Having plumped for Chiang Mai Blue House as our Chiang Mai budget recommendation and suggested Chiang Mai Thai House as a mid-range fave, we’ll round out this mini-series with our top pick in the upmarket category. If any of our visiting rellies or friends don’t mind splashing the cash a bit then The Rim Resort is certainly a direction we point them in — not that this relatively new downtown resort is that expensive — it falls more in the four than five-star category, with rates from 2,900 baht during low season to 6,250 baht for a deluxe room during high season.

The Rim Resort.

(Compare this to the Rarinjinda Wellness Spa, which we checked out recently, where you could pay up to $700 a night for a room but: A. we don’t have any mates that rich and B. we’d never recommend spending that sort of money on a night’s sleep anyway.)

There is a pretty good choice of places to stay in Chiang Mai in this range but where the Rim pips, for instance, the excellent Ayatana Resort (a good recommendation for visitors we don’t want to see too much of), is its convenient central location in the city’s old town (see map). The Rim’s actually located on the moat road — west, Doi Suthep side — so a quiet part of town but within walking distance of many of the town’s sites and where you’ll never have to wait long to find a tuk tuk or songthaew.

We're always suckers for a lush garden.

For the price — and check their website for discounts and low season deals — the well-appointed rooms are great value, service is excellent, they have a fine little pool and sitting area, and the Lanna-style buildings are set in and surrounded by lush gardens.

The Rim’s a small resort too, which is a big plus for us, with a friendly intimate atmosphere where after 24 hours you’ll probably have met most of the staff and guests (unless you don’t want to and are hiding in the garden).

Think we already did the Lanna style pool joke in another blog?

Rim Resort
51/2 Arak Rd, Pha Singh
T: (053) 903 999
F: (053) 903 998
www.therimchiangmai.com

More still
» Previous post: How to eat street food: Noodle soup
» Next post: What to bring with you to Bangkok

Disclaimer
Travelfish.org always pays its way. No exceptions.

Tags: Chiang Mai old town, Lanna, Rim Resort