Thailand forum

[q]We been told about a great town to stay in about 2 hours north of Bangkok but we have forgotten the name. It's something like Pye, it's suppose to be quite chilled out, can anybody help???
[q]

Yes, you are probably talking about Pai, but it is about 3 1/2 hours North of Chiang Mai, not Bangkok. Most backpackers end up in Pai (Mae Hong Son) province), Ko Phan Ngan (an island near Ko Samui) and Ko San Road ( a road with budget guesthouses and lots of foreigners in Bangkok).
If you like to go to places where lots of foreigners party, Pai is nice. If you like a quiet place to chill, try Chiang Dao, which is also in the mountains, a lot quieter with just as many or more things to do, but it is not a party place. Here is a website about Chiang Dao, hope this helps:
http://www.chiangdao.org
Chiang Dao is only about 1 1/2 by motorbike, bus or songtheaw from Chiang Mai. The cave sees quite a few tourists and so does the elephant camp, but aside from that, it's a nice quiet town, with lots of guesthouses and resorts to kick back in.
If you are coming here, look around and book. Don't book in advance. If they have room, you can get a nice room with hot shower and stuff for 190 Baht per night at Mon and Kurt's Guesthouse. There is also a place that has a room that sleeps five people for 500 Baht, that's also pretty nice. Then there is a budget bungalow place, a little small, but it's only 250 Baht with hot shower and it's a stand alone bungalow.
Some of the pricier places around Chiang Dao are from 500 Baht and up.

Pai is cheaper. If you look, you can still find rooms for 100 Baht per night there. Be forwarned though. If you are looking for an authentic Thai town, Pai is not it. It's a place that has been totally taken over by foreigners and caters mainly to foreigners. Great place for the 18 - 28 Party crowd. I'm older, but liking a "hippy type" athmosphere, I always enjoyed Pai. Now I prefer Chiang Dao, maybe I'm getting too old ;-)

Cheers