Lanna Spa at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai

Advantages: Warm/hot
Disadvantages: Cool at nights/VERY wet in monsoon season

...Chiang Mai is Spain without the beach. Although a favourite destination for middle class Thais escaping Bangkok for the weekend and "Farangs" from the UK and elsewhere, I think if you go this far east you'd be better off in Phuket or Koh Samui beside the sea. OK it has the ancient walled centre, hill temples, the Karen and other exotic hill tribes and the "glamour" of the Golden Triangle just to the north at Chiang Rai but - once you've seen the Night Market and eaten in Macdonalds- there's little else left to do except laze beside the pool. Thailand's great if you like heat (but it can get cold at times in Chiang Mai, take a sweater) and incredible thunderstorms in the rainy season but do yourself a favour and stick to Bangkok or the beach resorts. After all it's a jungle out there [or should that be tropical rainforest?] assuming... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Very cool, nature-loving city; Night Bazaar
Disadvantages: limpet-like tribeswomen

...more overpriced...for instance, I was offered woven silk prints for 100 baht each and ended up getting them for four for 100. Be careful of the tribeswomen walking around; if you show even the barest interest, they will follow you around. They take 'relentless' to a new level. There are many guesthouses in Chiang Mai that offer accomodation for 100 baht or so a night, and they all offer trekking opportunities. I hear the treks from Chiang Mai are okay but very easy and tourist-y. I went from Mae Hong Son myself, which makes for a very different type of trek. This is a city not to be missed, and with the airport and the numerous, affordable flights (4 flights a day from Bangkok at less than 30 quid each way), it's easy for a backpacker to get there.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good food, nice nature
Disadvantages: -

...I am the one who like Chiang Mai, there are good food, good atmosphere, good sceneries, and good nature. I paid more for the accomodation to stay in the resort, out of the city in order to get close to the nature, I didn't feel sorry at all. I had rent the bikecycle to go around the city and outside the city because it was so convenient. I certainly visited Pra-That-Doi-Suthep temple which is located on the top of the mountain. It was not easy for me to reach the temple, there were hundreds of steps that I had to climb up, anyway who don't want to experience these steps, there are also cable cars provided. Eventually, I reached the temple, I did not feel disappointed with my attempt. I looked down from the temple to the Chiang Mai landscape. For the night life, there are bars and shops to spend some money. A famous one is Night... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful