Chiang Mai Unveiled: 22 Insider Tips to Transform Your Thailand Trip!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

CORRECTION: We refer to a visa on arrival at the beginning of this episode, but we should have said "visa exempt" if you are a passport holder of one of the 64 countries that allows tourists to stay for 30 days. --- Here are the important links from this episode including a very detailed article on how to acquire a Thai Visa Extension if you plan to stay longer than 30 days and are already in country when you decide to extend your stay: 📝 findingginamarie.com/articles/thailand-visa-extension-process Thai E-Visa: www.thaievisa.go.th 🚗 Grab Thailand: www.grab.com/th/en/ ☕️ Roast8ry Coffee: www.roast8ry.com 🎥 Ep.85 Thailand Healthcare: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo

[@ex-engineer-th]

Excellent and last updated content. As Thai, I would like to say Welcome to Thailand. :)

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much! Thailand has been very good to us so far; we've got a few more episodes to share from here in the coming weeks. In fact, we got medical healthcare that was very well done. Very grateful to be here for another few days! -Judy Great Thailand Medical care: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo

[@Jruss508]

Good video. Informative. Thanks for posting

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching and for your comment. It means a lot to us. We're excited to share a few more videos from Thailand in the coming weeks, in addition to our other video on medical checkups we got here. I've linked it below if it's interesting to you. -Judy Medical care in Thailand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo

[@owlscoffeecats]

😆 your outtakes were great!! My husband & I were laughing with you both. Love you both said "our stomachs handled the Thai food well." Looking forward to the elephant tour & which one is best for the elephants. So important!!! Maybe there will be a coffee tour too? The art on the coffee looks amazing. What talent! Thank you both for all these very useful tips. 🐘 ☕️ 🇹🇭

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Carolann, thank you so much for watching until the end! We love it when we can share our bloopers as a bonus to watching until the end! I think our elephant video may be next week and our impressions video the following week. Sadly there's no coffee tour. Once we found our favorite coffee shop, we stopped exploring coffee venues. You can read about it here: findingginamarie.com/articles/a-kindness-in-chiang-mai Thank you so much for watching and commenting. You have no idea how much it means to us! -Judy

[@dfox9914]

Love Chaing Mai. Back alleys, Thai massage, amazing Temples, street food, great shops, $2 pants, coffee shops, yoga class, tuktuks and motorbikes!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

EXACTLY! We leave tomorrow to spend three weeks in Hoi An, Vietnam and we're feeling bittersweet about leaving. Thailand has been very good to us, but we are also excited to explore a new city! We have a few more episodes from Thailand to share in addition to the episode we already aired on the healthcare we received here. It was excellent, and we'd recommend medical tourism here to anyone! -Judy Medical care in Thailand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo

[@bw5911]

What a wonderful video. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to go there. The bloopers at the end were hilarious. I always enjoy your videos so much and you both are looking amazing.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

So great to hear from you, BW! Thank you so much for watching and for your sweet comment! We have been extremely happy, so I think that is showing! We have barely scratched the surface of what is here, but Thailand has been very good to us. Here's a sneak peak: findingginamarie.com/articles/a-kindness-in-chiang-mai -Judy

[@Dailyshowmore-dd8xv]

Thank for your shearing ❤

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching. We have a few more videos coming from Thailand, in addition to our medical checkups video, which is linked below. -Judy Medical care in Thailand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo

[@enriquesanchez2001]

Your INSATIABLE hunger for travel is INSPIRING and at the same time - I know that after 40+ countries, it's time for me to revisit some of the ones I really liked. I won't probably visit those wonderful places you've been visiting recently, but at nearly 70, I have to take stock of my reality! BUT that won't stop me from watching all your adventures from afar! Much love to you both! ♥♥♥♥

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Enrique, we are only at 22 unique countries, so we have a long way to go to match up to you! And we (I) am impatient to do so! We aren't trying to hit a certain number, but there is so much of the world we still want to see! It's been very cool. And we'll be back in Europe in mid May with a dip into Morocco and then South America at the end of the year. We are looking forward to every new place! We are thrilled to have you travel with us vicariously! -Judy

[@vickyconover9912]

Thank you and great video!!! We are planning our trip to Thailand Jan/Feb 2025 ❤

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching, Vicky! We had an awesome time here in Thailand and we wish we could stay even longer. We've got a few more videos coming from Chiang Mai, and we hope you enjoy them and that they will be helpful in your travel planning! -Judy

[@claudiahansen4938]

Wonderful, concise and helpful video! Thailand and Bali were the ones “that got away”. On our list since the eighties, but never made it!

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching, Claudia! We won't hit Indonesia this year, unfortunately, but we'd like to see it next year if we can. We stayed in Chiang Mai the entire time we've been here-really learning to embrace slow travel-but we would love to explore more of Thailand in the years to come. It is worth a visit if you can head in this direction. -Judy

[@DGNza]

Great video as always. I will travel to one of your recommendations by the Grace of God.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! We are sending you positive energy that you can experience travel someday soon! -Judy

[@Tatisifetita]

Nice adventure

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Tati! We are excited to share a few more videos from our time in Thailand. It's been fun! -Judy

[@muhammadsaleh290]

Thailand is one of the top tourist destinations. In the contrary of people might think.. it is indeed a family + kids travel recommended. Just be away from trouble at late night. I like this report.. thanks⭐️

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks so much, Muhammad! We've been very happy here in Chiang Mai. We are excited to share more episodes of our experiences here. And you're right; we have seen a lot of families. Some areas are less walkable than others, but there's a robust system of vehicles to get you around if you are navigating with a stroller or small children. -Judy

[@muhammadsaleh290]

@@FindingGinaMarie I agree about the family matter .. I forget to mention…since I can’t hide my interest in 💎, I must say this : Thailand holds some of best gemstones show in the world..

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Why are you mentioning this to us on our last day, Muhammad?! Any excuse for a gem! -Judy

[@muhammadsaleh290]

@@FindingGinaMarie Lol, sorry not to brought this earlier.. you missed the February Fair.! But the good thing you enjoyed the trip.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

I'm sure Kevin is happy to know we missed it! And although it sounds fun, we probably are wiser to put our money towards experiences versus stuff. -Judy (although that sounds like it could have come from Kevin!!!!)

[@elizaC3024]

Oh my gosh you two have been so helpful for our trip planning to Chiang Mai this winter. 😊 Thank you.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We are delighted to hear this, Eliza! Thank you so much for letting us know that our videos are helping you. It gives us so much pleasure. -Judy

[@raymondstockman1688]

Good job thank you. I hope I can use this information.❤

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thank you so much for watching, Raymond and for your kind comment. We have an entire series from Thailand, including an upcoming video this Saturday. If you missed hearing about one of the best elephant parks you can visit that is one of the most humane you can visit, you'll want to check out our link below. Safe travels! -Judy 🎥 Elephants in Thailand!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4S6poibrJqoqLc

[@judylytle1730]

Can you recommend any hotels, serviced apartments or Airbnb for us? We will be there for about a month and we want to make sure we don't choose a place that is not good.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Hi Judy, I can recommend the Airbnb that we stayed in in Chiang Mai, which is linked below. We were there for 37 days and it cost us $44.46 per night. It was in a super convenient, but trendy location (Nimman) near a ton of restaurants. We talk a bit more about locations in this video linked below, but we don't have personal experience with any other accommodations or anyplace outside of Chiang Mai. We met up with some friends from @388 Days when we were in Chiang Mai, and they recommended their Airbnb, but this is what they had to say, "I imagine most people would want to be closer to the walled city. If you don’t mind a bit of a walk and waiting for Grab, it was a very nice and affordable accommodation with an amazing view of the city." 🔗 www.airbnb.com/slink/17OSNfBP Also, in case you missed any of our episodes from Chiang Mai, I'll link our full series at the end. -Judy 🎥 Why Chiang Mai Thailand Is a Traveler's Paradise: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYuohHSvlN-kitE 🔗 www.airbnb.com/rooms/38447625?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=b14ee8ad-3a52-4b6e-ac25-8a98834ad234 🎥 Here's our full Chiang Mai video series: kzbin.info/aero/PLNT98lWfwdF3cqPH8_O_WDVYgoT13KJRq

[@vhoov2218]

Per your medical visits - did you receive any life changing results that needs more immediate attention OR any results that were surprising We are really indecisive about having the tests done during our 5 day visit to Chiang Mai

[@FindingGinaMarie]

I wouldn't say life-changing per se, but we were concerned about a few spots on our skin that after biopsies we learned were not anything we had to worry about. I was surprised to learn that I have a fairly large cyst in my abdomen, but again, it wasn't anything that required additional attention. And lastly, I had some concerns about having such a low pulse (sometimes as low as 39 or low 40s), and with some of the genetic heart issues in my family, it was helpful to know that everything is okay. I was told to mention it anytime I'm prescribed something in case the side effects might lower my pulse (like glaucoma medicine). Depending on how much followup you need, Kevin was done by noon, except for the skin testing. And had we known that wasn't done as part of our exams, he could have arranged an appointment for the same day. Here's a link to our episode, where we detail everything. I had to go back for a CT scan of my abdomen and also had to wear a 24-hour EKG monitor because my initial scan showed a few irregular beats. -Judy Medical care in Thailand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo

[@louistavernia8163]

Well, US Citizens don't need a Visa on Arrival. That's a different line at BKK and if you wait on the wrong line it might take awhile before you are sent to the right line. US citizens are Visa exempt for 30 days upon entry.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

You are correct about this, Louis, and we indicate this in our video. However, if you think there's a good likelihood of staying past 30 days, we highly recommend you get an e-visa or visa on arrival to give you the extra time so you don't have to waste a day of your travels dealing with immigration when you're already in Thailand. It was a hassle. -Judy

[@louistavernia8163]

No guys, you state "Visa on Arrival" specifically. It is a different category than Visa exempt. The information you are giving your viewers is incorrect. And it is not corrected in your video as you suggest. Yes, if you are in danger of overstaying on your Visa exempt status past the 30 days you need to take further action, that's a no brainer. My point is that you should stop fighting the fact you made a mistake in your video and fix it so people don't waste their time on the wrong immigration line. Doesn't that make more sense than your dismissive response to my comment?

[@FindingGinaMarie]

@@louistavernia8163 Hi Louis, I don't think we were dismissive of your comment at all, but we missed the nuance of what you were saying. It's not possible to edit our video once it comes out. We can correct it with a pinned comment to this video, which we'll do. You are correct that we refer to it as a visa on arrival and should have said visa exempt. Bear in mind that the entire topic was meant to be about planning ahead if you want to stay more than 30 days. It's the actual card we put in front of the discussion. We specifically say that if you have a passport for one of 64 countries, all you have to do is show up and you can automatically stay 30 days. We say nothing about needing to fill out paperwork or anything else that would suggest a visa (but we will absolutely admit that calling it a visa on arrival is incorrect). Our point is specifically meant for people who might want to stay longer than 30 days. We are strongly encouraging them to take further action before arrival because it was a huge hassle and waste of time to extend our time once we were in Thailand. -Judy

[@portlandGTR]

Couple quick inputs: the Wai is often misunderstood. Only the subordinate should ever wai first. Never wai a waiter first or they just laugh at you like “what are you doing man?!.” Also: the water is primarily drinkable in major cities like Pattaya, Bangkok, chiang Mai, it just doesn’t taste that great. Old ww2 and Korean War stories that never seemed to update with the times. But you can get a bottle of water at 7/11 for 7THB so yeah, just drink that. Brushing your teeth and such is no big deal with the tap water. Don’t do that in issan as there are many wells they draw from that aren’t as regulated

[@portlandGTR]

Only wai someone you’d say “Khun” to first. Anyone that is your elder that is not in a service position should never be expected to wai first. Wanted to try and be as clear as I could. Thanks for the video

[@FindingGinaMarie]

We were fortunate not to have to lug water. And we have brushed our teeth with tap water without any problem. But it's one of those things that I personally wouldn't want to test to see if you're right. Our stomachs handled Thailand really well. I am not sure if that's due to better food handling or something else, but I'm grateful whatever the reason! -Judy

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for the clarifications. Perhaps you can help us understand why we were saluted when we went into the Maya mall by someone hired to hold the door who was dressed in uniform. We had no idea what to do in that situation! -Judy

[@portlandGTR]

@@FindingGinaMarie this one is new to me too.

[@FindingGinaMarie]

🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ -Judy

[@aseza654]

Ok

[@FindingGinaMarie]

Thanks for watching; we hope our tips were helpful. We have a few more videos coming out from Thailand in addition to our video on the healthcare we received in Thailand, which is linked below if you are interested. -Judy Medical care in Thailand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo

[@TimmyJugkrapong]

ดูจนจบ หวังว่าคุณจะชอบประเทศไทย และประเทศไทยคงไม่ทำให้คุณผิดหวัง ยินดีต้อนรับครับ

[@FindingGinaMarie]

You are right; Thailand did not disappoint us in any way. We had a great time there and would recommend it to anyone! Thank you for watching! We have a few more videos coming out beyond the two others we've already released, which are linked below. -Judy 🎥 Elephants in Thailand!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4S6poibrJqoqLc 🎥 Medical care in Thailand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTo2tomcmKfZo