Happenings in Chiang Mai

[Armando]

We love it there and go at least once a year.

I have also visited many times and loved it from the first. The city itself has many attractions as does the country nearby and it's a pleasant change from Bangkok and Pattaya. But over the last 6 - 8 or more years almost all the gay places have just died. Before it went belly up itself, the gay in chiangmai website listed well over 50 closures. We actually liked the fact that there were plenty of gay bars and massage spas dotted around rather than in just one place. We don't particularly want to see the scenery yet again and find the few bars that remain a shadow of their former selves. So for us it's been there done that.

[christianpfc]

We actually liked the fact that there were plenty of gay bars and massage spas dotted around rather than in just one place.

That leads to my pet peeve with Chiang Mai: getting around.

Getting around on foot is awful. I have done it the first trips to Chiang Mai and vividly remember having to wait 5-10 minutes to cross the road around the moat. Traffic as bad as in Bangkok, but no pedestrian overpasses.

Next trips with a friend's car the problem of finding somewhere to park.

Public transport is the most expensive and the worst organized of all Thailand. Elsewhere you can hop an a bus or songtheo and get to your destination along the route for 10 Baht, here it is 30 and you have to ask where they are going.

I didn't even try to get a taxi on previous trips (hailing one on the road). But on a recent trip I used grab or bolt, and can get taxi for prices like in Bangkok!

[maump]

That leads to my pet peeve with Chiang Mai: getting around.

Getting around on foot is awful. I have done it the first trips to Chiang Mai and vividly remember having to wait 5-10 minutes to cross the road around the moat. Traffic as bad as in Bangkok, but no pedestrian overpasses.

Next trips with a friend's car the problem of finding somewhere to park.

Public transport is the most expensive and the worst organized of all Thailand. Elsewhere you can hop an a bus or songtheo and get to your destination along the route for 10 Baht, here it is 30 and you have to ask where they are going.

Can you rent scooters like Pattaya for transportation..?