We’re going to take our 3 adult kids for a 2 week vacation to Thailand in January. We will fly into Chiang Mai, drive to Chiang Rai, fly to Phuket and fly home from Bangkok. We know this is a lot and agree that Bangkok may get short changed. And we’re not looking for beach/down time in Phuket but, rather to see some of the sites and natural beauty. Planning is just beginning and I’m thinking we’ll be in Chiang Mai for about 5 days, Chiang Rai for 2, Phuket for 3 and the rest in Bangkok. If others have been, I’d love to hear suggestions for lodging, activities, etc.
I’ll be anxious to here the Chiang Mai suggestions, just booked 5 day trip there in April. Right now our only plan is a full day cooking class, I want to book a private one for just my husband and me. I also want to consume as much Thai food as possible as it is my favorite cuisine. I’d love to hear other suggestions too. We booked a room at a 20 room boutique hotel that doesn’t allow children below age 11. It got great reviews and looks adorable. Supposed to be within walking distance to the night market and old city. Went to Bangkok and Koh Samui about 20 years ago, there was lots to do, in both places, though we had a toddler at the time so did shorter excursions than we can do now and did a lot of pool and beach stuff. There was plenty of information available to figure out something fun to do from day to day.
@collage1 I think I know why you guys chose Thailand… lol. Just remember that if you want to party, please abide to local laws. It’s very common for Western tourists to often spend time in Thai jail due to activities such as being loud while drunk, littering, etc.
And lot of foreigners also get scammed while in Thailand, so be aware of that.
^^^^^ If either of you wants the contact info for a terrific private driver and guide in Chiang Mai (who also does the Chian Rai run regularly).PM me. I was in Chiang Mai for a week over last Christmas.
We stayed at Le Meridien in Chiang Mai. I could use SPG points. It is right next to the Night Bazaar and a lot of little shops, short tuk tuk ride or walk to the old city. We liked the property and service, but I know many travelers prefer places other than the big chains like @NorthernMom61 . The luxury chains tend to be a bargain in Thailand (and S E Asia) by US and European norms.
Last trip to Bangkok, about a year ago, we stayed at Vie Hotel Bangkok McGallery By Sofitel. Right by Ratchathewi transit stop, walkable to Jim Thompson House and Siam Center. Gosh, I sound like a shopper noting all these malls and shop opportunities - actually, I’m not at all, but the just pointing out locations! The transit system in Bangkok was easy to use to get to the tourist main sites such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and other areas near the river ferries. We found taxis harder to use due to traffic (sitting forever), drivers not agreeing to use the meter and availability. so I was quite pleased we were close to a mass transit stop.
We spent a 6 full days in Bangkok and found it too long. We’d seen the main Bangkok sites that interested us in about 3 days. We did take side trips (I can recommend companies for private drivers for this if interested) to Kanchanaburi (Bridge on the River Kwai) and Bang Pa In Palace and Ayuthaya outside Bangkok. I enjoyed those trips more than my time in Bangkok. If you like markets.Chatuchak Weekend market is one of the biggest in the world. I actually don’t much like markets, but this one was interesting to experience.
Much to do in Chiang Mai region, enjoyed the craft shops - pottery, wood working, paper making, umbrella making, etc. The old city is comfortable to wander through. The museums gave us a good background in history and culture. We started there. I did a lot of research up front and we ended up at some places a bit off the norm - a tea plantation, botanic garden outside the city, archeological ruins. I’m happy to answer any specific questions. The area is so beautiful - many trekking opportunities. Our guide pointed out a poisonous snake (not threatening us) at which point I was very glad I was being directed!
Elephant sanctuary? Ds did this on his extended summer trip to SE Asia. Think it was in Chiang Rai. They fed them, bathed them, etc.
I can’t help much but I’ll share what I can. When our kids were in HS we took a family vacation to Tibet (hence my handle sherpa). Independent travel within Tibet is forbidden, so we went as part of a chaperoned tour which terminated in Kathmandu, Nepal. Having been forewarned that both Tibet and Nepal are very primitive, we decided to fly to Bangkok at the end of the tour to readjust to civilization before flying home.
Tibet was indeed primitive, and in comparison Kathmandu seemed modern. In that regard, decompressing in Bangkok was unnecessary, but we were very glad we took a four day detour there. The city is delightful and fascinating, with Buddhist temples, beautiful sites, and interesting entertainment. Four days was about right for us, but of course we missed the rest of Thailand.
In my opinion you won’t want to miss the flower market. It’s amazing.
re #3 - I meant to mention this. Elephant sanctuaries are a big thing in the Chiang Mai area. There are many, if you are interested you should research them. The more popular require reservations. Many places will pick you up from your hotel. There are various options to bath, feed, go on walks with the elephants, ride, etc. depending on the sanctuary selected. There is also concern in some quarters that despite claims that the elephants have been “rescued” from inappropriate work situations and are now in retirement, in reality, the elephants are still stressed by the constant attention and “care” from strangers. Some sanctuaries are perceived as “better” than others in truly protecting the elephants. We decided not to visit any sanctuary - not from any particular ethical or moral point of view - I didn’t research enough to come to a conclusion on that. We just decided we were interested in other things. We did talk with many visitors who had really enjoyed their day out with the animals.
I adore walking Chatuchak market on weekends in BKK, available by sky train. The craft areas and pet areas were my favorites. BKK can be exhausting between the heat and sitting in traffic. As mentioned above, the Sky train is better. Still, sometimes taxis can’t be avoided. Despite all that, there is nothing like walking into Thai luxury from the heat. Beauty treatments and Thai massage are at all ends of the economic spectrum.
I also like boat rides on the Chao Praya river. Water taxis can be caught from a sky train stop. I have heard that dinner cruises are very pleasant. Boats can also be taken up river to Ayutthaya which is well worth seeing f you are not going on to Ankor Wat. Years ago I did take a River Kwai tour, and found it memorable.
Sherpa, decades ago I flew from a more primitive Kathmandu to Bangkok and did have that sense of re entering the modern world.
I so loved our trip to Nepal, celebrated the mellineum New Year there! Blowing Tibetan horns on the roof of the Kathmandu Guest House followed by a wild bus ride in the dark to the outer rim of the Himilaya to watch the sun rise over Mount Everest which then disappeared in seconds in clouds and mist. Thanks for conjuring the memory.