Chiang Mai To Bangkok On Motorbike

[TheTechChik]

I'm planning to ride my motorbike from Chiang Mai to Bangkok next week. I'd like to take my time and stop along the way. Any recommendations on towns or places to stay or sights to see along the way?

[phuketrichard]

go via Pai/ Mae hong song/ Mae sot to Bangkok,

great road along the Burmese border for a bike

[Dap]

Don't laugh before you think about this. I rode a mtn. bike on that same trip and found the cheapest, safest, cleanest, best service to be had at "Short-time Motels"... found everywhere. Might want to give it a try. Have a great time.

[Gweiloman]

Don't laugh before you think about this. I rode a mtn. bike on that same trip and found the cheapest, safest, cleanest, best service to be had at "Short-time Motels"... found everywhere. Might want to give it a try. Have a great time.

How would you differentiate a short-time motel from a normal B&B?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Gweiloman

Curtains over the parking area, and a "baht 250 per hour" sign in Thai.

Mac

[Mickey Cohen]

I wish i could do that!!

What bike will u be riding?

[Dap]

Don't laugh before you think about this. I rode a mtn. bike on that same trip and found the cheapest, safest, cleanest, best service to be had at "Short-time Motels"... found everywhere. Might want to give it a try. Have a great time.

How would you differentiate a short-time motel from a normal B&B?

K. Gwelloman,

Another name for the "short time" motels is "Curtain Motels". When traveling you are sure to see them tucked-in just a bit off the road and with curtained car-ports. The "short-time" I am referring to is/are motels used exclusively by folk wishing to maintain discreet liasons/daliances/affairs (and myself when on the road for long distances and time periods). As mentioned in the previous post ... cheap, very clean and great service is what I found w/o exception.

[Choonpon]

Danger beware, especially during this Songklan period.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Kan Win]

Danger beware, especially during this Songklan period. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yep, if I were you TheTechChik, try the trip the following week after Songkran

Win from Kan

[TheTechChik]

I wish i could do that!!

What bike will u be riding?

I wish I could ride my BMW R1200GSA but I left it back in the states. I'll be riding my trusty Honda Scoopy.

[Gweiloman]

I wish i could do that!!

What bike will u be riding?

I'm doing the reverse (Bkk to Nan). I'll be riding a yellow Versys. Wave if you see me

[Gweiloman]

Don't laugh before you think about this. I rode a mtn. bike on that same trip and found the cheapest, safest, cleanest, best service to be had at "Short-time Motels"... found everywhere. Might want to give it a try. Have a great time.

How would you differentiate a short-time motel from a normal B&B?

K. Gwelloman,

Another name for the "short time" motels is "Curtain Motels". When traveling you are sure to see them tucked-in just a bit off the road and with curtained car-ports. The "short-time" I am referring to is/are motels used exclusively by folk wishing to maintain discreet liasons/daliances/affairs (and myself when on the road for long distances and time periods). As mentioned in the previous post ... cheap, very clean and great service is what I found w/o exception.

Must try them out sometime, maybe on the forthcoming trip. Any idea if they have room service?

[Dap]

K. Gwelloman,

Another name for the "short time" motels is "Curtain Motels". When traveling you are sure to see them tucked-in just a bit off the road and with curtained car-ports. The "short-time" I am referring to is/are motels used exclusively by folk wishing to maintain discreet liasons/daliances/affairs (and myself when on the road for long distances and time periods). As mentioned in the previous post ... cheap, very clean and great service is what I found w/o exception.

Must try them out sometime, maybe on the forthcoming trip. Any idea if they have room service?

LOL!

Unfortunately, it's a BYOB (Babe) situation, much to my dismay. However, that said, most I've dealt with had food and drink service.

[Gweiloman]

K. Gwelloman,

Another name for the "short time" motels is "Curtain Motels". When traveling you are sure to see them tucked-in just a bit off the road and with curtained car-ports. The "short-time" I am referring to is/are motels used exclusively by folk wishing to maintain discreet liasons/daliances/affairs (and myself when on the road for long distances and time periods). As mentioned in the previous post ... cheap, very clean and great service is what I found w/o exception.

Must try them out sometime, maybe on the forthcoming trip. Any idea if they have room service?

LOL!

Unfortunately, it's a BYOB (Babe) situation, much to my dismay. However, that said, most I've dealt with had food and drink service.

hahahaha

With any luck, maybe there's a karaoke bar close by!

[Gweiloman]

Gweiloman

Curtains over the parking area, and a "baht 250 per hour" sign in Thai.

Mac

Baht 250 per hour???? Blimey, that's expensive. I normally pay around Baht 500-600 per night for decent accommodation whilst travelling around in Thailand.

[moe666]

About 3 weeks ago rode from Chiang mai to Hua Hin. Took the 106 from Lamphun to Theon and spent the night in Tak. After tha it was a day on the superhighway to Suphaburi. The next morning backroads until we had to get on a 4 lane highway and then the 4 highway to Hua Hin.

Unless you go to the eastside of Bangkok and come in Thru Minburi you will just run right down either on the 11 or the 1 highways, You may want to go to the Bike forum for info as well I think go over to P lok on the 11 highway will also give you better things to see. After nakon sonowhere not much to see.

[Dap]

Gweiloman

Curtains over the parking area, and a "baht 250 per hour" sign in Thai.

Mac

Baht 250 per hour???? Blimey, that's expensive. I normally pay around Baht 500-600 per night for decent accommodation whilst travelling around in Thailand.

Actually, in my experience, 300/350 baht per night and 500 being the highest (clean, great bed, Air con, complete bathroom, new tv's), I thought a great deal and will continue to patronize them whenever necessary and convenient. And BTW, I have never been notified of an hourly rate. I simply ask for a room for the night.

[Gweiloman]

Gweiloman

Curtains over the parking area, and a "baht 250 per hour" sign in Thai.

Mac

Baht 250 per hour???? Blimey, that's expensive. I normally pay around Baht 500-600 per night for decent accommodation whilst travelling around in Thailand.

Actually, in my experience, 300/350 baht per night and 500 being the highest (clean, great bed, Air con, complete bathroom, new tv's), I thought a great deal and will continue to patronize them whenever necessary and convenient. And BTW, I have never been notified of an hourly rate. I simply ask for a room for the night.

I get it now. Turn up with YOB (your own babe) and you pay 250 per hour. Turn up solo, pay 500 for the night. THEN, go out and FYOB (find........)

[reiltin]

The best plan is no plan,when the gas is low or your ass is sore, stop and smell the roses,I've done this trip before in '97 from Chiang Kong but kept going hugging the southern coast all the way to Tak Bai on the Malay border-its when you go off the main routes...cheap b&bs and better still a different Thailand people invited me into their homes and were embarrassed that they could only offer me the floor to sleep on,even the police along the route were no more than helpful,make sure the bikes up to the trip,keep an open mind on the route,relax,you will enjoy.May the road rise with you!

[Dap]

Gweiloman

Curtains over the parking area, and a "baht 250 per hour" sign in Thai.

Mac

Baht 250 per hour???? Blimey, that's expensive. I normally pay around Baht 500-600 per night for decent accommodation whilst travelling around in Thailand.

Actually, in my experience, 300/350 baht per night and 500 being the highest (clean, great bed, Air con, complete bathroom, new tv's), I thought a great deal and will continue to patronize them whenever necessary and convenient. And BTW, I have never been notified of an hourly rate. I simply ask for a room for the night.

I get it now. Turn up with YOB (your own babe) and you pay 250 per hour. Turn up solo, pay 500 for the night. THEN, go out and FYOB (find........)

"Yeah, THAT's the ticket." Either way (use em' or not) have a great trip.

[phuketrichard]

Don't laugh before you think about this. I rode a mtn. bike on that same trip and found the cheapest, safest, cleanest, best service to be had at "Short-time Motels"... found everywhere. Might want to give it a try. Have a great time.

How would you differentiate a short-time motel from a normal B&B?

K. Gwelloman,

Another name for the "short time" motels is "Curtain Motels". When traveling you are sure to see them tucked-in just a bit off the road and with curtained car-ports. The "short-time" I am referring to is/are motels used exclusively by folk wishing to maintain discreet liasons/daliances/affairs (and myself when on the road for long distances and time periods). As mentioned in the previous post ... cheap, very clean and great service is what I found w/o exception.

Must try them out sometime, maybe on the forthcoming trip. Any idea if they have room service?

many that i have stayed in when i was alone offered "room service" plus lots of them have big beds, mirrors, Big bath tubes etc etc and xxx videos on demand!!!

[jimmybkk]

Is the OP female?

[TheTechChik]

Is the OP female?

Yes, but what does that have to do with anything? I routinely ride my BMW over 15,000 km per year, my longest trip was over 6,000 km and I once rode over 1,300 km in one day. So I hope you're not going to insult me and tell me that a woman shouldn't make a trip like this.

I admit that this isn't the ideal bike for a long ride. I'm sure I'll be stopping often to stretch my legs and give my fanny a rest. I certainly would rather be riding a BMW or even a Versys but this is what I've got to work with at the moment so I'm not going to let that stop me.

[jimmybkk]

Is the OP female?

Yes, but what does that have to do with anything? I routinely ride my BMW over 15,000 km per year, my longest trip was over 6,000 km and I once rode over 1,300 km in one day. So I hope you're not going to insult me and tell me that a woman shouldn't make a trip like this.

I admit that this isn't the ideal bike for a long ride. I'm sure I'll be stopping often to stretch my legs and give my fanny a rest. I certainly would rather be riding a BMW or even a Versys but this is what I've got to work with at the moment so I'm not going to let that stop me.

Nope - wasn't planning on insulting you nor your bike. I like your style actually - should be a great trip. I was just wondering whether anyone else had noticed that your profile suggested you may be female, and whether you were planning on taking up the suggestions of the short-time hotel accommodation...

[TheTechChik]

Nope - wasn't planning on insulting you nor your bike. I like your style actually - should be a great trip. I was just wondering whether anyone else had noticed that your profile suggested you may be female, and whether you were planning on taking up the suggestions of the short-time hotel accommodation...

Thanks Jimmy! Yeah, I was sort of ignoring to whole short-time hotel thing. I figured the amusement factor would wear off eventually and we'd get back to the original question. I was hoping for more tips on interesting places to stop along the way but the consensus seems to be that there really isn't much along that route. That's okay, I'll just stop when I see something interesting or when I get tired.

[billd766]

I ride a Honda Phantom 200cc sort of cruiser bike and a couple of years ago I rode from Khampaeng Phet to Bangkok and back in the same day to look at a bigger bike.

I left around 5 am and got back about 8 pm and rode nearly 700km which is about the distance you will ride.

I guess I was riding for about a total of 10 hours and it is not something I would want to do again at 67 years old then or now come to think of it.

For 2 or 3 days afterwards I was walking around like a cowboy with no horse.

For overnights there is Khampaeng Phet though not a lot to do but a couple of reasonable hotels, several bars with food and a very good pizza and German food restaurant just before you get to the town. That is about half way between CM and BKK or another 125 km further on is Nakhon Sawan which is bigger and has more hotels and restaurants.

It is VERY hot out on the roads at the moment so you will need to cover up well to prevent wind and sunburn.

Make sure you keep your fluid levels up with glucose and sport drinks and take frequent breaks. Take a spray bottle and fill it with cold water at gas stations etc to spray on yourself to cool down and a couple of towels to do the same.

I wish you well but if possible avoid travelling next week as it will be very dangerous on the roads.

[Gweiloman]

Nope - wasn't planning on insulting you nor your bike. I like your style actually - should be a great trip. I was just wondering whether anyone else had noticed that your profile suggested you may be female, and whether you were planning on taking up the suggestions of the short-time hotel accommodation...

Thanks Jimmy! Yeah, I was sort of ignoring to whole short-time hotel thing. I figured the amusement factor would wear off eventually and we'd get back to the original question. I was hoping for more tips on interesting places to stop along the way but the consensus seems to be that there really isn't much along that route. That's okay, I'll just stop when I see something interesting or when I get tired.

Sorry to have hijacked your thread, that wasn't the intention at all, even though overnight accommodation along the route is an important consideration for touring riders.

To be honest, there isnt all that much to see along any route in Thailand. After seeing 100's of wats and 20 national parks, they all look pretty much the same after a while. Yes, there is spectacular scenery as well especially when riding the mountain routes. The biggest enjoyment comes from the riding itself. I'm currently en-route back to Bkk after spending a couple of days in Nan. Both ways i took the 1339 - what a special road. However, I'm not sure if I would get the same enjoyment on a smaller bike (no insults or offence intended).

Because of the long distances, you absolutely need to be on a bigger bike, otherwise you would just die out of boredom.