where to stay for 2 nights in mid-April near the night market (seems to be the most recommended neighborhood.) Do not want a western hotel. Is air con needed? Want safe, clean,no bugs and comfortable. Tamarind Village has two tiers of rooms @ $32 and $60. What is the difference? Thanks.

A friend and I stayed at Tamarind Village back in June 2004. Don't know the difference in the tiers. Our rate was around $40/night. We had a room on the second floor, but looked in on some rooms on the first floor and they seem to be nicer. Breakfast (came with the rate) was very good with alot of fruits, eggs made to order, different juices, asian rice/noodles, etc. We keep the air con. on all night. This property is not really close to the night market and it is very quite at night (which we liked). We took local taxi to eat and to the night market.

Getting around in Chiang Mai is easy. No need to stay near the night market. As to no bugs -- There are mosquitoes in Chiang Mai and they do get into the rooms through windows, doors & balconies at hotels like Tamarind Village (unless you stay in a "sealed" western style high rise). You will need a good mosquito repellent (deet).

You do need to be in a western style hotel to avoid bugs. I stayed at the Chiang Mai Plaza recently. It was clean, no bugs,comfortable and a block from the night market. Loads of restaurants nearby and other shops. I booked it throug asiahotels and got a deluxe room for about $45. It has no charm but was fine.

For my next trip I am going to stay at Baan Orapin which is a B & B. However it is not near the night market and I suspect the bug problem will exist.

You will definitely need air conditioning in mid-April.

janak-you might want to have a look at www.baanorapin.com, both Gloria and I plan to stay there, for an authentic laid-back Chiang Mai experience, rather than the western hotel. It is within a 5 min. walk to a gallery of shops specializing in Thai homewares/lifestyle and to the river restaurants such as the Gallery and Riverside, both restaurants which I recommend, partic. the Gallery, which is where Hillary Clinton dined when she visited Chiang Mai some years back. It's about a 15-20 min. walk to the Night Market, but of course, you can always grab a tuk-tuk for a $1.

However, if you do want to stay near the Night Market and more in the city center, then I would recommend Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel. Not only is it within close walking distance to the Night Market, but also to restaurants such as the Antique House, a 100 year old Lanna style bldg. with lovely Asian/Thai antiques, and to Whole Earth restaurant, with an eclectic Thai/Indian/Asian menu, which is a 5 min. walk down the street.

As Gloria says, the rooms at CM Plaza are comfortable (I understand they've been renovated since I was first there 3 years ago) and inexpensive, it has a large pool, a spa, restaurants and a large buffet breakfast.

If I were you, I'd check the reviews of Tamarind Village on tripadvisor.com. There were some complaints of mosquitos there, as well as having rooms that were a bit dark.

Actually it was the often reported comment about "dark" rooms that made me look for something other than Tamarind Village.

Spygirl-- have you heard what the mosquito situation is at Baan Orapin?

No Gloria-I haven't heard anything about this issue from my friends in BKK-but I think that would be a good question to put in an email to the owners-contrary to what one might think, I actually think they'd be straightforward about answering it honestly.

Spygirl-- will you email them?

Sure-I'll put that on the to-do list-it generally takes them a few days to respond, anyway.

thanks, glorialf & spygirl. have taken up your suggestion and booked at the baan orapin. Yes, I prefer enough light to read by, but am taking one of those llbean headlamps, anyway. Also, please let me know the response to the mosquito issue. since you both have been, have you ever used/taken with you citronella te lights to use by your beds..or the incense sticks that repels mosquitoes? Also, we'll be there in early April before the monsoon season, are mosquitoes as much an issue then as later on in summer? do you take mosquito nets with you at that time of year? thank you. Jan

I've never taken anything with me except bug spray. Hotels will have them. I've never used mosquito nets in Chiang Mai but I've also never stayed in a guest house before. But, again, if it's needed I suspect Baan Orapin will have them. They did when I was in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos.

I've never had a huge problem with mosquitos in Chiang Mai but they are definitely there so you will want to do whatever you can to avoid them at least in your room.

Let's wait until Spygirl hears back from baan orapin and see what they say.

And DO let us hear how you like it when you return.

Thanks, Spygirl. Let us know what they say.

I've booked Baan Orapin for Jan 1-14. Looking forward to it and hope you'll be there at the same time.

A few years ago we stayed at the River View Lodge, close to the night market. It had a/c, simple rooms, no bugs and had a nice terrace overlooking the river.

If you are looking for old style places then your choice is somewhat limited, there are lots of good decent hotels in Chiang Mai, Duangtawan is good value run by the Central Group, my old favorite has always been the Empress for about B 1,200-1,400 ( $30-35 ) a night twin with breakfast. My staff have stayed at both Tamarind Village and Rachamankha and found them just fine. The Rachamankha though is well over your budget.

I will post when we return (leaving 5 April so I have plenty of ti me to post more questions.. and let you know about Baan Orapin. looking forward to it. staying in a western hotel in BKK, the FCC Cambodia in Siem Reap and the 3 Nages Guesthouse in Luang Prabang..the last of which was well-recommended here. a variety of experiences..

Looking forward to hearing about 3 Nages in Luang Prabang as well as Baan Orapin.

I stayed at the Tamarind Village in November for a week. My second visit there.
Not ONE mosquito did I see or feel the whole time I was there. Stayed in their deluxe rooms. 1st time upstairs and in November , ground level. The latter were definitely lighter.
Its a gorgeous , little hotel with such a wonderful atmosphere. An absolute oasis in a great city. Very easy to get anywhere from. Love the tranquility of its Lana style architecture and a delight to return to after wondering the city. Excellent value and so much better than the many ugly, concrete so called international hotels they have in Chiang Mai.
Staying at the Tamarind you know you are in Thailand. Happy holidays.

Piri-- can you tell me what the difference is between the standard and deluxe rooms?

Thanks

glorialf. The difference is size and balconies.
The balconies are lovely to sit out on ,overlooking the courtyard type gardens and have early morning tea or write a post card.
The deluxe rooms have a slightly better outlook also. If the price difference is not great, which it wasn't both times I booked , I would go for a deluxe.
I slept with the air-con. every night evan though it was too cool for me to swim in the pool in November. This would have helped with a bug free stay.
The mozzies usually love me but had no problem at the Tamarind. Used a deet spray when I was sitting outside early mornings or evenings and feel this may have been overdoing things. Hope this has helped.

email respponse from Baan Orapin Guest House: they spray the rooms and every bed has a mosquito net.Couldn't find it listed on any of the discount web sites so booked directly from its web site. 14oo baht for two/deluxe room (suites sold out) woth breakfast. my daughter writes that we can get brekfast anywhere for pennies, but I enjoy hotel breakfasts in a lovely setting before diving into a day and we are talking about 200 baht difference for 2.