We had a total of 5 nights in Chiang Mai and split this into three sections: 2 nights in the Old Town, 1 night in the jungle on a trek and the final 2 nights in the Nimmanhaemin Road area of Chiang Mai. For the first two nights of our trip we stayed at the Kodchasri Thani Hotel as a base to explore the Old Town.
This 4-star hotel has 39 rooms all in traditional Thai decor with oriental wood furnishings. The hotel definitely feels very traditional and although it is no Shangri-La, it has all the amenities you would need. The rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, TV, mini bar and modern bathroom. It has an outdoor pool with terrace area, the free Wi-Fi works very well and free bike rentals are also available.
The Kodchasri Thani Hotel is located towards the south-eastern corner of the Old Town. This part of Chiang Mai is almost perfectky square with a road and moat surrounding all four sides. There is a lot to see and do within this part of Chiang Mai and we wanted a base for two days to enable us to see as much as possible in the little time we had.
We were staying here over the Christmas period which is obviously one of the most popular times to travel – many Thais will travel from Bangkok to the north at this time of year as well as tourists.
As usual we had left booking our trip to pretty much the last minute! I think we booked our room about 6 week before travel which meant the best value options were already full. We paid £110 a night for our room, which we felt was slightly on the expensive side for Chiang Mai considering it’s size and facilities. But then again, that’s probably down to us booking it so late in the day!
The rooms
The rooms at the Kodchasri Thani Hotel were nice and spacious, and clean. Our room overlooked the garden and pool in the centre of the hotel. The pool was freezing when we were there – but we were there during cool season. And we only went for a dip just as the sun was moving off the pool so I expect it’s a welcome relief during the hot months or in the midday sun!
The bed was large and comfortable and the room had everything you needed. The only issue we had was the very weak and lukewarm shower. When you have a head of hair like mine (long and thick!) the thought of washing your hair in that is no fun!
The food
We only ate here for breakfast but both days it was good – too much street food to explore to eat in either night! As in many southeast asian hotels there was an omelet station where you could choose your ingredients. I love an omelet for breakfast so was very happy with this! Other options included western style breakfast items such as mini pancakes and streaky bacon. There was also a choice of curries, congee, fresh fruit, yoghurt and bread. For a relatively small hotel there was a great variety. You could enjoy the breakfast out on the terrace area by the pool which was lovely.
Location
When we were researching where to stay we decided to book the Kodchasri Thani Hotel because of it’s location paired with the good reviews. And it really is in a great location. It’s perfectly situated to explore the ancient parts of Chiang Mai.
You are within walking distance to the great food markets, Sunday Walking Street and Thapae Gate. Within about 10 minutes you can walk to the Night Bazaar and other attractions like Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan On and the Three Kings Monument. There are lots of little restaurants and cafes close by too.
The hotel is about a 15 minute drive from Chiang Mai International Airport and about the same in a tuk tuk to the bus station.
The verdict
The Kodchasri Thani Hotel is a great value option if you would like comfort and location without breaking the bank – book in advance for the best prices (unlike us!). The staff are friendly, the hotel is clean and the rooms comfortable and it’s location makes it the perfect base to explore the Old Town of Chiang Mai.
Address
54/3 Rajabhakinai Road
Phra Singh
Muang
Chiang Mai 50200
Thailand
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