ChiangMai

[luckygal]

How come so many videos. Have to ignore the person.

 

[furryballs]

Going Chiang Rai (from Chiang Mai) for 3 days. Is it worth the effort to rent a car from airport to drive up, or is it better to just taxi/hire driver?

the convenience of driving to hipster cafes and then to night market within Chiang Rai, but I just scared of parking or driving on dirt tracks (which are not shown on google maps)

 

[Belial]

Going Chiang Rai (from Chiang Mai) for 3 days. Is it worth the effort to rent a car from airport to drive up, or is it better to just taxi/hire driver?

the convenience of driving to hipster cafes and then to night market within Chiang Rai, but I just scared of parking or driving on dirt tracks (which are not shown on google maps)

good to rent a car as it is more convenient and efficient. as for parking, not much of an issue as most roadside can park as long no "no parking" signboards. as for driving on dirt tracks, i did not encounter any during my 5 days there last december, however if you are driving the mountain range, need to be careful as some places are quite steep and narrow so need to play with your brake and be alert when rounding bends.

 

[furryballs]

good to rent a car as it is more convenient and efficient. as for parking, not much of an issue as most roadside can park as long no "no parking" signboards. as for driving on dirt tracks, i did not encounter any during my 5 days there last december, however if you are driving the mountain range, need to be careful as some places are quite steep and narrow so need to play with your brake and be alert when rounding bends.

Thanks!!! One more qn - Chiang Rai market (night market) area, also can park anywhere?

google maps generally useful?

 

[Belial]

Thanks!!! One more qn - Chiang Rai market (night market) area, also can park anywhere?

google maps generally useful?

need to go early if not have to park quite far or park inside paid car park. google map quite accurate or you can use waze.

 

[furryballs]

need to go early if not have to park quite far or park inside paid car park. google map quite accurate or you can use waze.

Thanks!!!
I actually okay with paying parking fees (in fact should be safer), I think should be cheap also, coming from SG rates.

will probably drive then. The freedom to happy happy make slight detours to restaurants and hipster cafes, and also make multiple trips, and to drive out early in AM to see clouds…

I checked also - $7000THB for return trip transport hire from Chiang Mai airport and Chiang Rai hotel, for 4 pax. It’s actually only slightly more than renting car for 3 days. So rent car is only for the convenience of not getting stuck without Grab Taxi…. I at most make two locations per day coz I take things easy, so hire driver whole day quite bo hua.

 

[Belial]

you can check hertz thailand website for the rates, sometimes they have discount code you could use and the discount can be quite significant.

 

[furryballs]

you can check hertz thailand website for the rates, sometimes they have discount code you could use and the discount can be quite significant.

Thanks!!!!!

if rent from Hertz, need international driving permit from AA?
Or SG card license can already?

 

[Belial]

Thanks!!!!!

if rent from Hertz, need international driving permit from AA?
Or SG card license can already?

best to get international license as there are police road blocks in chiang rai and there are instances where people got fined for not having international or local license

 

[furryballs]

best to get international license as there are police road blocks in chiang rai and there are instances where people got fined for not having international or local license

Thanks!

 

[Krystalis]

Going Chiang Rai (from Chiang Mai) for 3 days. Is it worth the effort to rent a car from airport to drive up, or is it better to just taxi/hire driver?

the convenience of driving to hipster cafes and then to night market within Chiang Rai, but I just scared of parking or driving on dirt tracks (which are not shown on google maps)

there's also a bus service that ply between the 2 towns, cost S$10 one way and takes about 4 hrs with 1x 10 mins toilet/snacks break in between.

 

[beanstalk6]

there's also a bus service that ply between the 2 towns, cost S$10 one way and takes about 6 hrs with 1x 10 mins toilet/snacks break in between.

I believe the coach takes about 4 hours or less with no stops, at about $10.

 

[Andrew833]

Going Chiang Rai (from Chiang Mai) for 3 days. Is it worth the effort to rent a car from airport to drive up, or is it better to just taxi/hire driver?

the convenience of driving to hipster cafes and then to night market within Chiang Rai, but I just scared of parking or driving on dirt tracks (which are not shown on google maps)

Actually, Chiang Rai attractions mainly are temple. Both Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai add together got so many temples. I don't find it worth going to Chiang Rai. Chiang Mai is big enough to explore. Unless you been to Chiang Mai before.

 

[Krystalis]

I believe the coach takes about 4 hours or less with no stops, at about $10.

oh ya, 4 hrs... typo

 

[Krystalis]

Actually, Chiang Rai attractions mainly are temple. Both Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai add together got so many temples. I don't find it worth going to Chiang Rai. Chiang Mai is big enough to explore. Unless you been to Chiang Mai before.

went there last yr for 2d1n after visiting chiang mai for 3d2n, mainly for the white & blue temple and nothing else interests me.

 

[Belial]

besides blue and white temples, there is also the kuanyin and red temple. you can travel further up north to golden triangle, doi tung, mae salong. i spent 5 days there but had to skip a few places due to kena covid on the 2nd day. end of this year will be spending 15 days in chiang mai doing the mae salong loop, will tour chiang rai, phayao and lampang next time.
depending on your purpose (temple, nature-watch, etc.), there are actually quite a few places to visit in chiang rai.

 

[beanstalk6]

besides blue and white temples, there is also the kuanyin and red temple. you can travel further up north to golden triangle, doi tung, mae salong. i spent 5 days there but had to skip a few places due to kena covid on the 2nd day. end of this year will be spending 15 days in chiang mai doing the mae salong loop, will tour chiang rai, phayao and lampang next time.
depending on your purpose (temple, nature-watch, etc.), there are actually quite a few places to visit in chiang rai.

That's right. It is of course easy to dismiss Chiang Rai to be any Thai city. If one reads up more, it has its unique attractions to explore.

 

[furryballs]

besides blue and white temples, there is also the kuanyin and red temple. you can travel further up north to golden triangle, doi tung, mae salong. i spent 5 days there but had to skip a few places due to kena covid on the 2nd day. end of this year will be spending 15 days in chiang mai doing the mae salong loop, will tour chiang rai, phayao and lampang next time.
depending on your purpose (temple, nature-watch, etc.), there are actually quite a few places to visit in chiang rai.

Any recommendations for nature watch at Chiang rai? Not into too religion sites as I will be with kids…

 

[Belial]

Any recommendations for nature watch at Chiang rai? Not into too religion sites as I will be with kids…

there are singha park, karen long neck village, golden triangle, mae sai (northern most part of thailand), doi tung, tham luang cave (famous cave rescue), mae salong tea plantations, chiang rai river beach, mae fah luang park, oub kham museum, waterfalls, free hot spring parks. all these should take around 4-5 days excluding temple runs. there are others places where only locals will go and still not over-run by tourists but really need to research. and if you are coming back down to chiang mai, you can make a detour to hinoki land, chiang dao, sticky waterfalls.

 

[jingluck]

Hi, on your way to chiangrai, got pass by this Rock & River Restaurant about 50km from Chiangmai city to take a break for drinks..then to the White Temple( Entrance fee n dress code apply ).Have your Lunch at Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House.
After Lunch just a short drive to the blue and another 38km drive to Choui Fong Tea Plantation.Use google maps
to check the distance of your destination.Maybe can try going to Ahka Farmville the next day, great place for family and kids.