WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
What is Howie’s HomeStay?
A Chiang Mai Luxury Hotel? An Uber Luxury Airbnb?
Heaven on Earth! We spent five fabulous days at Howie's Homestay. Everything was perfect, the environment, the garden and the decoration are absolutely beautiful, every detail is designed to make you feel good. Jerri, Howie's wife, cooks exceptionally well and deserves her stars in the "Michelin Guide"! She made us discover many Thai dishes and desserts. The mix of textures and flavours was always amazing and delicious. Howie organised all the activities of our stay and even continued to take us "under his wings" during the rest of our stay in Thailand by giving us his good addresses. In short, a "tailor-made" stay that we will not soon forget !
Stayed October 2024
Staying at Howie's HomeStay was a magical experience. Howie and his wife Jeri are consummate hosts--the true definition of "innkeepers." Howie is an amazing raconteur and Jeri is an amazing executive chef. (The best food we had in Thailand was at Howie's dining room table.)
What did we like about it? First, the physical setting. We felt we had landed in a private oasis. Every detail of the compound has been subtly architected . . . the infinity pool that appears to spill into the duck pond below. The seating area at the end of the pool that appears to float in the pool. In our room, the glass around the bathroom wall, allowing you to join with nature during your shower. (There is an exterior wall for privacy and also an outdoor shower.)
The art and the artifacts on the grounds are stunning, collected by Howie over the years. Howie particularly likes elephants--and there are statues of them everywhere. But he also likes grinding tools, urns, mythical beasts and monkeys. We felt privileged to stay in what felt like a private sculpture garden and museum.
The landscape is spectacular--both the infrastructure and the plants themselves. Howie told us that he regularly replanted sections--so we never saw dead leaves or bromeliads that were past their prime. There is a stone-paved walkway that winds behind the guest rooms and the duck pond.
Howie also organized our activities, which in our case cantered on biking. Howie's long-time associate Addy was our guide. We also had a driver and bike guide arranged by Howie. Two of the three bike rides started from Howie's front door. Howie told us about other activities he has arranged for other guests (elephant safari, tea plantations), but we did not avail ourselves of any of them.
We have travelled all over the world, staying at top hotels. Our experience at Howie's was unique, and will be long remembered.
Stayed January 2024
Our family spent Christmas at Howie's Home Stay and the experience was definitely one of a kind! We watched a ton of YouTube videos of the place before we went and hoped it was as "nice" as the videos but I must say it was 100 times better in real life!
The place is like a piece of heaven, you cannot imagine the beauty and the calm energy you instantly feel as soon as you step into Howie's, it's true luxury I would say.
But Howie's wouldn't be what it is without its amazing hosts who just made the experience not only memorable to us but to our 7 year old daughter who cried as we were leaving because she was going to miss Uncle Howie and Auntie Jery. We also had our 11 months old baby with us who loved her morning walks around the lake and was mesmerized by the ducks, birds and squirrels in the beautiful trees that surrounded the property and dipping her feet in the pool.
And as I've been saving the best to last I have to thank the Amazing Chef Jery for making our dining experience the highlight of our whole Thailand trip! We've never had Thai food this good in our lives and that was our 3rd visit to Thailand.... the food was delicious and her desserts were heavinly! We also had a vegetarian friend with us and a friend with nut allergies and everyone had the same amazing food experience! But again it's not just the food, Jery is just the sweetest... our kids absolutely loved her! Her happy, loving evergy is infectious.
We will definitely go back to Howie's because we feel like 4 nights were not enough!
Stayed December 2023
If you’re looking for:
-a private experience
-luxurious indoor/outdoor villa all to yourself
-the best Thai food in the country
You must stay at Howie’s. Went with a partner but there are more rooms for families or bigger parties.
Full concierge service from the moment we booked, Howie provided recommendations even for when we weren’t staying at the residence :)
Cool other part was everything was all inclusive. Didn’t get nickel and dimed for transportation, food, etc
If we could take this experience with us everywhere we traveled we’d do it in a heartbeat — unlike any other place we’ve ever been to.
Stayed November 2023
In a class of its own! We visited Howie and Jerri with our young children and another family in October 2023 and had an absolutely brilliant time. Howie was responsive, flexible and accommodating from very first contact and sorted out a fabulous stay, several fun and age appropriate outings and every other detail (small and large) throughout. Everything was relaxed and seamless - just what you want on holiday.
The accommodation and setting is absolutely beautiful. Photos cannot do it justice. No detail is overlooked and to have such a special space entirely to yourselves is the ultimate luxury. The guest rooms are stunning and spacious and really well laid out. Howie was very accommodating as we mixed and matched across the rooms available to fit our children!
Jerri’s cooking is top class. The variety of flavours and beautiful presentation of every dish were extraordinary. We could feel the love and care that went in to every meal and were thoroughly spoiled. Jerri’s special meals for the children were also very much appreciated - a perfect mix of classic favourites and new tastes and flavours. The special after dinner treats created fans for life. “Can we have every holiday at Howie’s?!”
We were bowled over by how much the children loved the grounds. They melted off to explore the extensive and beautifully designed gardens and paths, build dens, keep an eye on the geese, pat the dogs, admire the flowers - it was such bliss to know they were having the time of their lives but were perfectly safe. Nothing better for a parent on holiday!
Needless to say, we cannot recommend Howie’s Homestay enough.
Stayed October 2023
Howie has created his own category of accommodation. There is nothing else like it. It’s not a luxury hotel, because at a luxury hotel you will see other guests. It’s not a Homestay because it is way too opulent. It is unique in the world.
Howie worked with Bill Bensley, the famous creative genius behind some of best hotels in Asia, to build this sublime compound.
We stay here with our daughter and son-in-law for three days, and should have stayed longer. Howie and his charming wife Jerri fed us some of the best food we had in southeast Asia, arranged insider tours that only the locals know, and made sure our time as a family was memorable.
When we checked in and toured the property in wonder, our kids asked how many other guests would be staying there. When we told them it was just us, their jaws dropped.
Thank you so much Howie and Jerri. We’ll see you again soon.
Stayed October 2023
Howie’s Home Stay — is staying in Howie’s home but Howie’s home is an estate that equals or betters any Aman or Six Senses - designed by Bill Bensley probably the most renowned architect of homes and hotels in Asia and across the globe. Everything is flawless. It’s a wonderful alternative as you really are staying in Howie’s Home visiting your friend versus staying on an anonymous hotel. The service is impeccable, the design and comfort 7 star all the way. The food is exquisite. Howie’s wife Jerri is a super chef and in all my years visiting Thailand I never had such amazing Thai food. It’s worth it just for the food but sadly you must be a guest to experience the food.
And while you are a guest in Howie’s home the size of the estate and all the separate buildings for living spaces, you have as much privacy as you might desire more than in any regular hotel.
Finally Howie is a wonderful host who will organize any activities you might want to explore from antiquing to elephants.
This is probably one of the best and unique hotel experiences I have had anywhere in the world— so if in Chaing Mai skip the Four Season, the Amans and stay here for a unique seven star experience.
Stayed September 2023
I will preface my review by saying our family of 7 has traveled all over the world together, staying at unique luxury accommodations.
Howie was truly a breath of fresh air from the second we booked our stay. He helped map out our stay that perfectly balanced experiencing culture, keeping the kids active and down time at his magnificent place to enjoy the grounds and pool. We decided the night before that we wanted to make the 45 min trek at 4:15 in the morning to visit a local temple to witness the morning chants and rituals of the monks followed by alms. Howie didn’t bat an eye and was able to pull this together at the last minute. (By the way, if you have never experienced this and don’t mind early wake up, this ones an incredible experience).
I also celebrated my birthday while at Howies. He worked with my husband to make it a truly memorable experience that I will never forget, complete with a lantern release, the most beautiful flowers, an elaborate and perfectly crafted birthday dinner/cocktails, the sweetest and most perfect cake made by Jerri.
Howie also arranged an elephant experience and cooking class while we were there. Both were wonderful experiences that we are so glad we got to experience and felt that his recommendations (because there are at least 1000 options for cooking classes and elephant experiences) were truly above the others.
Now that we have returned from our trek around Thailand, I can confidently say that Howies Homestay was the best part of our entire vacation and hands down the best food we ate throughout our travels as well.
Teenage girls are impossible to please, it seems, but somehow Howie and Jerrie managed to capture the hearts of all 5 of our girls. We must have heard at least a hundred times through the remainder of our trip after leaving Howies “we miss Howie.”
We debated between Howies Homestay and the Four Seasons and are so glad we made the choice we did. The amenities were on par with the four seasons (which is an extremely high bar to meet) but the overall experience was leaps above anything we would have had there. If you are debating on booking, here’s your sign JUST DO IT.
Stayed July 2023
What an amazing experience we had here at Howie’s Home Stay. Four of my friends and I found this hidden gem and we had an unforgettable experience. I am so grateful of Howie, his wife Jerri, and the crew. Their number 1 objective was to make sure we were fully enjoying our stay.
The property is one in a billion. We literally had the entire place to ourselves. Every inch of the property is well kept and the design details just blew me away. There’s so much to appreciate that it takes days to fully take it all in.
We gathered by the pool most evenings. It’s a gorgeous area with soft warm lighting. The pool over looks a pond and we noticed the harmonious eco system that this pond offers. Beautiful birds, ducks, fish, frogs, etc. it’s a soothing and much needed relaxing situation that I hope to have again.
We woke up to fresh coffee and local fruits and croissants in the mornings. These fruits are super sweet like shockingly good. I usually dont eat much fruits but these were different. Then there’s Jerri. Her Thai cooking is top notch. It simply doesn’t get any better. Except it does, Jerri is such a sweet person with a sweet soul. She felt like family.
Howie made sure that all the accommodations we were seeking were accomplished before we left.
From shopping, massages, museums, khao soi (a local special) to some outside city entertainment.
I would highly recommend this place!
Stayed June 2023
We had high expectations for Howie’s given what we saw on the website, the fact that it was designed by the pre-eminent hotel designer in Asia, the single-party occupancy… but Jerri and Howie managed to exceed them.
The location is ideal and the house itself is even prettier than the pictures. It’s immaculately maintained, and you have more space than you practically know what to do with.
What really makes the place special, though, is the soft stuff. Jerri’s cooking is as authentic as it gets, and most importantly absolutely delicious. Howie’s dedicated guide, Addy, is thoughtful about where he takes you throughout your stay and was extremely informative while we visited the various sites. Lastly, Howie was a great host and made sure everything was attended to, not the least going out of his way to confirm details with our next accommodation in Thailand.
If you’re looking for a unique experience that includes all of the best things about a 5 star hotel but personalized for you with the benefit of living in Chiang Mai for 25 years, look no further. We’ll be back!
Date of stay: April 2023
Howie's Homestay is a truly unique and exceptional experience. The architecture, landscape, art, interiors, and setting are nothing short of stunning. From the moment we turned into the driveway, we knew we were in for a treat in a very special home. Walking the grounds transports you to a peaceful Asian oasis and invites you to relax and settle into the peaceful surroundings. Howie is a superb conversationalist with a very interesting story and his wife Jerry is as lovely as she is talented in the kitchen. We enjoyed exceptional authentic Thai food and only wish we could have stayed longer.
Date of stay: December 2022
My husband and I recently took a trip to Thailand. As seasoned world travelers, we like to have our accommodations be a mix of some high-end places and more local establishments. This is so we can enjoy a little R&R luxury and get a real taste for the local culture. We do extensive research to make sure that we are accomplishing these two things. After booking our Chiang Mai hotels, we came across the Travel Advisor listing for Howie’s Homestay. The photos and the reviews that Howie has received are what first drew us in and helped us to decide to change all of our plans to stay there instead. But then once we started to communicate with Howie, we knew that we’d made the right choice! Making the reservation with Howie was so easy and he was so communicative throughout the entire process. This is most often not the case when trying to make reservations in Thailand! And, even better, Howie is so very knowledgeable about the area (all of Thailand really) and the tourism community in general, that we felt like we had our own private tour advisor. It seems like everyone knows him. His advice and insight was so very helpful - it made our entire trip better. Howie was a tremendous host to us before we even arrived. He was able to get us a booking for an afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel while we were still in Bangkok. In Chiang Mai, he helped to book some tours for us with a driver and, Addy, a wonderful guide.
Once we arrived at Howie’s, we were blown away by the architecture and the terrain, all of which has been so luxuriously designed by the famous Californian architect, Bill Bensley. The photos on the propertie's website didn’t do it justice. It was beyond beautiful, extremely comfortable, and really relaxing. We stayed in a private building on the property just steps from the dining room and the amazing pool, but it felt very secluded. Our room was impeccably decorated and appointed with every comfort. The bed was very comfortable which is especially important to my husband. There is a full, gratis mini-bar with snacks and drinks. Even the laundry service was quick, easy, and expertly done. The bathroom was so wonderfully designed and there was even an outdoor shower. I really enjoyed that. One of our favorite things to do was to swim in the pool. It is so beautifully designed, fitting in seamlessly to the property and the surrounding terrain day or night. We never tired of it.
And we would be completely remiss if we did not mention the amazing food! Jerri, Howie’s wife, prepared for us 5-star Thai meals at every sitting. It was one of the highlights of our stay. It was some of the best food that we have had anywhere that we’ve been! Howie and his wife were such wonderful company, as well. At the time, we were their only guests and we thoroughly enjoyed our conversations at dinner and at breakfast.
All in all, we had an amazing time. Seriously, we cannot recommend staying at Howie’s Homestay enough! We felt like we experienced every bit of the luxury that we were after and also got a great sense of the local culture. Skip staying at the comparatively stale Four Seasons and actually save money by staying with Jerri and Howie. You won’t regret it.
Side note: Howie is a real gem! He even administered a little first aid for my husband who adventurously ate some street food the night before we traveled to Chiang Mai. My husband was fixed up by the next morning. Howie saved the trip for sure!
Date of stay: October 2022
Upon arrival our first impression was that the name didn’t suit. Howie’s Home Stay immediately exceeded our expectations, and we were still only in the vehicle courtyard.
Photos can’t begin to describe its beauty. A few steps later we were transported inside an Architectural Digest Magazine, later discovering it had been featured in this publication amongst others.
There is an actual Howie, whom warmly welcomed us. Howie provided a goldilocks orientation, neither too long nor short, though we weren’t really paying attention as our eyes were mesmerized with the surroundings. If you are a lover of architecture, landscaping, fine furnishings and art you have come to the right place, and yet there is more as we soon discovered.
The forested mountain views, especially enjoyed from the infinity pool, are the foothills of the Himalayas and include a small golden buddha temple in the distant horizon. There is a 10 minute walk within the property on a stone pathway to see some friendly wildlife residents. All is yours to enjoy exclusively as there is only one reservation accepted at a time, and privacy is a welcomed reprieve in our increasingly busy world.
Immaculately maintained, we were spoiled with 5 Star Service from the staff whom quietly execute with perfection. This together with the feeling of your own private home was a nice contrast to luxury hotels that often seem soulless.
For activities beyond this heaven on earth, trust in Howie. Once decided, all details are managed like Swiss clock work. If instead peace and tranquillity with a swim are desired, go no further than just beyond your bedroom suite door.
Pleasant surprises continued as we got to know our hosts, who also knew when guests needed time to themselves. Howie’s stories told with humour are worthy of an autobiography. Then there is Jerri, Howie’s wife and partner. She owns a very successful restaurant in town and naturally was our chef while at the villa. It felt like a Michelin Star restaurant in a gorgeous yet unpretentious setting. The presentation was Louvre worthy art, and the taste sensations were a gastrointestinal tour de force of the very best in Thai cuisine and creativity. If Jerri ever produces the cookbook we encouraged her to write, buy it.
When leaving, we again thought about the Home Stay name Howie chose for this magnificent architectural gem. It indeed felt as comfortable as Home, and we already missed our Stay.
Date of stay: November 2022
From my initial enquiry through to our transportation to our next location (and recommendations beyond) I cannot fault the service. Everything was as smooth and stress free as we have ever experienced.
This gem of a place is a stunning oasis with outstanding customer service.
The Teak suite is beautiful, the bed as comfortable as you will ever find, a stunning silk daybed to relax, wonderful bathroom with everything you could need, loungers outside, at the other side a full fridge and chairs in the shade, stunning gardens and complete privacy- if you require.
The day room had a wonderful collection of books and great shaded area to while away a day. The pool is fabulous with loungers, chairs and tables everywhere.
It would be easy to make this review all about the hosts but there is so much more to this place. The setting and gardens are unparalleled, the ambiance just heavenly, it’s a retreat if that’s what you require- we had massages without having to leave the premises. Howie is like a genie in a bottle, he can muster up just about anything! Jerri who is the understated star is just the most gifted chef! Every day she did her magic and completely overwhelmed us with the most delicious meals. Everything was fresh and so much choice, there was enough food for 10. She tweaked a lot of dishes as I prefer fish and veggies but she took it all in her stride and served the best food I’ve had in Thailand.
We left to experience the city and it was the worst decision of our trip. We just pined to go back. We missed our oasis and our baby BamBam (resident baby golden retriever) and of course Howie, Jerri, all the wonderful staff and not forgetting GiGi, BamBam’s friend.
We will return!!!!!!!
Date of stay: November 2022
Greg and I first visited Thailand for our honeymoon in November 2016. We absolutely fell in love with the country. It was during this time that I first laid eyes on Howie’s Homestay and heard about the wildly talented architect, Bill Bensley. Although we didn't stay at Howie's Homestay in 2016, I never forgot it. When we made the decision to return to Chiang Mai with my parents in Jan 2022, we were thrilled to book this exquisite private Chiang Mai luxury villa. It was exciting to know that we would be the only guests during our time there!
The 10 STAR (way above 5 star) service began long before we arrived in Thailand. Howie offered his expertise at every corner from the moment we made contact. Traveling during the pandemic came with some extra obstacles but Howie was right there to help us decipher a plan to be compliant with Thai and US travel rules. Howie proactively offered to help us set up our daily activities and made amazing recommendations taking into consideration our preferences. He also lined up our driver and our incredible guide, Addy. Every single detail was considered and planned ahead of time with ease. Howie knew all the best places and really took so much stress out of planning our vacation.
My family was excited to experience this place I had been describing to them. When we arrived at Howie's Homestay, I took a moment and had to exhale. It was perfect in every way - and unbelievably, it exceeded my expectations which were over the moon! Simply put, it's like heaven on earth. Literally. It's so beautiful with so much to explore and see - Howie's collection of antiques, the art, the insanely stunning architect, the beautiful garden. The accommodations were perfect and private and just pure luxury.
Even for the pickest eater in our group, we were all so impressed by Jerri and her home-cooked Thai cuisine. We ate things we'd never heard of and loved each bite! Howie and Jerri are special, special people. We enjoyed conversations and stories with Howie every night in the dining room. We even had vacation dogs - Didi and Gigi - beautiful angels who we enjoyed so much.
This is a trip we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Getting to experience Howie's Homestay and call it our home for a short bit, was the hugest honor. It was sad to say good bye. We are so grateful for the memories and will never forget our time at Howie's Homestay. We look forward to a day when we can return and bring friends to share it with.
Date of stay: January 2022
It’s difficult for me to know where to begin, since the entire experience at Howie’s Homestay was sheer perfection!
From the moment you speak with Howie, everything is arranged for you, in the most exclusive and seamless manner. Howie, only works with the best, so his team/staff is held to the highest standard, and exceed your expectations.
We were picked up at the airport by Addy and our driver, and upon arrival were greeted by Howie, (you immediately fall in love with this man) and by the time he gave us a tour of the property, our bags were already in our beautiful Villa.
From the moment you walk in, you feel the harmony and beauty of what is to be your
“home” for the next few days, or weeks if you’re lucky! From the orchids, to the fruit plate, the fully stocked private fridge with water, soft drinks, snacks, and beer upon request, you will want for nothing. Everything is luxurious and tasteful, down to the bath products and artisanal soaps.
Jerri, Howie’s wife, is not only beautiful and warm, but is one of the most creative and talented cooks, I’ve ever met. Truly Michelin Star quality food, from the ingredients, to execution, presentation, creativity, and of course taste. Everything she made was delicious and beautiful! Oh, did I mention the desserts? Exquisite! Jerri cooks with love, and it shows in everything she does. Also, for your day trips, she always sends a little snack or packed lunch, which were much appreciated.
Howie, my main man, (I have a soft spot for this Bostonian) is the one makes everything work… he arranges everything. We went to the Patara Elephant Farm (great experience) and to explore some waterfalls, and temples. We wanted to do some sightseeing, but the property itself is such a work or art, that it was hard to leave! From the gardens, to the pool, the hidden architectural gems everywhere, every day, I discovered something different. This is not your regular “homestay” lodging, it’s an architectural wonder, so tastefully done, and done with love.
I can’t recommend it enough, it was the most beautiful and peaceful place we have ever stayed at, and we travel extensively. We did not want to leave, but will definitely be retuning as soon as we can. This was part of our wedding anniversary trip (we do one every year, for the last 27 years) and it was one, if not my favorite place to stay at.
There are no other guests at the property, either than your group/family, during your stay. It’s all yours, and all about you. It’s your very own Garden of Eden!
Didi and Gigi, (love these dogs) are the family’s pets, and can be as present or absent as you want ,depending if you are dog lovers or not. We LOVE dogs, so it was an added bonus to have Didi keep us company and to play with.
For our last afternoon there, and before our long trip back to Miami Beach, Howie made reservations for us at this amazing spa, where we had the works, after we got in a little shopping. Again, Addy and our driver took us to the airport, after having spent the day at our disposal and accompanying us on our shopping, and translating for us. We appreciated them both, and their professionalism.
Howie, is there when you need him, makes sure you have everything you need, but gives you absolute privacy as well. It’s the perfect balance, it’s the perfect place, and we can’t wait to return.
Thank you Howie and Jerri, you made our trip to Thailand unforgettable, and perfect.
February 2022
I had my eye on Howie’s Homestay for a number of years. This year a vacation plans for Thailand finally fell into place. From first contact I knew I was dealing with something different. You’re not dealing with a chain or entity, you’re dealing with Howie, his wife and team. This prompted a call. Howie’s personality and demeanor had me hooked. I hung up happy and the booking was confirmed with a simple email, call it a handshake.
My wife and I arrived and were greeted by Howie and his team. The check-in process wasn’t a process at all. We felt like we were visiting an old friend. Everything about it was casual.
The property is a 4 acre work of art, an architectural marvel, which is dedicated to your use for the duration of your stay. There are no other guests. At ever point on the property there is something new to see for every 5 degrees you look. The place is unbelievable yet very, very real. We only left the property once for a visit Patara Elephant Farm (highly recommend). There were a number of activities we could have done but opted to simply enjoy the property. How could you not? It is, by definition, a Shangri La.
To boot, his wife, Jerri is a sweetheart and one hell-of-a cook! All of her dinner dishes stack up against some of the best Thailand had to offer during our visit.
We didn’t pay a thing until the very end of our stay. There was no deposit, no upfront this, no block on that. Howie doesn’t nickel and dime. It was one price for everything (food, drink, laundry, excursions, you name it). Everything about the experience was warm, friendly, simple and to the point. This ranks as one of the best travel experiences we’ve had to date.
If we’d died and gone to heaven it wouldn’t be St. Peter who’d meet us at the pearly gates. It’d probably be Howie.
January 2022
I don’t know where to start. My wife and I spent 3 nights last week and it was one of our most memorable stays ever. I have stayed at La Mamounia, 6 Aman resorts as well as many other 6-star places in the world but Howie’s experience is something very difficult to explain – it was so amazing. The pavilion was fabulous and the overall property is a work of art. Every corner is a treasure to behold and one can feel that the place is a product of love and not just architecture.
Jerri, Howie’s wife, is one of the finest chefs I have come across and I consider myself a foodie who travels to eat at Michelin Star restaurants worldwide. More than her cooking, it was the way she presented the food as well as the warmth with which she fed us everyday. We felt our family members were feeding us on our annual holiday.
Their attention to detail to maintain the comfort during the stay was outstanding – most importantly, it was luxury at the highest level. It was a perfect stay, where we had total privacy and yet he would exactly have the warmth to come and chat with us everyday to make sure we were doing great as well as keep us company over some wine.
I can go on and on but suffice to say that anybody looking for a private luxurious place with finest hosts you can imagine, should go there at least once to experience what an amazing place that is.
I have not even written about how he went out of his way to set up barbecue for us and make grilled steaks for us himself to celebrate our stay with us over wine on the last night together.
We will be back very soon…..Thanks a lot Howie and Jerri.
December 2020
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.
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.
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.
It was 5 beautiful nights we spent at Howie’s homestay. Truly a unique property with delicate architectural design and details. The site situated in an exceptional setting with view to Doi and surrounding by beautiful garden/ landscape. You will enjoy living in “Lanna” lifestyle among Howie’s antique collections in each space. We received well hospitality from Howie and Jerri who cooks amazing food for our dinners including Northern specialty. It was a one of our trip after covid lockdown, we felt safe and the place is very high on hygiene. Great ideal place to travel to as you will enjoy so much of the privacy.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have visited Howie’s Homestay right before travel became so difficult. My husband and two friends and I spent two weeks in Southeast Asia. Our time in Thailand was amazing but the stay with Howie and Jerri was the absolute highlight. Chiang Mai is an amazing city and Howie made sure that we made the most of our visit, focusing on the things we were most interested in (elephants! craft beer! shopping!) My favorite travel adventures have always been visiting friends abroad, and this was no exception. From the moment we booked, Howie was a friend who was so excited about our visit to Chiang Mai. And the property and the food rival any place we have stayed anywhere in the world. We travel quite a bit, and this experience was absolutely one-of-a-kind fabulous.
We spent 5 nights at Howie’s and every part of our stay was truly exceptional. The food is just simply amazing in every way. Taste, presentation, variety and all authentic Thai cooking.
The accomodation is palatial and totally private. They are truly proud of what they have created and endeavor to make your stay perfect.
Howie is a wonderful host and source of local knowledge. He made great recommendations for local activities. We stay in lots of 5 star hotels but is was really great to enjoy such a wonderful and unique experience.
I spent three days and nights at Howie’s HomeStay with three friends. It was one of the most enjoyable, memorable and lovely experiences of my life. For starters, the large property is breathtakingly beautiful and designed by a world-renowned architect. Jerri’s food is unreal — as good as you find at the world’s top restaurants. Howie is a superb host. I really enjoyed getting to know him, and he took great pains to ensure that all our needs were met during our stay. I can’t say enough good things about this unique experience.
