How to Choose the Best Chiang Mai Hotel to Stay At While on Vacation

When surveyed about what they want from a hotel, most people said they'd be happy with good lighting and access to some good tea. While you might expect people to be more needy, at the end of the day they just want to feel like they can relax in a place with a great mood. When you're choosing a Chiang Mai hotel, you'll probably be looking for the same thing.

Here are 5 things that you should consider when you're trying to find the best hotel to stay at during your trip to Thailand.

1. Immersive Luxury

When you're looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai, you don't want something that feels generic. While some of the large name brand hotels and resorts will engage some of the local flavors you should find something that has luxury and taste.

When you're on vacation, it's not uncommon to want to feel like you're living in the lap of luxury. While you might not expect it from a smaller hotel or company, the number of luxury villas in Chiang Mai might surprise you.

Rather than treating you like another guest, a boutique luxury resort could give you a private and personalized experience you won't soon forget.

If you can get access to a private pool as well, you know you're living it up!

While there will be lots of tourism in and out of Chiang Mai, you can get a private and personal experience from the luxury boutique resorts in the city. You'll have all of the access you'd expect from a big hotel but could be insulated from the noise and lights that make a city run. If you're enjoying a honeymoon or anniversary, immersive luxury could be exactly what you need to keep the heat going.

2. Friendly, Personable Staff

No matter where you stay, the Chiang Mai hotel you choose has to have a great staff. Without a friendly and personal staff, especially if this is your first time in the city, you won't feel comfortable. You might be looking for gay friendly accommodation. The best places will always make you feel welcome.

If you find a smaller boutique hotel, you might even find that the owners are on site when you need them. Because it can be a culture shock for lots of Americans, even those who've studied Thai culture, the staff can shepherd you through your trip. Having someone to connect to is important.

In smaller boutique resorts, you get luxury with a sort of "bed and breakfast" vibe. You might even find that you'll have meals personally prepared for you.

When you've got friendly and knowledgeable people working on staff, you can make sure your every need is taken care of. They know that you're a long way from home and so they'll make sure that you have every essential comfort at arm's length. Staff that makes you feel comfortable makes the trip so much more fun.

3. Local Knowledge or a Concierge

For out-of-towners, especially those who crossed an ocean to visit, it's not uncommon to visit Chiang Mai with an idea in mind of where to go. When you choose a Chiang Mai hotel, you're not just choosing a hotel for their beds and views. You're choosing a place because you want to be in a good location with people who have a strong knowledge of what's fun in the area.

Find a resort that promises to send you to unique and off the beaten path locations. Rather than going through the checklist in the typical Chiang Mai tourism guidebook, they should show you what it's like to live in the city.

You should be able to taste, touch, and see everything you wouldn't if you were on your own. Since you've got a limited time, they should make sure that wherever they send you has other notable sights nearby. If you stay at a smaller boutique hotel or resort, you're actually in a much better position to talk about your interests than if you'd chosen a big chain.

You can sit and talk over a cup of tea and layout your master plan. Your hosts will go through and add some suggestions based on your interests.

4. Cool Design

When you're staying at a hotel, you should judge a book by its cover. You should stay at a place you want to be photographed at because it's got a great design and lovely architecture.

Part of staying at an "exotic resort" is that it looks and feels like you're somewhere exotic.

A resort that's sculpted with heart and soul, both inside and out, can give you the feeling of truly being in another world. If this is your first time in Thailand, the plant and animal life could be enthralling. If you want to walk through a garden or outdoor area, your resort should have something for you to see.

Smaller resorts have the feeling of a residential space without losing the feeling of staying in a luxurious environment.

5. Everything You'd Expect at Home and More

No matter what hotel you're staying at, you'll have a few expectations. Every resort or hotel should have a few basic things to ensure that it doesn't make you feel like a total fish out of water.

Whichever resort you choose, you should be able to get the kinds of amenities like breakfast service and wake-up calls that you need to feel good about the stay. If they serve tasty food when you need it, you could feel like you're at a home away from home.

No matter what you need, from swimming pools to high-speed internet, your hotel should offer something to help you relax and enjoy your time.

Choosing a Chiang Mai Hotel Might Be Hard

With so many lovely and competitively priced resorts and hotels in Chiang Mai, finding the spot for you could be challenging. The Chiang Mai hotel you choose could depend on the reason for your stay. A great hotel should have all the amenities you need along with a special touch to make you feel good about your stay.

If you plan to check out the nightlife in Chiang Mai, check out our guide to find out what you could be doing on your trip.