Chiang Mai
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
While Chiang Mai has thousands of hotels and guesthouses spread across a vast area, we’ve concentrated on what we believe are the two most convenient areas to stay: within the Old City walls and between the eastern Old City wall and the Ping River, with a couple of more far-flung options thrown in.
Chiang Mai is a large city and popular with visitors, so it comes with a huge range of accommodation options. The large choice of highly commendable places can be bewildering, so here are our top picks. You'll find literally thousands of hotels in Chiang Mai listed on online travel agents like Agoda, Booking and AirBnb, so if you don’t find anything to your liking in our selection, do... Read our full review of Where to stay in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai’s old walled city is home to the densest concentration of guesthouses and hotels and there’s a very good reason for this: Some of the most crowd-pleasing temples, best shopping and great eating is also within the walls. At times a rabbit warren of back lanes and alleys, you can also do very well in this part of Chiang Mai if you’re looking for a quiet room.
A central but quiet location, helpful staff and tastefully decorated rooms at astonishingly low prices makes Awana our top choice in the niche between budget and flashpacker in Chiang Mai. It’s not easy to find, down a narrow alley off already narrow Ratchadamnoen Soi 1. Soi 1 is the first turning on the right you’ll come across if heading down the Old City’s main drag from Tha Pae... Read our full review of Awana House.
Simply but effectively named Bed isn’t so much tucked away as almost totally hidden. Located down a narrow, little-frequented soi behind Wat Chedi Luang, and with the already brief name partially obscured by foliage, you can walk right past without noticing it. This is a good sign we reckon, as they’re clearly confident reputation and word of mouth suffice to attract custom, and it also... Read our full review of Bed (Phrasingh).
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
There’s commendable attention to detail at the well-run budget Diva Guesthouse, home to probably the best looking 300 baht rooms we came across anywhere in Chiang Mai. Brought to you by the same Swiss–Thai couple who created the hugely successful Julie Guesthouse, the exceptional Diva has been operating from the southern end of Ratchaphakhinai since 2010. This is a good position, slightly... Read our full review of Diva Guesthouse.
Inconspicuous Ma Guesthouse, hidden away above a hair salon, might not look much from the outside but inside it’s a real budget star. Set at the southern end of Samlarn Road, this tiny guesthouse with only eight rooms is almost homestay style and, at the risk of sounding corny, a bit like staying at Nan's place. (Though to be fair to owner Ma, a very young and sprightly granny.) Downstairs... Read our full review of Ma Guesthouse.
Huen Phen began life as a specialty northern Thai restaurant and was so acclaimed and popular that they’ve branched out into accommodation with this small, boutique style midrange hotel. Perhaps being new to the business, Huen Phen does display a few contradictions, but nowhere is perfect, and with a few caveats we felt the pros definitely outweighed the cons and this charming little spot... Read our full review of Baan Huen Phen Boutique Hotel.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
There is a pleasant feel to small, low-key Chompor Lanna Boutique Resort, which has particularly helpful and friendly staff, tastefully decorated rooms and an unbeatable location. The owners somehow managed to find a decent sized plot of land right in the centre of the Old City, yet situated down a narrow back lane, behind the Heritage Museum and between Phrapokklao and Ratchaphakhinai Roads.... Read our full review of Chompor Lanna Boutique Resort.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Somwang Boutique is a well-situated and well laidout flashpacker option with very competitive room rates. Last time we looked, Somwang consisted of a few simple rooms around a concrete car-park but under new ownership it’s since received a serious makeover. Two brand new blocks of rooms (as of mid-2017) have been constructed and the car-park converted to a rather enticing swimming pool and... Read our full review of Somwang Boutique House.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Popular 3 Sis has built up a solid following in Chiang Mai’s accommodation scene thanks to its great location, efficient staff and well-priced, comfortable rooms. The 3 Sis is slightly tricky to find as the main frontage on Phrapokklao Road is taken up by their restaurant, with B&B only appearing in small letters. The actual hotel entrance is down the adjacent alley, Soi 8. The location in... Read our full review of The 3 Sis.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
There is a lot of competition in the Lanna-style four-star hotel category in Chiang Mai, but low-key, unassuming Rim Resort gets our vote. Low-season discounts and online booking rates make the rooms good value for money and we liked the relatively small size of the classy resort, which conjures a friendly, intimate atmosphere. The attention to detail here is perhaps lacking in some of the... Read our full review of The Rim Resort Chiangmai.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
This cosy and friendly lodge set amid lush tropical plants on a quiet lane to the west side of the Old City is one of Chiang Mai’s best deals in the flashpacker to midrange category. We first visited several years ago not long after they’d opened, when the garden was still a work in progress. It has since developed into a lush tropical setting and along with the small but cute,... Read our full review of The Twenty Lodge.
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Excellent use of limited space at comfortable and well-designed Vieng Mantra makes it a decent midrange choice smack in the centre of Chiang Mai. Generous low season discounts make it a particularly tempting option for rainy season, when you’re getting midrange standards at flashpacker rates. There’s a well-sized seating area and restaurant downstairs, including tables and chairs on an... Read our full review of Vieng Mantra Hotel.
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Tiny and very cute, Baanpordee has six attractively decorated rooms set in a garden down a quiet back soi in the centre of the Old City. The guesthouse is directly opposite the more upmarket Chompor Lanna on Prapokklao Soi 12 which runs between Phrapokklao and Ratchaphakhinai Roads, so the location has the advantage of being smack bang in the centre of the Old City yet very quiet, with only... Read our full review of Baanpordee Guesthouse.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Chiang Mai Boutique House may not perhaps figure as your first choice of a place to stay in Chiang Mai, but it does tick all the plan B boxes should your ideal but tiny boutique first choice lack vacancies. Its location is good. You'll find it at the southern end of Ratchaphakhinai in the Old City and close to the Chiang Mai Gate night market as well as being only a short walk to Tha Pae.... Read our full review of Chiang Mai Boutique House.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
With a well-placed location, efficient service and reasonable room prices, De Lanna has justifiably become one of Chiang Mai’s most popular midrange downtown hotels. With three three-storey blocks of rooms surrounding a well laid out garden and pool they manage to retain a boutique facade as well as having plenty of rooms (60 in total) without crossing into the large generic hotel range.... Read our full review of De Lanna Hotel.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Long-standing Julie Guesthouse is a ramshackle but well-maintained and popular old-style budget spot in the Old City. Bits have clearly been added, upgraded, knocked down, rebuilt and so on over the years but you can also tell it’s been well maintained. The eclectic mix manages somehow to create a harmonious whole with a pleasant, friendly vibe to it. Originally opened by the people who... Read our full review of Julie Guesthouse.
( Read more on Booking.com )
Mali’s isn’t going to win any awards for charm or decor but for good-sized clean rooms in a reasonably central location it’s hard to argue with. To be fair, the establishment had only recently changed hands when we dropped by in mid-2017 and the sign outside still had the old name of Western House Hotel, so we’ll assume it’s still a work in progress. There’s plenty of room for... Read our full review of Mali’s House.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Quiet, laidback and with good rooms for your money, Tip Top House is a tempting option offered by Chiang Mai’s budget scene. It’s much smaller than say Julie or Diva and the location, while still central, is quieter plus they've managed to squeeze in a well laidout little garden. There’s no classic backpacker vibe to the place and Tip Top isn’t the best choice if you want to meet lots... Read our full review of Tip Top Thai House.
( Read more on Agoda.com )
Found just a stone’s throw from Tha Pae Gate, with a large pool and very reasonable room rates, Top North Hotel ticks a lot of boxes. That said, it is nothing fancy: There are no boutique pretensions nor Lanna decor, but rooms are clean and more than adequate, with workable air-con, hot ensuite showers, decent WiFi and functional furnishings. ###11153 Top North Hotel is on the eastern... Read our full review of Top North Hotel.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
While most of the properties covered here are between the Old City’s eastern wall and the Ping River, others are more far flung and you’ll sometimes need transport to get into the downtown area. In return you’ll often get more spacious grounds or perhaps a river view.
Within the Chiang Mai city limits, hugely popular 137 Pillars House is about as plush as it gets. We visited during one of the quietest periods of the year, and all 30 rooms were full. If you do fancy a splurge, 137 is one of the few spots that warrants it, but make sure you book well ahead. The resort has a slightly unusual location in a clutch of suburban streets behind Wat Ket on the... Read our full review of 137 Pillars House.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
If anywhere fits the cliche of being a hidden gem, cute little Ban Narai River Guesthouse tucked away on the banks of the Ping River is it, but as using that descriptor is against editorial policy we won't say that. The extremely pleasant and informative owner clearly recognises he’s onto a good thing, with the rooms, we think, a few hundred baht overpriced, so if you think of it as a pricey... Read our full review of Ban Narai River Guesthouse.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Out of the centre of Chiang Mai, but with an interesting location close to Wat Umong amid the leafy lanes at the foot of Doi Suthep, Ayatana offers an excellent deal in the flashpacker to midrange. Even prior to being taken over by the Chiang Mai-based cheap and cheerful B2 chain, rates were very competitive and maybe they need to be to attract customers to what is a rather out of the way... Read our full review of B2 Ayatana Premier Hotel.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
A cute, comfortable and friendly little boutique-style flashpacker pick, Chiang Mai Thai House offers good facilities and an excellent location. Chiang Mai Thai House has been around for a while, tucked away down Tha Pae Soi 5, but they commendably manage to keep rooms consistently looking bright, clean and fresh. It isn’t a large establishment but is well laid out with good use of limited... Read our full review of Chiang Mai Thai House.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
De Wiangkumkam is a very good find among several cute mini-resort style places tucked away in Chiang Mai's leafy suburbs. As the name implies it’s located within Wiang Khum Kham ancient city—a maze of quiet garden-lined lanes and ruined temples—just beyond Chiang Mai’s superhighway to the south, and only a 10-minute or so drive to the centre. The extremely friendly and helpful owner... Read our full review of De Wiangkumkam.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Well out of Chiang Mai, the offering by the international Four Seasons chain is about as luxurious as it gets in these parts. The lush and plush Four Seasons has located itself well to the north of Chiang Mai in the Mae Rim district, where they have an entire valley of their own to play with. Rooms are scattered amid luxuriant gardens on hillsides around a small valley in which they’ve even... Read our full review of Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai .
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Still going strong after nearly 30 years, the excellent Galare Guesthouse, with its quiet yet central riverside location is still one of Chiang Mai’s best options in the budget to flashpacker range. Every time we pass by we expect to see this long-standing guesthouse transformed into something boutique, doubled its rates or added another three storeys. But despite its popularity and prime... Read our full review of Galare Guesthouse.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Though room rates are slightly on the high side, a very good location, great garden and comfortable, pleasantly decorated rooms make Karinthip Village an all-round good deal in Chiang Mai’s midrange category. Karinthip, down a quiet soi off Chiang Moi Road, was established back when real estate in this part of town wasn’t at such a premium, so the low-key resort is well spread out with a... Read our full review of Karinthip Village.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Squeezed between Loi Kroh Road and Kotchasarn Soi 3, just off the eastern moat road, deceptively large Raming Lodge is a good address for night owls. We say deceptively as you wouldn’t guess from the frontage they’d managed to fit 84 decently sized rooms into this one narrow block. Raming is five minutes on foot from the night bazaar and two from Tha Pae, so we expect no complaints about... Read our full review of Raming Lodge.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
With a great riverside location, pool and good value rooms, 2017-opened Riverside Floral is a very welcome addition to Chiang Mai’s accommodation scene. Several hotel choices lie along this stretch of Charoen Rat Road on the banks of the Ping River, but recently built Floral Inn seems to have had the initiative to fit comfortably into a compromise mid-standard, mid-price category so they... Read our full review of Riverside Floral Inn.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
The conspicuous Amora Tapae Hotel has slowly crept up in category over the past few years with a series of upgrades, and while their room rates have too, it still represents a good deal in the classic hotel-style range. Most of its competitors in the large four-star category are either clustered together in the congested night bazaar area or out of the centre, dotted around the Superhighway.... Read our full review of Amora Tapae Hotel.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
Ignore the Anantara’s austere and charmless exterior, as the interior setting is spacious and well laid out, while the rooms themselves are excellent. If you are aiming for the higher end but want to be in town, there’s not really much choice, especially in this garden style, and we reckon the Anantara’s great riverside setting beats the concrete high-rise blocks around the night... Read our full review of Anantara Chiang Mai Resort.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
This clutch of narrow alleys on the west bank of the Ping delivers another excellent riverside spot, the very solid River View Lodge. With low season discounts, it’s still only in the flashpacker range yet it manages to combine a downtown location with a delightful and peaceful riverside location and slightly plusher rooms than its neighbours, Galare and Ban Narai. Off Charoen Prathet Road,... Read our full review of Riverview Lodge.
Long-standing Lai-Thai just about squeezes into the budget range these days by virtue of low season discounts and online booking rates, and is an excellent option in this category. In earlier days, Lai-Thai had flashpacker pretensions, but with many years and no make-overs, it’s looking rather tired around the edges these days. Prices have dropped relative to the host of nearby, new... Read our full review of Lai-Thai Guesthouse.
( Read more on Agoda.com or Booking.com )
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