Chiang Mai, ideal for backpackers
Chiang Mai, the capital of the province of the same name in northern Thailand, attracted more than 200.000 so-called backpack tourists every year before corona. That is about 10% of the total number of tourists that visit the province every year.
This group of tourists, usually with a backpack as their only luggage, is characterized by traveling with a low daily budget. The Tourist Authority Thailand in Chiang Mai estimates the daily expenses of this group at approximately 1.000 Baht per day, while the large group of other "tourists" spend around 3.000 Baht per day.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has backpackers a lot to offer when it comes to guest houses with modest room rates ranging from 80 to 300 Baht per night. There are also countless restaurants and street stalls that sell cheap food. A hamburger is already available for 35 Baht and “pad thai”, perhaps Thailand's most famous dish among foreigners, does not have to cost more than 35 Baht.
A tourist says: “I rent a room for a week, without air conditioning, but with a fan, shared bathroom and no other facilities. In this cheap way I can simply stay longer in Chiang Mai. The city is also advantageous compared to Phuket, Koh Samui or Koh Chang. You often pay a lot of money there and hardly get anything in return. Here in Chiang Mai, the quality of life is a lot better and cheap too.”
Asia
Of course, Chiang Mai is not the only city that attracts many backpackers. The group roams, so to speak, throughout Asia from India to Japan. The “Price of Travel” website. is an absolute must to prepare a budget trip. An index of the cheapest cities for backpackers is compiled annually, with Chiang Mai nestling in fourth place for 2015. In 2014 it was third place. Hanoi (Vietnam) ranks first in the index, followed by Pokhara in Nepal and Hai An in Vietnam. Bangkok occupies 18th place and Phuket 20th place.
Price index for backpackers
It is always questionable how one arrives at such an index, but the website gives an excellent explanation for this. In each city surveyed, the following “package” was put together:
- 1 night in the cheapest 3 star hotel in a central location in the city and which is spoken of positively.
- 2 taxi rides per day.
- Access to a cultural attraction, for example a museum visit.
- 3 meals a day.
- 3 beers (or glasses of wine) per day. Teetotallers take a dessert and/or coffee.
Everyone can adjust their index to their own wishes, of course, which can make it cheaper or more expensive.
Ranking
Hanoi in the north of Vietnam came out as the cheapest for 2015 with a daily price of $30,80. In second place is Pokhara in Nepal (the cheapest last year) with $32.09, third is Hoi An in Vietnam, where the daily price was set at $34,94. Chiang Mai is therefore in a nice fourth place with $36,29. To properly assess this price, the specification is below:
- Hotel Sunshine House 360 Baht (based on double occupancy)
- Taxis 100 Baht
- Meals 355 Baht
- Drinks 270 Baht
- Attraction 100 Baht
The full ranking and much more information for backpackers can be found on the website: www.priceoftravel.com/4138/asia
Chiangmai is indeed very cheap. There is so much cheap accommodation. So that the owners of these backpackers “hotels” are literally competing to death. But that's what a certain kind of backpackers think
that this is so cheap everywhere. In Chiangmai they sleep in rooms in which a dog would not sleep in their own country.
And when they travel further, they think it's really crazy that they have to pay 300 baht per night for a very clean room with private bathroom with hot shower, soap, toilet paper and towels (which they don't get in Chiangmai because they, they steal.} Then they almost demand to get it for 250 baht a night.
And if you don't respond to that, they will walk for miles with their heavy backpack to come back 2 to 3 hours later because it is more expensive everywhere for a lesser room. There are also plenty of "good" backpackers, they will take a room for 300 or 400 baht right away. And luckily, 95% of us are Thai. And they don't complain about the price and just pay it.
Young people see it differently than we older people. I can move very well in it. Ever a backpacker myself. Save money everywhere. On the cheap. In Europe I slept in public gardens, in America under viaducts or just along the road. Now that I am old(er): Air conditioning and comfort in Thailand. Still, it was all a lot more fun when I was young. That time will not come again. One enjoys everything twice when one is young. From women, from everything.
Well,
When I stay in Chiang Mai, it is always at the Dutch Guesthouse, where a 2-person budget (ven) room with private bathroom + towel and soap costs 349 Bhat and a 2-person “de luxe” room, with air conditioning and refrigerator and private bathroom 669 Bhat. For separate beds in an 8 person room (mixed) they ask 100 baht, this room has 2 showers, toilet and sink. They also have 4 and 5 person family rooms.
The Dutch Guesthouse is only a 600 meter walk from the Night bazaar and the entertainment center.
That is considerably cheaper than the Sunshine house and much cozier, because there are always many Dutch people, also pensioners from the area come to drink coffee, they know better than anyone, the most beautiful places in Chiang Mai.
Last year in Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai I paid 8 euros per night in a nice room with cleaning and fresh towels every day, hot shower, fan and 2 bottles of water in Tamarind guesthouse. Room with air conditioning was more expensive. This year the price was saved by the new owner to 10 euros. Breakfast and other food within walking distance everywhere and bicycles can be rented in many places. I have been coming there for more than 10 years and with a beautiful view of the mighty River Kwai or translated as the Buffalo River. You will also see many backpackers there and it is definitely worth exploring the region for 3/4 days. It is best to visit the famous Erwawan waterfalls in the rainy season because in winter there is not enough water flowing and money is wasted. In Pongphen guesthouse a little further away, which is a lot more expensive, you can go swimming for 100 THB and you also get a towel, but the few sun loungers are almost always occupied by the guests of the guesthouse.
“….mighty River Kwai or translated the Buffalo River. ”
Has little to do with “buffalo”. The name “Kwai” only comes from the film.
In Thai they pronounce it as “Khwae” แคว which means tributary. Buffalo is “khway” ควาย .
They are actually 2 rivers. The Khwae Yai (major tributary) and Khwae Noi (minor tributary) meet in Kanchanaburi to form the Mae Klong River, which then eventually flows into the Gulf of Thailand.
I live 20 km upstream not far from the “Khwae Yai” in LatYa
RonnyLatYa, maybe you are right and I was wrong. To miss is human and I assumed it was said by tourists and perhaps that is why I have been wrong for years. Indeed, the Thais pronounce the name as Khwae and not as Khawy, which indeed means buffalo. Sorry for the mistake….
No big deal and you don't have to apologize for it. Can be understood.
As you know, in Kanchanaburi you will also see Kwai everywhere, because this is also the most recognizable for tourists due to the film. 😉