OT any travel agents on here?

Not a travel agent, but I have done this trip many times. It depends on what you mean by "the best.' If you mean cheapest, this varies a bit as specials come on line all the time. Best way to get these is to subscribe to the various airlines via their online special deal email newsletters. Look at the sites regularly so you know the general prices and when a special comes via email and it suits your dates/pocket, grab it immediately.Currently the best prices for this trip I know of out of Australia are with Air Asia from Melbourne to KL, then to Penang and Penang to BK. Some very good deals also available on Tiger. Currently from Perth to Singapore, but starting from Adelaide in the new year. NOK air are good for travel inside Thailand. You will also find them online. If this is of interets, can give you a very good hotel close to KL airport and good ones in Penang, BK amd Chiang Mai also. Depends a bit on how many stars you want at the hotel level you want to stay in.
When booking international budget airline flights, get the whole price before you pay up. In Oz, airlines have to give an all inclusive price. Not so overseas where there is a price advertised, then a number of addons for fuel etc etc. Check that final price.
Don't fall for the trick of paying a little extra for seats with more leg space on budget flights. These all have non reclinable backs and are a pain on long hops.
Consider taking the train at some point. You can train for all or any part of Singapore to KL to Penang to BK to Chiang Mai.
The key airfare is the one that gets you out of Australia. Get this one first as it is the one with the biggest saving on specials. Build your other connecting flights around this flight

Fly into KL - skip Penang, take the train up through Malaysia and Thailand to Bangkok. Spend three days in Bangkok and do all the tourist stuff there then hire a car and head north to Chiang Mai - stop at Lopburi to see the monkeys then wander around the country and meet the people. Lovely country and a lovely people. Don't worry about travel agents - just do your own thing.

Mike Harding

thanks for replies, Although we would like to do our own thing the trip would have to be pre booked here before my son would be able to go. this is one of the conditions of his employment, and would have to submit an itinerary to his employer.
cheers Shane.

Best bet would be to leave the wife at home .. take the boy and show him alternative uses for ping pong balls :)

.... did i just say that out loud ?? -- My bad
Boc

Here's how I do it.

Put together your intinerary, standard of hotels you require and email at least 15 travel agents and effectively set up an auction.

Jim.

thanks to all for your replies.