Farang Fun in Chiang Mai & Pattaya

[Guest aloid]

Hey guys...

 

White guy here taking a vacation from life in Hong Kong to go visit Chiang Mai and Pattaya for a week by myself. I've been to BKK a few times, but never to these locations, and not sure the best places to go.

 

Staying at Lotus Hotel in CM and Le Cafe Royale in Pattaya...now looking for recommendations of the "must-see" places to go and things to do. Need to relax, let down the hair, and do some serious partying!

 

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated so I don't waste time running around looking for good places to go. Thanks so much, and will post reviews of wherever I end up!

 

Aloid

[Guest colinr]

Hey guys...

 

White guy here taking a vacation from life in Hong Kong to go visit Chiang Mai and Pattaya for a week by myself. I've been to BKK a few times, but never to these locations, and not sure the best places to go.

 

Staying at Lotus Hotel in CM and Le Cafe Royale in Pattaya...now looking for recommendations of the "must-see" places to go and things to do. Need to relax, let down the hair, and do some serious partying!

 

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated so I don't waste time running around looking for good places to go. Thanks so much, and will post reviews of wherever I end up!

 

Aloid

 

The Golden Ball restaurant provides the most up to date guide to what's available in Chiangmai - http://www.bontong.com. The restaurant is quite fun too.

[Guest pete1969]

The four go-go bars in CM are close enough to the Lotus to walk to but are not on one central soi as in other places in LOS. IMO, that is CM's biggest drawback as a gay destination. My favorite bars are Circle and Free Guy. They are the ones closest to Lotus. However, Doi Boy has expanded since I was there and many people love the boys at New My Way.

 

You should try House of Male Sauna and remember that some of the best boys in CM for paid sex are found in the massage shops. If you like regular (non-sex) sauna treatments and can splurge, then go to the sauna at Four Seasons or Dheri Dhevi for a spa treatment and lunch. That will be a highlight.

 

The night market in CM is worth a visit and there are two rows of gay beer bars near there. Some people like these bars very much and some don't. While in the area check out the bar in D2 Hotel for a drink, and the Moxie restaurant in D2 is also very good.

 

The biggest tourist attraction and well worth a visit, is the drive up Doi Suthep and the temple there. I'd skip the Royal Palace beyond the temple unless you just want to add something to the itenerary. I also like the zoo which is on the way down, but if you don't have a car, it requires a bit of walking.

 

The Elephant Camps and the one day treks in Mae Rim Valley are fantastic. Well worth a day if you have time. However, the treks are a full day, so if you are there only three days, I'm not sure I would do it. Just the Elephant Camp can be a half-day trip.

 

Also, wandering around the old city inside the walls and moat is fun. There are many great temples and shops and small sois that can be explored. If you like shopping, there are many trendy shops on Nim Road and a few smaller gay bars out that way as well. There are also trips to the handicraft centers and towns as well that are delightful for shoppers. I would book any tours through Jiab at PJs Place as he is a wonderful Thai guide with a nice car. Check out their tour webpage for more tour ideas as well (the link can be found on the GT website).

 

As for restaurants, if you want to splurge try the Four Seasons or Dheri Dhevi (although both are a bit out of town). There is also The Restaurant at The Chedi for a great bar and riverside dining and Le Crystal for upscale riverside dining as well. All of these are very pricy but worth it for the ambiance and food.

 

The BF and my favorite restaurant is Huan Huay Kaew (open for lunch and diiner) which is at the base of Doi Suthep right past the zoo. It is like eating in a treehouse set by a waterfall. Food and staff are very good and prices reasonable. For another outdoor adventure try Khaomad Khaofang which is the most unusual restaurant anywhere with beautiful nature settings (waterfalls, ponds, giant trees) under giant domes. A bit pricey.

 

Definitely check out Golden Ball which is gay owned and by all reports very friendly and fun. It is near the go-go bars, so a good place to start a night. Also, please report back how you liked it as it has few reviews yet on the boards. The locals love Tha Nam (just south of Mengrai Bridge) on the river. The most popular restaurants with decent food and on the river are The Good View and The Riverside (live bands at night and always packed). One of them does a nightly dinner cruise as well.

 

There is so much to do in CM that it really depends on what you want. For just three days, here's what I'd do:

 

Day 1--arrive, if afternoon, then go to Old City to explore temples (especially Wat Chedi Luang) and shops for a couple of hours, get a sex massage at one of the places in the Old City, back to hotel for disco nap, have a drink at Garden Bar in hotel, go to Golden Ball for dinner, check out four go-go bars nearby, off a boy and back to hotel or to disco.

 

Day 2--sleep in, breakfast, midmorning take trip to Doi Suthep, on the way down the mountain eat at treehouse restaurant I mentioned above, taxi from there to House of Male for swim and fun, hotel, then go to night market area for drinks and dinner at D2 Hotel and then explore night market and the many gay beer bars there (in two rows which makes it easy) and off boy. Back to hotel or to late night fun.

 

Day 3--sleep in or optional morning trip to Elephant Camp, breakfast, spa treatment and late lunch at Four Seasons, explore Old City more or shops on Nimmanhemin Road or even Central Airport Mall, hotel, dinner at a riverside restaurant with favorite boy, check out the gay bars on Nim Rd in early evening and maybe back to favorite go-go bars or beer bars. Pick up a group of boys and go to disco.

 

If I had the money and the stamina to wake up early, I'd add a hot air ballon trip at dawn for a spectacular experience.

 

That would be a nice three days for me--a little culture, a little shopping, a lot of relaxation at the pool and spas, a couple of massages, lots of boys and sex and fun nights, and some great food! There is soooo much to do in CM though that it depends on what you like.

 

I did not mention the Hill Tribes, a trip to Thailand's highest mountain, the Flower Expo and Botanical Gardens, the Night Safari, the many art galleries, the many outdoor activities, Muay Thai boxing, the resevior lake with fun dining on the pantoons, other great outdoor markets, the daytime Ping River cruise, monkey farm, traditional khantoke dinners, Chiang Dao Caves, and much more.

 

Check out the Golden Ball website for current info on the gay scene and the Chiang Mai City Life website for info on activities and restaurants. Also, please let us know how your stay at The Lotus went. It gets mixed reviews of late but they recently did a big remodel. It would be nice to hear how it turned out for you.

 

Have fun!

 

Pete

[dapitt]

Pete, thanks for the very excellent overview of what Chiangmai has on offer. Even though I've visited before and expect eventually to move there, you remind me, and put into focus, what a wonderful spot Chiangmai is.