Continue reading »]]> I’m planning a trip to Chiang mai in late March for a one week vacation.
First question, I’m trying to find cheap flights from the US to Chiang mai but it looks like it’s cheaper to fly to Bangkok and take a domestic airline to fly to Chiang mai. Can someone please recommend a reliable and safe airline that will get me there?
Second question, can anyone recommend a nice and relatively cheap hotel in Chiang mai? I have looked at numerous sites and they all sound the same. Has anyone stayed at a hotel in Chiang mai that they were extremely please with?

Yeah, from the US it might be cheaper to go to Bangkok first.

For Chiang Mai I have used this place several times, the Montri Hotel. It is close to internet shops, restaurants, Seven Eleven type stores, cooking schools, travel agencies for tours. Not too far a walk from the Night Market. Right across the street from the Thapae Gate. Even a flea market at that gate every few days. Various priced rooms all with air and private toilet. Safety box in lobby for valuables and cash.

http://www.hotelthailand.com/chiangmai/montri/

When you fly to Bangkok don’t make the same mistake many tourists do and immediately fly out to somewhere else! Spend a few days in Bangkok at the beginning of your trip and a final night before you leave for home.

Thai Airlines is very reliable for within Thailand flights. Other transportation also available.

Tourists fly in to Suvarnabhumi and find out they have not enough time to make connecting flights. Or their connecting flight even leaves from Don Muang on the other side of the city. Or these tourists want a hotel near the hotel for some ridiculous early morning departure to Chiang Mai or Phuket. Suvarnabhumi is around a half hour by taxi from downtown Bangkok. Spend the night in Bangkok and see the city a little.

Spend a couple nights in Bangkok, relax a bit, see the city. You can even take a few tours through travel agencies. You can also book a flight to Chiang Mai at that time too! You can also take buses or trains to Chiang Mai from Bangkok too!

The overnight train to Chiang Mai is pretty popular. That train departs late from Bangkok and arrives in Chiang Mai early in the morning. Having a sleeper car saves you from paying for another night in Bangkok. Best to book the sleeper early though!

http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#How%20to%20book

For Bangkok get a hotel near the Skytrain so you can use that overhead rail service to get around the city.

*Whoops!
Just noticed the ONE WEEK blurb – that’s hardly worth the flight from the US! Montri is still good info!

Airlines that fly to Chiang Mai, some with connections starting in the US:

http://www.skyscanner.net/flights-to/cnx/airlines-that-fly-to-chiang-mai-airport.html

Good luck and Happy New Year.

How far is Sansai from city central in Chiang Mai, Thailand?