Hi Mag,
I know Chiang Mai reasonably well, if you have already booked your hotel not a problem but if not let me know and I can make some suggestions if you would like.
I hire a scooter in Chiang Mai as you should be able to get one for about 150 baht a day. The tuk tuks are cheaper than Patong but at 40 baht a throw it does not take long to outweigh the costs of hiring a scooter. You can get to some of the outer lying things to see easily on the scooter to, the orchid farm and butterfly farm, no pun there, Doi Suthep is the temple up the hill from which you get a good view if the city and from there you will see what I mean about the pollution.
I have been going to Chiang Mai for a while and while I like it, now it is getting very polluted, but not as bad as Bkk.
If you want some suggestions for night life etc give me a yell and I will offer what knowledge I have. I think if you search there has been a fair bit written before.
