Chiang Mai Hotels

Kaomai Lanna Resort

 
Chiang Mai is full of hotels, as well as a very large number of guest houses. Most hotels used to be tourist class, clean and comfortable but not necessarily anything special. That has changed in recent years with the opening of several new five star properties, with apparently more on the way. Hotels are concentrated in two areas, one along the river and the other along the road leading to Suthep mountain.

Our favorite area to stay is around the Night Bazaar. As there are several hotels near the bazaar, it's easy to find one in your price range and there are a number of tourist services in the district. I've stayed at a lot of hotels in Chiang Mai over the years. See all of my Chiang Mai hotel reviews.

We've listed a few selected hotels below. For more hotels, see our comprehensive list of Chiang Mai hotels, which you can also view price, class or location.
 

Location, Location, Location - Chiang Mai Hotels Near the Night Bazaar

The pool at the Chedi, with the spa and guest rooms behind.

 
As mentioned above, we prefer a hotel near the city's famous night bazaar. Even if you're not very interested in shopping, the area is full of restaurants and other entertainment venues, making it easy to make several pleasant evenings without having to navigate yourself to other parts of the city. Taxis tend to gather around the bazaar, so even if you do want to go someplace else, it's easy to find transportation.

There are hotels around the night bazaar in all price ranges. We've listed a few options below. At the top end the D2 is right in the middle of things, with it's urban chic extreme make-over of the old Chiang Inn. Joining the D2 is the Chedi, a posh new hotel on the river-side built around the old 1912 home of the British Counsel.

Cheaper options include the Pornping Tower, a very good tourist class hotel, and the Suriwongse Hotel right in the middle of the night market.
 

Stars	Hotel Name	Location	Rate
	Dusit D2 Hotel Chiang Mai	Night Bazaar	From: $ 131
	located just off the famous chang klan road, the 131 rooms dusitD2 sits in the heart of downtown chiang mai, with the bustling night bazaar, restaurants and entertainment at its doorstep.guests are welcomed by a warm chic interior that represents the refreshing urbane face of contemporary thai design, the deluxe, club deluxe, studio suite and D'suite accommodations are decorated to provide sanctuaries of comfort, privacy and delight.the experience of delight is carried across every element  (More...) Check rates for the Dusit D2 Hotel Chiang Mai at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the Dusit D2 Hotel Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	Pornping Tower Hotel	Riverside	From: $ 29
	Discover all that Chiang Mai has to offer with Pornping Tower Hotel as a base.The hotel features a wide range of modern facilities and services in its 325 well-appointed guestrooms and throughout the premises.In-room facilities include non smoking rooms, air conditioning, television, separate shower and tub, mini bar, satellite/cable TV.Hotel facilities offered at this Chiang Mai accommodation include bar/pub, laundry service/dry cleaning, meeting facilities , nightclub, restaurant, room service.To unwind, guests can enjoy the leisure  (More...) Review of Pornping Tower Hotel Compare rates for the Pornping Tower Hotel at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai	Night Bazaar	From: $ 32
	Hotel's public areas are clean and tidy and well kept. Hotel is in the prime location of shopping paradise in the northern part of Thailand where handicraft, antique, silk and other Thai traditional products are easy to find at bargain prices. (04/04DL) The exterior comprises two lowrise concrete buildings. Located in the heart of Chiang Mai's famous night bazaar. Transfer from Chiang Mai airport takes approximately within 30 minutes. Check rates for the Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	The Chedi Chiang Mai	Riverside	From: $ 211
	The historical city of Chiang Mai welcomes all those searching for a serene place where they can spend some quality time close to nature. The city situated on the northern end of Thailand is a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty and its glorious past. The city is nestled in the foothills of the imposing mountain ranges of Thailand and presents the freshness of the typical chilly yet comforting weather that is a  (More...) Check rates for the The Chedi Chiang Mai at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the The Chedi Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.

Thai Style -- Out of the Ordinary Chiang Mai Hotels

Chiang Mai was something of a pioneer in creating hotels that displayed traditional design ideals, while still incorporating all the modern conveniences that international travelers expect. Any of the following will definitely make your stay unique.
 

Stars	Hotel Name	Location	Rate
	Manathai Village Chiang Mai	Night Bazaar	From: $ 97
	Manathai Village is a small boutique hotel, located in the heart of traditional Chiang Mai where centuries old temples mix with contemporary architecture. The hotel is positioned next to the famous Night Bazaar.Extensive Thai and European menus are presented to you at Manathai Village , Chiang Mai. The delightful Weaves Restaurant is a must for all travellers. Pool side menus, private catering, and the luxury of the Manathai pool bar will always be a reminder  (More...) Review of Manathai Village Chiang Mai Check rates for the Manathai Village Chiang Mai at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the Manathai Village Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	Rachamankha Hotel Chiang Mai	Old City	From: $ 151
	A haven of peace within the 700year old city walls of Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, Rachamankha is a small, yet spacious gem in the crown of Thai boutique hotels. Designed by one of Thailand's most renowned architects, and with the interior and landscaping designed by an equally renowned designer, the property is more a work of art than a hotel. With only 18 superior rooms, 4 deluxe rooms, and 2 two-bedroomed suites set around  (More...) Check rates for the Rachamankha Hotel Chiang Mai at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the Rachamankha Hotel Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	Tamarind Village Hotel Chiang Mai	Old City	From: $ 137
	Concept:Tamarind Village is a unique and charming boutique property that nestles in the heart of historicChiang Mai. Surrounded by ancient temples and quaint shopping streets, it takes its name from amagnificent 200 year old tamarind tree that shelters the hotel in a shady embrace. Set around a seriesof garden courtyards, the 42 guest rooms and 3 suites reflect the rich ethnic diversity of northernThailand by using fabrics and patterns drawn from the various tribes of  (More...) Check rates for the Tamarind Village Hotel Chiang Mai at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the Tamarind Village Hotel Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	Tri Yaan Na Ros Colonial House Hotel	Silver Village	From: $ 74
	Centrally located at Wualai road in Chiang Mai, the Tri Yaan Na Ros Colonial House is a beautiful hotel particularly known for its excellent amenities and services. The architecture of the Tri Yaan Na Ros Colonial House building reminds of the ancient Chinese architecture. The architecture reflects the lifestyle of the native Lanna people. A popular name among the hotels in Chiang Mai, the Tri Yaan Na Ros Colonial House has a lot of things  (More...) Review of Tri Yaan Na Ros Colonial House Hotel Check rates for the Tri Yaan Na Ros Colonial House Hotel at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the Tri Yaan Na Ros Colonial House Hotel at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.

Chiang Mai Hotels to Pamper Yourself

It's not a temple, it's the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

 
Sometimes you just have to pull out all the stops and stay in a place where you can totally enjoy yourself. It wasn't long ago that there were very few options for places to stay that were a cut above tourist class, but now there are more and more hotels in the four and five star class available.

The Four Seasons Resort was among the first of the new high end resorts. It's located about 20 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, in a valley of rice fields backed by forested mountains. In 2004 it was joined by the Mandarin Oriental, which is slightly closer to town. There's no easy way to describe the Mandarin Oriental. It's a fantasy design incorporating the look of temples and palaces from several cultures and periods of Northern Thailand. Lastly, there's the only truly top-end hotel in the city proper, the Chedi Chiang Mai. The Chedi built a new hotel with their trademark spa not far from the night bazaar. The hotel is built around the 1912 residence of the British Counsel, now restored for use as the hotel's restaurant.
 

Stars	Hotel Name	Location	Rate
	Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai	Mae Rim	From: $ 291
	Welcome to Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai. Spacious Lanna-style pavilions overlook terraced rice fields and the mountains in the beautiful Mae Rim Valley, minutes from the artistic and cultural heritage of Thailand's northern capital. From the Thai cooking school to the acclaimed spa and flawless service, a signature Four Seasons experience.A tiny kingdom of spacious, Lanna-style pavilions presides over rice fields and mountains in the tranquil Mae Rim Valley. Experience our Thai cooking school or  (More...) Compare rates for the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel	Riverside	From: $ 603
	Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand, and famously known as the andquot;gateway to the Northandquot;, is a treasure house of natural beauty. Unparalleled picture-perfect lush green plains, cradled in the arms of majestic mountains surrounding it, Chiang Mai is a major tourist destination. People from all over the world are gradually discovering this city, and are coming here for a pleasure trip. Chiang Mai, in its turn, has set up a wide range  (More...) Check rates for the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.
	The Chedi Chiang Mai	Riverside	From: $ 211
	The historical city of Chiang Mai welcomes all those searching for a serene place where they can spend some quality time close to nature. The city situated on the northern end of Thailand is a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty and its glorious past. The city is nestled in the foothills of the imposing mountain ranges of Thailand and presents the freshness of the typical chilly yet comforting weather that is a  (More...) Check rates for the The Chedi Chiang Mai at Reservations 24. Compare rates for the The Chedi Chiang Mai at all on-line sites using HotelsCombined.

Special Hotel Features

There are places you won't find on the major hotel reservation sites. These include small guest houses within Chiang Mai as well as unique resorts in the countryside. Below are some of the places we've come across in our travels that we think you might want to know about.

Baan Orapin

West of the Ping River, near Wat Gate, is a beautiful bed and breakfast residence built around a 90 year old teak house.
[Update November 2005:] Recent guests report that Baan Orapin just gets better. They've paved the courtyard and are even planning to add a pool. Everyone we've heard from has nothing but raves for the place.

Kaomai Lanna Resort

Those looking for a truly unique experience will want to consider Kaomai Lanna Resort, which was built within old tobacco curing barns.

Seven Suns Guest House

Within the walls of the old city, near some of the city's largest old temples, is a guest house with a bit of a difference. Seven Suns is operated as a non-profit business to help fund vocational development and AIDS education among the disadvantaged of northern Thailand and Burma.