I am slowly getting my trip pulled together, but continue to struggle with accommodation, largely because of lack of skills in searching and booking.

For hotels in Chiang Mai, my nightly budget tops at $50-ish. I am not looking for resorts or spas. Well located bur relatively quiet, with local flavor/character, safe area, and strong WiFi.

It would be very good if the staff might help with sorting transportation around the MHS loop as well as booking daytrips, cooking school, etc.

Crellston has recommended 3Sis, which looks absolutely spot on, but does not have availability on booking.com for my dates -- at the moment. I have also found P21 Chiangmai Hotel, which I have on hold -- at about $55/night.

Does anyone have other suggestions for my budget/needs? Or comments on P21?

My dates are January 17-24 (7 nights). I will make a separate booking-- at the same or a different hotel -- which I can cancel for the following week if my plans for MHS loop pull together.

Thanks!

Sorry, I don't have any specific recommendation s, but I would advise that you look at a local hotel booking site, www.sawasdee.com and screen for your criteria.

Also, you have a place you think you would like to stay but are is no availability on Booking.com. See if it is available on Sawasdee to on agoda, or email the hotel directly.

Thanks, Kathie! Still on my learning curve ....

I has vent been to CM so can't help with the city in particular. But I've used booking.com often.
One of the great things about the site is, if the entire dates of your desired stay are booked, they'll give you the dates during it, which are available.
E.g., as of right now, at 3 Sis on Booking.com ...your entire week January 17-24 is available except for one night, January 22.

My recommendation: book the dates which are available-- two separate bookings). You can cancel 24 hours in advance. So can others, which means, of those now booked rooms, some may be cancelled before the 24 hour deadline. You can keep checking booking.com, although availability may not appear until the day before, when all those with "holds" will cancel.

OR you could book just the January 17-21 room now, then search for another place with availability (and 24 hour cancellation) for Jan 22-24. it might be fun to have a change of scene/experience in any case.

Typo correction above: not "has vent' to VM--haven't! (;

We have stayed at 3 Sis a couple of times either side of driving the Mai Hong Sorn loop and loved it. Nice staff and a great location on the edge of the old town next to a famous Wat (can't recall its name) Rooms are minamalist but comfortable.

CaliNurse makes a great suggestion. It can be hard to get rooms in CM at that time of year so get booked quickly. Always ensure good cancellation terms. Booking. Com is the best for this.

I would add to Calinurses suggestion that if you do choose two separate place, then pick a second one on the opposite side of the old town near the river. That way you get to explore everywhere without having to constantly back track. CM is very walkable but you don't need to see everything 3 or 4 times.

We stayed at Baan Huen Phen in November 2016. We were a group of four so we had two twin rooms. The staff was wonderful and very helpful. Breakfast, cooked to order, was included in the rate. I think a twin room was around $50 a night with breakfast. WiFi was included. Our room had a refrigerator, nice bathroom, and a view of the courtyard and pool.

The location was excellent. It is on the same street at the 3Sis just a block or so farther away. We were able to walk to the markets and there were lots of restaurants nearby. We stopped by the 7-11 daily to stock up on drinks and snacks.