Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This lunar holiday (usually October or November) is celebrated along Mae Ping with
small lotus-shaped boats honouring the spirit of the river. Northern Thais call it Yi Peng,
which is traditionally celebrated by launching illuminated lanterns into the night sky.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
HOW TO SURVIVE SONGKRAN
This is my favourite holiday. First, if you don't like being wet all day, stay out of Thailand for Songkran. But it is
a loving and fun holiday; be sure to keep your phone and wallet in a waterproof bag, wear colourful flowered
clothing, buy a huge water gun and then prepare to blast and get blasted with water from around 10am to dark.
Songkran goes on for about five days straight and if you like to drink all day this is your chance to do it style. The
action takes place around the moat and along Th Huay Kaew, near Kad Suan Kaew shopping centre. Soho Bar
(
Click here
)
is right smack in the middle of it all and is one huge gay party.
Shauna Pugh is co-owner of Soho Bar & Guesthouse.
Sleeping
With the influx of Chinese tourists, Chiang Mai's hotel scene is changing rapidly. New
hotels and guesthouses have sprung up all over the city and are often full, even during the
traditional low season. Be prepared to do some hunting if you arrive without a hotel book-
ing, and make reservations in advance if visiting during Chinese New Year, Songkran and
other international holiday periods.
Accommodation prices in the city have also increased, with 1000B or less being the
new budget category. Dorms and hostels have sprung up to fill in the disappearing back-
packer cheapies, though communal sleeping doesn't offer great value when single rooms
can still be found for only 50B to 100B more than dorms; some travellers do prefer the so-
cial aspect of hostels over the privacy of single occupancy. Be aware that sometimes ho-
tels will call themselves 'hostels'. For long-term visitors there are a handful of places that
offer weekly and monthly discounts or a flat monthly rate with additional electricity and
water usage fees. Free wi-fi is standard in Chiang Mai accommodation.
Many budget guesthouses subsidise their room rates through commissions from book-
ing treks and tours. Most expect that their guests will take a trek, and will give them prior-
ity if vacancies are limited. Staff usually inform nontrekkers that the room is available for
a limited period.
The top-end range is dominated mainly by huge corporate-style hotels. The more inter-
esting ones are the intimate boutique hotels that tend to marry antique Lanna elements
