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