We're coming back!

[alt]

OK so this is a pointless thread, but wanted to share

My GF and I (both Irish) went on our first travels in 2001/2012, covering Thailand / Laos / Vietnam / Cambodia over 3 months.

Ok so this time we don't have the luxury of 3 months, but we do have 1 month, from mid-Dec to mid-Jan.

Our plan is to stick in Thailand, but with the possibility of doing a quick 'hop' to another fly-to destination (Phnom Penh and go South to the beaches) or across to Saigon for a few days. We visited both cities on our previous travels but would happily go back.

I do have questions about different places to visit in Thailand this time, but i'll leave this for specific forums. The basic plan is Bangkok 2-3 days, then up North over about a 10 day period (as far as Chiang Mai) and then down South to soak up some sun.

Wish us luck!!

[smokie36]

Well good luck then....get down south and maybe across into Malaysia too is my tip.....enjoy yourselves!

[alt]

Well good luck then....get down south and maybe across into Malaysia too is my tip.....enjoy yourselves!

Thanks. Forgot to mention that we're happy to take any tips TV users may have. So not quite a totally pointless thread!

We certainly will get down South. However, we want to go up as far as Chiang Mai via train this time, in the hope that we can stop off at a few interesting villages/small towns for an over-nighter. Last time we went to Chiang Mai we had to fly as the trains were down.

[smokie36]

Well good luck then....get down south and maybe across into Malaysia too is my tip.....enjoy yourselves!

Thanks. Forgot to mention that we're happy to take any tips TV users may have. So not quite a totally pointless thread!

We certainly will get down South. However, we want to go up as far as Chiang Mai via train this time, in the hope that we can stop off at a few interesting villages/small towns for an over-nighter. Last time we went to Chiang Mai we had to fly as the trains were down.

Go to Chiang Rai and explore that area.....its beautiful.

[alt]

Go to Chiang Rai and explore that area.....its beautiful.

Am I right in saying that Chiang Rai is a provence? I've often seen it on Google Maps but not sure if it's a small area or huge.

I know it's close to Chiang Mai (or Chiang Mai is in the provence) - would still like to get Chiang Mai in for 2-3 nights... we had a ball last time!

[NeverSure]

Have a wonderful time. What a great way to escape the winter.

[rijb]

Chiang Rai city, in Chiang Rai province, is about 3 hours (driving) north of Chiang Mai. The CR forum has lots of pictures.

[dddave]

Keep in mind..you will be traveling at the height of "High Season". Itinerary flexibility is much more difficult to maintain at this time of year for the popular places you want to visit.

For more popular destinations and accomodations, you will need to pre-book.

[smokie36]

Go to Chiang Rai and explore that area.....its beautiful.

Am I right in saying that Chiang Rai is a provence? I've often seen it on Google Maps but not sure if it's a small area or huge.

I know it's close to Chiang Mai (or Chiang Mai is in the provence) - would still like to get Chiang Mai in for 2-3 nights... we had a ball last time!

I would recommend flying into Chiang Rai...spend three or four nights exploring that area then take a bus to Chiang Mai. If you enjoyed Chiang Mai you will love the Rai.....and surrounding area....simply beautiful.

As said above go have a look on the relevant forum here....lots of pictures.

[jacky54]

so what?

[alt]

Thanks for the info re. Chiang Rai - we'll start looking at flying into Chiang Rai rather than Chiang Mai (which we did previously)

We're aware that it's peak season, which comes with its flaws alright (more expensive everything for a start!). However, it's miserable in Ireland in December and it's easy for us to take holidays hence the choice. As a poster said above, a nice way to break up the winter months.

OK so next step is the Chiang Rai forum - will start asking questions there. We're OK re. Bangkok as we've been there before and can't wait to visit again. Then the next step is to start looking about down South.

The one tough question we've to ask ourselves is whether to fly into Luang Prabang (Laos) for a few days. The place is magical and i'd love to visit the town again (we wouldn't have time to do Vang Vieng again). BUT, flights from Chiang Mai - Luang = 150US, Luang - Bangkok - 220US - an expensive journey for a few days!

[dddave]

Thanks for the info re. Chiang Rai - we'll start looking at flying into Chiang Rai rather than Chiang Mai (which we did previously)

We're aware that it's peak season, which comes with its flaws alright (more expensive everything for a start!). However, it's miserable in Ireland in December and it's easy for us to take holidays hence the choice. As a poster said above, a nice way to break up the winter months.

OK so next step is the Chiang Rai forum - will start asking questions there. We're OK re. Bangkok as we've been there before and can't wait to visit again. Then the next step is to start looking about down South.

The one tough question we've to ask ourselves is whether to fly into Luang Prabang (Laos) for a few days. The place is magical and i'd love to visit the town again (we wouldn't have time to do Vang Vieng again). BUT, flights from Chiang Mai - Luang = 150US, Luang - Bangkok - 220US - an expensive journey for a few days!

If you can fit it in, the bus trip from Vientiane to Luang Phrabang is spectacular...a bit hairy but the mountain scenery is amazing. Luang Phrabang is a lovely town in a lovely location but it is, especially at that time of year, absolutely overrun with fellow tourists...far outnumbering the local population.

Nong Khai, the Thai gateway city to Laos is worth a few days...perhaps fly into Udon Thani, one hour to Nong Khai, Vientiane, LP, then a journey on the Mekong to the Chang Khong crossing into Chaing Rai.

[Genericnic]

Well good luck then....get down south and maybe across into Malaysia too is my tip.....enjoy yourselves!

Agreed. Penang is worth the trip just for the great food.

David

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[alt]

If you can fit it in, the bus trip from Vientiane to Luang Phrabang is spectacular...a bit hairy but the mountain scenery is amazing. Luang Phrabang is a lovely town in a lovely location but it is, especially at that time of year, absolutely overrun with fellow tourists...far outnumbering the local population.

Nong Khai, the Thai gateway city to Laos is worth a few days...perhaps fly into Udon Thani, one hour to Nong Khai, Vientiane, LP, then a journey on the Mekong to the Chang Khong crossing into Chaing Rai.

We did the bus trip Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng (wow!) - Vientiane on our last trip. I agree, it was spectacular. We'd do it again in a heart beat but we'll be too stuck for time.

'Nong Khai' sounds promising - I am writing down these bullet points and will investigate further.

Cheers

[alt]

Well good luck then....get down south and maybe across into Malaysia too is my tip.....enjoy yourselves!

Agreed. Penang is worth the trip just for the great food.

David

We'd love to fit Malaysia in, but my fear is 'will we have enough time'. I'd hate to just land in a country and have to go again.

Is Visa on Arrival posisble in Malaysia? (Going to Google now anyhow) - If so, it'd make it easier as when we get to South Thailand we could make up our minds as to whether we can go or not.

You mention Penang region - any specific reason? Spectacular beauty? Hotspot?

[smokie36]

Given your time restriction I would look at one of the beaches in Trang province in Thailand.

Have a look at Koh Lipe....but whatever you choose book up soon for Xmas and New Year...hotels AND flights.

[alt]

Given your time restriction I would look at one of the beaches in Trang province in Thailand.

Have a look at Koh Lipe....but whatever you choose book up soon for Xmas and New Year...hotels AND flights.

We can't book flights until September as we're getting discount on Business Class.

re. Accom for XMas and New Years - yes, I agree with you.... we had that time of year booked well in advance last time. We're thinking Bangkok for New Years, depending on how soon after we'll be leaving (we don't want to spend half our holiday in Bangkok)

We did full moon for XMas & New Years last time - 12 days on Koh Phangan... woah! But we explored a lot of the island on bike during the day which was nice (beautiful island) and returned to Haad Rin for the madness at night

-edit- re. your mention of the Trang region. We made it as far as Koh Lanta last time and enjoyed it, but wouldn't return. On the mainland (or even islands), is there any particular destination with a mix of nice beaches but also not completely 'honeymoon / deserted' ie. a bit of liveliness? There will be a few days (maybe 2-3) that we would like total isolation, chill-out on a gorgeous island, but other than that we'd like to mix with people.

Last time we took a speed-boat from Lanta and went to some amazing islands. Infact we sat at the most amazing beach i'd seen the whole trip. Could have been Koh Kradan. We also swam into a cave on an island and went to a 'secret' beach (it was full of tourists obviously)... it was like a big hole in the middle of the tiny island

[smokie36]

You could do Kradan for 2 or 3 nights or one of the other islands there then travel up to Ao Nang or Phuket I suppose.

[alt]

You could do Kradan for 2 or 3 nights or one of the other islands there then travel up to Ao Nang or Phuket I suppose.

Yes Kradan looks like an option alright, if not a little expensive but it has what we want... just lie on a beach for a day or two.

We'll probably go back up to Railay for 2 nights also. We stayed in a resort on the far east (as far as the trail would go) - amazing accommodation. The grim east beach didn't bother us, we just walked past it every day.

Phuket would probably be a pass though - we spent 1 night in Phuket town (after it being recommended as 'different') - it scared the hell out of me, just had an eerie feeling about it. We visited Patong (Patpong?) for 2 nights just to see it but quickly got out of there.

[alt]

So we finally booked our flights, we're coming back to Thailand! Going out business class on Dec 5th but returning economy on Jan 6th.

So the plan is a few days (prob 3 nights in BKK), then head up North. We're going to go to Chiang Mai again, with the possibility of going to Chiang Rai and heading towards the 'Golden Circle' via motorbike to get an idea of what life is like up there.

Is it worth stopping off anywhere for a night or two inbetween BKK - Chiang Mai? (If not we'll fly straight up to Chiang Mai). We'd like to experience the smaller village life of Thailand, which we didn't get to experience much.

After that, it's straight down South. We'll try and get as South as possible (while visiting some islands on the west of the country) and creep our way back up. Possibly head over to Phangan... not sure about going back to Kao Tao after recent events.

Would like to go to Khao Lak to visit friends but may not make sense logistically. Then back to BKK for new years (we did new years on Phangan before, fun but we've done it once...). Then try to find somewhere to escape to from Jan 2 - 4. Come back to BKK on night of the 4th, shop for 2 days and back to Ireland

I know it's a bit messy logistically wanting to be in BKK for new years and then go off for 2 days only to have to return again, we just don't want to spend TOO Much time in BKK