Picking the Right Chiang Mai Hotel

Picking the Right Chiang Mai Hotel

Picking the Right Chiang Mai Hotel

The global recession has hit just about everybody, and these days it's more important than ever to make sure you get the most out of your budget. That's not always easy what with the plummet of the US dollar, but while parts of Thailand are now at a premium, the country as a whole remains a very affordable destination. Chiang Mai in particular is something of a hidden gem, often forgone in favor of more expensive places like Phuket and Hua Hin and other islands in southern Thailand, but this doesn't take away from the fact that it is the second-largest city in the country after Bangkok: it combines the rustic charm of pre-modernization cities with the best conveniences to be had today, as well as a veritable range of things to dofrom rafting adventures to tiger farms, from handicraft village to IT malls. It's also a city where luxurious accommodation can be had at incredibly reasonable prices, but with so many hotels in the city now, you might find it difficult to pick one. Here are some tips on finding the right base for your Chiang Mai holiday.

Essential experience. A lot of hotels offer spa packages, extensive wine cellars, or seven different types of towels to choose from. While that's all well and good, you may want to consider whether they are really things you need and whether they will have a genuine impact on your Chiang Mai holiday. Do you spend a lot of time in hotel rooms? Are you a wine connoisseur? Sometimes simpler is truly better and the frills distract more than they addthe frills, of course, being the factor that hikes up the price. You would be better off reading reviews for the qualities you know will enhance your experience: service, comfortable beds, breakfast spread, quality of food. The most fabulous dcor in the world is going to be cold comfort if the desk clerks are rude, the housekeepers slack, and the waiters take twenty minutes to get to your table.

Avoid the rock bottom. Unless you are backpacking (or even if you are!), you don't want to pick an accommodation whose highlight begins and ends with being the cheapest in the area. Warning signs include "hotels" that tout that they have clean rooms with air-conditioning, features that should be taken for granted anywhere. Sometimes the difference in price is no more than a few hundred bahts or ten bucks, and it's just not worth it to scrape the bottom of the barrel. Going bare-bones tends to mean everything will be truly basic, including but not limited to the plumbing and climate control system. You are here for a holiday and to treat yourself, not for boot camp.

Sample the culture and local flavors. Many travelers' first instincts are to go with the tried-and-true: properties that are part of a huge global chain, for example. However, while that approach may be advisable in some destinations, in Chiang Mai it is far from necessary: by and large hotels in Chiang Mai, from three stars upward, are of more than commendable quality. Besides, there are franchised hotels everywhere in the world; wouldn't you like to try something local, interesting and authentic? After all, you wouldn't spend all your time in Thailand eating Pizza Hut and drinking Starbucks, would you?

Your style. Are you traveling alone, as a couple, with a family? Are you traveling for business or pleasure? If you are coming with kids, it's a good idea to check first whether the hotel offers suites or connected rooms and whether the swimming pool is children-friendly. Moreover, you might want to make sure the hotel has enough space for the kids to run around without leaving the premises (i.e. leaving your and the staff's sight). Some hotels offer baby-sitting services, as well. Traveling with elderly? See if the hotel maintains emergency contact with local hospitals and whether it has an in-house doctor. Make inquiries early and come to an arrangement that suits you best.

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