There is no doubt that one of the best parts about taking a trip, is the planning ahead. I've only lived in the era of internet, and cannot imagine how trip planning took place before then. What do we do without Google, Slow Travel, Trip Adviser and the more destination specific websites? I could not tell you.
As this is our first trip to that part of the world, it took me a little while to find my resources and get a grip on planning. My favorite travel site: Slow Travel has very little hotel reviews and information about Thailand, so I had to search sites I don't necessarily frequent often. However, there were couple trip reports, written by ST members, that were helpful and fun to read.
I am relying on Trip Adviser and Asia Rooms for hotel reviews.
Some helpful sites that I came across are:
Thailand Tourism Board.
Travelers Point
Thailand Discovery
Travel Fish
Thai Focus
Hellfire Pass.
Chiang Mai Chimes
Another website I checked was the CDC for Thailand travel specific health precautions.There are no serious health risks in the areas we are visiting, we might check with the Health Department for Hepatitis A vaccination, but I am not worried about it.
Fellow blogger girasoli is helping with recommendations from her friends, who've been to Thailand. And Maria's brother,who lived in Bangkok for a while, is an invaluable resource.Thanks to all.
I am also checking the Frommer's Thailand and Fodor's Thailand(not liking the later much) guidebooks.
As of right now, we have booked our airline tickets to Bangkok for May 17th, returning May 31st. Due to the seventeen hour time difference, we get to Bangkok on May 18th(next day) afternoon.We have a total of twelve nights, not counting days of arrival or departure. Since we are taking our trip in May, a hot season, we will be spending most of our trip in Northern Thailand. We decided to skip the islands in this trip, as we are already living on the beautiful island of Maui.
Our theme for this trip is: Culture, Adventure and a little Pampering!
This is what our raw itinerary looks like:
May 18th to May 21st:Chiang Mai 4 nights
May 22nd to May 24th: Three day trekking trip in Chaing Rai and the Golden Triangle area,two nights accommodation with hill tribes( Work in progress, do not have a tour booked yet, but have couple leads I am working on).
May 25th to May 27th: A three day(two nights) Mahout training program at the Thai Elephant Conservatory Center in Lampang.
The above destinations are within 120 miles of each other in Northern Thailand.
May 27th until we leave May 31st: Bangkok for 4nights.
We are so excited about this trip, it is our most exotic destination yet, and we will be leaving in two months, woo hoo!
I will be posting more specific information as the plans unfold, and reservations are made.
Comments (15)
Sounds like a great plan! So do you get back on the 30th since you leave on the 31st? I think that happened to me when I flew to Hong Kong from Hawaii many years ago.
My friend that might now about a trekking tour guide returns to Hawaii tomorrow. I will check with her this week.
I can't wait to see your photos and read about your adventures. Sounds like a great itinerary!
Posted by girasoli | March 16, 2009 2:47 AM
Posted on March 16, 2009 02:47
Thanks girasoli, I appreciate all the help.
We actually get back on the 31st at 0500 am since we leave Bangkok mid morning.
I am so excited!
Posted by candi | March 16, 2009 3:31 AM
Posted on March 16, 2009 03:31
This really does sound exciting! You are right, the Internet has completely change trip planning; I think it's made it a lot more fun!
Posted by Annie | March 16, 2009 7:20 AM
Posted on March 16, 2009 07:20
I agree - how did we ever take trips before the digital age? One has to wonder how many travel agents have been put out of work by the internet!
Posted by Jerry | March 16, 2009 5:36 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 17:36
Candi, it really does sound like an exciting trip. Will enjoy following along with you!
Posted by sheri | March 16, 2009 7:03 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 19:03
I can tell you all about trip planning back in the dark ages along with the agony of flying on stand-by. I think it could be an interesting topic for a future blog entry.
I love the theme you picked for your trip! Your itinerary sounds very exciting. I'm going to pay close attention to your plans because I want to return to Thailand in the near future.
Posted by María I. | March 16, 2009 7:25 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 19:25
Candi, this sounds like a wonderful plan. Thailand looks so beautiful. My niece taught scuba diving for several years at Phuket, and I am still kicking myself for not going to visit her there!
Posted by sandrac | March 16, 2009 7:39 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 19:39
Sounds like a great trip, Candi!
Now that we can do research and reservations on the internet, I feel much more in control of things.
Posted by nancyhol | March 16, 2009 8:41 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 20:41
Thanks all for the comments.
Jerry, now you make me feel guilty for putting the travel agents out of business.
Maria, I would like to hear all bout planning trips before the internet. My father said that the trips he planned when we were kids were mostly planned with the help of friends who live in the destination or near it.
Posted by candi | March 16, 2009 8:53 PM
Posted on March 16, 2009 20:53
Candi - have a good trip to Thailand and let me be the first Thai to welcome you to our kingdom (before you arrive!)
I am sure you will enjoy the North, and especially the Elephant Conservatory - one of the few genuinely responsible elephant camps in the country.
Do try a "Khao Soi" in Chiang Mai: chicken noodles in an excellent curry broth, a local speciality..and one of my favourites!
And check out Chatuchak market in Bangkok at the end of your stay, as this coincides with the weekend-only operating hours of the market.
And if you have the time and want to see the truly unexplored Thailand, then head across East from Chiang Mai, taking the road along the Mekong to Nong Khai, and down to plunge in your pool among the rice paddies at Gecko Villa near Udon Thani!
Flights wise, do look up Nok Air and Air Asia for domestic flights: these are cheaper than Thai. Personally, I would avoid the airline One 2 Go (and it's not just because of the name!)
Have an excellent trip!
Posted by Thai Villa | March 17, 2009 3:05 AM
Posted on March 17, 2009 03:05
Thai Villa,
Thank you so much for stopping by and your comment. What a treat to have a Thai person read my plans for a visit to Thailand! I do appreciate all your recommendations.
I have also noticed that Air Asia is much cheaper than Thai Airways. So I think we'll book flights with them.
And the Khao Soi, I am all over it.
Thanks again for your comment.
Posted by candi | March 17, 2009 3:13 AM
Posted on March 17, 2009 03:13
Candi, there was a show about Thailand on the Travel Channel last night. I didn't watch it but wanted to give you a head's up because they usually rerun their shows often.
Posted by Annie | March 17, 2009 8:43 AM
Posted on March 17, 2009 08:43
Annie, thanks I'll check out the schedule.
Posted by candi | March 17, 2009 2:20 PM
Posted on March 17, 2009 14:20
Hi Candi, your trip sounds so wonderful and exotic and I also love your theme for this trip! Looks like you found some awesome travel sites. I also used Asia Rooms when I was planning my Spain trip. Great resource.
I have to agree with you on how the internet changed travel. Everything is literally at our finger tips and the information is plentiful.
I'm looking forward to following along with your trip planning. How very exciting!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | March 17, 2009 7:39 PM
Posted on March 17, 2009 19:39
i like thailand very much i mean alot thailand it so much woderful country i never see before every body smiles and wel come
Posted by wilaiwan | April 25, 2009 6:01 AM
Posted on April 25, 2009 06:01