Phuket to Chiang Mai

My husband and I will spend a week in Phuket with our 2 year old son and would then like to go to Chiang Mai. Can someone please advise on what is the easiest and shortest way of getting to CM from Phuket. Thanks!

Phuket to Chiang Mai

Fly - http://www.thaiair.com

Phuket to Chiang Mai

I also believe that AirAsia plan to open that route, possibly not until the new year though.

Yep, easiest and shortest way is a ticket with Thai Air or Bangkok Air, but it won%26#39;t come cheap.

I%26#39;m pretty sure that neither fly direct (although there%26#39;s a direct flight once per day in the opposite direction on Thai).

You can also get there with Air Asia and Nok Air, it%26#39;s a little more involved but a lot cheaper.

Check these links out for more info;

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293915-c13997/Thaila…

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293915-c118670/Thail…

*What%26#39;s with all the double posts today and yesterday?

Yep, as Fourb2 posted, no direct flights between the two yet though Thai Airways does offer the C. Mai to Phuket direct route. Going from Phuket still requires a conncetion via BKK.

Do these connections mean a change of plane or simply a stop?

Thanks everyone for your help!

If Air Asia, for sure it%26#39;s a change of planes since you%26#39;ll be required to retrieve your checked in luggage and checkin for your connecting flight.

We%26#39;ll use Thai Air. Does that mean changing planes? Really don%26#39;t like the idea of doing this with my little one. How about trains? Are there fast trains in Thailand?

No, no bullet trains like Europe and Japan.

Frequently the flights are only a little more than the train tickets though that does not factor in transport cost to/from the airport/s.

Some prefer to use the overnight sleeper trains to save on the cost of a hotel room + getting to a destination at the same time but that%26#39;s quite subject to each traveler%26#39;s taste and requirements.

As to other airlines such as Thai Airways or Bangkok Airways, I think it really depends on how they route their flights and it%26#39;s possible that it could still be the same plane but I think you%26#39;ll still need to get off the plane though with these 2 airlines, your luggage is likely to be checked through to Chiang Mai whereas the budget carriers require you to retrieve your luggage.

I don%26#39;t know for sure but perhaps one of the regulars who%26#39;s very knowledgeable on the airline industry will chime in later. He really knows his stuff when it comes to the airline industry.

As I mentioned watch for Airasia depending on when you intend to travel. If the new hub in Phuket starts operating this December there will be direct flights to Chiang Mai.......

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Thai AirAsia intends to open more routes connecting Phuket directly with other Asian cities as it moves aggressively to develop its second hub on the southern resort island.

The no-frills carrier wants to link Phuket with Bali, Surabaya, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Manila through non-stop services as new city-pairs after the first links due to open in mid-November.

Chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld said the airline was upbeat about the growth opportunities Phuket could provide in addition to its main hub at Bangkok%26#39;s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thai AirAsia is preparing to begin daily services on the Phuket-Hong Kong and Phuket-Jakarta routes on Nov 15, followed by flights from Phuket to Chiang Mai, Medan in Indonesia and Ho Chi Minh City in December. %26gt;%26gt;%26gt;

direct flights Phuket - CM will be great... gives an extra half a day to spend enjoying the holiday rather than doing the airport shuffle... :)