When I was invited to visit Moletai I didnt know anything about Lithuania and the Moletai area (although my grandparents came from Lithuania).
About an hour and a half drive from Kauans and 50 minutes drive from Vilnius you will reach the town called Moletai.

Moletai is surrounded by Nature, lakes, forests and a very relaxing environment.

It is surrounded by more than 200 lakes and wherever you go nature follows you. also you will find museums, restaurants and a lot of water sports and other activities.

In order to share my feelings of Moletai I decided to start with 20 photos that made me fall in love with this place.

For my Highlights of Moletai press HERE

More of this Beautiful part of the world in my next post.

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Want to feel like you are part of Monets paintings?

A trip to the Foundation Monet in Giverny and you will feel this way for sure.

On our way to Normandie, we stopped at Monet’s gardens and I was stunned by the way it made me feel.

We were invited to a wedding in Normandie and our friend recommended Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny as a nice stop on the way from Paris.

Wow, it was a Must stop! I was so amazed by the power of Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny.

I love flowers and I used to work with my mom in our garden, I have never seen so many kinds of flowers altogether and it blew me away.

How to get to Giverny?

There are several ways to get to Giverny from Paris. we rented a car because we were on the way to Normandie ( the road was easy – WAZE did a great job )

By Train & Bus shuttle

Once you get to the Vernon-Giverny train station there is still 6 km to go and you’ll have to take the bus shuttle. Timetable 

You can also take a guided tour link

when to visit Claude Monet’s Gardens?

Open every day from 22/03/2019 to 01/11/2019
From 9.30 AM to 6.00 PM

Some History of the Foundation Claude Monet

The impressionist museum Giverny

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the museum on time but it seems like something you shouldn’t miss if you are already there.

The town of Giverny was very nice with small restaurants and cafes. to the museum 

I really enjoyed this piece of heaven and truly recommend you to go there when you have the chance.

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What did we manage to do in a day + night @ the Le Marais- Paris…

3 great Concepts Shops 2 very tasty Restaurants 1 Museum you shouldn’t miss & A very good Hotel.

We were invited to a wedding in Normandie and that was a good reason to stop for a day in Paris… last time in Paris with the kids – was not a fun time

I needed to change my feeling towards the city and this was a good opportunity.

Where to stay:  Only for a day? Let’s stay in Le Marais.

I found this hotel Jules & Jim

Located in Le Marais in the third quarter. A very modern hotel with great views of the rooftops of Paris. Each room has everything you need and is soundproof.  The hotel is near the center of Georges Pompidoutime. The staff was super cool and there is a really good vibe in the hotel. just next to the hotel there is a very nice coffee/ lunch place:   Café Ineko

for more recommended hotels in Paris 

Where to Go & What to Do in Le Marais:

Just walking around the street will make you happy, such a cool area with many Coffee places, Interesting shops, Galleries, and Museums.

Concept Shops in Le Marias that you should know:

Fleux – A very nice home concept shop that is actually 4 shops next to each other on the same street.

the spaces are well designed with lots of goodies and I am sure you will not leave there empty handed…

À Rebours –  I found this one when I was looking for Fleux. a small but long shops with a lot of creation.

It’s a design shop focusing on the latest in innovations. worth a visit when you are in the area.

Merci – The definition of concept shop with a coffee place and a space that makes you want to live there.

But, that’s not all! this amazing shop that makes you want to buy everything you can carry and more is a nonprofit shop! all the profits go to educational projects and development in south-west Madagascar.  THIS IS A MUST SHOP IN PARIS.

L’Atelier Lumiere the Museum you want to visit in Paris:

L’Atelier Lumiere – is Paris’s first digital art museum. an experience for all family and something completely different than a regular museum.

Located in east Paris ( we walked from the museum to Merci),  you must buy the tickets in advance on the website of the museum ( remember this )

It’s one of the coolest exhibitions I’ve been too and I really recommend visiting during your Paris stay.

The Great Restaurants you should put on the list:

Dessance –  A set menu with multiple courses. we went for a very long lunch ( it took a while to get the dishes)

A very nice experience and not too expensive.

My Le Marais Map – Paris 

We had only one day. I hope you’ll have more

Attached here is my map of Le Marais – please tell me what you managed to do and send me more recommendations.

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A weekend in Milan is always a good idea especially if all my friends from London are having a party weekend there and Anette is having her 40 B day ( looking for a reason to travel to Milan? )

In this post, I will try to give you some tips about Milan that are not the usual tips you read when you go there ( and some regular tips – always good to have some )

Arrival: we took a flight to Malpensa airport.

From the airport, you can take a taxi ( expensive ) A bus (depends on traffic hours) Or a train – Malpensa express: 13 euros and 45 minutes to the city ( for more info)

Once in the city, you can use the: Underground / Bus/ Taxi or just walk ( the city is not too big)

Where to stay: my tip when you come for a weekend in a city is always to choose a very nice hotel that will make you feel good.

This time I chose the Hotel Maison Borella and this turned out to be the best decision:

Hotel Maison Borella is located in the best night area in Milan on the banks of the Naviglio Grande canal (yes, you have canals in Milan ) its a small boutique hotel, simple but elegant with different types of rooms. The staff was superb and helped me with my special requests and was always very nice while we were staying there. The room had everything we needed, The buffet breakfast was much more than we needed and the hotel feels like you are at home. I recommend this hotel for a great experience while staying in Milan.

Book it now! it’s a great hotel 

For more hotels in Milan 

Where to Go & What to Do in Milan:

There are several areas in Milan, We did a lot of walking in Navigli ( where we stayed )

Tortona ( the design district near Navigli and very upcoming)

Duomo ( the center of Milan where you’ll find all the big shops and the Duomo – A must see)

Brera ( the boutiques and the restaurants)

Wherever you go you will find a lot of street art… and great coffee.

The places you should not miss in Milan:

Como Corso 10 – A well-known shop that became one of Milan’s symbols. Opened in 1991 ( I was there than with my mom cause our Italian friend took us and I remember it as a beautiful place ) In the past it used to be a garage,  you can find in COMO CORSO from fashion to Lifestyle, Design, Art, Restaurants and a small hotel – its an all experience and this shop particular marks the beginning of total shopping.

High-Tech – Next to Como Corso and Eataly Once an ink factory became a must visit for the design lover. But don’t be fooled by the first space, this shop is spread out over 3 floors and you can find everything you want or never thought you wanted from gadgets to gifts, kitchenware, home decor and so on.

Eataly – Started in NY now you can find in every city in Italy. A great concept store for the best food you can find in Italy. When I enter this place I just want to eat everything there. this time we had lunch there and it was very good.

As I mentioned the Duomo is a must visit in Milan- its the central piece and next to it you have other important buildings such as Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala and many more But many might not know about the surprise you will find in La Rinascente.

La Rinascente on the left side when you are facing the Duomo. is a shopping mall, But this one has 2 surprises: -1 floor is full of designed items… and the rooftop on number 7 is full of small restaurants and lots of goodies from Italy But that’s not all… it is facing the Duomo and has the best view of it. Go have some drinks during the day. 

Museums to put on your list in Milan:

Mudec – Museum of cultures. located in the Tortona area was acquired by Milan in the 90s in order to promote culture and creative activity in the city. It’s a very impressive space divided into 3 floors. The museum hosts lost of temporary exhibitions.

Fondazione Prada – An institution that is all about contemporary art & culture. located in  Largo Isarco, south Milan.  founded in 1993

Armani Silos – Fashion art museum – Armani style. Was open In 2015 by  Giorgio Armani in Via Bergognone 40 to mark 40 years of his career. He decided to call the museums also Silos because of the building it was built in, that used to store food. and for Armani clothes are a part of life such as food is essential for life.

Pirelli HangarBicocca –  An institution for producing and promoting contemporary art,  a site for contemporary art exhibitions, located in the Bicocca district outside of Milan. a non-profit foundation since 2004. 

Museo del Novecento – 20th century Italian cultural and artistic heritage. Located near the Duomo, with the idea to promote 20th century Italian cultural and artistic heritage with the final aim of reaching an ever wider audience.

What about some food in Milan:

Langosteria Bistrot – Fine dining. the best and the freshest from the sea. Great place to have lunch – must book in advance.

Angelo’s Bistrot –  Great stop when visiting the Tortona area, full of design details that give a nice touch to the place. Homemade food with a touch. we enjoyed our lunch there.

Temakinho – Brazilain Sushi… when you had enough with pasta .. located in several areas in the city.

Eataly – If you are there you will probably eat something… ( they serve food on the second floor)

Just Cavalli Milan –  More for dancing, drinking and mingling with beautiful people.

My Milan Map

Since we were with a group we didn’t manage to do it all ( you never manage to do it all)  Attached here is my map of Milan – please tell me what you managed to do and send me more recommendations.

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Chiang Mai Thailand was not what I expected. I felt the art vibes everywhere we went. it was full of galleries and great shops & cafes.

Family trip to Chiang Mai – Part 3 – My only conclusion is that you need to spend more time to the city, it’s definitely upcoming and interesting.

FOR PART 2 PRESS HERE 

FOR PART 1 PRESS HERE 

FOR THE BEST OF CHIANG MAI PRESS HERE

Woo Cafe & Art Gallery

When I travel I love to discover unique places that will open my mind. Woo cafe was exactly that. it’s not easy to find a place in Thailand that will make you feel like you are in a great concept store in NY city combined with a tropical jungle feeling.

We went to Woo cafe in the afternoon for coffee and cake ( and some fruit shakes)  already when we entered the place it felt like you are inside a  tropical garden. it was full of tropical plants and colorful flowers ( the ones I wish I had at home) divided into separate areas and different sitting arrangements.

An extension of The coffee area with many rooms for the art items and just beautiful pieces you want to have at home. on the second floor, there is a gallery with painting that changes monthly.

The service was good and friendly ( we were with 4 kids after all ) and the cake and juices were served beautifully and tasty.

I wish I had more time there.

This place is a MUST see for the lifestyle traveler and for people who appreciate great spots of art and food. 

When leaving Woo I realized all the street is full of art galleries and made the family walk for a bit.

Regina Garden

The first place we saw just in front of woo was Regina Garden  – I must admit the cats made me enter but it was like entering a vintage store with interesting things to discover.

have a look once you are there.

Cannonball Gallery & The Meeting Roon Art Cafe

On the same street as the woo cafe, you can also find the meeting room cafe. when we were there it was packed with people having a party. it looked really cool and seemed like a nice place to have a coffee and see some art.

Great place – worth a visit.

Tita Cafe & Gallery 

About 40 minutes from Chiang Mai old city you will find Tita cafe, It’s on the way to the north part of Chiang Mai. An art gallery with selected items and artwork, A nice coffee with delicious cakes and a small shop.

the place combines the tranquility of a coffee house, with a nice loft,  and a casual presentation of art. while outside is nature all around.

If you are in the area or have spare time – go there it’s worth it!

One Nimman

Just 10 -15 minutes taxi ride from the old city and you will find The latest addition to Chiang Mai’s shopping scene. beautifully designed complex with the most luxury brands combine Art, Culture and Contemporary Art Center, an all-in-one complex that is an open concept designed with great taste. There is also a small food court.

But you must visit the area next to one nimman: one side has the Maya mall ( Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center)

I found tons of different markets and cool shops in that area. just take your time and walk around.

Go and see you will love it.`

Think park & Cat Nap

In front of one nimman you will find the Think park ( I love that small park it was stylish with unique restaurants and boutiques and a huge tree above it all) and next to it you will find the Cat Nap – a small street with great vibes that has markets – don’t forget to check the dates here.

In the area on the back of one nimman you can find tons of galleries and cool restaurants like: Rustic and Blue,  Gallery Seascape, Fairytales and more…just walk in Nimmanheamin road.

Unlucky for us we didn’t have time and when we came it was raining too hard to walk around and discover.

Go and see small and sweet.

Fen forest cafe 

In the old city, you can also enter a tropical forest to get away from the sun. we walked a lot to get there and when we entered everyone was so happy, there have fens with trees and it felt cool and inviting. the food was delicious and the pink shake was a big hit! 

Defently a recomanded place. next to it, there is also a luxery spa you should try.

On our way to the fen cafe we entered my secret cafe, unfortunately, it was full but looked very nice too.

Dont miss : My Secret Cafe In Town

Sunday Market & All The Markets

THA PAE WALKING STREET – This is the biggest market in Chiang Mai and it takes place every Sunday. Open around 18:00 until midnight, this is a very big market located inside the old city, starting at the Tha Phae Gate and continuing for around a kilometer along Ratchadamnoen Road. you can find there local crafts, fashion, jewelry, and food. ‘must do’ experiences while in Chiang Mai.

There are many other markets in the city such as the:

Saturday market- located in the south part of the city.

The Warorot Market – opens every day, a food market during the day and a night bazaar at night where you can taste the best flavors of Chiang Mai.

Night bazar palace, Kalare Night Bazaar, The Chiangmai Complex- Student Market and many more:)

As you can see you won’t be able to miss the markets while you are visiting…

The regular things

Don’t worry, we also managed to do all the regular things like:

Ride the tuk-tuk or a big taxi van, Make massage every day, Saw the historic temples in the city

Tried the street food and walked in the old city.

But they were all regular Great things you will do in Thailand no matter where you are… comparing to the places I wrote above that you will probably find them on every post you will read about Chiang Mai and Thailand…

here are some regular photos :

Do regular its a must in Thailand

For Great Experience in Chaing Mai try Withlocals ( you will earn 15 euro from this link) I use this App all the time.

    For part 1 | part 2 | best of

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When people ask me where to eat in Venice – I always say NO WHERE, because it’s true,
even the locals think so. However my recent trip to Venice has changed my mind because I
discovered new places to eat……

After I prepared my list of recommendations from local people that I trust I can share with
you and you read all about my experiences here. 

And now you can enjoy my list too.

I used to walk from the train station to San marco the main square and back… because I
didn’t have google maps back then but is a must in order to not get lost.
This time I had Carla with me and a Google map.

Rialto Bridge

On the way to the Rialto bridge we walked through the Mercato Ittico di Rialto full of fresh fish and vegetables and near the market Carla told us there are many small bars to have tapas and A Spritz typical from Venice, now very trendy in the world.

Caffè Florian

When you are in San Marco there are many ways to take, We sat at Caffè Florian.

This place is truly an historic cafe and entering it feels like going back in time, it was opened since 1720.

Don’t forget to have a coffee and a delicious patisserie and feel the atmosphere as it was 100 years ago.

Near San Marco you can also find Harry’s Bar Cipriani, also very famous with the Venetians.

Osteria Nono Risorto

A very homey place to have your dinner. Food was excellent. They have a garden for the summer time.

Osteria al squero &  Squero di San Trovaso

A very small and crowded place But has the best tapas, yes, tapas in venice for 1 euro each and they are just delicious that you can’t stop eating them. take 5 with a glass of wine and go sit outside in front of the gondola traditional boatyard (squero di San Trovaso). yes, here they fix and build gondolas, such a great view.

On the same street you can also find another great and famous “tapas and wine” place

Cantine del Vino già Schiavi

Ristoteca Oniga

If you love seafood dishes Oniga is the place for you, don’t forget to book in advance it tends to be full.

Pasticceria Tonolo

Coffee is good in most of the places in Italy, in venice we found a very good patiserie with great Bombolone ( my favorite one- a must try if you are in italy). it was the time of the panatone (famous cake for christmas)  and they were making hundreds of them a day.

To the full Venice Guide press here 

until next time 

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I must admit – Venice was not my favorite city… I came to visit many times, with many friends (since I used to live in italy and everyone who came to visit had to see venice …) It was always for a day and we walked from the train station to san marco and back, YES, it was beautiful But it was always full of people… the shops where so touristic And the food was bad.

But this time I took Melly for her birthday and my moms friend gave me her apartment in the middle of venice and came to show us the city on the first day… it was a whole new world. I fell in love with venice as we met for the first time.

The Gondola 

Probably one of the biggest and oldest  symbols of the city. it’s very famous world wide.

Taking a ride with a gondola it’s a dream come true for many people and for venetians it’s basically a taxi

My favorite part of the gondola ( beside taking many photos of them ) was the iron piece in the front of the gondola, it’s just a beautiful part and very important for the stability of the gondola.

Where to walk and what to see in venice

As I said, I used to walk from the train station to San marco the main square and back… it was also because I didnt have a google map ( a must in order to not get lost ) But this time I had Carla with me and a Google map.

Rialto Bridge

On the way to the Rialto bridge we walked through the Mercato Ittico di Rialto full of fresh fish and vegetables and near the market Carla told us there are many small bars to have tapas and A Spritz typical from Venice, now very trendy in the world.

The fondaco dei tedeschi by DFS

Just next to the Rialto Bridge on your left side ( if you are walking from the station) you will find The fondaco dei tedeschi, now a very nice shopping store. What you should know about this place is that it was built in 1228 and used to be the headquarter for the German merchants.

In the 20th century the it became Venice post headquarter building and in 2012 was bought by the Benton group that renovated it to the beautiful designed place it is today.

The most important part – don’t miss out on the view from the rooftop.

Piazza San Marco

We continued to walk to the most important spot in venice – Piazza San Marco, for me it was the biggest memory of venice with all the pigeons flying around and full of tourists. ( just as I remembered )

In the piazza you can find many museums. we went to the correr museum  and got some more historical information about venice.

Caffè Florian

When you are in San Marco there are many roads to take, We wend to sit in Caffè Florian.

This place is truly an historic cafe and entering it feels like going back in time, it was opened in the year 1720.

Don’t forget to have a coffee and a delicious patisserie and feel the atmosphere as it was 100 years ago.

Near San Marco you can also find Harry’s Bar Cipriani, also very famous with the Venetians.

Carla showed us her favorite places ( the ones we managed in a day )

One of them was the Doge’s Palace museum – we went in a day after and were very lucky to find a beautiful diamond exhibition.

Doge’s Palace museum

Accademia Bridge

From San Marco we headed to the Accademia Bridge, a beautiful wooden bridge that has a great view on the grand canal, on the other side you have the Accademia Gallery. The walk was nice and I took some window photos.

Ca’ Rezzonico

Carla’s favorite palace in Venice. it was build in the middle of 17th century, after many owners was eventually  bought by the city of Venice, more history you can find here .
We walked in this beautiful palace – right on the grand canal and saw the fantastic decors.

Just next to the palace you can find Ca’ Macana  a very known carnaval mask shop.

What and where to eat in Venice

My answer to people that asked me where to eat in venice was always – there is no where good to eat in venice. But this time it changed and I have some recommendations.

osteria al squero &  squero di San Trovaso

A very small and crowded place But has the best tapas, yes, tapas in venice for 1 euro each and they are just delicious that you can’t stop eating them. take 5 with a glass of wine and go sit outside in front of the gondola traditional boatyard (squero di San Trovaso). yes, here they fix and build gondolas, such a great view.

On the same street you can also find another great and famous “tapas and wine” place

Cantine del Vino già Schiavi

Ristoteca Oniga

If you love seafood dishes Oniga is the place for you, don’t forget to book in advance it tends to be full.

Pasticceria Tonolo

Coffee is good in most of the places in Italy, in venice we found a very good patiserie with great Bombolone ( my favorite one- a must try if you are in italy). it was the time of the panatone (famous cake for christmas)  and they were making hundreds of them a day.

In my google map you can find all the places I mentioned + more restaurant friends told me about and I didnt get to visit.

Please tell me what you thought about the post and if you have more recommendations.

until next time 

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Chiang Mai Thailand was not what I expected it was a big surprise.

This is part 1 of all the posts about Chiang Mai.

You will find in this post:  the hotels we stayed in, some of the activities we did,  the places we visited and the restaurants you shouldn’t miss In part 2&3

FOR PART 2 PRESS HERE 

FOR PART 3 PRESS HERE

FOR BEST OF CHIANG MAI PRESS HERE

As I started to plan this vacation I understood I have made a mistake and that 6 days would not be enough.

Most of the people I know who visit chiang mai do a lot of extreme sports and enjoy the wild nature.  While planning and organizing our vacation I found art galleries, concept stores, interesting markets, restaurants and much more.

But it was a family trip and kids stuff were a must so I managed to plan an itinerary that maximized our time there and the truth was that we didnt get to see half of the things that I was aiming for. ( a very good reason to come back again)

Family trip to Chiang Mai – Part 1

The Hotels:

Sibsan Resort & Spa Meataeng, Chiangmai

Most of the activities we did where in the Maetaeng area of Chiang mai so I decided to take a resort near this area and found this beautiful resort.

We took 2 rooms ( a family of 6 ) and they gave us a very nice area of 2 rooms with a small pool near the river. it was stunning.

The room had everything we needed and much more. a lot of space, a great bathroom. everything felt perfect.

Taking breakfast by the pool you get a feeling of being in the wild and the food was great.

My recommendation is to stay at least 3 nights here.

Thai Akara

After doing all the attractions in the north part of chiang mai we wanted to go to the center of town.

Thai Akara was perfect for us, rooms where Big and the hotel was small and intimate. actually we needed more time because we did not get to spend too much time in the hotel. we didnt even go into the pool.

rooms where great with everything we needed and more. the breakfast was superb and the staff were very friendly.

What you should do while visiting Chiang Mai 

There are so many things to do in Chiang Mai But when I was planning the vacation I tried to take the best ones. so here are my recommendations of what you should and should not do.

For Great Experience in Chaing Mai try Withlocals ( you will earn 15 euro from this link) I use this App all the time.

ZIP LINE – OMEGA 

If you ask Amit ( my small boy) what did he love the most in Thailand he will tell you the “OMEGA” and he will mean our zipline experience in north chiang mai . We arrived there at noon and took the shorter ride because I felt it will be enough for us. it was exactly what we needed. The place was well organized and we felt safe. we had 3 instructors joining us and we all had a great time ( from age 5 to 49 ).

Put on your to do list.

 Elephant camp

It was very important for me that the children will not ride the elephants and only take care of them and this place was perfect for our short time ( I would recommend staying longer it was very nice there ).

We arrived and got dressed in the blue uniforms so that the elephants will not be afraid from us ( it’s the local villages uniform) we got to understand what the elephants eat and how to feed them, walk with them and bath them ( which was a funny experience)

Definitely a must do.

Traditional bamboo rafting 

Traditional bamboo rafts were how locals traveled and carried goods for trade in the past.

Many tourist go to chiang mai and do regular rafting that can be a lot of fun too but in my group ( 3 girls and a 5 year old boy ) the traditional bamboo rafting is enough.

I must say it looked very touristic and we went in a big crowded place in order to get there But the ride was very calm and relaxing and we all enjoyed it.

Not a must but if you are already in the area and have time – why not:)

Long Necks’ villages attraction

Ok, Its very hard for me to write this part. when I was planning our trip to chiang mai I read many articles about this attraction and it was a big dilemma. should I support this attraction?  in the end I decided to go and see.

When we visited the small village ( near our hotel ) it didnt feel that the vibe there was bad. and I wanted to give them money and shop without arguing. we stayed there a very short time and my dilemmas where and are still remain. if they are in this situation then they need the money and it will help them, but if we will support this it will never stop.

I guess for this attraction its every person to his own. – not a must do.

    FOR CHIANG MAI PART 2

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a good quote, saying, song, book or even a friend can make you want to pack your bag and go on a long ride.

here are some of my favorite quotes, hope they will make you feel the vibes like they make me feel.

“Don’t listen to what they say. Go see.”

“If you think adventures are dangerous, try routine: It’s Lethal.” 

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself”

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

“Fear is only temporary. Regrets last forever”

“I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way”

“It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way.”

“It is better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times”

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”

“Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.”

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Chiang Mai Thailand was not what I expected it was a big surprise. nature at its best, full of art and design. we all had such a great time it became our favorite vacation place of this trip and even 3 months later the kids are talking about it.

Here you will find the hotels we stayed in, the activities we did, the places we visited and the restaurants you shouldn’t miss.

There are 3 posts about Chiang Mai :

FOR PART 1 PRESS HERE 

FOR PART 2 PRESS HERE 

FOR PART 3 PRESS HERE 

I’ve been to Thailand 5 times before but only now I discovered Chiang Mai. when I started organizing our trip to Thailand I understood I made a mistake and took only 6 days in Chiang Mai and the surrounding areas. If you really want to discover Chiang Mai you need at least one week ( I would take 2 weeks)

For Great Experience in Chaing Mai try Withlocals ( you will earn 15 euro from this link) I use this App all the time.

Maybe I am a dreamer But I love to see the beauty in every place I visit and something in Chiang Mai made me fly.

Quick Facts 

When to visit Chiang Mai:

In my opinion, there is no Best time to visit. you may get : Hot, Cool and Rainy

The Hot period is between March to June – it will be hot and dry but you might get good prices

The Cool period is between November to February- there is not too much rain and it might even be chilly.

The Rainy period is between July to October- it might not rain all day But you will have rain.

We visited at the beginning of August.  Here is a fact:) In tropical countries, its considered to be the rainy season between May to October  But after visiting many in the last 20 years I know that in the Mid Rainy season ( between July and August ) its a good time to visit.

How to get to Chiang Mai:

There are 2 best ways to get to Chiang Mai:

1. By a flight from Bangkok ( there are about 50 flights a day) the airport is about 15-20 min to the old city.
2.  With a car from Chiang Rai if you are arriving from there. this will take between 3-4 hours.

In Chiang Mai, you can get from place to place with many options, some traditional like the tuk-tuk and some modern like Uber:

A private car ( you can rent)

Tuk Tuk – the symbol of Thailand – all you need is to jump on, the problem is that usually it will be for 3 people max and if you are a big family you’ll need to split.

Songthaew – the red truck works as a shared taxi picking passengers on the street ( we used this option a lot cause we were 6 and it was the easy way to travel all together )

Taxi / Uber – an easy way to move around the city but more expensive

You can also walk and use motorcycles and bicycles.

To get out of the city or in the city you can book tours on get your guide Chiang Mai

Where to stay in Chiang Mai 

There are a lot of options for accommodation in Chiang Mai, lots of styles for every budget.

It was hard to choose from the large variety the city has to offer.

When I planed the trip I saw that we were spending a lot of time traveling in the car if we were to sleep in Chiang Mai every night, and for this reason, I chose to sleep 2 nights in a different location.

If I had more time I would sleep 1-2 days in every location (north/south) and than spend more nights in Chiang Mai.

The best locations to take a hotel in Chiang Mai city are: The Old City, Night Bazaar and Riverside.

Here is the hotel I took in the north part of Chiang Mai and the hotel I took in the center of the old city. for more info please go to post 1.

Sibsan Resort & Spa Meataeng, Chiangmai

Thai Akara 

For more hotels – have a look here

Attractions in Chiang Mai

There are so many options that you can get lost. best is to find your favorite things and to try and do 1-2  attractions a day so you won’t get too tired or drive too much:)

You may find all the attractions we made in POST 1 & POST 2. For more options press HERE.

One more option is to get a tour with WITH LOCALS. I use this all the time and its great fun (with this link you will get a 15 euro discount)

Where and What to eat:

The north of Thailand has a lot to offer in food flavors and you have a huge variety to choose from: you can eat on the streets, in the markets and small restaurants and in luxury places, most likely you will enjoy them a lot

You can check all the posts I wrote about the food we had ( Post 3 is full with cool coffee spots) but for more information try the web, here are some options :

Try here  and here

I am sure no matter what you do, you will have a very tasty time.

 Now all you need to do is to book a flight and let me know how it was 

                                                 For Part 1    Part 2   Part 3 Press 

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