Arriving in Chiang Mai With Kids: Flights, First Impressions, and a Softer Pace

First Impressions of Chiang Mai While Slow Traveling With Kids

We made it to Chiang Mai.

Our Thai AirAsia flight from Don Mueang (DMK) was quick and mostly smooth, though getting there was a little intense. We took two toll roads, and at one point our driver was cruising over 150 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. Not exactly relaxing, but we arrived safely.

We left a little late, but landed without any trouble.

Flying From Bangkok to Chiang Mai With Kids

Flying from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is one of the easiest ways to travel between the two cities. The flight takes just over an hour, and airlines like Thai AirAsia run frequent daily routes from Don Mueang Airport.

For families traveling with luggage, checking bags directly through the airline website can often be much cheaper than adding them through third-party booking sites. Our travel day ended up being quick and surprisingly smooth.

The flight itself was short and painless. Leg room was tight, but the cabin crew was kind and helpful, and there was decent food available for purchase even on such a quick route. Everyone loved the mac and cheese (about $4), and we added chicken tenders for $2. Half of us liked the coconut-marinated chicken, half didn’t, but it made the trip easier with full bellies.

Booking through a third-party site had us worried about baggage. The website tried to charge nearly $90 for one checked bag, but when we logged into the Thai AirAsia site directly, we were able to add 20kg checked bags for about $15 each. We checked four bags to make arrival simpler, and it was absolutely worth it.

Luggage pickup was fast, carts were easy to grab, and the Grab pickup area was clearly marked and close to the terminal, which is always a win when you’re hauling bags with kids.

The drive into Chiang Mai was short, and almost immediately we could feel the difference from Bangkok. Quieter streets. Slower energy. A softer pace. Traveling Chiang Mai with kids already feels gentler.

After dropping our bags in our room, we took a moment to admire the view from the common area on the top floor of our building.

Our condo is secure and comfortable, with a rooftop pool that runs the length of the building, plus a gym, yoga space, steam room, and sauna. Inside, the unit is compact: one standard bedroom and a small room with a twin bunk and trundle. It’s cozy, but for this stage of life, it works just fine for our family.

This is what slow travel in Chiang Mai feels like so far.

New city. New rhythms. And a fresh chapter ahead.