Having to do the visa run to Maesai this weekend and want to spend the night in Chiang Rai. Can anyone recommend an inexpensive clean hotel or guesthouse not too far out of the city?

Baan Warabodee 500 baht in town.

White house 350+ baht in town.

I stayed at City Home last week and thought it was fine.

From Wikitravel:

City Home 20 rooms, fan/air, cable TV. Fan rooms starting from 250bath and aircon rooms 350 bath. Good location near night market and bus station. Clean rooms, good value for money. Address 868 Phahonyothin road, Chiang Rai 57000, Tel: +66 (0)53600155, email [email protected]

I had the same question last october before we went for a holiday there. The advice i was given was spot on: go to the old airport area, near the top of the old runway, and you'll find various choices there. About one or two kms from the town centre if i recall. And what a great atmosphere near sundown, with loads of people out and about on the runway jogging, playing, having fun.

Due south of the town centre.

White house 350+ baht in town.

With a swimming pool and I have heard that they have English TV.

Starbright is one thats quite good too and its in the center of town near Wangcome hotel.

Thaivisa Hotels also lists a few here

http://www.hoteltravel.com/thailand/chiang_rai/hotels.htm

If you wan tto stay in Chiang Rai, I agree, the old airport area is a good bet. We stay at the Goldenland - anything form 450 to 850 depending on the time of year, your negotiating skills and hoe big your eyes are. For your money you get an air con bungalow in a terrace (the furhter away fromt eh amon hotel the quieter, with abathtub, calbe TV and a so-so breakfast.

BUT: Why stay in Chiang Rai? Mai Sai itself is a quirky little town with a range of accomodation options. Farang food is almost nowhere to be found, but there are some good Thai places down my the Sai River, a couple of good Muslim and Indian places and one good quality but atmosphere-less Chinese place. If you stay in Mae Sai you get the whole day in Tachilek and can then flop out for an hour or so before heading out for the evening in Mae Sai (it has to be said, eveinings finish by about 10 unless you like Karaoke!) Just a thought!

I much prefer Chiang Rai to Mai Sai, but Doi Mae Salong (the Chinese mountain with few farangs, Chinese food, Chinese language, cool weather and lovely scenery) might be weorth a short side trip.

I much prefer Chiang Rai to Mai Sai, but Doi Mae Salong (the Chinese mountain with few farangs, Chinese food, Chinese language, cool weather and lovely scenery) might be weorth a short side trip.

Thanks to all who responded to my request (some replies were received a little late, after we had already left). We stayed at Ben Guesthouse near the Hospital. Absolutely fabulous - a beautiful new Lanna teak house with bright clean restaurant, swimming pool and very comfortable beds. Rooms are priced at 250-650 bt. depending on whether you have your own private bathroom and whether fan/aircon. Because we were late, we took the last two rooms at 650 but worth every penny. We would certainly stay there again, but should they be full, I have made a note of all your recommendations for future trips. Thanks again!!!!

Thank you very much barlinnie, we love feedback on this type of subject.