Mae Sai

Introduction

Mae Sai town, also the most northerly point of Thailand, is a bustling trade town where the official Thai/Myanmar border crossing is. There is a distinctly Burmese influence here, browse the markets brimmed with Chinese/Thai/Burmese produce such as tea, preserved fruit, snacks, cheap electronic and fake designer goods. You can go through the immigration checkpoint and cross the Friendship Bridge over to Burma for sightseeing. When you arrive on the Myanmar side at 'Tachileck', several tuktuk drivers offer sightseeing tours of the area, there are also local markets selling the same stuff as on the Thai side. For certain passport holders (ie: UK and US) Burmese immigration will grant you a 2-week stay.

Sights and Activities

Events and Festivals

Getting There

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• Chad House - Tel: 053 732054, 60-250bt. Simple, clean rooms have shared hot water shower facilities. Cosy friendly atmosphere
• Monkey Island Guesthouse - Tel: 053 734060, 100-400bt. A hang out place for travellers, has large rooms offering good value for money. Has a bar/restaurant, pool table and large terrace facing the Myanmar side
• Mae Sai Guesthouse - Tel: 053 732021, 300-500bt. Has a range of 'A' frame bungalows, from simple cheap with shared bathroom to ones overlooking the river with private bathroom.
• Mae Sai Riverside Resort - Tel: 053 732630, 350bt. Rather grand looking from the outside, but with old simple rooms on the inside. Has a good Thai restaurant though that overlooks the river.

Mid-Range

• Top North Hotel - Tel: 53 731955, 400-900bt. Five minutes walk away from the Friendship Bridge, has large rooms and friendly staff.
• S-House Hotel - Tel: 53 640670, 500-600bt.

Upscale

• Piyaporn Place Hotel - Tel: 053 734511, 1,000-1,800bt. Has the usual 4/5 star amenities; small sofa, bath, cable TV, minibar. Good value for money.
• Wang Thong Hotel - Tel: 053 733389. Has a pool, pub, disco and restaurant.

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

Thailand Post is the Thai postal service that deals with all local and international mail in Thailand. The business is operated from local post offices. Post offices are easy to recognise with their red white and blue motifs and the words 'Thailand Post' in English and Thai above the entrance. They are open from Monday to Saturday, usually 8:30am to 4:30pm (main ones until around 8:00pm), though keeping shorter hours on Saturdays (usually until 1:00pm). They are generally closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. Each post office offers a comprehensive service which includes an Express Mail Service (EMS) and parcel post. They also have a price calculator for letters, postcards and parcels, both domestically as well as internationally. They also have a track and trace system and money transfer services.