Should I go to Isaan, Chiang Mai, or stay in BKK?

Question

I have 2 weeks in Bangkok (Kreung Thep) and I want to see as much as possible. So should I take a train to Chiang Mai, Isaan, or stay in BKK since it's my first trip to the city???

Answer 1

ive been around thailand very good country to travel if u like beaches.
dont stay in bkk too crouded ppl there.
go to chiang mai, visit the elephants in the mountains, u can have a ride and watch them play soccer and paint too.u can even feed them.though the food are not free.
visit the golden temple also in chiang mai,
ive been to phuket,krabi,chiang mai, bkk,pipi island is good u can do snorkling feed the fish with bread so nice there...free buffet foods on one of the islands there...

Answer 2

I urge you to go around Bangkok for one week and then take a plane from BK to Chiang Mai, it is 1 hour and 45 minutes. From Chiang Mai you can go to Chiang Rai in which it is 2 hours from Chiang Mai. You will be able to travel to Border of Burma as well as Laos. From Chiang Rai, you can take a bus to Mae Sai to the Burmese Border and the Custom will allow you to cross the border for a day. You will be able to shop on the Burmese border and see all the Hill tribes travel to trade and buy stuffs. Meanwhile, you can travel to Chiang San and see the Opium Museum and see the Golen Triangle and stay in the Goden Triangle Hotel. It is the most beautiful hotel in the world. ( no one knows much about it ) Chiang Rai is a resort town and it is in the Northern part and people are very friendly. The cost of travel very inexpensive when you want to compare with Chiang Mai or Bangkok ( BKK ) The Thai Airway is costing more so I advice you to use Bangkok Airway. Well it is your first trip and welcome to the Land of smile.

Answer 3

It really depends on when you are going to be there but if you are going soon you really don't want to stay in Bangkok unless you enjoy being there during the height of tourist season and millions of people are already there. There are a number of places you can go depending entirely on what you like. Chang-Mai is a good place to go and not as busy. places like Pattaya will be busy during tourist season but offer many things to do other than the night life. In Pattaya, you can hold a baby tiger, hatch an alligator, or get a massage by an elephant at the Tiger Zoo. You can go to the Santuary of Truth which is a temple that is still under construction (you can even help with the carving). Most beaches this time of year have very clear water and are a wonderful getaway. One other suggestion. Take a trip on The River Kwai and visit Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. They are all within a day of travel and the bus is a good way to get out of BKK. Pattaya is about 90 to 150 Baht from BKK. Enjoy youself and have fun. I will be going back myself in Oct 07 with my wife. We love it.

Answer 4

Chiang Mai, definitely.

It certainly depends on what you like & what you want to do, but the environment is better in Chiang Mai, especially the air, and there are many parks to visit. (Bangkok is more of a museum town, as far as I could tell). Yes, definitely take the train & get a first class compartment - it's very inexpensive by our standards and quite nice. The food is decent on the train & the service is good.

Chiang Mai has lots of history, is close to places to get meditation instruction or do retreats, is within driving distance of the Northern border & the Mekong river. Doi SuTep is worth a visit, as well as the Summer Palace grounds.

Have a great trip! Wish I were going!

;-)

Answer 5

Go to Chiang Mai it is an ancient city with many attractions and a reasonable zoo, Dio Suthep is a must, the old city too is fascinating, many of the temples are centuries old and are charming. The pace is less hectic than BKK and it is possible to visit the Golden Triangle or many small villages and hill tribe villages too.
The climate is also more moderate than in BKK.

But why not have a side trip to Laos while you are in Thailand, a delightful country.

Answer 6

I'd recommend going to Chiang Mai, too.
If u love nature, mountains, waterfalls, valleys, then a trip to the highest mountain in Thailand, Doi Inthanon, or to the nearby town, Pai (about 4hrs away by van) will be good.
For budget airlines from BKK to Chiangmai, u can try either AirAsia or NokAir. Nokair is usually slightly more expensive but better comfort and service.

I've got some photos of the Royal Flora expo in Chiangmai in my blog:
http://jexon.blogspot.com/2006_12_05_archive.html

Answer 7

Being from Thailand. I would suggest going to Chiang Mai. The beaches, markets and people are so much nicer in Chiang Mai. Why stay in the polluted Bangkok when you can make the most out of your trip to Thailand..how often do you get to go to such a tropical country...believe me, take my advice. You will appreciate your trip more.

Answer 8

Thai people are very friendly - I would recommend getting out into the countryside and travelling around.. Any of the name places are pretty touristy at this point, but might be a nice place to stop.. Get yourself a lonely planet or decent guidebook and take a bus north - - the busses going north are pretty nice and not expensive.. stop along the way.. I live in Tak. 2/3 of the way from bkk - cm. There are nice places to stay and it is pretty genuine here.. but wherever you go in Thai will be fun, but yes, I would take the oppt to get out of bkk..

Answer 9

If you want to see as much as possible, then definitely go to Chiang Mai, Pattaya, take a few day trips from BKK (Ayutthaya, ect.)

Answer 10

attempt additionally flights into Kuala Lumpur as Air Asia (the great Asian low fee airline) fly out from there to Chiang Mai. a huge type of motels in CM. verify your Lonely Planet instruction manual or look up their website. I stayed at some there-no longer something i could desire to propose as i pass much less costly.