The Shire

The location was amazing, with a night market right across the road and restaurants, shops, city wall gates, and temples all within an easy walk. There were also lots of good vegan options nearby. Park at the front desk was incredibly sweet, friendly, and helpful, and worked through the problems with a smile. Unfortunately, the room was in bad shape. The sheets and pillows were wet, there were roaches and lizards, and the bed was very hard. The shower and toilet were so close together and had no divider, so the whole area got wet when showering. WiFi was spotty at best, and our room had no AC, though that hadn't been stated explicitly.

The Shire Guesthouse is in a perfect spot, quiet but still lively, across from the wonderful Lanna market and just minutes from lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars. We stayed a week and never ran out of neighborhood to explore. The rooms are pretty standard, with AC and fans that worked well. The staff were amazing. They helped arrange transport at fair prices and printed the documents we needed. The complimentary drinking water, tea, and coffee were a lifesaver too. We loved staying here.

The rooms are basic, but everything worked and we slept well. The courtyard is spacious and lovely for meeting people or getting ready for the day. There's also an adjoining bar with more social space, and a night market across the road with good food. Despite all that, the rooms never seemed noisy. The staff were exceptionally helpful, and the location is fantastic. It's budget accommodation with basic facilities, well suited to backpacking couples and professionals. They can arrange transport to Pai for only a little more than booking directly, so we'd recommend that if you're heading that way. We really enjoyed our stay and would come back.

Pak and the Shire staff made the stay especially welcoming. Pak suggested places to see, booked my visit to an elephant sanctuary, and kept my luggage for a while as I explored. The Shire felt warm, peaceful, attractive, and happy, and I'd love to return. I also loved the green, jungle-like oasis in a prime part of Old Chiang Mai, with lots of outdoor seating. The open-air beer garden at the adjacent U.N. Irish Pub was a great place to relax.