I have been travelling in Thailand a while now and of all the places I have been this is the winner by far. Thailand is a friendly country but Chiang Mai is in a different league. The people are great and just hanging around the city is a lot of fun.
It is far less busy and polluted than Bangkok and much less commercial than Phuket and the islands.
There is tons to do. I have been trekking, done a cookery course, had loads of massages and spa treatments and the food is terrific. A wide variety of choice and at ridiculous prices.
Brilliant all round so my tip is go to Chiang Mai!
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I'm sorry to disagree with this particular point but Chiang Mai has chronic pollution problems and for several months a year - February to April (when they burn the fields) I believe the air quality in Chiang Mai is much worse then even Bangkok.
For more information on this, please visit the Pollution Control Department website (www.pcd.go.th). Last year the PM-10 reading went over 300 in March. In London it is considered a crisis if it goes over 50. You could hardly see across the street...
It is the reason that myself and my partner will not settle longer term in Chiang Mai.
Some more links on the pollutions:
www.mythailanddiary.com/743/air-pollution-in-chiang-mai/
www.bangkokrecorder.com/news/news/chiang-mai-pollution-dangerous-831.html