If you want cheap travel, go by coach or train (that's if you have a day to spare)

Most people travel to Chiang Mai through Bangkok, because although we have an international airport, it only has direct international flights to Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, Lao and China. Try a luxury coach trip if you want a cheap way to get here from Bangkok, and if you have 10 hours to spare. The fare is about 600 baht ( About $15) and the bus stops at every opportunity and at every little village on the way. It's a terrific way to see the countryside en route and some people prefer it because of this, rather than the cost. A train journey is similar and you can get an overnight sleeper if you don't fancy watching the scenery for 12 hours, but my favourite way to get here is by air.

Bear in mind that here we are about 750 km north of the capital and  a flight from either airport at Bangkok takes about 55 minutes. No sooner than you're up, you're down again! Personally I don't mind paying 3,000 baht for a quick trip, although budget flights are also available for half that cost. Another thing - after a long flight from Europe or America, you don't really want a 10 - 12 hour further journey to your destination do you? For my money, if I wanted to see the countryside, I'd rather make the trip after having rested and refreshed myself for a couple of days, either in Chiang Mai or Bangkok, whichever you fancy.

When you get to Chiang Mai, you'll need to get around. In the city the easiest form of transport is the ubiquitous Tuk-Tuk. If you feel adventurous, do a deal with a Tuk-Tuk driver, then hang on! He'll whiz you through the traffic as fast as possible, but always do the deal before you get in. Don't accept his first price. Offer him half and be prepared to go to three quarters. It's all a game and playing it is good fun!

Another low cost form of trnsport in and around the city is by sohng-tao, which is a sort of van with seats. These will stop anywhere to pick up or set down a fare and you can stop them with a wave. Tell the driver where you want to go and he'll either give you a price or refuse the fare if he isn't going in your direction. The different colours of the sohng-tao tell you which areas they serve. The maroon ones work in the city, the yellow go outside the city to Doi Saket in the North and Hang Dong in the South, the white go to San Kampaeng and the green and blue serve Mae Jo and Mae Rim respectively. Anyway, whichever form of transport you choose, we're not all the same, so enjoy yourself. That's what it's all about, isn't it?