Definitely include Chiang Mai for more experience of Thai culture. 20 days is not a long time and there is plenty in Thailand to keep you interested. I love Bali, but unless you really have your heart set on visiting there, stay in Thailand. Otherwise, switch gears entirely and spend the 20 days in Bali.
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2762 results for Chiang Mai hostels guesthouses
nathalie2
Hi there,
I will have 9 nights in October in Asia and I am struggling to decide where to go. This will be after spending time in Hong Kong and Thailand (both places I have previously visited, in the case of Thailand, many many times). The main reason for my time in Thailand this time, is that I am looking forward to spend it with friends, and not really because of Thailand.
So I have 9 nights, flying out and into Bangkok (before flying back home to Switzerland). I am considering plenty of things, some of them I have done before:
- fly to Penang (mostly for the food and the multi cultural aspect), spend 4-5 nights there, and then fly to either Chiang Mai or Siem Reap or Luang Prabang and spend 4-5 nights there - I have been to all those places several times and love them all, for different reasons
- fly to Hanoi and spend 9 nights in Northern Vietnam. Probably Mai Chau, the dry Halong Bay and Hanoi. I have also been there twice, but several years ago.
- fly to Chengdu and spend 9 nights in Sichuan. If I go for that option, I would probably "only" do Chengdu, Leshan and Emeishan (I am really not keen on including long journeys in buses or trains). I absolutely love Chengdu.
- Yunnan is another option which I love, but I am afraid that places like Lijiang and Zhongdian are now really really totally overrun by big chinese groups, and thats something I really dont fancy at all
All the above options are places I have already been too and really liked.
I am also considering 2 destinations I haven't been to yet:
- fly into Guangzhou and spend the 10 days there and in the surrounding areas. As mentioned before, I am really not wanting to spend a lot of time on public transport. So is there enough to do and see in and around Guangzhou for 10 days ?
- fly into Xiamen (same question and problem as above)
- fly into Medan (here I know that there is definitely enough to see and do for much longer than 10 days, so I am really unsure if I should rather keep this for another trip, where I have more time)
I totally know that there is no "right or wrong" answer to my post. But if you had 10 days in October, which of the above mentioned destinations would you choose and why ?
I love culture, food, temples, history, people watching, nature, parks, walking around and seeing what turns up, and "everything else interesting".
Thanks in advance for your reply.
6
chaem706451
Hong Han Hotel is super clean and friendly. At the end of Bui Vien ST , close to all, no lift, free breakfast , white sheets, nice towels, and spotless bathroom. I was there 4 days ago . Walked in and got front room for $25 , back rooms are less. Lots of hotels , guesthouse and hostels near by.
2
onyx007
booking.com or Hotels.com, as long as the page shows that the reception is open 24hours, then you're good to go…
But of course you could easy carry on to Interlaken (Ost); it's just another hour and there is a HI Hostel right beside the train station of Interlaken (not sure if the reception is open that late, but you find out with google or mailing them) either you have a longer day 1 or an earlier start on day 2....
20
jiejie
I agree, book in advance either online or by phone, even if just a day or two when you're at the preceding town or city.
I disagree with the observation that registration is not important. More than ever, it is VERY important and consequences can come back to bite one in the butt even if not an immediate problem. However, I think the opportunity to stay unregistered in commercial lodging (hotels, hostels, licensed guesthouses, serviced apartments) is dwindling. From the innkeeper's perspective, if they can't register you, they won't accept you in the first place, as the consequences for them keeping unregistered guests are now more serious as well. Making a conscious decision to Not Register generally only comes up when staying with relatives/friends in private apartments and with services like Airbnb and Tujia where the hosts aren't registered with the authorities for guest stays.
53
davelliot
Couch surfing is a must when backpacking it really allows you to embrace the culture alot more plus you get insider tips on the area and have the opportunity to widen your circle of friends as you meet people you wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to meet.
But it can work the other way in that if someone couch surfs all the time rather than stay in say traveller's guesthouses or hostels then they can be cut off from meeting other travellers and can miss out on information that they might not be get from hosts at a couchsurfing house. Couch surfing could be worthwhile and useful to some but to describe it as a must may be going too far.
I have never heard of gap year travel. What is it?
Its just a vague label to describe someone taking extended break between high school and college or between college or university and the start of a career . Its a British concept I think originally that has spread elsewhere.
seliyakim1
FYI, that area is very small and less time is needed to visit it. I changed my departure day for a tiny fee of $7.00 and later I wanted to change it again but the fee was higher $150.00. The maximum time would be 2 weeks. I stayed in the Cactus hostel in Los Cabos, Casa Esterito in La Paz and Posada San Martin in Laredo. The inter city bus service is good and reliable. The weather was very hot and it did not rain. I did not need my walking shoes, umbrella, sweater which I left stored behind in the hostel. Mexicans are extremely nice, helpful, happy and respectful. I plan to visit another area very soon.
