The best way to explore the surroundings of chiang mai is to rent a car.
The advantages of renting a car are that you are more independent and flexible to see the numerous sights in the vicinity of chiang mai. Especially for several people a rental car might be the better and cheaper choice than booking expensive excursions where each person has to pay the full tour price.
Driving in chiang mai:
If you already have problems with the traffic in germany, it is better not to rent a car. For experienced drivers, who can also cope with left-hand traffic, road traffic should not be a problem.
The roads in and outside chiang mai are in good condition and well signposted. However, it would be advisable to have a navigation system, which makes orientation much easier. Especially for tourists who come to chiang mai for the first time, a navigation device is indispensable, because it saves you a lot of time to get to your destination.
If you only want to explore the city center with a rental car, you should leave it alone, on foot or with the tuk tuk it is faster and more comfortable than with a rental car, besides there are many one-way streets and a lack of parking spaces.
Rent a car in chiang mai – what do I have to consider?
Many private car rental companies may be reputable, but the amount of coverage of the liability insurance is much lower than that of a rental car booked from germany, where the amount of coverage is increased by an additional insurance. An insurance is included, which covers damages to underbody, glass and tires, as well as a usable comprehensive insurance.
When renting a car, depending on the provider, a deposit of approx. 5000 – 20.000 baht must be deposited with the credit card, which will be retained by the rental company in the event of a claim. In the case of a rental car booked in germany, the retained deposit is refunded by the additional insurance.
On the question which rental car is the best, I can recommend a small car like the toyota vios or altis. These are cheap to have and offer enough space for up to four people. Another advantage is the low fuel consumption and in the city, with partly narrow roads, it is better to drive than z.B. With a pick up.
If you want to rent a pick up and think you can drive on unpaved roads like gravel roads, you might be right, but you should read the insurance conditions carefully beforehand. The insurance coverage expires with many providers, if one is on the move with the rented car on unpaved roads, even if one has rented an off-road vehicle.
Useful infos about car rental in thailand you will find here: thailand car hire tips.
Recommended car rental in chiang mai:
There are plenty of car rental companies in chiang mai, but to be on the safe side, you should book your rental car in advance in germany with a tour operator, where better insurance services are included.
Good car rental providers in chiang mai are the car rental companies thai rent a car or national. With these providers I have so far always driven well. Also advantageous is that their offices are represented at the airport.
Whoever wants to save a few euros on an insufficient insurance coverage when renting a car, saves at the wrong end, because if the low coverage amount of a private rental company is not sufficient in case of an accident, the renter has to pay the difference of the damage amount on top, apart from the hassle and paperwork where you still have.
Chiang mai car rental booking:
A recommendable rental car comparison portal*, where I often book my rental car for thailand, is the platform check24*, here the prices of different renowned car rental companies are compared and covered with a higher sum insured.
Another advantage, you can choose or book the best insurance package of the respective provider. In addition, you can still choose whether you want to receive the rental car at the airport or at the hotel. Navigation devices for the rental car can be booked for a small fee with it.
If you decide to rent a car during your vacation, you can also book your car in advance, the voucher will be sent by e-mail and can be printed out in any internet cafe.