Book cheap flights to Chiang Mai

The best time for cheap hotel rates and acceptable weather conditions in Chiang Mai is from March to May. The summer season begins setting in from the end of March and there will still be tourists. Temperatures can rise as high as 40°C between the months of April and May. Make sure to take light clothing and hats, and book accommodation with an establishment that has a pool. If you head out, do it after sunset. For more availability, visit between June and October, which is the rainy season. Temperatures will cool down, however, the humidity will rise. Beware of monsoons, which are a common occurrence in Chiang Mai during this period. It would be best then to bring umbrellas, raincoats and waterproof shoes. The benefit of coming during this period is that you won’t have to share the sites with many other tourists. November to February is the ideal time for moderate weather, although it also means a higher volume of tourists.

South African passport holders will not need a Visa to enter Thailand. A valid passport is necessary, however, with a minimum of six months before expiration.

South African Embassy in Thailand

Address: Floor 12 A, M Thai Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pratumwan, Bangkok, 10330 Phone: 66 659 2900 Fax: 66 250 1064

Visit your doctor to learn what routine vaccinations you need to get before travelling to Thailand. Other diseases that may pose a threat include hepatitis A and hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, and rabies. Beware of malaria and dengue, which are both transmitted via mosquito bites. Make sure to drink only filtered water in Thailand, as any other water is contaminated, and will cause diarrhoea. Take an antibiotic with you in case you fail to properly guard against this disease.

Take care when travelling on the road via car and especially via motorcycle, as accidents have been common in the last few years.

Since 2006, there have been irregular periods of political unrest. Beware of demonstrations and pay attention to the news and social media outlets.

A large concentration of hotels are available throughout Chiang Mai. They range from 2- to 5-star grading, making them ideal for travellers of various financial limitations. Features that are common among these establishments include restaurants, pools, spas bars, sundecks and more. The cost of staying at one of these hotels ranges from ฿ 401 to ฿ 16073.

The two best ways to get around in Chiang Mai are the songthaews (trucks) and the taxis. Songthaews can be hailed from the roadside. You will need to negotiate the cost, but prices usually are ฿ 21 per person for trips in the city, and ฿ 40 – ฿ 65 for trips outside.

The taxis are not available on the road. You will need to call them to hire one. You can get the numbers of the taxi drivers once you exit the airport. The taxis are more expensive, but they are the safest option. One service advertises a rate of ฿ 160 for trips in the city limits and higher outside the city. The Uber service is also available in Chiang Mai, and will cost you around ฿ 53 for any destination between the Nimman area and the old city. Grab Taxi is a similar service that you can use via a mobile app, with the initial fee of ฿ 32.