Thailand home base?

With experience touring Bangkok and northern Thailand, I'd opt for Chiang Mai. If you're a beach person, others may offer suggestions.

The best way to get around Thailand is flying - flights are cheap and frequent. Overland travel is slow and trains and buses can be crowded, uncomfortable and unreliable. Fly to Bangkok, the south, even Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), maybe Chiang Rai.

Chiang Mai would be my choice too. In dry season (Dec-Feb) it's much less humid than Bangkok or the south. (just got back last week from Thailand - Chiang Mai was fairly hot but comfortable, Bangkok was soooo humid!!) While Bangkok has lots more sights, it's longer to get to/from the airport. Central Chiang Mai feels like a small town, even though it's the second largest Thai city. You could rent a car for 2-3 night trips up north (Chiang Rai) and for day trips around Chiang Mai (or with local transportation).

We've just returned from spending two weeks in Chiang Mai and it's a perfect place to settle in! We used "Grab" (S.E. Asia version of Uber) to get around when our destination was too far to walk. I found a wonderful yoga studio there and just settled in.

We took a bus trip to Chiang Rai--it's a smaller version of Chiang Mai--I like Chiang Mai a little better. Spent 3 nights in Chiang Rai.

If you go, be sure to get Nancy Chandler's Map for Chiang Mai! It's really helpful.

Thanks Sharon! Helpful! Can you recommend a part of the city that is better than another? We'd like to have access to groceries, transit, etc, but don't want to be in a super busy part of town. Also - would love the name of your yoga studio - definitely something I plan to do as well!

Hi Carol!

This was our third time visiting Chiang Mai--we've probably spent a total of 6 weeks there in three different trips. The neighborhood we stay in is on the "other side of the river" with easy access to the central area via a foot bridge. The hotel we like is the Sakorn Residence Hotel and they have a few apartments as well as hotel rooms. For our recent trip, we paid $50.00 per night which included breakfast. There are good restaurants nearby but it's not far to walk to the the night markets. Others might have different recommendations but we are really happy in this location.

It was about 15 minutes to walk to Freedom Yoga where I took regular classes. They were excellent. Fah Lanna Spa and Massage (near the night market--there is another location that is fancier and more expensive) is where we got several massages at a super reasonable price!

Thai Orchid Cookery School is where we took a fun Thai cooking class.

If you're taking bus trips, be sure to reserve space on the VIP Green Bus. The bus is smaller than the regular bus, the seats are larger, and it wasn't crowded at all the day we traveled to Chaing Rai. It was $9.00 US to travel to Chaing Rai.

We're hoping to make a return visit next year!

Thanks so much - love the idea of a cooking class!! Great info. Thanks again - definitely looking forward to this part of our trip.

We spent 5 weeks on Phuket one summer. It's proximity to Phang Nga, all of the Andaman Sea, its islands, and the far shore, as well as everything to do on the "island" made it a great home base. We did a few overnights here and there and 4 nights in Bangkok but, for us, it was perfect.

If you're going to Chiang Mai, the annual Flower Festival is the first weekend in February. Cooking classes are great fun. Also visit the elephant reserves - not the ones that make the animals perform - and you'll learn about them and get up close and personal with these amazing creatures.

Lots of ex-pats in Chiang Mai. My friends love it there.

I too have stayed at Sakorn Residence. I would go back.