Ban Kong Rao Yododo Resort

The calm, local atmosphere and good location were positives, and the internet stayed stable. But over our roughly 14 days at Ban Kong Rao Guesthouse in Chiang Mai, we were given an inner-corner room because the rooms with nicer views were mostly occupied by monthly guests. Ours had poor light and ventilation, and on the first night we found dust and a cockroach. We had booked and paid ahead through Booking.com, so a refund wasn’t possible and we stayed to the end. For what we paid, it didn’t feel worthwhile, since comfortable three-star hotels in Chiang Mai are easy to find at the same price.

Reception handled this terribly. They cancelled my booking while I was already in a taxi, giving what felt like ridiculous excuses. If that’s a sign of what dealing with them is like, stay away.

I’m only on night 13 of a planned 46-night stay, but so far there’s nothing to complain about. Lanna and Jin are wonderful, and the staff are friendly and helpful. My room has what I need: good air conditioning and WiFi, a TV, a large bathroom, a roomy firm bed, and a lovely balcony. The price feels very fair for what you get, especially in this location. The lively neighborhood has all kinds of shops and facilities, with several kinds of Thai food just 50 steps from the guesthouse. I strongly recommend it.

I spent more than a week here and found the room comfortable and roomy. I especially liked the big wardrobe, which had space to leave my luggage open. The WiFi was fast, and with a rented motorcycle it was easy to get to Nimman and the old city. There’s also a 7-11 and lots of inexpensive food within walking distance. Good value for the money.