Buarawong Residence

Lanna Palace 2004 is conveniently placed for getting to town and the night markets, but my stay fell short in service and quality. At check-in, service felt inefficient and inattentive. There were usually 2 to 3 staff members around, but their English was limited. The room had old, cumbersome keys, and some lamps didn't work, leaving poor lighting. The bathtub was slippery and could be hazardous, especially for older guests. Towels were poor quality, and basic tea or coffee wasn't provided. We were told to use room service instead. Of the two passenger elevators, only one was running, which meant long waits. Soundproofing was also inadequate. Based on these issues with service, amenities, and the overall stay, I can't recommend Lanna Palace 2004 as a satisfactory place to stay in Chiang Mai.

The balcony had a nice view of a Russian church and greenery, but my room was over the meeting room and got noisy. It's an older hotel in a dull area. The only places I thought were worth the walk were Wooden Door and Cherry Burmese. The pool was okay, though it looked a bit ugly, with dark walls and a scary old sign overhead.

I stayed here because it was close to my conference, and it was a solid three-star place for the price. Most people I dealt with spoke English and were helpful. Check-in was easy, though I had some trouble arranging the airport shuttle. The room was clean, but the bed was hard as a rock. You're a bit outside the Old City, but you can't beat the price.

The language barrier at the front desk caused a costly problem for me. I asked them to call a cab to the OFFICE of the naturepark for rescued elephants in downtown Chiangmai, and gave them the address in writing. They sent me more than 60 km to the actual nature park instead. It cost over 1000 baht, and I nearly missed my tour. The whole stay was overwhelmingly awful, and I wouldn't recommend this hotel. There are much better places in Chiangmai. The room was dim enough that I needed a flashlight to get clothes out of my bag. The beds were low, the pillows rock hard, and the stained brown shower curtain and outdated furniture looked tacky. The room phone seemed to be from the late 90s. There was no English TV, and the Thai channels were discolored and full of static. The hotel charged over 1000 baht to do laundry for just a few items for two people, and there was only one key per room. The pool was shaded for more than half the day, with a run-down building in view. The Wi-Fi advertised as free was barely usable. There wasn't enough signal anywhere in the hotel to send emails or share photos, and any connection I got would cut out. For what I paid, it was a terrible investment.