One of the few in-town locations
Clearly several years past its best, Chiang Dao Inn has these days devolved into one of those bog-standard, travelling sales rep type hotels common to every Thai provincial town.
Rooms remain acceptable, rates reasonable and particularly for anyone just passing through and arriving too late to make it out to Ban Tham, this is a useful address to have. Decor and furnishings probably haven’t changed in twenty years but for 500 baht you do get functioning (albeit noisy) WiFi, air-con, hot shower, cable TV (one English language channel), a fridge and free Nescafe in the morning. The bed was large, mattress comfortable enough and nothing bit us, though the extra 150 baht for twin occupancy does seem a bit unnecessary for what amounts to an extra towel and cup of instant coffee.
The location is conveniently central with several cafes within easy walking distance; there’s a very good and kosher massage parlour across the car-park from reception (open 10:00–20:00) and the Bangkok buses stop right outside. (Indeed reception is the ticket sales office.) The reception and lobby are located in an old teak building looking onto the main street—and it’s good to see they didn’t demolish the old wooden house when they constructed the new hotel—with rooms situated in a more modern, pale pink coloured, two-storey block to the rear.
Staff are helpful, albeit with not a lot of English spoken, and though there’s no bicycle or motorbike hire you can get one from Sompraew Cafe down the street. If the sachet of instant or bunch of bananas isn’t to your liking then Krua Chiang Dao opposite opens at 07:00 with good fresh coffee and an array of breakfasts. This might not be anyone’s first choice but it is a useful and acceptable plan B for Chiang Dao.
Address: 20, Moo 6, Chiang Mai - Fang Road, centre of town just before the junction with the cave road, Chiang Dao.
T: (053) 455 132; F: (053) 456 252
Coordinates (for GPS): 98º57'56.04" E, 19º22'22.55" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: Under 600B
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
Dbl air-con private bathroom 650 baht for a twin room | 500 baht | 500 baht |
Reviewed by
Mark Ord
Based in Chiang Mai, Mark Ord has been travelling Southeast Asia for over two decades and first crossed paths with Travelfish on Ko Lipe in the early 1990s.
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