Recommendations for Chiang Mai

[Lobster]

It looks like I will have a free afternoon in Chiang Mai next week. I have never been there before and was wondering if anyone here had any recommendations of what to see, where to eat etc.

[Kyo]

A local friend of mine's in Chiang Mai currently for what looks like a week-long sponsored vacation. You can check out her current series at sparklette.net (just type that in)

[inkoherent]

Not sure if it's your thing, but I'd go check out some of the temples. The grandest one, Doi Suthep, is some way out of town (atop a hill abt 30 mins? by car) but worth it if you have the time, otherwise there are a few in town that are quite pretty and serene as well.

Foodwise, I like this place called W by Wanlamun, although it's slipped quite a bit on Tripadvisor rankings in the past year or so, for what that's worth.

Oh, and don't forget a massage!

[sqdazz]

I like to eat on the river at Brasserie on river side. They have live music in the evenings , very pleasant.

[MAN Flyer]

Don't want to alarm you too much fella, and I know you're rather wise at this travelling malarkey, but there have been some unpexplained deaths in Chiang Mai recently some of which has been blamed on food poisoning. Like anything like this in Thailand, the truth is one thing you are unlikely to get. A Hotel called the Downtown Inn seems to be at the centre of it all. Maybe best not to eat there...:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/...-death-mystery

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2011/...a-coincidence/

Claiming a couple who both just happened to have a heart attack at the same time in a hotel where other tourists have recently died was a coincidence is ridiculous, even by Thai standards.....

[sqdazz]

I was in Chiang 2 weeks ago and I survived! Although I didn't stay at that hotel. The poor weather was more of a concern. It was really cold !

[Lobster]

Cheers the advice. Well I have survived my first night. Staying at the Centara Duangtawan Hotel. One of those hotels that looks better on the outside than the inside, the rooms have definitely seen better days. But no reports of any deaths yet.

[sqdazz]

Cheers the advice. Well I have survived my first night. Staying at the Centara Duangtawan Hotel. One of those hotels that looks better on the outside than the inside, the rooms have definitely seen better days. But no reports of any deaths yet.

I stay there all the time, it's showing its age indeed, but the price and location are both excellent! And the breakfast buffet is pretty good.

[Lobster]

And the breakfast buffet is pretty good.

In the end it turned out to be a typical work trip and my half day to explore disappeared.

But yes the breakfast is not bad and I had the buffet lunch there today and the choice was excellent.

[leo]

Ok now it's my turn to do Chiang Mai. Have a 2-nighter coming up this weekend, what's there to do?

[Kyo]

Edit: "Oh whoops - I misread it as 'Chiang Rai' in the title..."

Ah, do report back - I've also booked a two-nighter there in August

So far I've seen the Hall of Opium or something... looks moderately interesting but not putting hopes up. Would be nice to see the Golden Triangle, if a bit dangerous...

[leo]

I'm thinking of hunting elephants and smoking opium... Somehow the internal monologue has turned into a public address...

Anyhow it's going to be a short trip and really going for R&R. So probably end up at the spa (Dhara Dhevi's spa has quite a reputation), and some markets if we're up to it.

Culinary classes sound interesting for me but I'm sure its going to be some touristy stuff.