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Step 1
Research before you go. The cheapest rooms in Chiang Mai cannot be reserved, but you will be more successful in hunting for a room if you're aware of the city layout. Look through guidebooks to get an idea of the general distribution of hostels, and note the cheapest/most highly rated in each. These are likely to be the most crowded, since each traveler will have the same guidebook. Pick a place to start, and write it down so that you'll be able to show your taxi driver.
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Step 2
Be firm with taxi drivers. A horde of taxi drivers will meet each arriving train or bus. They can be aggressive, so be firm when dealing with them. Outside of the train station, there is a board that lists standard fares from the station to various parts of the city: do not pay more than the listed fare. Before you arrive in Chiang Mai, write down your prechosen starting point and do not cave when the driver insists that that particular hostel is full. (Often hostels and hotels pay drivers a commission for bringing travelers to their establishment.) Be firm, and insist on your destination.
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Step 3
Search immediately. Don't waste time once you've reached your starting point. The best hostels in Chiang Mai often fill up by 10 am; the most popular will have waiting lists started by 9 am. If your first hostel informs you that they won't know if there are available rooms until a certain time, don't wait around; look for other rooms immediately, and come back at the designated time if you haven't been successful by then.
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Step 4
Start walking. Chiang Mai is littered with hostels and hotels for all budgets. Armed with a map and a bottle of water (it gets hot early), set out from your starting point. Stop in any hostel that looks inviting and inquire about the price. If you are uncertain, move on. For the easiest access to major attractions and other travelers, stick to the center of town.
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Step 5
Don't hesitate. Once you find a room that fits your budget and needs, book it. Consider what you'd like in your Chiang Mai hostel before booking--such as an open courtyard that invites conversation between travelers, private rooms, fans, etc. Chiang Mai has something for everyone.
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Step 6
Relax. Even at the height of the tourist season, you will find a room in Chiang Mai. If, after multiple hours of walking around in the heat, you are frustrated and still without a cheap room, stop. Choose the cheapest of the rooms you saw, and book it for one night. Then, casually research rooms as you explore the city without your backpack and without a rush. You will be able to book a cheaper hostel for the next day, getting a jump on the other travelers who will be pouring out of trains.
Comments
jonasb1 said
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jonasb1 said
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1984animalfarm said
on 9/11/2009 I lived in Thailand for 17 years. About ten of that in Chiang Mai. good advice for searching out a guest house. (which is what they are called in Northern Thailand.