Chiang Dao Hostel
Cute new budget entry
More on Chiang Dao
With an abundance of very good flash-packer and mid-range options to hand out by the caves, the new and more specifically budget orientated Chiang Dao Hostel amid Chiang Dao town’s very limited addresses is an excellent initiative.
Travelfish says:
Chiang Dao Hostel is set back off the main road, slightly to the north end of town, in a quiet garden. The caves are only a few kilometres ride away and the town does offer other sites which are conveniently accessed from such a central location. There are a couple of in-town eateries and cafes; it is handy for any markets taking place and a short cycle over the bridge takes you to the excellent Makham Pom Arts Space and the scenic Ping riverside.
The hostel is well–signposted from the main road, (just north of the bus station and nearly opposite the Chiang Dao Bakery), where you’ll need to turn into a yard behind a carpentry store. From here you’ll emerge into an attractive little garden with a mint green painted reception and cafe to your left, a row of rooms and chalets to your right and paddy-fields beyond. This peaceful location was well chosen.
It was very new when we visited in early 2018, so all very clean, neat and tidy but we will warn you decor throughout is decidedly on the kitsch side. If the idea of flower and butterfly wall stickers or an entire “Hello Kitty” room puts you off then you’d best stick to the bog-standard Thai sales rep ambience of Chiang Dao Inn. Regardless of decor, options are all very comfortable and good value and go from a dormitory through to fan and air-con chalets. The dorm is simple but spotless and has proper beds—no bunks—with clean Doraemon duvets and wooden trellis partitions between each one.
The attractive, varnished wood finished, en-suite chalet was our pick of the bunch while for the hot season there are spacious fan or air-con rooms in a small, modern block. Sleeping three or four persons though, they do negate the need for a dorm for anyone other than solo travellers. Colour schemes aside, the rooms are well-appointed and the larger one even comes with a padded sofa. There’s also cable TV, WiFi and simple but sparkling bathrooms.
Staff members were helpful with some English spoken; there’s a small, basic cafe on site for drinks or (non-inclusive) breakfasts and the usual 100 baht and 300 baht daily rates for bicycle or motorbike hire. Overall this is a well-conceived and thoughtfully executed property and makes for an excellent new addition to Chiang Dao’s accommodation options.
Contact details for Chiang Dao Hostel
Address: Moo 6, Chiang Mai – Fang Road, Chiang Dao
T: (081) 287 8236; (081) 032 2116;
Coordinates (for GPS): 98º58'7.73" E, 19º22'40.84" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: Under 600B
Room rates
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Dorm fan cooled | 200 baht | 200 baht |
| Dbl fan private bathroom | 500 baht | 500 baht |
| Bungalow fan private bathroom | 500 baht | 500 baht |
| Dbl air-con private bathroom | 600 baht | 700 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.