If you like Thai food, maybe skip the kitchen. It will probably add a lot to your rent and be more expensive that eating Thai food at the cheap to moderate Thai-run places.

Thai food is terrific! However, it would be nice to be able to cook my own food once in a while (there are a handful of dishes I'm quite good at whipping up...sloppy joes for one). I wouldn't need a huge kitchen...a refrigerator, oven, microwave, and 1 or 2 stove tops should do.

[Hollywood13]

Why do you want a kitchen? Costs more to cook than to eat out, and you can get any kind of food you want in CM. A studio serviced apt with A/C, fridge, wireless, and satellite TV can be rented for 6 months for under 5,000 (CM Loft Residence-- google it). A 1 BR is about 7000. There are others, mostly near CM University in the NW part of the city.

Agree with Shivers-- get a hotel for a week or so and scout out places. Everything near Tha Pae Gate is much more expensive and touristic. There is English language cinema, lecture series in English at the University...lots of interesting things to do.

For that period of time I would rent a motorcycle--3000 baht per month for a Honda 110, works just fine as the town is pretty flat (no big hills except Doi Suthep). Your budget is staggeringly plush--maybe you could PM me and buy me dinner (trust me, you can afford it). lol

See prior post for reason for kitchen.

Thanks for the tip about CM Loft Residence...I'll check it out. The prices are certainly reasonable.

My budget it just a ceiling...if I don't spend that much per month, then great. Oh...it's also for 2 people (my wife will be with me). That being said, if I do indeed settle there, then I haven't got an issue buying you dinner...while I pick your brain about CM.

Well there has been lots of good sugestions.

For the time you will be here smog will not be a problem. You will be hitting the last two months of the rainy season.

The one thing I would like to comment on is the Thai Language schools. I myself went to AIS it was a fine school but not for me. I found that lessons one on one worked best for me. I had a teacher at 200 baht per hour that came twice a week for a two hour session.

I had trouble with English in school. A class did not allow me to take the time I needed to learn. With a private lesson I was able to learn some thing before I moved on.

I like you have no means of transportation and have no intention of getting any. I have lived here for 5 years now and have no problem getting around. I live in the Night Bazaar area and transportation is plentiful.

As has been mentioned there is English movies here in two locations. I prefer the airport mall. From the night Bazaar area I can get a free song-tel to and back. If you want to cook both mall's with movies have a super market in them.

I'm doing well in school (4.0 GPA), but language is a completely different animal. I think the group lessons would be advantageous because it would allow me to meet some other people (and perhaps find a study partner or two). But, if after a week or two I'm not grasping the language, then I'll give a private tutor a shot.

Walking is a terrific way for me to take in my surroundings and experience things I'd miss were I flying down the road in a vehicle. Even in the heat of summer, I still prefer walking. So long as I can find a place with activities within walking distance and good access to public transportation, then I see no reason to rent a motorbike and will just stash that cash for something else.

[jdinasia]

OK .. you don't need a full kitchen --- even a place without one is likely to have the fridge. Microwaves are cheap if it doesn't come with one and so are hotplates. (gas or electric)

It took me 3 days to get 3bb to get my internet connection on in the house. I rent inside the moat. Pay twice what was suggested above (12.5k for a 3 BR, office, kitchen complete with gas stove/oven, private, freestanding house,patio and huge balcony,) that is raised high enough above street level to not have any issues with flooding.

3bb runs their own line to your hose so there is no issue with having to have an existing phone line (the house has one so I am thinking about adding ToT as a back-up)

[WtFugarwe]

Since you have the budget, a better monthly option might be Malin Residence apartments. Very close to the University, walk to language schools, not as loud at night, better internet. 6,000 for studio, don't know 1 BR, probably under 10K. Price includes wireless, unlike Loft Residence. Don't know if they have a website. Everyone I have ever talked to has bad things to say about doing business with Huay Kaew Residence by the Amari.

[ricklev]

Huay Kaew Residence: When I first moved to Chiang Mai I stayed there for a month. Dealing with the staff and management made me despair for the fate of the world. Disturbingly bad, with no commitment or even a basic nod to the simple values of life like service and integrity. Other than that it was fine. :rolleyes: