A friend is coming to visit for a few days, and we'd like to find somewhere to chill out next to the pool with a couple of beers. Gym pools won't really work for this, so we'd need a hotel pool that will let people in who aren't staying at the hotel, I suppose. Any suggestions?

At the top of the price range I'd recommend Le Meridian which has a most enjoyable pool area and a small bar with tables overlooking the river.

Any of the larger hotels near the river would be suitable.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g297920-Chiang_Rai_Chiang_Rai_Province-Hotels.html#MAPVIEW

We ended up at Rimkok. Very pleasant setting, only 80 baht to use the pool, but 180 baht for beer!

Interesting to know the charge for the pool usage, very reasonable.

You should have taken an icebox full of beer with you....

Very reasonable price for entry and beer considering it is served pool side.