What does the North have that Kanchanburi Provice doesn't have?

[Smeg]

I've always thought of Kanchanaburi Province as a "mini-north" (although not so mini, its a huge province), in that it seems to have similar mountains, lakes, waterfalls, national parks, forests, twisting mountain roads, hill temples, caves, minority settlements etc as Northern Thailand, and yet is also convient for travel to Bangkok and the sea (unlike the North).

So am I right?

[ChiangMai noon]

I think you are pretty much spot on Smeg.

I prefer being based in Chiangmai, I love the city and don't need to be anywhere near Bangkok.
The golf courses are better here too.

[Smeg]

This Jack Nicklaus designed place (and the other six international standard courses) is worth a look if you are down this way again.


http://www.missionhillsphuket.com/home_kan.htm

[ChiangMai noon]

Thanks, I've only been to Phuket once and that was a one night stop over on the way up to Bangkok, i'm told the golf is outstanding down there though.
Do you play Smeg?

[Smeg]

That place is in Kanchanaburi, but is owned by a Phuket company.

Yes, I play occasionally.

[ChiangMai noon]

So, tell us more about Kanchanaburi province smeg.
Things to do, places to stay.

I don't know a great deal about the place aside from the city itself.

[Smeg]

A whole range of websites do it far better than I could in a thread.

An example http://www.kanchanaburiguide.com/

This thread was really to discuss what the North has than Kan doesn't (thus would benefit from input by an expert on both, which unfortunately isn't me or you CMN)

[ChiangMai noon]

This thread was really to discuss what the North has than Kan doesn't (thus would benefit from input by an expert on both, which unfortunately isn't me or you CMN)

Yes, you are quite right.
But we could compare notes and see what is different.

[Smeg]

Fair enough, but I'm not here to sell Kan, rather to learn of any reasons why the North might make a better travel destination.

If you wish, looks at my OP list, take a look at the Kan website mentioned above, and then throw in anything that the North has that appears to be missing...

By the way, Kan town is quite a bit smaller than CM, and lacks some of the charm (but has all the same tourist facilities). However, it has Bangkok and Hua Hin a day trip away.

[NickA]

I spent a week in Kan last year - a few days at Erawan falls and a couple of days in the town itself.

Very nice I thought - although I would think it's nowhere near as mountainous as up North. Although near to Bangkok, it's still a few hours journey, so probably not as convenient as CM.

I've never been to CM, or anywhere up north, so can't comment on that.

[ChiangMai noon]

My house is a 1 storey affair, yet in the evening when I stand on my porch, i feel really high up, it's a weird sensation and must have something to do with ChiangMai's location in relation to the curvature of the earth.
Quiz nights on Tuesday and Thursday.

[Marmite the Dog]

Does Chiang Mai have policemen who like to murder tourists?

[ChiangMai noon]

Not since that case about 8 years ago that is still unresolved.
The one that was murdered in a guest house.
Police hands were always suspected in that one

[Smeg]

I spent a week in Kan last year - a few days at Erawan falls and a couple of days in the town itself.

Very nice I thought - although I would think it's nowhere near as mountainous as up North. Although near to Bangkok, it's still a few hours journey, so probably not as convenient as CM.

If you get out beyond Erawan, ie head towards Sangkhlaburi, things get very mountainous. There are buses and vans between Kan and Sang.

Bangkok to Kan is two hours.

[NickA]

Bangkok to Kan is two hours.

Ah, but if you're coming from the other side of Bangkok like me it's at least another hour and a lot worse if the traffic is bad!!!

[ChiangMai noon]

Is it possible to rent big bikes in Kanchanaburi?

[aging one]

My wife is from Kanchanaburi and we are often up there on her family farm. Well its her farm now. The only drawback I can see to the province is that it is so damn hot March, April, and May. Damn near kills me to go up there.

[Smeg]

^ I would think that much of the North suffers from that too.

[Smeg]

Is it possible to rent big bikes in Kanchanaburi?

Meaning imports? I'm not sure, as I either take my own or rent a Phantom (250 Baht per day coz I'm a regular).

[ChiangMai noon]

Phantoms rent at 700 a day up here.
That's extremely cheap, what would the price be, if you weren't a regular?

[Smeg]

500 Baht for 24 hours, or 300 Baht for dawn til 9pm.

Kan is very cheap for almost everything (moreso than CM, and much moreso than beach places)

[Smeg]

Actually, 700 Baht is a ridiculous price for a phantom. Its half the cost of hiring a car, and yet phontoms cost 1/6 the cost of a car to buy.

[ChiangMai noon]

I know, that's why I opened a bike rental business rather than a car one.
No phantoms though.

[Smeg]

The only time I've enquired about big bike hire was in Hua Hin, and the guy wanted 1000 Baht for some ten year old (looked more like twenty years old) 600cc pieces of junk. He was dreaming...

[Smeg]

CMN, do you get any grief from competing locals?

The father (Thai) of an ex gf of mine was shot dead on his bike soon after opening a competing motorbike sales and repair shop down in the deep south.