How Early Should I Book Transport And Hotels?

[LionMG]

I'm coming to Thailand for the first time! For an entire month, arriving this coming April 1st. It's my first time overseas and traveling alone, so I'm very excited and a bit nervous at the same time.

I haven't planned or booked anything yet. I know I want to go to Chiang Mai for sure, for at least a couple weeks (and during Songkran). But I arrive in Bangkok and I want to spend some time there first. I just don't know how long... it depends how I enjoy myself or if I'll want something quieter and move on quickly to Chiang Mai.

So I'm wondering how far in advance I need to plan, including booking transport from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (and back for my return flight home) and hotels. Do I need to book the transport far in advance, considering it'll be around Songkran?

Or can I play it by ear?

Right now Air Asia and Nokair have one-way tickets from BKK to Chiang Mai at 1490B all-in.

If I played it by ear and waited until I arrived April 1st to book transport (for 3-8 days later, depending how long I want to stay in BKK), would there still be flights and train bookings available?

Also accomodation too... would my options by limited last minute? Would the prices be much higher?

I'm leaning toward just booking in advance and setting a plan.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[TommoPhysicist]

Near Sonkran is a really bad time to try and travel in Thailand.

All the transport BK/CM is fully booked for weeks.

You will need to book everything in advance.

Any other time, you don't need to book anything at all.

[yermanee]

Good advice from Tommo.

Prices will go up dramatically the nearer to Songkran.

Best to prepare an itinerary and book everything in advance. For hotels the hotelscombined website is quite good to compare prices.

Hope to have helped

Yermanee

[craigt3365]

Songkran this year is roughly the 13th to the 17th. Transport (and traffic) out of Bangkok will start to get bad on the 11th, and plain crazy the next few days. Same with trying to get back towards the end.

One time, we decided to go back a day after it was over, figuring it wouldn't be too bad. Wrong. We spent hours waiting at the bus station for a seat...in the hot weather.

Hotels will be booked up. Some love Songkran, some hate it.

As for flights, it's rare that prices drop the closer you get to the flight date. A few months out seems to be the best, except with Air Asia and other discount airlines. They sell their cheapest tickets first, and prices just go up from there.

[lomatopo]

You can forget any type of ground or rail transport between Bangkok and Chiang Mai April 9 - 17, and maybe through that weekend following, as these will be sold out. SRT allows bookings 60 days in advance and he lines at Hua Lumphong in February are frightening.

I would recommend purchasing air tickets for BKK-CNX and CNX-BKK now. Not sure what to say about hotels but the earlier you can book the better.

[arthurwait]

Stay off the roads as much as you possibly can during Song Kran week. They are even more drunk than normal. Many times over.

[LionMG]

Thanks for the replies!

Hmm... do you think I'd be able to get a sleeper cabin train ticket from Chiang Mai back to BKK around the 22nd to 28th?

I'm thinking I'll do this:

- Arrive is BKK April 1st. Stay for 10 days.

- Fly from BKK to CM (Book in advance soon).

- Then depending how I like CM compared to BKK, I'll either go back around the 22nd to spend a week longer in BKK, or stay in CM for longer and not return to BKK until the 28th, spending my last night before I return home. Either way I'd take the overnight train back to BKK to fly home. I'd make up my mind around April 15th, so I'd book the train ticket then.

Will the rush of people returning to BKK from Chiang Mai be gone by the 22nd? Or will train tickets all be sold out?

[craigt3365]

What do you want to do when you are here? Party, chase girls, trek, see cultural sights, etc. From your plans, the beach doesn't seem to interest you.

CM is a nice city, but there's lots to do in the surrounding areas. You could spend weeks cruising around there.

[LionMG]

What do you want to do when you are here? Party, chase girls, trek, see cultural sights, etc. From your plans, the beach doesn't seem to interest you.

CM is a nice city, but there's lots to do in the surrounding areas. You could spend weeks cruising around there.

I'll make a separate post on that right now and hopefully get rough estimates on the amount of time I'll need in each place, and perhaps suggestions to go elsewhere too (Phuket, Pattaya, etc.).

[smokie36]

Don't bother with the train.

Fly if you can afford the extra few hundred Baht.

[TommoPhysicist]

Don't bother with the train.

Fly if you can afford the extra few hundred Baht.

dam_n, another thing we agree on!

The train is pants, and slower than the bus (how can that be?).

[LionMG]

Don't bother with the train.

Fly if you can afford the extra few hundred Baht.

How much do you think a one way ticket on Air Asia will cost around then though, booked only a week or two in advance? Will it really be only an extra few hundred, and it won't be sold out? I don't mind paying up to $20 extra.

[LionMG]

I can book a flight from CM to BKK right now for 1000B... very tempting... I just don't know if I'll want more days in Chiang Mai or BKK. :-/

[craigt3365]

I can book a flight from CM to BKK right now for 1000B... very tempting... I just don't know if I'll want more days in Chiang Mai or BKK. :-/

Just for comparison, the cheapest flight I saw for tomorrow to CM was 2800. Most expensive was 3300. Go a week out and the cheapest fare is 1900.

Another option is to visit Sukhothai on the way from CM to BKK, via bus. Great place to visit.

[yermanee]

I can book a flight from CM to BKK right now for 1000B... very tempting... I just don't know if I'll want more days in Chiang Mai or BKK. :-/

Don't wait !

1 week in CM should be enough to cover all the basics, after that it's just repeats.

Better return to Bangkok and maybe take a side trip to any of the not to far away places, like for example Ayudhya, Kanchanaburi (River Kwai) or even Pattaya. If Pattaya make sure you arrive after Songkran (last day is the 19th).

Yermanee

[smokie36]

I can book a flight from CM to BKK right now for 1000B... very tempting... I just don't know if I'll want more days in Chiang Mai or BKK. :-/

I suggest you spend 3/4 days in Chiang Mai and then take a bus to Chiang Rai. Spend similar time there. Its a beautiful area.

[craigt3365]

I can book a flight from CM to BKK right now for 1000B... very tempting... I just don't know if I'll want more days in Chiang Mai or BKK. :-/

I suggest you spend 3/4 days in Chiang Mai and then take a bus to Chiang Rai. Spend similar time there. Its a beautiful area.

Then head over to Tha Ton and take the boat back to CR. Do the Mae Hong Son loop, hang out with the hippies in Pai, check out the beautiful national forest on the way....or raft from near Pai down to MHS. Then check out the hill tribes, trek over night into the mountains....whew....

[LionMG]

I posted what I'll be interested in doing in Thailand here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/612699-1-month-in-thailand-looking-for-help-on-which-regions-to-go/

I like the sound of visiting Pai and rafting - adding it to my list!

[LionMG]

Booked my flights with AirAsia just now. BKK to Chiang Mai on April 9th. Then a return on April 20th. Came to 2350B all in.

So I'll spend the first 8 days in BKK, and maybe try out Pattaya. Then head to CM for Songkran, and then back to BKK for the last 9 days. Hopefully 11 days will be enough for Chiang Mai!

Thanks again for the replies.