5 Best Hotels in Chiang Mai, Thailand

A French restaurateur and his Thai wife renovated this sturdy old Chiang Mai residence into a clean and comfortable guesthouse. They describe their accommodations as "small and not-so-small," so don't expect palatial digs, but the rooms have all been furnished in perky Lanna style. The price is definitely right, and the delightful hosts dedicate themselves to making your stay memorable. They'll hook you up with the perfect tour guide, book you a superb massage, advise you about the area's restaurants and nightlife—whatever you need.

Elegant for the price, this mid-range hotel with a fantastic location near the Sunday night market and other attractions has rooms to suit most budgets. Polished floorboards, lofty ceilings, gilt-edged mirrors, and northern Thai flourishes lend a sense of grandeur to the public areas. At just 20 square meters (215 square feet), the smallest rooms are snug indeed, though they're reasonably well laid out and have amenities not typical of this category of rooms. The suites are smart and spacious.

Ten minutes by tuk-tuk outside downtown Lampang, this pristine hotel has good air-conditioning, comfortable beds, strong Wi-Fi, and balconies in all guest rooms. Rooms are decorated simply, with plush beds neatly made up with white linens, curtains that keep out the sun, and an IKEA-style photo print above the bed. Family rooms, with one king-size bed and one twin, are a great option for groups of three.

Each of the wooden Thai houses on stilts that make up the lodgings at this property have a rustic coziness, making for an utterly enchanting place to stay. Most of the snug teak rooms overlook the Wang River—ask for Room 4, especially attractive for its northern Thai style. The Italian owner, Lorenza, has lived in Lampang for a long time and has a deep knowledge of the area, which she gladly shares with guests.

Small and intimate, this guesthouse has the feel of a boutique hotel. Its very simple but immaculate guest rooms are furnished in dark local woods and crisp white linens, and each room has a painting or wood carving hung on the wall above the bed. A courtyard garden offers a quiet retreat with coffee and soft drinks on call.