Manathai Village - Chiang Mai
 

Hi,

I'm currently organising my honeymoon for Jan 07 and will be staying in Chiang Mai for 7 nights. I am looking for the 'boutique' experience, romantic type thing obviously, but in close proximity to city stuff like Night Bazaar. The budget is 3500-4000tbht max per night.

The Yaan Come Village looks great and I would love to be able to go there but it is probably too far over the budget. I have been looking at the Manathai Village but have been unable to come up with huge amounts of information because of its relative newness.

Is there anyone who has stayed at the Manathai and can say what the experiance was like, comfort levels, space and all that. My fiance has seen a picture of a rather rustic bath and was concerned by this, wanting more in the lines of a jacuzzi style situation.

Any general help, information, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

I haven't stayed there but I have read posts about this place on tripadvisor Chiang Mai forum so you may want to do a search there too.

Here's a late May review

http://www.res24.com/review/posts.ht...=beachsiam.com

The location is not as good as the Yaang Come. I have not seen but have seen the manathai Phuket which was excellent and the thing I notcied in particular was the excellent staff, well trained, same owner ( very wealthy ) and if anything like the Phuket one they pay attention to detail.

For that budget, you're not going to get a jacuzzi in the room, which are quite rare in Chiang Mai at any rate. The Yaan Come Village starts at 3200 a night at Precision Reservations, so it might be within your budget.

I just stayed at the Tri Yan Na Ros on my last trip a week or so ago. It was very nice, but I think the rooms might be too small for a 7 night stay.

You might want to consider the higher priced Yaan Come Village for part of your stay and then for a change spend a few days in the mountains north of the city. A place that has received good reviews is the small Baan Rai Lanna, about 45 minutes north. Here you can arrange for tours to a elephant camp, visit local tribes/villages, go hiking and biking or just relax by the pool, have a great massage and savor their fine food. Rates are reasonable at 2700 baht and they will pick you up at a city hotel.
http://www.baanrailanna.com/

Of course there are other nice places away from the city such as Baan Deva Montra, Belle Villa Lanna Mantra , Jirung Health Resort  as examples.

Thanks guys.

I know what you mean about the jacuzzi Michael and I agree with you. Only problem is my fiance was thinking this direction and was a bit disappointed to be presented with this http://www.asiatravel.com/thailand/p...ai/accomm.html , which is supported by the review James supplied which says 'the only drawback is the rather old bathtub which has seen better days.'

The prices do start at about 3200 for the YCV yeah, but when you look at high season when we will be there in Jan, atsiam.com is listing 4500 for the Superior and 5500 for the deluxe. As you say, 7 nights is a while and I was thinking we might need the deluxe, which is miles over our budget. Would the superior be enough for us tho? Perhaps someone who's been there...

We wanted to stay near the city Scotters to give us the flexability of eating and activities and stuff, not stuck at a resort doing their stuff and paying top dollar.

Thanks for the tip on the tripadvisor forum Bella, I've been on there but not the forum, I'll check it out.

Thanks.

At YCV, the superior room is only slightly smaller and does not have a bathtub but only a shower. It is certainly large enough for 2 people for week. But, if your fiance is looking for jacuzzi, then you don't get one at YCV unless you book the suite room, and that's expensive. We were upgraded to the suite room for one night when we returned there after 2 nights at elephant camp, and it was lovely.

Yeah, choosing the suite was never going to be an option. I was thinking the deluxe, which has a'king bath', bit of a compromise.

Could you give a bit more info/opinion on what you thought of the superior room at the YCV? Nice enough for honeymoon?

Thanks.

There is really little difference in the rooms themselves. The size difference is minimal. The lack of a tub in the superior may make a difference to you. Some rooms face into the property, and some face out. I would request a room that faces in, as the ones that face out look out into the side of another building or a building site.

The beds are comfy. TV gets some international channels if you are into TV. Minibar is adequately stocked. There are no drawers for clothes, but there a wardrobe where you can hang things.

I think that if you are ok with no bathtub, then a superior room is perfectly nice enough. Granted, we were not on our honeymoon, but we spent very little time in our room outside of sleeping. We spent a great deal of time hanging out by the pool, in the restaurant or in the lobby area.

The hotel itself is boutique style, and the staff is very, very nice. The manager went out of her way to make sure we were happy and was very helpful in recommending things for us to do.

It also might be well worth your while to splurge for a few nights then change location a bit for a different experience. Close to town is Joy's House, which is unique in many ways...I don't know your style, but it's worth a look at least www.joyshouse.net Close to town is Baan Sing Kham which looks nice in pictures but I haven't seen it in person. A bit farther, Baan Rai Lanna is an option, or a bit farther away and rustic Chiang Dao Nest. Even more different, 2 nights at the Elephant Conservation Center www.chiangthai.com - that would cost you 10,000 baht for 3 days/2 nights with meals and elephant activity included. Certainly memorable.

I think definitely look at this place.
http://www.baansingkham.com/ It seems lovely and is well within your budget.

I stayed in the Yaang Come this past January, and frankly, other than its location, nice pool, nice little open-air restaurant, I could take it or leave it-the rooms were just okay-mine was a little too dark for me-reminded me of a La Quinta motel room, if you know what I mean-which is perfectly fine, just nothing very elegant-the walls, and some of the finishing in the room left something to be desired, IMO.

You might want to look right next door to the Yaang Come-a really pretty nice (4 star I believe, because of the amenities) hotel with many inexpensive superior rooms, friendly staff, a pool, acres of marble in the lobby, and a very nice indoor beauty spa, among other things-CHIANG MAI PLAZA HOTEL. They might even upgrade you to a suite, given that it is your honeymoon-you could always ask.

I know I went over there about midnight one night this past January (I have stayed there in years past also), as I was hungry and everything else was closed up, and their restaurant was still serving sandwiches and drinks at 1:00am-which I liked.

The Chiang Mai Plaza is quite nice, but to me it felt like a generic high rise hotel. We visited some friends we met at elephant camp there, and it was not friendly like YCV.

Spygirl, I wonder if you had a room that faced the buildings to the outside? Our room was not dark, and we found the murals on the walls and the furnishings to be very nice. I had a tour of the place and saw quite a few rooms between the tour and the rooms of friends that we made there who were in 3 superior rooms on the ground floor near the pool. We were also there in January and got a very nice feeling from all of the staff, and the manager was exceptional.

My mistake...we were there until December 31...not in January.

Oh, I don't have any real negatives about it-my room was on the ground floor, which I didn't like, but I got such a good rate there (I think about $65.00US) that I really couldn't complain too much, could I? I know Opas over at BO asked me how much I was paying, I told him, and he was surprised about the inexpensive rate-he thought I'd be paying much more.


I think it's the same mural in all the rooms-which was just okay to me. I do know that when I asked about laundry they were outrageously expensive, but of course, since I know that area, I just took my laundry across the street to the shop there and they did a huge load for me, ironed everything, for $3.00. That's why I like that area so much-everything you need is right across the street.

And btw, they have a little hair salon in that little strip of shops/restaurants, just down from the laundry, two guys-did a FANTASTIC job on my hair, wash, blowdry, flat-iron-for $4.00.-really, the staff at YCV complimented me on how nice my hair looked, and I said, you can have it too-just go across the street-which surprised the two girls at the desk-they said they would, based on how my great they thought my hair looked!

As to Chiang Mai Plaza-it looks like a generic high-rise on the outside, but it's very Thai inside. Really good rates on rooms as well-I think it would work well for the OP.

Liam, if I were you, I'd go on www.tripadvisor.com and plug in Chiang Mai Plaza. Read the reviews and click on precision reservations to see about room rates. You might just like it-and it is in an ideal location.

Chiang mai actualy now has such a large choice it can make deciding more difficult. Not wishing to confuse further but the Jirung health resort hads suites which are a bargain, bit of a way from town but great if you enjoy spa and want a suite at a good price.

http://www.phuket-luxury-hotels.com/...ry_hotels.html

You can find the nice places and honeymoon style.


Regarding the 'tub' at the Manathai, I don't know, but this is a new place, I doubt they would have bought in 'used' tubs, I wonder if it's the case as another place that put in wooden tubs like you see in the old western movies, that seems to be a trend, and the review talked about the 'old' tubs, the Phuket Manathai has been finsihed off with such design detail down to mathing 'threads' on cushions so it would be a big surprise that the Chiang mai one had not received the same stylish attention.

James, what about the D2? It's pretty expensive, I think, but in a very central location-it gets mixed reviews, except as to their staff.

As Mighty_Liam and his fiance are looking for a boutique type of place then I actually don't think Chiang Mai Plaza or D2 or Jirung Health resort are that style at all so maybe not for them, but for sake of others good to mention.

There such good choice in the Chiang Mai area.

Actually, Mighty_Lion, have you considered Baan Orapin??

I'll try and answer all the points that have been raised, its always nice to have heaps of information :)

Thanks for the extra description of YCV rooms Kim, its good to have and will certainly influence our decision. We looked at the Baan Sing Kham but decided we wanted to be closer to the city than that, hence why we are looking at places like YCV and Manathai.

As James was saying, the bathtub in Manathai is more too do with the 'feel' they are going for rather than using old fittings - like your example with the wooden tubs. I was curious as to whether it was in the Jnr suite as well, or its actual condition too if anyone had been - ie how bad is it really?

As Kim has said, we are looking more for the boutique experience here in the first week of our HM, we will be doing the highrise thing in Bangkok. Not saying that some of these other hotels are not nice (some are very nice, and very $$$) but its not what we are looking for.

The Baan Orapin has been getting a lot of air time on a forums and I have looked at it but the pictures etc. to me seemed to suggest it was not quite as luxurious as YCV. For any other trip, yeah, we'd probably be happy with it, but for the HM I wanted to make it a bit more special.

I think at this stage it is looking like two choices. A Jnr Suite at the Manathai or Superior room at YCV.

The best price I see for Manathai for January/peak season is 5700 baht tax and breakfast included. Have you found a better price?

If you are going to spend that much money, why don't you have a look at Rachamanka (spelling). They don't allow kids and it's right in the middle of the old part of the city. Might be lovely for a honeymoon.

I spelled it wrong. www.rachamankha.com for information. Good rates on sawadee.com

My humble opinion, I would go for the Superior at the YCV. I think once there you will appreciate the location.

Another point to considor: As oppoised to say a beach resort where perhaps you are going to spend more time around your hotel/resort the whole 'nature' of Chiang Mai is to get 'out and about', you won't want to spend so much time in the city and no doubt will want to spend your time doing the trips and tours.

So early breakfast, maybe a swim, but otherwise off to do the sights, half day or full days trips, enjoy some shopping or enjoy some spa, probably heading back before sunset for a cool drink, then off to shower and get rerady to head to the bar for a pre-dinner / going out drink. Out to enjoy dinner, perhaps go to see a Thai show / perhaps Simon Cabaret, some night bazaar shopping. Back to the hotel to relax, few quick notes in the journal, relax and then off to dreamland.

Ok, none of us are the same, my point is that although you naturaly want a lovely place to stay that is comfortable, great service, perhaps just a thought about:
a>'Is that extra space in a Suite worth the extra price ?'
b> Location

YCV has a superb reputation, great location.

If you are not going to spend all that time in your 'room' do you really want to pay out just for that extra 'space'.

Also, 7 nights ( I hope I don't get shouted down ) is actualy quite a while if just staying in Chiang Mai - why not spend 5 days at the YCV and then head to the Jirung for a 3,400 suite (!) and enjoy all the spa and serenity. By that time you will know the layout of CM.
Also they do a 'free' airport shuttle for when you are leaving CM.

Jirung Reviews:
http://www.res24.com/review/posts.ht...=beachsiam.com

If you do that the extra over your planned budget for deluxe at YCV can be balanced out by 3,400 at the Jirung in a romantic suite!

Just some thoughts.

When we stay at YCV later in the month, my brother is staying in a Superior Room so I will take some photos of it so you can have a look. We are back in September and will post them on a photosite then.

I thought the bath at Manathai looked lovely - but that kind of style is very 'in' in England at the moment so I am probably influenced by the design mags I spend my nose in when not nosing around on this board :)

BB

the cheapest rates for YCV are found on www.atsiam.com .

made a reservation thru them, got confirmation & voucher in less than 24 hours. no hassle.

The best rate for a Jr suite at the Manathai that I found so far is 4850 baht at
http://www.hotelthailand.com/chiangm...age/index.html

There maybe cheaper ones but not all sites have the 2006/07 high season rates as yet

I just looked at the website of Manathai and it looks really lovely -- much more elegant than YCV.

Hotelthailand.com has got Jnr Suite in late Jan for 3770BHT breakfast and taxes. This is what I was going off, we are arriving Jan 23 so miss the peak bit :D.

At this stage of the game I think my thoughts line up with James opinion in regards that yes, the aim is to get out and see the city, hence the importance of location. We will be obviously spending time in our room relaxing etc. during the hot part of the day or whatever but the addition of a few extra sq mt (and a bath) are not going to make that much difference. However, from what I have seen and heard, we would be getting better space at YCV than Manathai I believe, so it might be the go.

But you also raise an interesting suggestion James, spending the first 5 nights in CM then maybe bumping it up a little in a Jnr suite elsewhere. Might be something to look into.

Pictures would be greatly appreciated Bella, its always good to get some 'real' photos and not just the same 3 angles that all the sites show! The bath doesn't look that bad to me either, but then again, I'm a guy and into functionality not asthetics, lol.

Has everyone else found atsiam.com to be a good site to deal through?

Cheers,

Here are some photos of YCV deluxe room and junior suite from December 2006.
http://homepage.mac.com/teaghanmacke...toAlbum17.html

Also, I saw that the junior suite at Manathai iss 38 sq. meters. The deluxe room at YCV is 40 sq. meters according to my e-mail from YCV when I inquired about the differences between superior and deluxe.

Elegant the YCV is not. And I did have a couple of problems with the mosquitos-not big ones, but there were a couple there-that's why I said what I did about the finishing-I don't think they did a good job with the window fitting.

KimJapan- great pictures of the Yaan Come Village. I will keep it in mind for next year. We stayed at the Rachamanka for 1 night last year, and although lovely, was really more for couples than our family of 4. Your pictures of your daughter's roll away next to the bed remind me of all our hotel rooms in Thailand, with the cots right next to us.

Hello Mighty,

Just thought I'd chime in on the Manathai discussion. I just came back from
Thailand last week and being the scatterbrain that I am some time with my hectic schedule, when I got to Chiangmai, (the Tamarind Villiage), I had no hotel reservationh because I forgot to confirm. Sawadee; who I thought I confirmed my reservations with was kind enough to suggest another hotel to me. (Manathai Villiage).
I knew nothing about this hotel prior to my arrival. I too once upon a time was going to stay at YCV but decided upon Tamarind.
Much to my surprise that I had forgotten to confirm I went ahead and had sawadee book the Manathai. Manathai sent a driver to pick me up at Tamarind. Also, Tamarind has no vacancy.
Granted, I was not on my honeymoon, I was travelling alone...and I thought the Manathai and staff were absolutely fabulous. I have never stayed at such a small hotel before and I loved it. I only had a deluxe room and of course, it was enough for one person or for that matter 2 people. However, there is not much drawer space for clothing, but as someone stated earlier, there is an armoire. Maybe in the suites there is more room for clothing. The bathtub is a square stone tub that could probably fit 3 people if you wanted. But I don't recall it being a jacuzzi. (but definitely big enough for 2 honeymooners). I would not book through the hotel though because it is quite pricey. Sawadee is much better and they were so helpful to me when I screwed up. There is a real breakfast included in the price of your room. There is free internet service in their library. They do not have a spa on the premises but they did set up massage for me and she came to my room.
Additionally, the staff was outstanding! There are quite new and the grounds were emaculate. There are only 30 rooms on this property. I was on the ground floor facing the bar and pool. And of course, I spent a lot of time at the bar. They will set up tours for you if you'd like or I booked mine before I left home.
Anyway, I hoped I have not bored you but I believe if you could afford the suites at Manathai via sawadee, I don't think you would be disappointed. I walked to the local Sunday Market and to the touristy night market. About a 10 minute walk on both. I don't know if you have selected your hotel but I never thought I would enjoy staying in such a small, tropical,quaint, clean hotel. I will stay again at the manathai next year when I go on vacation. It definitely showed me a whole new outlook on the big chain hotels.
Good Luck and Best Wishes