First Visit To Chiang Mai

[DavieA]

My thai wife, myself and 9 month old baby will visit CM for the first time next month. Any recommendations as to te best place/location to stay is?

All your help is much appriciated.

Regards

Dave

[DavieA]

Strange? I normally find this forum incredibly helpful. Surley some of you locals can give me some kind of recommendations, or is my topic not interesting enough?

Anyone?

[Sao Jiang Mai]

Hard to say as you haven't indicated your lifestyle preferences or price range. If you tell us if you want culture, bustle, shopping, or nature and give us a price range then I think we can be more helpful.

[Ulysses G.]

The Montri Hotel is best.

I don't need no culture, bustle, shopping, nature, lifestyle preferences or price range !

[Dr. G]

Top North Hotel.

Has pool and not expensive.

g

[Ulysses G.]

The Montri is cheaper and cleaner, but no (currently freezing cold) swimming pool.

[toptuan]

There is a hotel (Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel) which is attached to a major mall in north Chiang Mai...(see copied content below). It is about a 4-star hotel, reasonably priced, with a great buffet. The hotel sits to the far back-end of the mall, and once you're in the hotel, it looses any semblance of being attached to a mall. Beautiful lobby, pools, and quiet.

I prefer it because the location is central to good transportation (plenty of songthaews stop there), beautiful city and mountain views from the guestrooms, and there's a great cinema in the mall as well. Plenty to do right there, and a great hub for travel to nearby destinations. I stayed there a week for a reasonable 1-week rate. Google the above name to get more information and contact data.

COPIED CONTENT BELOW:

Kad Suan Kaew (Central) Mall

Kad Suan Kaew, commonly known as Central, is the largest shopping centre in Chiang Mai. It is a huge and sometimes confusing complex housing among others a hotel, mini bowling alley, a department store, supermarket, food court, restaurants and cinema.

Kad Suan Kaew has plenty of parking but it can be difficult to find a spot at busy times.

Central Department Store is at the heart of the centre and has the ususal large rane of products. Kad Suan Kaew also plays host to Chiang Mai's only branch of British retailer Marks and Spencer and many specialist and general retailers.

Kad Suan Kaew is also home to the largest of cinemas in the Vista chain and shows films in Thai and English.

Kad Suan Kaew (Central) Address

99/4 Moo 2, Huay Kaew Road

Chiang Mai,

50200

Kad Suan Kaew Opening Hours

10am - 9pm

Edited February 22, 2008 by toptuan

[DavieA]

thanks so far guys, good stuff! maybe i should have given a bit more info.

I was speaking more of location... riverside, night bazaar, inside city walls kind of thing. Or is that irrelivant as Chiang Mai is not that big (so im told)?

[DavieA]

There is a hotel (Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel) which is attached to a major mall in north Chiang Mai...(see copied content below). It is about a 4-star hotel, reasonably priced, with a great buffet. The hotel sits to the far back-end of the mall, and once you're in the hotel, it looses any semblance of being attached to a mall. Beautiful lobby, pools, and quiet.

I prefer it because the location is central to good transportation (plenty of songthaews stop there), beautiful city and mountain views from the guestrooms, and there's a great cinema in the mall as well. Plenty to do right there, and a great hub for travel to nearby destinations. I stayed there a week for a reasonable 1-week rate. Google the above name to get more information and contact data.

COPIED CONTENT BELOW:

Kad Suan Kaew (Central) Mall

Kad Suan Kaew, commonly known as Central, is the largest shopping centre in Chiang Mai. It is a huge and sometimes confusing complex housing among others a hotel, mini bowling alley, a department store, supermarket, food court, restaurants and cinema.

Kad Suan Kaew has plenty of parking but it can be difficult to find a spot at busy times.

Central Department Store is at the heart of the centre and has the ususal large rane of products. Kad Suan Kaew also plays host to Chiang Mai's only branch of British retailer Marks and Spencer and many specialist and general retailers.

Kad Suan Kaew is also home to the largest of cinemas in the Vista chain and shows films in Thai and English.

Kad Suan Kaew (Central) Address

99/4 Moo 2, Huay Kaew Road

Chiang Mai,

50200

Kad Suan Kaew Opening Hours

10am - 9pm

Thanks Toptuan...I like the idea of this one. When viewing it on the map it's in the north west side of CM. I've read a few reviews from tourists who have stayed in this area and they complain that they were too far from the action which they considered to be around the night bazaar/riverside area. In reality, are they being a little picky, or is it really that far away to be inconvenient. I only say this as I will have a 9month old baby and dont want to have to catch taxis/songteaws everytime we leave the hotel. Somewhere reasonably central to (most) things is what im looking for.

Dont mean to be to pedantic!

[toptuan]

Yes, unfortunately, if I remember right, the riverside area and bazaar are on the other side of town. You'll be riding a lot of songteaws to that area. HOWEVER, the Lotus hotel IS on the side of town convenient for visiting the zoo, Chiang Mai University, the National Museum, Doi Suthep, Phu Phing Palace, and Doi Inthanon.

If the bazaar/riverside area of town is your main attraction, another alternative is to stay in some guest houses which are within the walls but on the riverside/bazaar area of town--within easy walking distance. However, not quite as plush as the aforementioned hotel (shared bathrooms, claustrophobic guest rooms, a bit noisier, etc. Below are a couple of ones to pick from... My list is a couple of years old, so you may have to do some "Googling" for updates. The last one "Sarah Guest House" is one I stayed in for about 400 baht/night.

Chiang Mai boasts dozens of friendly guesthouses right in the middle of town at amazingly low prices - many also arrange treks and tours.

Baan Jong Come Guesthouse

47 Soi 4 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053274823

Baan Kaed Guest House

142/4 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053271606, 053273436

Boon Phong Guesthouse

1/1 Soi 10 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053271479

C & C Teak House

1 39 Bamrungrat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053246966.

Center Place Guesthouse

17/2 Soi 1 Loi Kroh Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053271169

Chan Chai House

1 27 Wangsingkham Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053233706, 053233709

Candy House

1 Soi 10 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053276457, 053272309

Chang Moi Guest House

29 Chang Moi Kao Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053251839

Chatree Guest House

11/10 Suriwongse Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053279179, 053279221

Chawala Guest House

129 Chotana Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053214939

Chiang Mai Garden Guesthouse (Racha)

8286 Ratchamankha Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278881

Chiang Mai Holiday Tour & Guest House

31 Phrapokklao Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278455

Chiang Mai Inn Guest House

15/1 Soi 2 Chaiyaphum Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 0532514001

Chiang Mai Souvenir Guest House

118 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053282335

Chiang Mai Youth Hostel

1, 21/8 Changklan Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053276737

Chintana House

22 Soi 2 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278344

Chom Doi House & Hotel

33/3 Huay Kaew Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 0532101113, 053222749

Cow Boy Guest House

233 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053241314

Daret's Guest House

4/5 Chaiyaphum Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053235440, 053252292

Dragon Guest House

2/12 Prachasamphan Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 0532791723, 053276673, 053282305

Family Tribal Trekking Guest House

9 Soi 7 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210620

Fang Guest House

4648 Soi 1 Kamphaengdin Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053282940, 053272500, 053272505

Freak Hut Guest House

242 Charoenrat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053244994

Galare Guest House

7/1 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053273885, 053279088

Gap's House

3 Soi 4 Ratchadamnoen Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278140

Gold City Guest House

19 Soi 2 Ratchawithi Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053217579

Gold Riverside Guesthouse

381/1 Charoenrat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053245550

Green Leaf Lodge

9 Soi 4 Kotchasarn Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053274908

Green Lodge

60 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053279188

Happy House

11/1 Changmoi Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053252619

Hollanda Montri Guesthouse

365 Charoenrat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053242450

Home Place

9 Soi 6 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 0532734934

Inter Inn Guest House

17 Soi 5 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053272512

Isra Guest House

109/24 Huay Kaew Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053214924

Je T'aime Guest House

2479 Huay Kaew Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053241912, 053243330

Julie Guest House

7/1 Soi 5 Phrapokklao Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053274355

Kavila Guesthouse & Restaurant

10/1 Soi 5 Ratchadamnoen Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053224740

Karen Nature Lodge

[email protected]

Kent Guest House

5 Soi 1 Ratchamankha Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278578

Kim House

62 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053282441

Kong Court Guest House

2428 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053276310-1

Kotchasarn Inn Guesthouse

5353/2 Kotchasarn Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053276063

Kritsada House

5050/1 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053276762

Lai Thai Guest House

111/4 Kotchasarn Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053271534, 053271725, 053271414

Rujira Bed and Breakfast

3/18 Buakhoon Road., Mae Sod, Tak 63110 Thailand

Telephone : +66-0-5554-4969 / Mobile : +66-1-2835225

E-mail : [email protected]

www.rujiragroup.com

Sabai House

71/7 Sridonchai Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053273288

Safe House Court

178 Rachapakhinai Rd., T.Sriphum, A.Muang, Chiang Mai, 50200

Tel : 66-53-418 955, 66-53-418 956, 66-53-418 957 Fax : 66-53-419 031

[email protected]

Sarah Guest House

20 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053279423

[email protected]

Portobello Guesthouse

191/1 Wangsingkham Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053232997

Pun Pun Guesthouse

321 Charoenrat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053243362 Fax: 053246140

R.C.N. Court

35 Moonmuang Rd, Muang, Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053418280-2 Fax: 053211969

Racha Guest House

45/1 Ratchiangsaen Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278876

Rama Guest House

8 Soi 5 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053216354, 053225027

Lamchang House

24 Soi 7 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210586

Lamchang Guest House

28 Soi 7 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053211435, 053219079

Lanna House

100 Ratchadamnoen Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053222254

Lannathai Guest House

41/8 Soi 6 Loi Kroh Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053275563, 053282421

Libra Guest House

28 Soi 4 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210687

Linda Guest House

454/67 Charoenmuang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053246915

Little Guest House

8 Maneenopparat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053217027, 053212388

Living House

4 Soi 5 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053275370

Manit Guest House & Tour Service

31/3 Arak Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053213771

Mee Guest House

193/1 Charoenrat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053243534

Midtown Guest House

7 Soi 4 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053273191

Money Guest House

10 Soi 1 Sriphum Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053223484

Mountain View Guesthouse

105 Sriphum Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053212866, 053222635

Mr. John Guesthouse

16/1 Soi 4 Thapae Rd., A. Muang, Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053206814 Fax: 053384949

Nantana Pension

72/6 Ramingnivet, Chiang Mai.

Tel: 0532700912

Napa House

20/1 Soi 3 Ratchawong Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053232823

Nat Guest House

7 Soi 6 Phrapokklao Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053277878

New Peter Guest House

46/3 Soi 9 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210617

Night Bazaar Guesthouse

189/2 Changklan Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053820320, 053272067

North Star House

38 Soi 2 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278190

North Wind Inn

24/1 Wieng Kaew Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210935, 053215024, 053218117

Paocome Guest House

9 Soi 3 Changmoi Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053252377

Paradise Hotel & Guest House

146/1 Sridonchai Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053270413

Peter Guest House

46/3 Soi 9 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210617

Phathai Guest House

48/1 Ratchaphakhinai Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053278013

P K Guest House

109 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053214551

Ploi Guest House

31/2 Soi 2 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053277480

Rattana Guest House

3/5 Charoenprathet Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053272716

Ratchada Guest House

55 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053275556

Regina Restaurant and Guesthouse

69,71,73 Charoenrat Rd., T. Wat Kate, A.Muang, Chiang Mai.

Tel : (66 53)262 882

Email:[email protected]

Rim Ping Guest House

8 Wangsingkham Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053232664

Rendezvous Guesthouse

3/1 Soi 5 Rajdamnoen Rd., A. Muang, Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053213763 Fax: 053217229

Rose Garden Guest House

25/2 Soi 1 Ratchawithi Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053217929

R S Guest House

63 Charoenrat Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053241696

Ruchanahnan Court

35 Moon Muang Rd., Soi 7, T.Sriphum, A. Muang, Chiang Mai.

Tel: 0534182802

S B House

1/1 Soi 1 Phrapokklao Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210644, 053210637

S G House

41/1 Doi Saket Kao Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053244109

S K Guest House

30 Soi 9 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210690

Smile Guest House

5 Soi 2 Ratchamankha Rd., Chiang Mai

Tel: 053208661-2

[email protected]

Sss Guest House

48/3 Sanam Kila Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053217424

Sri Lanna Guest House

5355 Thevi Uthit Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053243189

Sri Suphan Guest House

92 Soi 2 Wualai Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053270086-87

Sriwan Guest House

113 Sriphum Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053221042

Tanya Guest House

9 Soi 1 Sriphum Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053210675

Thapae Guest House

2/2 Soi 4 Thapae Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053271591

Thailand Guest House

38/1 Soi 2 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai.

Tel: 053274592

**********************************************

Sarah Guest House

Sarah Guesthouse is situated in the area between Thapae and Loikroh Roads, in a quiet residential area. The location is excellent for visiting the Night Bazaar. It's only a short walk to many of the city temples; and facilities such as banks, money changers, internet cafes, restaurants and all kinds of shops, are only a short walk away.

Proximity:

- a 5 min. drive from the bus station.

- a 5 min. drive from the railway station.

- a 10 min. drive from the airport

Address is :

20 Tapae Rd.,

Soi 4

Chiang Mai 50100

Telephone number is :

(calling from within Thailand) 053 208271

(calling from outside Thailand) ++66 53 208271

E mail address is:

sarahguesthouse"AT"hotmail.com

or info"AT"sarahguesthouse.com

Edited February 22, 2008 by toptuan

[rcjoop]

Dave

My son will visit me this summer with wife and 10 month old and he put the same question. Not sure if your requirements are the same as theirs though. He wanted to be close to either the river or the moat so that they not always had to take transport to do/see something and liked a garden setting with nice places to sit and read a book etc.

(how life changes with your first child)

Nice places would be:

River view lodge. This is located just south of Narawat bridge in Soi 2/4 Charoen Pratet.

Very nicely located close to Night bazaar, Anusarn market, The Riverside and the other restaurants on that side of the river.

River view lodge http://www.riverviewlodgch.com

A small but clean swimming pool and many nice places to sit in the garden, which is situated directly at the riverside. Also larger covered area for the rainy season.

Staff seemed helpful and pleasant. According to some of the guests I spoke with who just checked out, the food was good and so was the service.

One of the regulars said that the only disadvantage for him was some noise from the disco across the river. Perhaps if you intend to use the aircon and keep the windows closed at night this might not be a problem, I do not really know.

The rooms were all the same size and seemed smallish and rather basic.

The Galare guesthouse in the same soi has similar rooms, guests are happy with the staff and the quality of the food. The noise problem must be similar maybe a bit worse as it is located closer to the bridge and the traffic noise might blend well with the disco. It is cheaper though.

The garden area is very limited, the small piece of riverside they have is used for the restaurant and the rest of the garden is very limited.

Another option is close to the moat, The Karinthip Village.

This is located in the Chiang Moi Kao road, about hundred meters from the moat.

Also has a small swimming pool, nice garden settings with places to quietly read a book etc. and still very quiet.

The rooms I liked much better, I looked at the fantasy suites, with nice (semi) antique furniture, decent size etc. Bathroom just shower, no bath or outside Jacuzzi like in the bigger suites, but with entrance on the ground floor directly at the garden/pool area.

Downside: As it is located in the centre of the city, the view from the windows is often a wall or some junk. The reviews are rather mixed concerning the helpfulness of the staff and the breakfast gets low ratings. The young lady who showed me the rooms was rather friendly and willing to help, but she seemed to be a student or temporary staff and did not know anything.

My impression was more clumsy and not unfriendly, but I do not know about the rest of the staff.

If you want a good and cheap hotelwithout garden etc. the Montri hotel would also be my choice.

Hope this is of some help, Joop