smokie36 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Hi folks I am planning a trip to Chiang Rai for a few days early January and looking for suggestions for hotel, what to do around town, excursions etc. Hotel budget up to 1500 Baht/night. Also need to nip across to Burma to sort my visa so best way to do that/ time involved would be helpful. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Hi Smokie, good to see you're going to take in some of the best part of Thailand at last. 1500 will get you a pretty fair hotel, you need to get one around the Night Market area which puts you in easy walking distance of most of the attractions in the city. Do you just need to leave the country to renew your visa? If so you can cross the border and return very easily during the day. It's less than an hours drive from town and a bit more on the bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomchop Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Just did a visa run today. Decided to ride the Green Bus van service instead of driving...here's a "trip report" for anyone interested. 1. Got to old CR bus station about 9;15. Van was just pulling out but another one appeared five minutes later.(The sign says departs every 30 mins from 6;30 am but seems that they just leave as they fill them up which didn't even take 30 mins) Lady ticket seller suggested i sit in front passenger seat as i was only farang and of course the biggest. Van stopped a few times to let people off and for police to check locals id's but ignored me as I guess i don't look like a burmese drug smuggler or refugee. Van fare was 46 baht. Driver was excellent and it was comfortable in the front. Back looked a bit crowded as they fill every seat....from leaving CR bus station to arrival at Mae Sai bus station was 1 hour and ten minutes. Fortunately i had my mp3 with earphones as thai gal sitting beside me talked nonstop on her cell phone the entire trip (what the hell do they talk about for so long?) 2. Van goes to bus station in Mae Sai where you can immediately get on a red songtaeow that will stop at immigration if you need and also goes all the way to the bridge. Fare is 15 or 20 baht. Walked across bridge out of thailand into burma as usual. Two burmese guys sitting at table in uniforms. Gave them my passport and they stamped then laid a nice crispy ten dollar US bill on the table in front of them. I was expecting them to say no must have 500 baht as i have read here from others that they no longer take the ten USD but they picked the ten up and put it in the drawer with no complaint and only asked me if i wanted to go shopping or back into thailand..i said back to thailand..the entire process from leaving thailand to reentry with new 90 days on my non imm B visa was less than ten minutes. 3. Catch red songtaeow near the bridge back to Mae Sai bus station...again fare is 15 or 20 baht. Again got there just as one of the green vans was ready to go but only one empty seat in the very back so told the guy i would wait for next one which again pulled up about five mins later...and once again i got the front passenger seat. Took about 20 minutes for the other seats to fill up and then we left...stops again at the police checkpoints but they only half hearted checked some of the ID's. Time from mae sai bus station back to CR old bus station ...flat one hour. All in all a pleasant easy way to do a visa run without the expense or aggravation of driving yourself. The green bus/van company seems to be a very well run operation with nice vans , well maintaned and the drivers i had were both excellent. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villagefarang Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 You might benefit from reading this recent topic, 2nights, 2days where we answered most of your questions while answering questions posed by David48. Are you going to have that other guy in tow as well or are you traveling solo? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 You might benefit from reading this recent topic, 2nights, 2days where we answered most of your questions while answering questions posed by David48. Are you going to have that other guy in tow as well or are you traveling solo? It will be just the two of us.... My gf and myaelf that is! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
femi fan Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 About how long is the car journey from chiang rai town to mae salong town? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 You might benefit from reading this recent topic, 2nights, 2days where we answered most of your questions while answering questions posed by David48. Are you going to have that other guy in tow as well or are you traveling solo? It will be just the two of us.... My gf and myaelf that is! Coals to NewCastle mate, we have an adequate supply of the fair sex here, knowing you're Scotch we could have found you one with hairy legs. Finding a hotel that has porridge and deep fried Mars Bars on the breakfast menu may take a little longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 About 40 minutes taking it easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 Thanks for the excellent link villagefarang. Some good suggestions for places to see and things to do there...probably more than we will have time for! Still looking for accommodation if anyone has any specific recommendations to make. Also a thank you for the visa info sceadu.....hairy legged women eating fried mars bars? Ah yes...I remember that trip to Fife all those years ago.....<shudder> 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
femi fan Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 About 40 minutes taking it easy. Thanks for the answer. Is that it??! Less than an hour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 Just checked on Google maps and it says 1hour and 4 minutes (60km). I think it can be done quicker than that but if you allow an hour you should be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theblether Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 You might benefit from reading this recent topic, 2nights, 2days where we answered most of your questions while answering questions posed by David48. Are you going to have that other guy in tow as well or are you traveling solo? We're both under lock and key by our respective ladies, Smokie blabbed about our last trip and that's us both grounded.......thanks for that Smokie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 OK we have found a lovely place a tad above our budget which hopefully we will be delighted with. Forgot to say a thank you to pumchop for the visa info and also the detailed stuff on the other thread. Simply brilliant! We look forward to our visit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 The moral of the story is... "never go away with blabbers". Don't forget a trip report Smokie, we like to hear back from visitors. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 You might benefit from reading this recent topic, 2nights, 2days where we answered most of your questions while answering questions posed by David48. Are you going to have that other guy in tow as well or are you traveling solo? We're both under lock and key by our respective ladies, Smokie blabbed about our last trip and that's us both grounded.......thanks for that Smokie. How did you manage to slip past the censors? Anyway...recommendations for great Thai food in Chiang Rai please....my gf is a real foodie. Aren't they all I hear you say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theblether Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 You might benefit from reading this recent topic, 2nights, 2days where we answered most of your questions while answering questions posed by David48. Are you going to have that other guy in tow as well or are you traveling solo? We're both under lock and key by our respective ladies, Smokie blabbed about our last trip and that's us both grounded.......thanks for that Smokie. How did you manage to slip past the censors? Anyway...recommendations for great Thai food in Chiang Rai please....my gf is a real foodie. Aren't they all I hear you say! The censors know it was true I'll give you a few tips when I see you next, there are some outstanding Thai Northern restaurants up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 Thanks theblether. I will interrogate you at a later date. Meanwhile we are thinking to hire a car for a couple of days and explore the area a bit. Any suggestions of places we should go or not to be missed are most welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Go up to Doi Mae Salong then up to MaeSai/Tachilek and back via The Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong. Chiang Khong, would you believe, has a Mexican Restaurant run by some Thais who lived in that country. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villagefarang Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 While I would second the Mae Salong drive, I would do it clockwise and cut through on the backroad 1338 over to Doi Tung, which is a must see for Thais. I have the route marked on my map, I believe. Doing that may not leave time for Chiang Khong, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 The whole route I suggested is a long day, some could certainly be pruned, or maybe ThaTon included and a night spent at MaeSai to break the journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post femi fan Posted October 13, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2012 Just checked on Google maps and it says 1hour and 4 minutes (60km). I think it can be done quicker than that but if you allow an hour you should be ok. I can only assume the google compilers drive ferraris! Or they have employed extra mad thai drivers to do their times and distances for them. I clocked 70 kms from the town to mae salong and it took us over an hour and a half. Granted i like to look at the scenery rather than screech round every bend, but i cannot see how it could take one hour, never mind 40 minutes!! Either way, what a great trip, and some awesome scenery to see along the way, never mind once you arrive. And for tea lovers a real treat. I plan to go back soon enough to actually stay up there for a couple of nights. I'd love to wake up to the mists and so on. I was told december is a great time to go for that, and that the first half of january sees all the sakura trees in full colour. Chiang Rai always gives me a good vibe when i go there, a great town to spend time in. I always see so many interesting looking places on roadsigns that i'd love to explore one day. I must get up to your town for a week next time. We went again to had chiang rai, but really, pretty expensive food prices there! If c rai folk come to c mai some time they should try eating at similar places by the huge huay tung tao lake north of our town here. And what good value ricos is for beer and some tucker, a nice place too. We didn't go to khun kon waterfall this time, but been there twice before, and it's a cracking walk and waterfall to take in. One thing that is a bit of a weak point it seems to me is a seeming lack of dinner restaurants in town. Great for breakfast and lunch, yes, but a clear lack of choice for dinner. I've been to a couple of places a bit out of town, but nothing really in town. For some reason it also feels like i'm at the top of the whole of thailand! I know it's there physically, but it also seems to vibrate that way! And every farang i've ever met in chiang rai seems very welcoming. Top place for a holiday. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Great to hear such positive words! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Agreed that genuine Thai restaurants tend to be away from the city centre. I have a theory that Thai men like to take their girlfriends somewhere where they won't run into the wife doing a bit of shopping. There's a couple of nice places on the river, just east of the superhighway bridge. They are a little touristy but the atmosphere is great, the one we went to had a band setting up just as we were leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inapeartree Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Nice thread, I'll visit a friend that recently moved to Chaing Rai from Hua Hin on my next visit to Thailand so this will come in handy. He prefers it to HH and is trying to persuade me to move here when I (semi) retire some time next year, quite a few condo buildings being built according to my friend but I worry it's a bit far from the beach! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sceadugenga Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 The Mae Kok is mostly beach in the dry season! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
femi fan Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Great to hear such positive words! I like finding positive places! Over the years i've tended to go west of chiang mai over to pai for my short breaks, but i have always managed the odd trip to chiang rai. I feel i should increase my frequency of visits to chiang rai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokie36 Posted November 3, 2012 Author Share Posted November 3, 2012 OK folks I booked up at the Bura Resort last month but my gf,after looking at the hotel, is unsure if its the best place for us to stay. She is wondering if it might be better for us to stay a couple of nights in Chiang Rai then hire a car and spend a couple elsewhere as we tour around before returning to Chiang Rai for the last evening. Having looked at other hotels... she has decided the Dusit Island Resort is where she wants to stay. Is this place any good? Big sighs here.... Help me please.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oysters Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Gidday Last year the wife actually overbooked a couple hotels and some friends and family could not make it so i had to fill the spots. Started at the sukriand right near the clocktower no breakfast mainly for thai bussiness people basic but 300 baht a night good value.Then is was off to the Laluna for 5 days which has excellent rooms huge tv great breakfast around 1100baht through agodaThen it was onward to the wiang inn for 2 nights again nice enough hotel in the heart of the city with good breakfast and nice lunch.Around 1500 bt.Next it was 2 days at the dusit excellent rooms service nice pool great staff around 2700 through agoda.Next 2 nights at the wangcome another hotel in the heart of the city.Funny thing about the wangcome is that my wife who is from c/rai walked off the street and was quoted1800 so my mate went over and was quoted1600then we sent my sister in law 1800 so i tried1600.First time i have ever got a lower price.Anyway nice enough hotel although geting a little tired good breakfast.Then it was back to the Laluna for 8 nights. So my two would be laluna or dusit although laluna has alot of gardens around your door so there are mossies.The room we stayed at the dusit was high and overlooking the pool with great views so you wont go wrong staying there. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiG16 Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Go up to Doi Mae Salong then up to MaeSai/Tachilek and back via The Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong. Chiang Khong, would you believe, has a Mexican Restaurant run by some Thais who lived in that country. While I would second the Mae Salong drive, I would do it clockwise and cut through on the backroad 1338 over to Doi Tung, which is a must see for Thais. I have the route marked on my map, I believe. Doing that may not leave time for Chiang Khong, however. How about: CM to Mae Salong (or Mae Chan - depending where you can find a decent place to stay that doesnt cost a fortune) then from Mae Chan - go to ChiangSaen, spend a couple nights there by the river, and from there you can do a day trip to MaeSai and over the border. this trip suggestion means you skip staying in ChiangRai city itself, but I dont think you are missing much there. alternatively, add one night at the start in CR city, then to Maechan/Mae Salong for two nights, then two nights in ChiangSaen. with CR, you need to have a car to get from places to places. most are not far from each other...between 30 to 80km (eg. Mae Sai to CR city is 83, so you would need a bit over an hour one way) but perhaps those with more local knowledge can suggest if the routes above makes sense, and more important - hotel options in Mae Salong AND Chiang Saen. in ChiangSaen there seems to be these incredibly expensive places like Anantara costing more than 10K a night, or the meridien? more than 6K a night over to you guys up north for further ideas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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