Thapae60 Mini Hotel

The room itself was okay for a budget twin, and we knew what we were booking for our four nights. But the shower was awful to use because water went everywhere, and although the windows were sealed shut, there was some kind of air conditioner. The pool is right beside reception and the street, barely two metres away, so it’s no surprise nobody seemed to swim there. Sleep was the biggest problem. Electricians worked in the next room at 1 a.m., and later people checking in or returning to their apartments dragged suitcases noisily up the stairs. The receptionist didn’t seem to care or help them with their bags. In the morning, housekeeping was loud from 8 a.m.; with such thin walls, we could hear everything. If you don’t mind getting very little sleep, this might suit you.

We were disappointed by the reception service. When we showed our Israeli passports, the receptionist, Non, seemed to become noticeably less welcoming. She spoke aggressively and raised her voice even while we were asking basic questions. Our room also wasn’t cleaned the next day. We were told we’d put out a “Do Not Disturb” sign, but we hadn’t. When we raised the issue, the response felt confrontational instead of like an effort to sort it out. The service didn’t meet basic hospitality standards.

The staff made us feel welcome and cared about their guests. It’s a calm, well-kept little hotel in a handy area, and I’d definitely come back.

This was the only bad experience we had during six weeks in Thailand. People there were generally so friendly, including with kids, but the staff here were an exception. They were extremely rude and dishonest. For these room rates, there are better places in Chiang Mai, and I’d tell families with young children to stay somewhere else. Update: the hotel’s standard reply is completely flawed. There were no other guests in the lobby, and the hotel agreed to cancel without a charge, but then charged us €50. It’s a shame that people like this work in hospitality. Luckily, Chiang Mai has many other great hotels that live up to Thailand’s friendly reputation.