chang mai any good????

Question

i been visiting thailand alot in last 3 years and am going this april for my first songkhran (thai new year).
i usually go phuket or samui but i have heard songkhran is best in chang mai for celebration,although im told its cold there but that was from someone thai so am i still gonna get a nice tan there in april and have a good time?,
its somewhere i have never been in Thailand.

Answer 1

I've been in Chiang Mai during Songkran and it cured me of the holiday forever (I live in Thailand). Chiang Mai celebrates Songkran with a vengeance. I mean that quite literally. Now you may like to be wet all the time and you may enjoy water fights so my opinion about Songkran in Chiang Mai may be different from yours. I went there thinking it would be fun just like you, but on the third or fourth day of being drenched everytime I went outdoors and after being literally knocked down by water cannons by roving gangs in pickups, I decided this holiday is not for me. Songkran also goes on what seems like forever in Chiang Mai even though it's only a few weeks (in Bangkok, it's celebrated for its scheduled time of 3 days). Songkran is also the most dangerous time of the year to be in Thailand because of many deaths due to traffic accidents. Also, be sure to bring a supply of Ziploc bags to protect your wallet, camera, etc.

April is the hottest and most humid month of the year in Thailand so being cold is not an issue. I suppose you might get a tan, but April is also the start of the rainy season so it might not be sunny. If it weren't for Songkran, April would be the lowest of the low tourist months. No one in their right mind would want to be here in the stifling heat. What others here are saying about Chiang Mai is true because Chiang Mai can be charming at other times, but they're not writing about being in Chiang Mai during Songkran.

I know this is probably not what you wanted to hear, and I would really like to know if your experience is different from mine. If you like, you can write me when it's all over.

Another thing...if any of that dirty and polluted Songkran water is swallowed, you'll get sick, so be careful.

Answer 2

You mention getting a tan in Chiang Mai. As you know, it is inland and there's no beach to lie on, so you need to stay in a hotel where you can lie next to their pool, or at least a lawn. Yes, you will get enough sun to have a tan when the sun's out. April's OK, but you will still get the odd overcast days. But people go to Chiang Mai for a bit more of the 'culture'. It's a historic city with interesting old city walls and moat, good markets, and hill people to visit. The girls there are famed for their beauty.

Answer 3

I went to Chiang Mai two years ago and it was lovely. Yes it is cooler, so check out the weather forecast before you decide but it is fantastic - anyone going to Thailand has to go to Chiang Mai - take a trip to the hill tribes, well worth it. It was cheaper than phuket too, the locals are not so set in ripping you off. YOU GOTTA GO.
Blimey on reading other replies my visit was very meak - but I went in December.

Answer 4

for me chiangmai is the best place in thailand. songkhran is 13th-15th april and chiangmai is the best place to be for it. just make sure u get there at least a week before it starts or have a hotel booked as places tend to fill up, also a few days before and a few days after it bus, train and plane tickets tend to go up alittle.
dont worry about being cold as then its in the hot season and u will have temperatures in mid 30's.
u will have lots of fun. the water fights start at abut 8am and finish around 6pm each day so at night u can still go out and not worry about being soaked while u enjoy a drink.
enjoy.

Answer 5

As one poster noted, it surely isn't cold in April (average daytime temp is probably in the 90-95 F range whereas its maybe 80 F at night).
If you like to have fun, Songkran is for you. Many people don't like it but I have had a blast there several times. Just be prepared (I wear sandals, shorts, a tee shirt, and have my wallet in a plastic baggy).
Go around the moat for the wildest action.
Songkran in Chiangmai is April 13th through the 15th and the water tossing is in full swing from about noon through about 7PM.
Don't go outside if you don't want to get wet!

Answer 6

check out the temple of the tigers

eg lots on the net about it. And study it so can identify the tigers when you go. (see documentries)

www.tigertemple.co.uk


Chang mai is a lot cheaper.


however

IMPORTANT... ONLY GO VAI SLEEPER TRAIN OR OFFICAIL VIP BUS FROM O-F-F-I-C-A-I-A-L BUS OR COACH STATIONS NOT SOME KHO SAN RAD TAT TRAVEL AGENT.

You wont really save money even if you think you will... trust me

Answer 7

Chiang mai is cool