Thai suggestions?

[Turbongr]

Anybody done any riding in Thailand? I'm going over at the end of month and would like to rent a bike and run around some. Any tips, routes, experiences etc would be waaay appreciated dude. Thanks!
:ride

 

[HiggyB]

I've been to Thailand repeatedly over the last nine years or so (spending a total of 7-8 months in country), but sadly I have yet to do any real riding (scooter rentals do not count!). But I have been doing some good research on it as of late and here's what I've found:

1. There are lots of great routes to ride up north, base yourself out of Chiang Mai and ride from there. You can do the Chiang Mai-Pai-Mae Hong Son route, but slip in lots of dirt and trail riding in between for example. There are a gazillion routes to run.

2. If you want the source of information for riding anywhere in the area, then get yourself over to Golden Triangle Rider, it's an awesome website with loads of great folks ready to help. I've already ordered the northern Thailand maps and have drooled over them repeatedly. Great people, great info and most folks offering info know what they're talking about as they live/ride there all the time.


:thumbup :ride


I love Thailand and wanna ride there some day too. When are you going?

 

[Turbongr]

Thanks for the link....so you're happy w/ the Maps I take it (given the drooling and all!)? I'll have to order one when I sort out my plan. I'm going w/ a buddy who doesn't ride and is planning on partying every night and recovering during the day (the "hotel" links he's sent me look like fucking brothels!!). I'm fine w/ that to an extent but also want to get out a bit and see some of the country beyond the bullshit. We're going South first and it doesn't looks like there's much good riding down there but I'm staying for an extra ten days longer than him and am planning on heading up Chiang Mai way....I'd REALLY like to ride over to Angkor Wat but am getting conflicting info on whether or not it's possible to rent a bike in Thailand and ride to another country and back. I think I'll send an email to GTR! Thanks again!!

 

[HiggyB]

Thanks for the link....so you're happy w/ the Maps I take it (given the drooling and all!)? I'll have to order one when I sort out my plan.

They look like they've got great detail but without actually doing the ride it might just be all flights of fancy an totally inaccurate. But seriously, the people on GT-Rider all vouch for those maps so I rate them highly.

I'm going w/ a buddy who doesn't ride and is planning on partying every night and recovering during the day (the "hotel" links he's sent me look like fucking brothels!!).

Welcome to Thailand! :laughing

Seriously though, you can find plenty of places that range from youth hostels to five star hotels as nice as anything here, or those that have "working women" or not, it's all up to you and what you seek and find. I've mostly traveled on the low-budget side of things (only once have I ever spent more than $30/night, most of the time I've been in the $5-$10/night range or so) but I can offer suggestions if you want. Or rather I might dig up a lengthy thread from a year or so ago where I did just that already in detail.

Edit: and it's now lost to the winds as it was in the Kitchen Sink and is lost forever due to its age... Ping me if you want/need recommendations on what to see/do, where to go/stay, etc.

We're going South first and it doesn't looks like there's much good riding down there but I'm staying for an extra ten days longer than him and am planning on heading up Chiang Mai way....I'd REALLY like to ride over to Angkor Wat but am getting conflicting info on whether or not it's possible to rent a bike in Thailand and ride to another country and back. I think I'll send an email to GTR! Thanks again!!

There are quite likely some great rides down south as well (and by that I assume you mean down the peninsula like to Phuket, or over to Koh Samui/Koh Phang Ngan, etc.), but I wouldn't expect quite the same thing as up north. I know that while in Laos I met a guy who was living in Chiang Mai who'd ridden there on an XR600, but he owned it, it wasn't a rental. I'm dubious as to whether rental shops will want you doing that but the GT-Rider peeps will know for sure so go post up there.


Hit me up if you want any Thailand tips, it's been too long since I've been there, damn...

 

[Turbongr]

Damn! You were right about GT-Rider! I kinda skimmed through it while searching for resources but that's THE source. How quickly did you get yr maps? I'm wondering if it's too late for me to order. Thanks again!!

 

[HiggyB]

Damn! You were right about GT-Rider! I kinda skimmed through it while searching for resources but that's THE source. How quickly did you get yr maps? I'm wondering if it's too late for me to order. Thanks again!!

IIRC it took about three weeks total, plus or minus. Order up, if it's getting close and they haven't arrived in time for you to plan I'll give ya mine. :thumbup

 

[coddswaddle]

PS: I hear from my coworkers who have to go there on business: DO NOT take home the girls who are perfectly dressed/makeup-ed/gorgeous.





Apparently the dudes fancy themselves up better than most of the women do, and due to general Thai physiognomy the Adam's apples aren't prominent. Nor is there a discernible difference in hands

 

[HiggyB]

Kathoey (lady boys) are everywhere and the Thais don't apply the negative stigma that we do. But yeah, they can be quite hard to tell from regular women, although when you're out at "those kinds of bars" the comments above are inaccurate, both women and kathoey will try to look as good as they can to get you to take them home.

Find the tourist/traveler areas of town and you won't have to worry about buying anything to take home. Find some hot young Swede, buy her a few beers and make an evening out of that instead. :thumbup

 

[Turbongr]

Codswaddle- Stick to ugly girls....10-4. That's actually one of my arguments for hostels....at least an ugly Aussie tourist girl is actually a GIRL!

HiggyB- PM Sent!

 

[Turbongr]

Hot Swede > Ugly Aussie anyday BTW. That said Ugly Swede < Hot Aussie. Not enough in beer in the world to make Kathoey > Ugly girl of ANY nationality...no direspect intended...just a matter of taste!

 

[Rumbo Sur]

I was there a couple times riding, south and north. But years ago so I have no current info. I was there mid 90's. I met David Unkovich (sp?) I think he still runs a tour/rental company. I sat down with David and he had all kinds of maps and drew out some routes for me. Great guy. At the time he was just beginning his touring business, wasn't renting bikes then at all.

I rented a virtually new MTX125 for $7 US a day. (basically a dual sported CR125) A great bike. I spent two weeks touring the Golden Triangle mostly along the Burmese border all the way to the Burmese border. Great route but I only just scratched the surface of what's there to see. I did about 1200 miles in two weeks, lots of off road/dirt roads. Went to some very remote villages.

The South, for me, was too crowded. I loved Chaing Mai, different world. But even back then, the bars were hopping, but AIDS was rampant.

As suggested, hook up with Euro travelers at Euro guest houses. Tons of Germans used to go there (I rode with some) no idea about now. Best time is November/December. Rainy season is over, bit cooler, most of the mud is dried up. Impossible to ride in Thai mud, IMO.

Bangkok is tough, but the temples and sights are worth seeing. Hire a guide. Bicycle may be the best way to get around? Hard to get anywhere fast. Be cool, have a ball.

The Thai people are so friendly and welcoming ... just wonderful and warm
everywhere you go. Do try to learn a few phrases ... and smile!

Ride safe .... (wait till you see how they handle passing on the highway with bikes!! :nerd.... you won't believe it! :teeth)

 

[mototireguy]

Pop quiz. Spot the ladyboys. It ain't easy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Flytrap_(group)

 

[HiggyB]

I was there a couple times riding, south and north. But years ago so I have no current info. I was there mid 90's. I met David Unkovich (sp?) I think he still runs a tour/rental company. I sat down with David and he had all kinds of maps and drew out some routes for me. Great guy. At the time he was just beginning his touring business, wasn't renting bikes then at all.

Check out the Golden Triangle Riders link I shared above, that's David's baby.

About David Unkovich

The South, for me, was too crowded. I loved Chaing Mai, different world. But even back then, the bars were hopping, but AIDS was rampant.

The south offers a very different experience compared to the north. In the south things can be more crowded depending on where you go, but it's where folks go to hit the beach. Heading north is all jungle and highland, not so many people head to Thailand for that and so things are quite a bit more chill. I can tell you thought that having visited Chiang Mai a few times over the last eight years it's getting busier, thus my suggestion to hit Chiang Mai, rent a bike and head on to Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Pai, etc. In any case it's all going to be very relaxing with lots of riding to be had.

As suggested, hook up with Euro travelers at Euro guest houses. Tons of Germans used to go there (I rode with some) no idea about now. Best time is November/December. Rainy season is over, bit cooler, most of the mud is dried up. Impossible to ride in Thai mud, IMO.

+1 on November and December, also January, although in the end of December and into January you start to hit the high tourist season, whether that's an issue for the OP or not (shouldn't be, makes it easier to hook up with a cute Euro girl ).

Bangkok is tough, but the temples and sights are worth seeing. Hire a guide. Bicycle may be the best way to get around? Hard to get anywhere fast. Be cool, have a ball.

I personally love Bangkok, but I'm into loud dirty crowded cities so there you go. Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Royal Palace and of course Lumphini or Ratchadamnoen Stadiums for some Muay Thai are all must see locations and easily visited in a few days (gotta see the kickboxing on Friday/Saturday night to watch the best matches).

I haven't tried it myself but Bangkok actually now has a subway system, and I've always found the skytrain extremely fast and easy to use (although limited in overall reach). Aside from that, quite seriously, take a taxi and enjoy the air conditioning. For fun at least once take a tuk tuk, you'll have to haggle and unless you speak a bit of Thai (pom phut pasa Thai nit noy! - "I speak a little Thai") you'll pay too much, but it's one of those "must do" experiences.

The Thai people are so friendly and welcoming ... just wonderful and warm everywhere you go. Do try to learn a few phrases ... and smile!

+1000000000000

It's called the "Land of Smiles" for a reason. I should meet up with Turbongr and over a few beers teach him some of the basic phrases ("thank you", "hello", "goodbye", "I don't like to eat spicy" or "I do like to eat spicy", etc. - lol).

 

[HiggyB]

Pop quiz. Spot the ladyboys. It ain't easy.

LOL


All of them.