Thursday 29 March 2007

Trek & Chiang Dao Nest

This really does make my day when I get these .............

(I always print them and translate them, often in simplified pigeon Thai, to all involved with what we do. It is appreciated all 'round)
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Hi there,


I just wanted to write and let you guys know what a wonderful time we had staying at Chiang Dao Nests and doing a two day trek.


The food and accommodation was so nice especially when exhausted after trekking. The hospitality was awesome and the surroundings amazingly peaceful.


The trek was the absolute highlight of our travels in Thailand. Guides were informative and friendly and we met the lovely locals right in the heart of their own environment. We loved every minute!


Thanks and hopefully we'll come back sometime soon.


Cheers,
Gia & Martin

Sunday 25 March 2007

How long from Bangkoks New Airport to the old airport?

Q. can you help me,

we arrive in bangkoko with china air on 31st march 2006 at 06.40 am

we have just been told that the internal flight with nok air now leaves from dmk, we have booked this for 09.55 hrs

how do we get from one airport to the other, have i allowed enough time, as nok air will allow me to change the flight time once.

can you adivse me of the diatacne, time it will take and what time should i look to amend my flight.

i have emailed nok air, but they have not come back to me.

thanks

A. Thanks for your enquiry.

Unfortunately I think you should go for a later flight.

If there is no traffic it should take around 1 hour between Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang Airports. There will be a lot of traffic at the time you will be crossing Bangkok, and it can take anything up to 3 hours in the worse traffic.

By the time you add in customs and 45 min / 1 hour advance check-in I think that it would definitely be advisable for a flight an hour or so later.

Maybe Nok air will be helpful?

Friday 16 March 2007

Motorbike Rental in Chiang Dao

Q. I am planning on visiting Doi Chiang Dao within the next month or so (possibly as early as next week). My main purpose is for birding and would like to rent a motorcycle to get around the park and other nearby areas for birdwatching. I am wondering if there is anywhere to rent a motorcycle in Chiang Dao and if so how much it would be. I am on a small budget and cannot afford something which is very expensive. If a motorbike is not available, is a car available. As I said I cannot afford something do expensive but am wondering if you know of any for rent and if so how much they would be. I am most interested in motor bike rental (more than a car). Thank you for any information you can offer

A. Opposite the place in Chiang Dao Town where the bus stops (there isn't a bus station in Chiang Dao) there is a cafe called , appropriately enough, the Cafe-Cafe, which has motorbikes for rent for 200 Baht per day.

Thursday 15 March 2007

Nice letter regarding Chiang Dao Nest Tour

14th March 2007

I wanted to immediately let you know how fantastic our day was with your guide, Tony.
My father and I were thoroughly impressed with his knowledge and respect of the hilltribes, willingness to share in Thai customs and overall polite but friendly demeanor. We have already advised other travelers that we met in Bangkok of our fabulous experience with your services.
I truly have to say that it was our best day in Thailand and one of the most remarkable days of my life! I am a frequent traveler of the world but what I learned in one day from Tony was a special thing.
In addition, the visit to the Chiang Dao Nest II for lunch was spectacular as well. The service from the staff was exceptional and the chef was fabulous! We did not have any food as good as the soup that she prepared for us that day for our entire trip in Thailand. In fact, I am going to hold her to her promise to give me a recipe!
After lunch, visiting the Cave brought a lump to my throat. There is no way for me to explain the magnitude of that moment and pictures will never do it justice. I was awestruck.
Please share our comments with your owners, and, of course, with Tony, because I was so impressed and thrilled with your services. I will be returning to Thailand with my entire family within the next 3 years and I will definitely be planning a stay at your facility for several days.
If you would like to use my comments on your website you may feel free. And, if you could do me a favor and let the cook know that I still want the recipe for the Buffalo soup, I would really appreciate it.
Many, many thanks,
Marsi and Warren California, USA

Bangkok Airport Hotel

Q. Hi, do you know if the flights by Air Asia are going out of the New Airport or the Old Airport?

Flight number FD3612 on the 29th March 2007, from Bangkok (TH) to Phenom Penh(CB)

I'm trying to Book a hotel for the night before, near the airport.

Thanks
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A. For now all Air Asia / Thai AirAsia flights are remaining at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the new bangkok airport.
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http://www.chiangdao.com/thailandhotels/bangkokairporthotels.htm

Thai / Air Asia / One-Two-Go - to use Don Muang

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007 - News

Only 3 carriers including Thai Airways International are prepared to move their non-connecting domestic operations to Don Muang Airport, raising questions whether the shift would ease crowding at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The other two airlines that are prepared to move are the budget carriers One-Two-Go and Nok Air, whereas Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways have opted to remain at the new airport.

Their willingness to move point-to-point domestic flights to the old airport is driven by a desire to relieve passengers and staff of the inconveniences and frustration they are enduring at Suvarnabhumi.

On the passenger side, the problems involve long queues for check-in, long waits for baggage and long walks to boarding gates, while airlines have been subject to flight delays due to poor traffic management and congestion.

THAI, One-Two-Go and Nok Air are reportedly prepared to pay the additional costs in setting up separate operations at Don Muang, which was closed on Sept 28 when Suvarnabhumi opened.

However, Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways prefer to stay at Suvarnabhumi due partly to the high costs of operating at two sites. They also do not want to lose connections with their international flights.

Both Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin and One-Two-Go vice-chairman Kajit Habanananda said yesterday that passengers’ convenience overshadowed the incremental costs involved in setting up again at Don Muang.

‘’We are ready to go back to Don Muang on 30 days’ notice,'’ Mr Patee said, adding that all of Nok Air’s current flights were domestic point-to-point.

Mr Kajit said One-Two-Go was prepared to absorb and costs arising from move and would not pass it on to passengers.

THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said that the sooner the national carrier could move its non-connecting flights to Don Muang, the better it would be for its passengers, who are mostly Thais.

Both Mr Apinan and Mr Kajit said their airlines could start their flights out of Don Muang on March 15.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Airways said its operations had been built around Suvarnabhumi and that Don Muang was not in its plans. M.L. Nandhika Varavarn, vice-president for corporate communication, said 90% of Bangkok Airways’ passengers were foreigners who required connections with international flights.

Thai AirAsia chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld said that unless Airports of Thailand Plc allowed it to also shift its international services to Don Muang, it would rather remain at Suvarnabhumi. ‘’We cannot afford to split our operations at two sites. It doesn’t make economic sense.'’

Instead, Mr Tassapon urged AOT to speed up consideration of a plan it had outlined earlier to build a special terminal for budget carriers at Suvarnabhumi.

Aviation analysts estimate anywhere from 15% to 30% of the load at Suvarnabhumi could be reduced by reopening Don Muang for commercial flights.

Mr Apinan said THAI could make a ‘’significant'’ contribution by moving.

The national carrier operates about 300 domestic flights a week. It wants to offer certain flights on three domestic routes frequented by foreign tourists from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi at Suvarnabhumi to facilitate connections.

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Bangkok Airport Hotels

Tuesday 13 March 2007

Suvarnabhumi Airport ( New Bangkok Airport ) to pattaya

Q.I found Bus Number 389 - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Pattaya

What are departure and arrival times from BKK to Pattaya and the times from Pattaya to BKK?

Thank you,


A.Hi

For buses to Pattaya from the new Airport in Bangkok I've found the following details ...

http://www.transport.co.th/tablesuwanapoom2.html

http://www.transport.co.th/bussuwanapoom_3.html

This is unverified. Please don't rely 100% on this information.

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Bangkok Airport Hotels

Friday 2 February 2007

Live PR | Live Pagerank | Check Your PageRank | PageRank Checker

Live PR | Live Pagerank | Check Your PageRank | PageRank Checker

Checks numerous Google datacenters - very useful tool particularly when pages have issues - http://hotels.chiangdao.com seems to be bouncing around on a daily basis.

Sunday 28 January 2007

Elephant Training Centre / Center Chiang Dao - Can just turn up?

Q.
Hello, I live in Chiang mai and last time I went with friends to Chiang Dao elephant centre we were told we had to book the elephant ride/bamboo in advance.

Is this true?

If so how do we book. We dont want to be picked up - I have my own car. We just want about an hour elephant ride followed by the bamboo rafting, no lunch.


A.
Thanks

We, chiangdao.com, act as an agency for the Elephant Training Centre / Center in Chiang Dao.

It is often possible to just turn-up yourself and see a show, ride an elephant and go rafting, but sometimes the rides are booked up. It is also usually a little cheaper going via an agency.Unfortunately we are not able to help if you are not using our transport or guide, but there may be other agencies in Chiang Mai who will be able to assist.

Hope that helps

Banks in Chiang Dao

There are currently two banks in Chiang Dao

Krung Thai Bank - www.ktb.co.th - 2 ATMs + Currency Exchange (+ big queues!)

and the Government Savings Bank - www.gsb.or.th 1 ATM

There is also a Kasikorn ATM outside the 7/11.