Chiang Mai

[Oosik1]

Anyone know of nice quality guest houses in CM?

V

Another nice guesthouse where I have stayed is www.hollandamontri.com

[Animby]

In my personal opinion, I would not recommend visiting Myanmar.

You're not the first to remind me of these facts. My passport is about the size of a Stephen King novel and I'm always on the lookout for a trip to a new place. Maybe I'll just take a day trip.

[Oosik1]

Anyone know of nice quality guest houses in CM?

V

A great place to stay and eat....Queen Victoria Inn, 252/13-14 Praprokklao Rd, T. Sripoom, A. Muang Chiang Mai, Tele:053-418266. Email:Info@queenvictoriainnsthailand.com WWW.queenvictoriainnsthailand.com

It is right next door to the Vista Hotel, and a few paces down from the new Thai Airways ticket office.

I have eaten there many times, and it is one of the best places to eat if you want quality western style food (they also serve Thai, Indian, and Mexican food)...on oval platters about 16 inches long. Great cooks there. Ian, the owner, and a great guy, also owns the Hungry Horse Bar and Restaurant on Loi Kroh......also a good place to eat. You will like Ian.......very personable. Plus, one of my dream girls, Urai, works at the Queen Vic Inn. Free Internet, too. Rooms are quite reasonable, too. It is located on the north center section of the walled old CM. Songteaws and tuktuk are readily available on the street in front of Inn. Don't pay more than 15 baht for a songtaew ride unless you go to the airport or bus terminal, or other places of that distance.
Some songteaw drivers will try to weasel 20 or more baht from you because you are a farang, but if push comes to shove, tell the driver you can call the Tourist Police and let them sort out the differences. They drive off.

[Vinny_Viagra]

Anyone know of nice quality guest houses in CM?

V

[Oosik1]

am very likely to be returning to chiang mai in april. i'm thinking i'd like to make a quick trip or two into myanmar. are any of the border towns of interest? any difficulty in entering (or leaving) myanmar? any mongering to be done? thanks.

in my personal opinion, i would not recommend visiting myanmar. the government is corrupt to the core. the burmese army manufactures and distributes ya ba (methamphetamine). the longest ongoing war in the world is between the burma army and the karen peoples who's villages have been burned, karen people killed, raped, etc. most of this taking place on the thai border, hence, thousands of karen are fleeing into thailand. the border is heavily mined, border villages can be very unsafe with army informants ready to report any infraction or unusual actions. border towns tend to be gathering places for burmese seedy types. i personally would not spend any of my money in burma. perhaps you should consider cambodia or china. you can get a direct flight to kunming, china and it is only about a hour's flight from cm. whatever your decision, chok dee khup and happy hunting.

[Vinny_Viagra]

Does anyone know it the White Orchid is still in existance. Its near the Diamond Riverside hotel one on the opposite side from the river.

[Animby]

Am very likely to be returning to Chiang Mai in April. I'm thinking I'd like to make a quick trip or two into Myanmar. Are any of the border towns of interest? Any difficulty in entering (or leaving) Myanmar? Any mongering to be done? Thanks.

[Hello1]

Since I didn't really see anything great looking at Bubbles, I moved across the street to a Karaoke bar that I had never been to. I've lived in Chiang Mai for a couple of years now, and for the life of me, I still can't figure out this scene. There are some AMAZING looking girls singing and swaying there hips. EVERYONE in the joint is Thai sitting and drinking. Customers send up money necklaces (300 baht to 1, 000+baht! ). In return, the girls come and talk to the customers and the customers buy her lady drinks. I noticed 2 tables of Thai men shelling out lots of baht, and several ladies coming to talk. Then, I noticed the Thai men, pay the bill AND LEAVE. WITHOUT the girls? Why make such a huge investment. To talk? Of course, I understand that if you "make a good impression", she may go home with U. But it just doesn't seem like a "sure thing". When I shell out any amount of baht.- I'm spoiled in thinking that there WILL BE a return on my investment. When I look at these gorgeous chicks wearing almost nothing, I find it hard to believe they are not selling sex. Am I wrong? Am I too spoiled? Are these girls really just performing to get tips and money necklaces and to talk? Is there a method to this madness? Can someone explain? Now, keep in mind, this Karaoke joint shouldn't be confused with other Karaoke joints that you pick a girl of your choice then get a private room.- those are easy scores. But this type of Karaoke joint has a stage with various girls taking turns singing (I. E. Nancy Karaoke bar, New Star Palace, etc.). Any help would be appreciated!

Hi Asian John,

This place is indeed as you describe. The girls will not accompany you and even inside there is no action. It is just elderly Thai men who escape there fore a dinner and drink. Crazy.

[Traveler1234]

Some of us have to travel with a laptop for work (like me) so details like that are still important.

One thing I have done in a couple of places where my hotel did not have working broadband is to take my laptop to a cafe that will let me use a spare hookup for the same rate they charge to their regular users. Then I connect to a VPN and do my business through that.

Lots of hotels on sukhumvit have wireless, especially in lobby. A couple of times, walked in to see if Wifi signal available and then sat down for a few minutes of work, ISG chatter -- often you'll also catch the eye of FL coming down elevator after a 'session' and .........

[Member #2041]

Some of us have to travel with a laptop for work (like me) so details like that are still important.

I certainly understand. Being retired definitely has it's advantages. I was just explaining that I personally wasn't up on the particular detail of whether their wireless internet access actually worked well in the rooms. But be aware, this can be a problem anywhere - I've even heard that it could be an issue on certain floors of the JW Marriott in Bangkok - again, I am not up on the details, as I have confined my e-mail activity to universally accessible internet based services like Yahoo and att.net so that I have no need to travel with a computer.

[Finrod]

With all the internet cafes charging 1 baht per minute or less in Thailand, I never travel there with a laptop anymore. There are at least 3 of them within 50 yards of the Raming Lodge, so I frankly didn't care a bit about in-room broadband access.

Some of us have to travel with a laptop for work (like me) so details like that are still important.

One thing I have done in a couple of places where my hotel did not have working broadband is to take my laptop to a cafe that will let me use a spare hookup for the same rate they charge to their regular users. Then I connect to a VPN and do my business through that.

[NicFrenchy]

i frankly didn't care a bit about in-room broadband access.

i do. if a hotel does not offer hi-speed wireless internet access, i don't even bother.

i find it always very convenient to travel with my laptop... i like to have all my files handy, and i can't stand reading my emails on another interface than my good microsoft outlook.

i also use internet cafes, but i just ask them and they plug their lan line into my laptop quick and easy.

i guess we're all meant to be different

[Member #2041]

I stayed here briefly in September of 2006, but left because I was frustrated with their internet connection in the rooms. the staff seemed unable to address it.

I liked the rooms and I think I paid 900 Baht. I would return when they correct the broadband problem.

With all the internet cafes charging 1 baht per minute or less in Thailand, I never travel there with a laptop anymore. There are at least 3 of them within 50 yards of the Raming Lodge, so I frankly didn't care a bit about in-room broadband access.

[Hari Hara]

[QUOTE=Member #2041]If you can live without a swimming pool, I really like the Raming Lodge, a quite new boutique hotel near the end of Loi Kroh road by the Taphae Gate. While it's about 1 KM further from the Night Market than the DuangTuan and the Imperial Mae Ping, it's right next to a cluster of lady bars that are one of the best sources of talent in Chiang Mai. Their listed rates are slightly higher, but I've generally paid around 1400 Baht/nt, and never had any problem bringing a friend back to my room. The only bad reviews that I could find about this place trashed it because of it's convenient location near the lady bars - while I'd suspect that readers of this forum might not consider this to be a shortcoming.

I stayed here briefly in September of 2006, but left because I was frustrated with their internet connection in the rooms. the staff seemed unable to address it.

I liked the rooms and I think I paid 900 Baht. I would return when they correct the broadband problem.

[Member #2041]

If you can live without a swimming pool, I really like the Raming Lodge, a quite new boutique hotel near the end of Loi Kroh road by the Taphae Gate. While it's about 1 KM further from the Night Market than the DuangTuan and the Imperial Mae Ping, it's right next to a cluster of lady bars that are one of the best sources of talent in Chiang Mai. Their listed rates are slightly higher, but I've generally paid around 1400 Baht/nt, and never had any problem bringing a friend back to my room. The only bad reviews that I could find about this place trashed it because of it's convenient location near the lady bars - while I'd suspect that readers of this forum might not consider this to be a shortcoming.

http://www.raminglodge.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...hiang_Mai.html