The Best and Worst of Chiang Mai + How to Deal

Back in 2018 I lived in Chiang Mai for 6 months and had the pleasure of visiting for a month again in 2023. These are my personal opinions on the city and I look forward to living there full time in the coming years!

Traveling to a new city will always have its challenges.  Even though Chiang Mai ranks high on the scale as a place to live and visit, there are a few situations that may be uncomfortable for a new visitor.

At times you may feel out of your comfort zone, but we have found a way to tackle each issue, so you will feel right at home.

Let me show you how to handle the Best and Worst of Chiang Mai so you can enjoy this vibrant city as much as I do.

Situation # 1:

You Need to Use the Bathroom

The Good: Public toilets are everywhere

The Bad:  You may need to use a squat toilet

Public toilets can be found in and around markets and temples in Chiang Mai. Even if you are not a customer, most restaurants and bars will allow you to use theirs if you ask.

Here are a few Pro Tips about this situation:

1. Be prepared that you may encounter a squat toilet
2. Always carry tissues and baby wipes with you
3. Throw away your used toilet tissue, do not throw it down the drain
4. You may have to remove your shoes (sandals will be provided)

Most of the time there is no toilet paper provided or you will have to buy some from the bathroom attendant. In some cases, they will charge a small fee to enter so always keep some coins available.

If you encounter a squat toilet, don’t panic. We have found in public places the first stall will be a western toilet and the others will be squat toilets, so scope it out first before heading into a stall.  If you have never used one, watch this video HERE.

They may require you to take your shoes off, and switch into a random pair of rubber sandals. We just always say – it’s better to get another person’s sandal wet then our own!

And this brings us to….

Situation # 2:

You See This Sign in The Bathroom Stalls

The Good: We are helping the environment

The Bad:  You may have to do acrobatics to throw the paper away

There are very few sewage treatment plants in Thailand, so you must throw away your used toilet tissues in a garbage bin and not down the drain. This applies to ALL Thailand toilets, not just the ones in public; your home, hotel, and hostel room also.

Most stalls will have a waste basket for the used tissue. However sometimes the lids are tough to open, or the bin is behind you or too far from the toilet.

This is where you need to get creative and use some acrobatics to get the used paper into the can without anything touching you. Pull the can out in front of you before you sit down, or try to use as little paper as possible to reduce the amount of times you need to use the waste bin.

Some stalls will have a hose to use instead of paper, especially at many of the temples. Just try not to press too hard on the handle or you’ll end up taking a shower in the bathroom stall.

For your home, there are some tips to make the process easier. Purchase a small garbage can that you can open with your foot, plenty of antibacterial fragrance garbage bags, and change the bag every other day. Place the can in front of the toilet so you have easy foot access.

For most Westerners, this is a foreign concept, but you will get used to it after a while.

Situation # 3:

You’ve Forgotten to Pack Your Toiletry Bag   

The Good: You can purchase everything you need

The Bad: Most lotions will contain a whitening product

We were told by bloggers and friends to pack extra makeup, tampons, eye solution, bug spray, and lotions. They said that we would not find the same brands in Thailand or they would be of lesser quality. This is simply not true.

Boots, Watson’s, and the Big C sell all the Western brands that you need.  You will pay higher prices for these items.  However, they are not impossible to get, and they are the same brand names with the same ingredients.

You can find these stores in many of the Malls, including Maya Mall which is in the popular digital nomad neighborhood called Nimman.

Bug spray is the one item that almost every person says to bring. They sell OFF Bug spray (with the same amount of DEET as the U.S.) in most 7-11’s and Big C in Chiang Mai.

However, if you have that sweet skin and mosquitoes love you, then you may want to pack Picaridin Insect Repellent. It is DEET-free and easy to pack in a squeeze bottle.

The one negative is the lotion. Stores in Chiang Mai carry plenty of lotion BUT, they may have whitening products in them. Be sure to read all labels, unless you want to lighten your skin.

Situation #4:

You’re Hungry and Possibly Broke

The Good: Thai Food is Cheap

The Bad: It may be greasy and lacks vegetarian options

Food stalls are found on almost every corner and meals average from $0.75-$2.00 USD. Some people shy away from the stalls assuming the food will make you sick, but I have not found that to be the case.

Many Thai dishes contain fatty meats (pork or beef) and they are cooked in a lot of oil. If you are health conscience, you cannot eat meals drowned in oil and fat for every meal. Even the veggie, noodle, and rice dishes still have oil in them.

Check out Veggie in Chiang Mai, a booth in the basement of the Maya Mall for vegan options.

The vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Chiang Mai use little or no oil, and the food is just as tasty. Most dishes do require a little salt to be added, but that is better than feeling greasy after every meal. Two of the places that have both Thai and Vegetarian meals that I enjoy are Imm aim and the Salad Concept.

Situation # 5:

You are Craving Western Food

The Good: Western food is readily available in Chiang Mai

The Bad: It is much more expensive than Thai food

There are many Western restaurants to choose from in Chiang Mai ranging from Mexican, Japanese, Italian, and Chinese.

If you are a budget traveler needing to save money, be prepared to eat Thai food for breakfast lunch, and dinner. Thai meals are $1.00 – $3.00 and western meals are $5.00 – $10.00.

In supermarkets, you will find Western products to purchase, but the prices will be like the prices back in your home country. If you are in Chiang Mai to save money, then eating Thai food for every meal is the way to go.

Situation #6:

You Feel Fat from Eating Out Every Day   

The Good: There is a thriving fitness community

The Bad: Chiang Mai lacks High-Intensity classes

You will find some of the best yoga studios and instructors here in Chiang Mai to stay fit.  There is also a Cross Fit Gym, along with a few locations that teach Salsa and Zumba classes. However, there is a lack of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) Classes.

To overcome this obstacle, you can easily create your own HITT workout and use it at one of the many gyms such as Golds and Go Gym. It is under 100 baht ($3.00 USD) per day to use each gym.

If you join this Facebook group, you can connect with other fitness enthusiasts just like yourself.

Situation # 7:

You Notice that the Air Quality isn’t the best

The High: You never have to wait for transportation

The Low: You are going to inhale a lot of exhaust

Transportation is plentiful, making it the best AND worst in Chiang Mai. You can find songthaews and tuk tucks on every corner ready to take you to your destination. However, since there are no emissions regulations on these vehicles, the air is full of smoke and exhaust.

Even if you rent a scooter to get around, wear a mask to keep the smoke inhalation low.

Wear a mask to cover your face while on one of these modes of transportation. When you stop at a light or are sitting in traffic, the vehicle will fill up with the exhaust, so it’s best to wear a mask. If you rent a motorbike, get a helmet with a face mask.

Final Thoughts

No city is going to be perfect, but Chiang Mai comes pretty darn close. Even with the best and worst of Chiang Mai, you will still love every minute of living or visiting here.

There will always be a solution to every obstacle you encounter when traveling. Never be afraid to ask other travelers or locals how they handle certain situations.

We can guarantee that they have been in a similar situation and will help you with a smile and bolstering that “Mai Pen Rai” attitude.

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