Luxury Hotel Chiang Mai – Home

Nirvana

Nirvana is defined as “a state of perfect happiness; an ideal or idyllic place”.

Howie’s HomeStay is Nirvana. It is the closest we have ever come to a Garden of Eden.

We came upon Howie’s HomeStay through an internet search as we planned our last-minute trip to northern Thailand. We were unbelievably fortunate to spend six magical days at Howie’s, surrounded by heart-stopping beauty, both natural and man-made. At Howie’s you are immersed in tranquility, surrounded by your own private tropical jungle, creek, pond (complete with ducks and a turtle!) and an infinity pool with an indescribably stunning view of the mountainous horizon. We have never been to a more serene, romantic place!

But the physical surroundings are only the backdrop for the “experience” of being there, which is shaped by the personalities of Howie and Jerri, the American-Thai couple that don’t just host you, they adopt you! It is so clear that for Howie, this isn’t a business, it’s a mission! And the mission is for his guests to simply have an unforgettable experience of a lifetime. You see, Howie built this place for himself, as his home, and only in the past five years decided to share his piece of paradise with guests.

So many have written about Howie’s hospitality, attention to detail and attentive organization of his guests’ every need and whim – and of Jerri’s extraordinary culinary talents. All of this is true, and more. But for us, their most endearing quality is simply their sincerity. Sincere interest in us. Sincere desire to make our stay perfect. Sincere caring.

And Howie is SUCH an interesting person! He’s a Renaissance Man! A self-made creative entrepreneur, knowledgeable about history, politics, business…

One more thing about Howie. He’s a fun guy with a great sense of humor!

We left Howie’s HomeStay not only with memories of an unforgettable experience, but with a sense that we make a new friend for life.

Luxurious Hidden Gem

Howie’s HomeStay defies simple categorization. Imagine a completely private luxury Chiang Mai hotel with an amazing personal chef (Howie’s wife), and an incredible host / concierge (Howie). Another way to describe it would be like an uber-luxury Airbnb, but it is unlikely that Airbnb has any properties or hosts at this level.

If you want a “local”, luxury experience – look no further. I believe that this is the type of authentic experience that luxury hotels and resorts all over the world aspire to create. Enjoy all of the benefits of a world-class luxury Chiang Mai hotel (incredible rooms, incredible property, friendly staff, amazing food). Now add all of the benefits of an incredibly well-connected, thoughtful, and helpful local host who doesn’t have any ulterior, corporate motives.

I work in the travel industry and have been fortunate enough to stay in incredible hotels all around the world. I wish Howie’s HomeStay was the future of luxury travel. But it probably won’t be, because there is only one Howie. I therefore recommend experiencing it while you can.

Incredible stay that defies categorization

Previous reviews have already described how wonderful the property and Jerri’s food is, so I won’t repeat them. Some highlights of our stay at HHS – visiting open air markets, tasting local food with our wonderful guide Addy, a day with elephants, and also just enjoying the peace and beauty of the property. Each day at Howie’s HomeStay was magical. I therefore found myself waking up early just to make the most of each day.

If it weren’t for HHS, we would have had the same predictable, touristy experience as most visitors to Thailand. We probably would have stayed in a hotel in Chiang Mai’s city center, and thought that Chiang Mai was just another city full of tourists, tchotchke shops, tacky bars and massage parlors. But thanks to Howie, our experience of Chiang Mai was authentic, luxurious, and delicious. We hardly saw any tourists at all, except at a few temples. It was one of the best trips of my life, and I don’t say that lightly.

If you want an unforgettable trip to Thailand, start by booking with Howie’s HomeStay. Certainly one of the best luxury hotels in Chiang Mai, Thailand.