7-11 is very big there. Chang Mai is where all the Miss Thailand’s come from.
There are half a dozen French restaurants inside the ancient city alone-cheap.
There’s an American expats community online.
The Tha Phae Gate area is pretty ok. Sunday street fairs. Burger King/McDonalds. Taxi service from the airport is simple and quick. Just tell the attendant where you’re staying and they’ll tell the taxi driver where to take you along with the fare.
Tuk tuks(3 wheels) are a good method of transportation. All speak English and rides anywhere within the old town should be around 300 baht. Negotiate the price.
Neiman neighborhood is outside the ancient city but is pretty chic. The Maya Center is very modern-3 stories-nice restaurants. My teeth cleaning was around $24. A custom made blazer was around $100.
There’s a good 4 mile walk all around the ancient city here you don’t have to worry about the traffic. Good exercise. I do it early in the morning before the temperature and the smog picks up. Afternoons are around 90 degrees-unbearable.
I’d bring a couple thousand dollars in $100 bills and lock them up. Use as needed at one of the many money changers.
Check out The Milk Club. It’s their version of Hooters. The waitresses will stand there and talk/keep you entertained.
I heard the burning season is in April. No go.
I think you meant this for ExpatCanuck, so longing him to it.
I never visited Chiang Mai. It sounds good if you want the expat scene, and most North Americans over a certain age do for understandable reasons. Chiang Mai doesn’t sound like my cup of tea, but I’m just different, I guess.
Thai isn’t all that hard to learn to speak (only five tones), but learning to read it is a challenge for most. Except in the real boonies, English is common, so not a big problem for tourists and expats.