Just moved here, few questions.

[LionMG]

Loving Chiang Mai so far!

I have a few various questions, they're a bit trivial but I'd appreciate the info.

1. What is my best option for transportation for a heavy shopping? I need to buy a bunch of apartment stuff including bedding, probably at Big C/tesco. I doubt I could carry it on my motorbike. So would a red taxi be my best option?

2. Speaking of red taxis... I'm kind of confused at how they work. Do they actually make turns and go right to the destination? I was on Huay Kaew rd going towards Nimm rd. and I needed the taxi to turn right to get to my destination, but he did not listen. Do those red taxis just go up and down the major roads and I need to walk the rest? Or did the driver just not understand? So if I was at Big C... I get in and tell them my apartment near Nimm rd., are they going to take me right there?

3. My apartment does not have hot water for the sinks, only for the shower. Is this normal? How much trouble would it be to get something installed for it to be hot in the bathroom at least?

4. I plan to stay 6-12 months or more. Would it be better to rent a motorbike or buy one?

Thanks guys!

[BlackArtemis]

1: A red truck could be an option, so could calling a cab company, or multiple bike trips.

2: If they nod to you, the trip costs 20B, anything else they will give you a price. They go via routes that are most likely to allow them to pick up others. If you want a direct lift, take a tuk tuk or metered taxi, expect to pay a lot more.

3: That's the norm.

4: Renting a bike costs 2500-4000/month and buying one costs between 14,000 and 34,000 (used) depending on the model etc. It is up to you if you want to deal with the hassle or resale or not. However, expect to get 80% or more back on what you paid for your bike.

[mizztraveller]

I can answer a couple of your questions:

1. I don't know about Big C, but if you spend more than 2500 baht at Tesco they'll deliver it to your apartment for free. We had to wait till the next day so maybe chilled/frozen stuff should be carried by yourself. Rimping Supermarket deliver for a 1000 baht spend but they only sell groceries. Tops deliver for a 1500 baht spend but again, only sell groceries. Tesco is probably your best bet unless someone can advise about Big C.

2. You tell the red truck (songtaew) driver where you want to go and he'll tell you whether or not he'll take you. Don't be offended if he says no, he just maybe going a different route. It's useful to have a map with you so that you can point to your destination to be sure you're not misunderstood. Unless you actually live on a road, it won't take you to your door so just indicate, by pressing the buzzer, where you want to get off. We use the songtaews to get almost everywhere within the city and usually use a hotel as a landmark as the drivers usually know hotels rather than restaurants or shops. If there aren't any hotels nearby, then the map comes out!

Hopefully someone else will help with Qs 3&4!

[Dellboy218]

If you are going to be carrying a lot I would consider renting a pickup and driver for the morning/afternoon/day. It would certainly be more convenient.

Does the shower head reach the sink. Thats the easy option.

[CMKiwi]

First a warning...expect a lot of differing opinions to your questions. In the end it will be up to you to decide which you will accept.

For the big items a lot of the major shopping centres/departments do a delivery service. The new shop behind Airport plaza (Baan and Beyound) deliver free in a 30km radius. Others may be free or charge a nominal fee. Be aware that you will likely have to spend a day at home for the delivery as it is rare that delivery guys ever deliver when stated. Red taxis can do the job but it may cost you a bit more and you will likely have to find a driver whom speaks english so that he understands your requirement.

As to the Red Taxi routes..... quite a few have set routes but as with most things its up to the driver. If he hasnt many customers then he may accept your request, or if its not too far off his normal route he again may deviate for you. Some drivers stick strictly to their route others dont so in the end its always adviseable to ask first. For smaller shoppping trips or when you have smaller items, most tuk tuks will take you to your door...at a slightly higher price than songtaus (Red Taxis).

For hot water its easy to get a electric hot water heater.... the trickiest part is to get an electrician whom knows how to wire it in correctly...ie with a proper earth or ground wire so that an RCD will prevent you getting a shock of your life!

Regarding motorbikes....tricky one as when you leave you will need to sell it. Average scooter will cost between 2500-3000 baht per month plus fuel. So after 6 or 12 months youre looking at between 15000-36000 for the rental. Personally Id probably buy a second hand one.

Hope that all helps

[Dante99]

3. Buy a plastic dipper like they use to dump water into the old style toilets to flush them. Fill it with hot water from your shower, walk two steps and you have hot water in your bathroom sink. Not enough hot water, buy a small bucket.

Alternatively, if your shower is like most you have a spray head on a flexible hose. Get a longer hose or 2 or 3 connected together so it will reach to your bathroom sink. To get really fancy, you could use a T fitting with valves, one line going to the shower and the second going to the sink.

[transam]

Most places you buy stuff they can/will deliver. Everything I have bought has been delivered and assembled or connected.

[mizztraveller]

I have to disagree about having to wait in all day for a delivery. We've had many deliveries from Rimping, one from Tops and one from Tesco and each one has arrived within 5 minutes of the stated time.

[orang37]

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun LionMG,

Welcome to Chiang Mai ! You have arrived in time for the best weather of the year, and the wonderful Loy Krathong festival, oh lucky one

Songthaew (aka samlor, aka rot daeng): I would not use them if I were new to CM, and didn't speak Thai:

1. they are free-ranging jitneys that take whoever they have on-hand where they have agreed to take them; they may well take you very far from where you want to go. their prices vary according to their location, your destination, the chances of their getting paying customers from the place where they drop you off, the time of day or night, the phase of the moon, how tired they are, what their mood is. many of them have certain scheduled pick-ups at some time in the day, like when school's out, etc.

2. unless they are recommended to you by someone you trust, you don't know who the driver is, and, if they are trustable, and you are going to expose them to where you live, and, possibly, what "stuff" you have.

3. the individual driver and truck may not have the ropes and what-not that will let you tie/fasten/protect your household goods in transit securely: imho, much greater risk of damage in transit; and, if there is damage, you will not have a chance of compensation.

Home delivery: imho the way to go for your large household goods. I had a good experience with Home Depot long ago, and, long ago, the people who had a furniture stand selling locally made wooden furniture in the parking area of what was then Carrefour (now Big C II) also had great delivery service, and assisted me in carrying large bookshelves into the house.

Hot water to kitchen: depending on distance you either have hoses running across the floor, or buy a hot-water heater for the kitchen area. If I really need hot water in the kitchen, I boil up a large pot of it.

Farang => Motosai => orthopaedic hospital => surgery => baht maak maak => (10% * NumberOfYearsInCountry)

chok dee, Khrup

~o:37;

[masuk]

Buy a 15kg bottle of LPG, the same company will have a water heater I'm sure. I hooked mine up to supply water to the shower and a hole through the wall piped hot water to the kitchen.

Someone here will be able to suggest a reputable plumber who'll do the job in a few hours.

LPG gear sold from a large centre on the way down super highway towards Makro. You'll need your passport as they need this before selling new bottles of gas.

I did a huge 'new house' shopping at Home Pro, from ladder to tool box, and it was all delivered 18km out of town, no charge and on time.

[LionMG]

Awesome replies, thanks guys!

[BuddhaMind]

1. If you private message me, I will be happy to take you from Big C to your apartment with your things. No charge.

2. I have a car and motorbike, so I don't know. Other answers are spot on it seems.

3. Other answers are spot on I think.

4. I would buy a used motorbike. Easy to sell on Facebook's Secondhand Chiang Mai page.

Good luck!

[FolkGuitar]

I don't want to buy a car. The driving in town is horrendous these days, and a motorbike is more than enough to get us around where we need/want to go and not have to deal with the traffic jams. When we want to go further afield for a weekend outing, we rent a car. It's certainly cheap enough here. We figured that we can take four selor (your red taxis) rides a day each, for 5 years, before we approach what it would cost us to buy a used car and maintain it. Obviously we have no need to often take four selor rides a day either... You can buy a used motorscooter for 15,000 baht that will be in good enough condition to last quite a few years. There are always people selling them on Secondhand Chiang Mai facebook page.

You said you needed to buy 'large' items for your house. Bed size large or washing machine large? Tessco will deliver large goods for free. Big C will not, but there are always selors waiting outside that will take you and your goods to your door for 150 baht. A washing machine will fit inside. A bed won't.

Generally speaking, selors don't do door to door drop-offs, so it pays to learn the names of major stores, hotels, gates, or intersections to tell them where you wish to go. The costs should be 20 baht for any 'regular' trip inside the Superhighway. (regular = on their route.) As soon as you show them a map, they will assume that you do not KNOW that it's 20 baht for any regular trip inside the Superhighway and tell you the cost will be 400 baht. Better to learn the names of some landmarks... However, most will take you to your door if you offer more money. 100 baht should get any of them smiling as long as you live near by.

Any delivery that I've set up in the past 6 months, from both supermarkets or department stores, has arrived within 30 minutes of the stated times. Frozen stuff always arrives frozen. Eggs aren't broken. Getting repair men to show up on time is a different story...

[umbanda]

If you can take your stuff on a tuk tuk may be easier and not too much expensive.

Drive your motorbike or a rented one can be expensive if you have an accident. You will be lucky if you buy a second hand one without any needs for repairs, and a new one to use for 6 months do not make sense because the depreciation.

Meet a decent tuk tuk driver close to your home, get its phone number and use it every time you need to go around. If its know that you will use it a lot you will get a friendly fare and more.

[amexpat]

Selor?? Is that one of those vehicles like a songtel?

[Ulysses G.]

I could be wrong about this, but I've been here a long time and I do not think that most songteaw drivers have a "route." in Chiang Mai. They just go where they think that they have a better chance of getting fares at different times of the day and charge more if they are going somewhere that there is less chance of picking up other riders. Some places in Thailand, like Pattaya, have routes where tons of customers are travelling on just a few streets, but, IMO, it would not make a lot of sense here - not that Western logic always works in the Land of Smiles.

[NancyL]

The first year we were here we used a large hot water kettle to heat water to wash dishes, wash/shave face, etc. That makes the most sense if you're only staying someplace for a year. Once we signed a three year lease on a place, we invested in installing an under-sink hot water heater for the kitchen and discovered we had to buy an entire new electrical panel for the unit when we melted the existing panel -- it couldn't handle the electrical load. Actually, now that I think about it, we've fried electrical panels twice in condo units now. One caused a small smoke fire.

[donniereadit]

I could be wrong about this, but I've been here a long time and I do not think that most songteaw drivers have a "route." in Chiang Mai. They just go where they think that they have a better chance of getting fares at different times of the day and charge more if they are going somewhere that there is less chance of picking up other riders. Some places in Thailand, like Pattaya, have routes where tons of customers are travelling on just a few streets, but, IMO, it would not make a lot of sense here - not that Western logic always works in the Land of Smiles.

The Red ones don't follow a fixed route, but they will act like they don't understand going to a specific place like your house, or a specific restaurants etc. So you always have to give them the closest public well known landmark, like a shopping center near your house or a gate around the moat.

The tuk-tuk's will take you to a specific location, and you can also tell him where to turn each time with your hand.

The yellow, green and blue trucks follow a fixed route and you have to get on and off on that street they follow.

[Ulysses G.]

You are right. I was thinking of the red ones as, living downtown, they are almost all that I ever use.

[hellodolly]

First a warning...expect a lot of differing opinions to your questions. In the end it will be up to you to decide which you will accept.

For the big items a lot of the major shopping centres/departments do a delivery service. The new shop behind Airport plaza (Baan and Beyound) deliver free in a 30km radius. Others may be free or charge a nominal fee. Be aware that you will likely have to spend a day at home for the delivery as it is rare that delivery guys ever deliver when stated. Red taxis can do the job but it may cost you a bit more and you will likely have to find a driver whom speaks english so that he understands your requirement.

As to the Red Taxi routes..... quite a few have set routes but as with most things its up to the driver. If he hasnt many customers then he may accept your request, or if its not too far off his normal route he again may deviate for you. Some drivers stick strictly to their route others dont so in the end its always adviseable to ask first. For smaller shoppping trips or when you have smaller items, most tuk tuks will take you to your door...at a slightly higher price than songtaus (Red Taxis).

For hot water its easy to get a electric hot water heater.... the trickiest part is to get an electrician whom knows how to wire it in correctly...ie with a proper earth or ground wire so that an RCD will prevent you getting a shock of your life!

Regarding motorbikes....tricky one as when you leave you will need to sell it. Average scooter will cost between 2500-3000 baht per month plus fuel. So after 6 or 12 months youre looking at between 15000-36000 for the rental. Personally Id probably buy a second hand one.

Hope that all helps

Yes I was thinking of Baan and Beyound also.

They have a thread running here on this forum the OP might want to browse through it.

Do you knows if there is a minimum amount of money to be spent before the free delivery?

It did look like an interesting store.

[anto]

Have sent you a P.M. It might help you out .

[mesquite]

"Would it be better to rent a motorbike or buy one?"

It would be best to do neither. Even experienced riders have painful accidents here in CM. But if you do ride one, always wear a helmet.

[CMKiwi]

First a warning...expect a lot of differing opinions to your questions. In the end it will be up to you to decide which you will accept.

For the big items a lot of the major shopping centres/departments do a delivery service. The new shop behind Airport plaza (Baan and Beyound) deliver free in a 30km radius. Others may be free or charge a nominal fee. Be aware that you will likely have to spend a day at home for the delivery as it is rare that delivery guys ever deliver when stated. Red taxis can do the job but it may cost you a bit more and you will likely have to find a driver whom speaks english so that he understands your requirement.

As to the Red Taxi routes..... quite a few have set routes but as with most things its up to the driver. If he hasnt many customers then he may accept your request, or if its not too far off his normal route he again may deviate for you. Some drivers stick strictly to their route others dont so in the end its always adviseable to ask first. For smaller shoppping trips or when you have smaller items, most tuk tuks will take you to your door...at a slightly higher price than songtaus (Red Taxis).

For hot water its easy to get a electric hot water heater.... the trickiest part is to get an electrician whom knows how to wire it in correctly...ie with a proper earth or ground wire so that an RCD will prevent you getting a shock of your life!

Regarding motorbikes....tricky one as when you leave you will need to sell it. Average scooter will cost between 2500-3000 baht per month plus fuel. So after 6 or 12 months youre looking at between 15000-36000 for the rental. Personally Id probably buy a second hand one.

Hope that all helps

Yes I was thinking of Baan and Beyound also.

They have a thread running here on this forum the OP might want to browse through it.

Do you knows if there is a minimum amount of money to be spent before the free delivery?

It did look like an interesting store.

Good question....I did see something at their service desk. It was either 3000 or 5000 total purchase for free delivery. Should have mentioned that earlier! As our purchase easily exceeded that it was an over sight on my part.

[elektrified]

Like others said, first see if the store you are shopping at for a large purchase offers delivery; free or not.

I too, don't like rot daeng drivers coming to my home unless I know them. I always get a guy with a truck to move a medium to large amount of stuff back to my house. You can book a guy the day before from many locations in the city. In front of Wat Phra Singh is one place. There are many of these guys. You tell them what time to show up the following day and where and they will tell you how much. They properly tie your stuff down, cover it if raining, etc. Just about 2 weeks ago I paid 300 Baht to pick up some furniture in the city and deliver to Sansai. If it will take more than say 90 minutes; expect to pay more. Those guys are unlikely to be thieves as they advertise all over and want to keep working and making money.

You can buy a hot water heater for your bathroom/kitchen to supply hot water to the sink. I've done that wherever I've lived and taken my heaters with me. If you buy from somewhere like Niyom Pannich, Siam TV, etc. they will install it for free. Just watch them and make sure they do a proper earth ground! Who wants to carry water in buckets around?

I can't recommend a motorcycle to anyone. Not in Thailand. They are very dangerous and the chance of getting hit, injured and/or killed on one is very high. If you decide to take the risk, get yourself a good accident insurance policy as orthopedic surgery can cost you as much as 500,000 Baht if you are banged up bad.

Enjoy your stay. Say safe.