It is easy to see why the popular 3 Sis has built up a solid following in Chiang Mai’s accommodation scene with a great location, efficient staff and well-priced, comfortable rooms amply ticking all the main boxes.

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 way, Soi 8 and the location in the Old City, more or less exactly opposite the entrance to Wat Chedi Luang, is great.

A double room in the front building. Photo: Mark Ord

On entering you’ll find yourself in a spacious lobby laid out with a wooden decking area, plenty of North Thai wooden furniture, a computer desk for guests’ convenience, reception and a tour desk. The principal three-storey square block has a roofed, but otherwise open, atrium running the full height of the building which brightens the lobby area and upper corridors. Huge chandeliers fill the space, interior upper corridors are lined with carved wooden balustrades and the overall effect is very impressive.

With so much effort having gone into the communal areas it’s odd that the actual rooms are on the plain and simple side. There’s nothing at all wrong with them—they’re comfortable, clean and well-appointed—just simple, painted white and minimally decorated. Room size isn’t huge so lack of clutter makes sense and the most important feature—beds—are large and solid plus they come with the often overlooked bedside lamps. There’s also a fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, bathrobes and decent sized bathrooms. A second building towards the rear, known as the “Vacation Lodge”, has slightly larger rooms with varnished wooden floors and more attention to decor along with higher rates.

Street frontage. Photo: Mark Ord

The complimentary breakfast gets good reviews as does their in-house restaurant serving local and Western favourites. All in all 3 Sis is a very good value deal and understandably popular.