No room at the Inn - Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI :Japanese are among foreign visitors coming to the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek Expo who are troubled by the shortage of hotel accommodation in Chiang Mai, the Japanese consul said yesterday.

Kazuhiro Anzai, Chiang Mai-based Japanese consul, said some Japanese travellers could not find accommodation in the province where many hotels are expected to be packed in the three months of the expo.

Hotel occupancy has shot up as the expo organisers are putting the final touches to the event set to open on Nov 1.

Mr Anzai said the expo will also feature a 1,500-square-metre Japanese garden, a tribute to His Majesty the King.

Attractions include landscape arrangements called Koh Nok Krarien (Crane Island) and Koh Tao (Turtle Island). In Japan, the two animals are believed to help bring longevity.

Bangkok Post

Hmm glad I booked early, I see they are preparing for our arrival,

Flower show to get tight security cover

About 1,400 police, including anti-riot and hostage-release specialists, would provide security at the three-month long Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006.
Those on duty at the 470-rai site would look presentable in uniforms of white T-shirts screened with flowers on the front and the word "Police" on the back.
Nation

[TrongpaiExpat]

I booked early too for a short visit but did not get my first or second choice. Then when I did find a place, they wanted full prepayment.

Not sure if this flower show will live up to it's hype, but I can post my impressions here if anyone is really interested since it does not have anything to do with Thai boys or go go bars.

...or cheeseburgers.

We can compare TrongpaiE. I am not expecting anything like the Chelsea flower show, I am expecting a lot better. The orchards alone should be spectacular.

Orchards? It's a flower show, not an apple pick. Dear.

Scrap the leder-hosen then, I'll just have to make do with the pretty policemen and a harness. You mean it's not the Oktoberfest yet? I am getting the season all mixed up, this happens in the tropics, must be the overwhelming flush of optimism flooding Thailand, under martial law.

I was able to book a room at PJ's just before the "coupe". They might be full up by now though.
I've been planning my trip this time around the "Royal Flora" since about Feb and hardly heard a peep about the event until this month. It was the same with my trip in June that I had centered around the King's celebrations and Barge Procession. I was trying to find info for MONTHS but nothing was announced until about 6 weeks before the event.

Gotta plan ahead boys and girls....
But its tough if you can't find any info!

[TrongpaiExpat]

PJ's was my first choice but full for the dates I wanted. Peter is very quick with a reservation request via e mail. I doubt he's full up for the season.

I wonder if I need to buy an advance ticket?

www.royalfloraexpo.com/ (http://www.royalfloraexpo.com/)

Trongpai, the website now has ticket purchasing info on it. True to Thai form that was NOT on the website the last I looked 2 weeks ago.

At the Door 200B for single entry, 800B for multiple entry.

Half price if you buy online or at other advance ticket vendors.

You can buy online or at Siam Paragon, Central Dept. stores. Krung Thai Bank branches only have single visit tickets.

:flower: :flower: :flower:

[Bob]

I wonder if I need to buy an advance ticket? www.royalfloraexpo.com/ (http://www.royalfloraexpo.com/)

I'm not sure but, given the likely large crowds early, I just ordered tickets online at the website noted above. Tickets cost 100 baht in advance (at least that's what I got and hope I didn't get the wrong ones).

I've talked to some people who have seen part of the grounds and they all tell me that it looks very nice and they also want to visit.

I am staying at the Chiang mai sports club. I highly recommend. The rooms are a bit utilitarian but more than anything you could need. A very exciting location, used by the Army camp nearby as a retreat. The facility is unbeatable, a very good kitchen with stunning local dishes, large park like grounds, horses, sauna tennis swimming, peace tranquility-and privacy etc. They only have 45 rooms or so, so dont just arrive. It might be best to rent a car or a driver for your stay here though, as it's 20min from the city centre. There is a bus. Some rooms are duplex style upstairs downstairs and three people can share, possibly even fourhttp://upload4.postimage.org/1479966/SwimmingPool.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1479966/photo_hosting.html)http://upload4.postimage.org/1479973/JuniorSuite.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1479973/photo_hosting.html)