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I'm figuring on flying up to Chiang Mai the first time, but I'll also be shuttling back to and from Bangkok a couple of weeks later and I'll probably then do the train/bus route to and from, with, ahem, various stops along the way. My initial arrival time is late enough that there are no more planes to Chiang Mai and the trains are all gone, so I'm just going to spend a couple of days in Bangkok first, since I've got to stay at least one night anyway.
Chikan, I take it you were in the standard room as a single for that price, right? There are several sites which list those at 690low/720high season, and it's worth keeping in mind that lots of the sites that list that 800 rate are including VAT, which is another 17%, so it works out about the same.
I remember when I was scouting around about a year ago that the Downtown Inn also had monthly rates, but I've not been able to find them any more. Do you know if they still do that? The prices were really very good -- something like 6-8000 baht for a two-bedroom, which would decidedly do me, as I do like that whole area there with the markets beer bars and river, not to mention close to Sayuri. (Very nice internet cafes in walking distance, too.) Just a block or two away from where I stayed last time, also on Loi Kroh.
Since you were right there, did you ever stop in the Bunny Club? I'm curious to know what's that like now, as I'd heard the owner (a German guy) died but it was still going.
And Freeler -- define "too damn cold" if you would. I thought you were from nothern climes :) I found 2nd class air kinda hot and stuffy overall.
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joe_zop,
Yeah, it was a standard room which was good enough for me. I paid 700B all inclusive(with free breaky from 6am-10am)....and I don't know the monthly rate but if you do find out, let me know please - curious to see what it is. Didn't go into BunnyClub but walked by it enough in the daytime....
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Freeler, I hear you -- but the night train I travelled on decidedly wasn't cool in aircon second class at any point in the journey. Guess I'll get another look at it all this trip :)
Chikan -- that was an in-the-door rate? That's very good. What were the standard rooms like in terms of size and so forth? Last time in Chiang Mai I was at the Zenith right near there, low season, and I was paying 1100 all inclusive for a small suite (though that was after negotiating quite a bit and multiple nights.) It's possible I'll stay there again, as I liked it, but I did like the look of the Downtown Inn as well -- a bit more downscale and laid back, from the look of things. It might be that they've gotten popular enough that they don't do the monthly rates anymore -- I've sent off an email enquiring...
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joe_zop,
BUARAWONG Hotel
129/9 Rakaeng Rd, Chang Klan, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50100
Tel: 053-273283 Fax:053-820602
Last time I ask (last month) it is 600Baht for single one bed or 550Baht for single/double two bed:( . Breakfast included. I think they have monthly rent too.
Post here how it turn up.
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Thanks, Mega -- have you actually stayed there? The Buarawong is definitely one of the places I'm going to look at -- their monthly prices go from 4000-6000 baht for monthly air! However, I corresponded with someone who stayed there and he gave a rather mixed review. Same same with the CM Apartments, which are right in the heart of things on Soi 7; same general price range, mixed review depending on who I talk to. The Galore Thong Tower is in that area with the Buarawong, from 6000-11000 baht/mo., with the latter being for a large two-bedroom. I'm strongly considering the P.T. Place, which is over by the university, as that looks really nice -- anywhere from 6000-25000 baht, with the one I'm considering at 11500/mo. Gym, laundry, email access, etc. I don't really know that area at all, but since I'm probably going to rent a scooter anyway the location slightly away from the action shouldn't be an issue, though I'd rather find something within walking distance of things.
Any first-hand info on any of these places (or any other long-term places) would be much appreciated. Basically, I'm up for any place I can manage for under about 12000 baht for the month, which should give a fair amount of options, and I'm not really looking to be in a guest house.
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joe_zop,
I didn't actually stay there ( Buarawong) but I had seen their room. Think just undergo renovation. It is better than Chiang Mai Gate and Traveller's Inn.
http://www.laithai.com/html/rooms.html this one is a bit noisy.
http://www.thai.net/homeplace/ I didn't stay in this one.
You can request to have them bring u see the room before you make any decision that is when you arrived in CM.
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by MEGA
[i]You can request to have them bring u see the room before you make any decision that is when you arrived in CM. [/i][/QUOTE]
Yes, that's why I'm avoiding booking a longer-term place in advance and just staying in a hotel for the first day or two. If it's going to be somewhere I'm going to spend a couple of months I don't want to commit sight-unseen. Right now I'm just doing my research, asking questions of the various places, and settling on a menu of places to check. I've got a friend with a car in CM and once I'm there we'll just run through the places and I'll decide.
Good to hear that the Buarawong has undergone renovation. I do like their location and price :)
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joe_zop,
When are you going back to CM? Just asking because next time I go back (June 03), I'll be going for 1 month or 1.5 months, so I'll need to have long term accomidation set up too. Looking forward to your reports about where-ever you stay/go. The rooms at the Downtown Inn were quite large (for standard), and had a mini bar, touch-tone phone (lai thai uses rotary--ughhh!), and a nice big double bed. I'd like to know if they have a monthly rate....so when you're "on the ground"....find out and post. Thx!
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Chikan -- I'm heading to Thailand the first of November, and expect to arrive in Chiang Mai on about the 5th or so. I'm staying in LOS until mid-January, and while I plan to move around (am also planning on a side to Cambodia at least, maybe others) I'm establishing a base in CM that will be my touchstone, somewhere I can leave stuff like my laptop when I'm moving around, and it's cheaper and easier just to get something for the entire stretch.
Thanks a lot for your posts and help and I'll definitely be posting info and reports as I get them, though don't expect a nonstop boff-a-thon a la Skinless :)
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Hi!
I need some advise and help. I will, after a few nights in Bangkok, take a night bus up to Chiang Mai to do some trekking for 2-3 days. I have never done this before so I do not know how it works. But lets say I arrive in the morning and find myself a room for the following nights and go out for trekking the next day. I would like to go out in the evening the first night and I need some help where to go. I just want to find a nice, calm bar where I can have a beer or two and maybe some food. And I want girls there, but not the hard-core-no-heart-hallo-handsome-man-type. I want to choose myself when I feel like it. I will try to find someone for the night but also someone I can find after I come back from the trekking for a couple of more nights and some guideing of the town in the daytime.
Ok, so where do I go out? Any advice? Perhaps even some advice on good cheap hotels and which company to go out trekking with?
Swedtraveller
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Swedtraveller -- sorry, I missed your message before this, so it's very possible this comes too late; my apologies if that's the case. I arrived in Chiang Mai yesterday and in general you'll have no trouble finding what you like -- the scene here is far more laid back than in Bangkok. Not too much "hello hansum man" and even that which goes on is far less pressuring and hard core. You can find beer bars with food and women along Loi Kroh near the moat, or a bunch of them around the Night Market, among other places. I spent last evening first at one of the Night Market places -- there's a slew just off Soi 1 there, and a bunch of food places all around the market -- where I like talking to the owner, (talked about her first trip outside LOS to the Netherlands, and her upcoming return there) and then later at the Bunny Club, which is further down Loi Kroh toward the river, just past the Downtown Inn. That's where I'm staying right now (out apartment hunting today) and I find the rooms underwhelming, but ok enough. I'm paying 800b per night, and after seeing it I think it should go for a couple hundred less, but it's very popular with the trekking crowd and among those from Europe in particular, it seems. You might be able to find some trekking companions there, but honestly there's tons of folks wandering around right now before they head out, so if you're reasonably friendly and talkative you should have no problem locating someone to go with.
If you want to give me your definition of "cheap hotels" I can probably give more help, but also check out [url]http://www.chiangmai-online.com/accomm.html,[/url] which has a good list.
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Swedtraveller,
Traveller Inn
66, Loikroh Road, Changklan,
Chiang Mai,
Tel: (053) 208484-6
Room rates at Baht500.00 when I was there in Aug. Room are wore out type which I don't think you'll like it.
Beside the reception counter there is a desk for trekking and other activities (which u can ask him). The man at this counter can speak very good english.
Hope this help.
Mega
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When in Chiang Mai, I stay at the Empress Hotel. It is conveniently located next to the Night Bazaar and half of the rooms have a river view. The hotel has everything one needs (including a big swimming pool). The rooms are not fantastic, but they are large, clean and comfortable. It is excellent value for money (there is a discount rate at 28 USD currently on the web). I paid 900 bahts incl. bfst last time, walk-in price.
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joe_zop,
Just wondering if you've checked out the "PT Place ChiangMai" (advertised on "chiangmai on-line"). It looks quite nice on the web-site (don't they all?) Let me know if you can because it looks like I'll be going there for 2-3 (up from the 1 month) from either April - June or May to July???? Thanks and "happy trails"!
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Well, I called there and they were all sold out. It was the one at the top of my list, as their facilities really do look to be exceptional, but I guess everyone else can see that online as well :) Actually, all of the ones that have decent info online were booked up -- was quite a trek for me to actually find an apartment at this time. I figured I wanted to see the place before I rented, so I didn't make a reservation, and that meant being the high season that many were gone. You should have considerably less of a problem in April/May.
Nice part about the Traveller Inn is it's nicely located, but I agree about it's general state.
Did a bit of wandering around so far, and tonight am heading to the Spotlight -- there's a new girl who's long, lanky and energetic. 23-years old and gorgeous. I made to mistake of not barfining her the first time I met her because it was late and I was rather tired (I've been doing a lot of walking here, and I'm not used to that amount) and she was gone the next time I checked in, so I don't think I'm going to miss my chance again. Overall, the scene's pretty much as I remember it -- more laid back than Bangkok, though it seems ever-so-slightly more aggressive than the last time I was here.