The Ranking Hostel & Cafe

The staff were kind overall and quick to respond, but renting a bike here for the Mae Hong Son loop was a stressful experience. We told staff about our route, and it soon became clear the bike hadn't been looked after well. It kept losing acceleration until we restarted it, which was worrying uphill and in heavy traffic, and the engine light came on. We reported the problems, but were told there was nothing to worry about. It continued to lose power and make worrying sounds. We spent a lot of the trip reporting issues, restarting it, worrying about riding it, and looking for mechanics along the loop. It wasn't clear whether mechanical problems found by a mechanic would be refunded, which was concerning since this was a mechanical issue, not something caused by our use. On our second-to-last day, after a mechanic couldn't fix it and it still kept losing acceleration, the company came to replace the bike. We were told to stay put and couldn't continue, so we lost the money for a night's accommodation we had booked in advance. We also had to ask again to get the mechanic cost refunded. My partner has experience driving and owning bikes back home and knows when something is wrong, though the failure to accelerate was pretty obvious. We had also been resting the bike every 20-30 minutes even before the trouble began. The two stars are only for the staff's kindness. Kindness doesn't make the bikes safe, and I don't recommend renting from here for a long trip.

We only came here to eat, even though it's a hostel, and the food was incredible and very affordable. The staff were attentive and helpful with every detail. We went almost every day. 100% recommended.

I came back for a second stay, and spent plenty of long, lazy days hanging out in the cafe. Lynn, thanks for making this another great visit. The place feels fresh and welcoming, the service is good, and it’s conveniently close to lots of markets. I really love it here.

Right in the heart of Chiang Mai, Kayan Hostel is a comfortable, good-value place to stay. The beds are comfy, the showers are clean, and breakfast is nice. The staff are super friendly and can help arrange all sorts of activities, from scooter rentals to tours around northern Thailand.