Cool & Dry in Chiang Mai

(January – February 2010)

 

Avoid visiting Chiang Mai between November and February if you don’t like the tourist crowds, are not too particular about the condition of the weather or tourist destinations, and want to get a good deal on lodging and tour packages.

These 4 months are generally cool and dry which make for a comfortable time to visit the various botanical gardens in full bloom, the ever popular daily and weekend night markets, the temples, the elephant/monkey/snake/tiger parks, and the many waterfalls and farms outside this northern city.

Logically, these 4 months also see the largest number of tourists in and around Chiang Mai, including Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle.

During this high and peak tourist period, you can expect to pay 30% – 50% more on lodging and transportation. However, street vendors are normally very consistent in their attractive pricing throughout the year.

 

For the best lodging and tour deals, go in the months of September and October to also avoid the summer holiday travelers from western countries.

A Room with a River View

(February 2009)

For my 1st trip to Krabi, I wanted a little more than the usual backpacker guesthouse or lodge.

After reading some favorable reviews, I booked a room at the Krabi River Hotel. The thing I liked most from the reviews was some of the rooms had balconies facing the river.

I thought that if I couldn’t stay in a place facing the sea, staying in a place facing the river which flowed into the sea was the next best thing.

I wasn’t disappointed. The view from the balcony was beautiful, especially if you could wake up early to see the sunrise.

The proprietor, Mr. Somchai, confirmed my reservation via email. The room was ready upon my arrival.

The place was more like an inn than a hotel. Except for the fact that there was no elevator, no cable TV, and no wi-fi, the place was clean and comfortable.

Mr. Somchai and his staff were always there to help with directions or with tour bookings.

Krabi River Hotel is about a 5-minute walk from the evening open food area and a 10-minute walk from the center of town.

If you want to save some money, you can go for the rooms without balcony.

Like Staying with a Relative in Thailand

(September 2009)

With a limited budget and a dislike of the often cold and impersonal feel of a hotel, I opted to stay in a guesthouse during my 6 days in Chiang Mai.

After numerous online searches and reviews, I found many guesthouses with air-conditioned rooms, hot showers, cable TV, and within a radius of 1km from Tapae Gate and Night Bazaar.

One of guesthouses among the reviews caught my attention. Vanilla Place was recommended by many with the proprietors, Mr. and Mrs Jaisamran or Kem and Kat, receiving rave reviews, such as:

• Friendly, great, or amazing hosts and staff
• Kem and Kat recommend and help to plan your itinerary upon check-in
• Kem books excursions/cooking classes minus the commissions
• Kem flags down and helps you to negotiate a lower fare for tuk-tuk or taxi
• Kem and Kat always welcome you with a glass of drinking water upon your arrival or your return from a day of excursion
• Kem and Kat helped guests to get a mobile phone left in a taxi, to get medical assistance when injured, to assemble a bicycle, etc.
• and more…

I thought these reviewers must have exaggerated as I rarely came upon guesthouses or even hotels with proprietors and staff as good as they described.

You know what? The positive comments are all true!

Kem and Kat are wonderful people who really care, not just as business owners but more like a close friend or family member.

They care if I had enough information to plan my stay in Chiang Mai

They care if I enjoyed my day when I returned, and always met me with a glass of drinking water and a chat

When Kem found out that I wanted to go to Baan Tawai, which is a arts and craft village 20km from Chiang Mai city, he personally made sure I got to my intended destination as there was no direct public transportation. Kem drove me in his private car to an informal transportation hub next to a market. He provided the details to the songthaew driver and negotiated a good fare for my trip.

Kem even got me the front passenger seat (with A/C) in the truck-based taxi while the other passengers were in the back (without A/C). Before I left in the songthaew, Kem reminded me the amount to pay for the ride so that I wouldn’t pay more than the locals.

I was so thankful as I couldn’t afford a private tuk-tuk/taxi and it was raining that morning.

I really did feel like I was spending a few days with an uncle and an aunt who took very good care of me.

If you are the type of independent person who likes to stay to yourself or dislikes others asking about your activities and whereabouts, you may not enjoy the charms of Vanilla Place.

Granted there are other guesthouses which offer similar or even better amenities. However, most, if not all of them, won’t offer the hospitality of Vanilla Place.

Notes on rooms and amenities

• Standard rooms without windows
• Superior rooms with windows
• Rooms with windows facing the main road get a little traffic noise, especially in the morning with parents dropping kids off at a nearby school
• No lift or elevator
• Extra security with touch-card access after 10pm
• Complimentary wi-fi and a common PC for internet access
• Complimentary breakfast of toasts or croissants with butter/jam and coffee/tea
• Complimentary airport transfers