ChiangMai

[ekardo]

Good experience to rent a bike and ride in chiangmai. i feel that the drivers & traffic there are much more forgiving as compared to SG. That said, you still have to do your own part to be safe on the road.

Suggest that you plan your journey within the day. i would highly avoid riding after nightfall. the outskirt of the city / towns usually do not have street lamps. and it can be really dark even for experienced driver/riders.

Didn’t managed to go up doi ithanon as my travel mate had a fall and injured her ankle. But I did bike up to the nearer suthep and I can see the challenge esp with the 1 way road as u are higher up the mountain.
Will probably get a higher cc bike next time for doi ithanon to manage the steep slope and extra pillion weight.

 

[Belial]

imho, doi inthanon drive is much smoother than doi suthep, some part of doi suthep is very steep.

 

[ekardo]

imho, doi inthanon drive is much smoother than doi suthep, some part of doi suthep is very steep.

Noted. But doi inthanon have to go super early to catch sun rise.

 

[Belial]

Noted. But doi inthanon have to go super early to catch sun rise.

yes, they recommend start driving from 4am if you are going there from central area of chiang mai to catch the sun rise at 6am.

 

[ekardo]

yes, they recommend start driving from 4am if you are going there from central area of chiang mai to catch the sun rise at 6am.

i started at 6am for my ride to chiangmai and was freezing cold...reminded me of dumb and dumber scene..

 

[Belial]

i started at 6am for my ride to chiangmai and was freezing cold...reminded me of dumb and dumber scene..

i reached there around 10am and already cannot tahan and i was driving, can't imagine what you gone through at 6am.

 

[kalipo]

Any recommend for nice and family friendly hotel which near attractions and shopping?!

 

[Belial]

Any recommend for nice and family friendly hotel which near attractions and shopping?!

my family of 4 stayed airbnb Astra Condo last month. near to chiangmai night bazaar and a lot of nice eateries within 50m walk.

 

[Andrew833]

Any recommend for nice and family friendly hotel which near attractions and shopping?!

I stay at liv@nimman condo (airbnb) near to Maya mall, U nimman and Think Park.
There are few hotels nearby but quite ex.
Only problem is lot of noise from the flights (small plane only).

 

[decibel.]

Any idea how much Grab costs in Chiang Mai? Is it cheap or more worth to rent car?

 

[Andrew833]

Any idea how much Grab costs in Chiang Mai? Is it cheap or more worth to rent car?

Grab cost is cheap. Depend on where you plan to go. Some area more far away from city is hard to grab to and fro. With car will be easier.
Some steep mountains better to hire driver unless you have the experience to drive steep and narrow roads.

 

[decibel.]

Grab cost is cheap. Depend on where you plan to go. Some area more far away from city is hard to grab to and fro. With car will be easier.
Some steep mountains better to hire driver unless you have the experience to drive steep and narrow roads.

Thanks bro! If go to those national parks area or waterfall area where the hike is, is it possible to grab from there back to city or hard to find grab kind?

 

[Andrew833]

Thanks bro! If go to those national parks area or waterfall area where the hike is, is it possible to grab from there back to city or hard to find grab kind?

Doi Inthanon National Park got at least 3 waterfalls, the trip from city to Doi Inthanon National Park is quite far, I don't think Grab is possible. I hire driver, went up early morning.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep can ride songthaew.

 

[decibel.]

Anyone knows how the air quality there now is it bad?

 

[jingluck]

Anyone knows how the air quality there now is it bad?

Unhealthy, AQi almost hits 200 for the past few days.

 

[decibel.]

Unhealthy, AQi almost hits 200 for the past few days.

Thanks! Any idea if staying in the old city Center be much better than going out to the national parks or it will be the same regardless?

 

[jingluck]

Thanks! Any idea if staying in the old city Center be much better than going out to the national parks or it will be the same regardless?

wear mask if need to go out and not only chiangmai city area , the northern provinces are affected.

 

[Avante7227]

Thanks! Any idea if staying in the old city Center be much better than going out to the national parks or it will be the same regardless?

National Parks, especially those with high altitudes, will be better as they are higher than the smog level

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/nkAd6EWwrtJDpeNY/?mibextid=K35XfP

 

[Andrew833]

Thanks! Any idea if staying in the old city Center be much better than going out to the national parks or it will be the same regardless?

Doesn't matter.
Where you stay is depend on where are you going and what you plan.
Staying in the square, some songthaew may not want to go there, I was drop off quit far from my destination in the square.
Grab will not have this problem.
Sat and Sun heavy traffic and sunday road close.

 

[whitecrayon]

Thanks! Any idea if staying in the old city Center be much better than going out to the national parks or it will be the same regardless?

Doesnt really matter much. for me i personally prefer to stay in Ninman area. near shopping center & more active nightlife for my liking.
its gonna be more "noisy" then staying in near national park areas for sure. but at least after a night's drink, i dont have to travel too far to go back to my hotel.