VIYA Lodge

Avoid this place. I booked five nights and asked for a quiet room. The room and amenities were OK, but it was very dirty and dusty. After dinner I returned to find blue smoke from the barbecue pizza bar below my window filling the room. Closing the windows didn’t help, and smoke came through even with the AC on. I couldn’t breathe. The bar said it stayed open until 2 am, with noise to match. At about 9:30 pm I went to reception, but nobody was there, so I had to call someone to come. She looked unhappy. When I raised the smoke and noise, I was told they were full. She had only one room to offer and moved me to a lower, practically hallway room. At least there was no smoke there. She said we’d see about it the next day. I immediately complained to booking, and they helped me reserve another hotel with a big discount. I travel a lot. The next day booking told me they’d reimburse me in full. But at checkout I got a message saying I had to pay for the night. I paid in cash, in baht, without a receipt, outside booking, and left. There was no service and little care, just money grabbing. Booking understood the violation after I notified them. Honestly, I don’t hammer people without a reason. After visiting more than 80 countries, I’ve never seen this level of arrogance and lack of care in hospitality. Avoid.

I’ve extended my stay because it’s been so peaceful here. The rooms are spacious and clean, and having a 50-inch TV was a first for me. I enjoyed relaxing and watching movies in the room. The staff are very friendly and speak enough English to have a decent conversation. They answered all my questions about things to do around the city, and the experience felt unrushed. The manager, who was a monk for nearly 20 years, is very calm and helpful. He’ll go out of his way to accommodate you.

The breakfast was the weak point for me. It’s a fixed menu at the sister property about 150 meters away, and felt average for the room rate. The staff there were welcoming, and some guests liked the nearby spot, but an on-site breakfast would improve things. I stayed in a front-facing twin room on the third floor at Viya Lodge. It was spacious, very clean, and had a large LG smart TV, fridge, kettle, toiletries, and comfortable beds. Despite being in the center of the Old Town, it stayed quiet at night. Reception greeted me warmly and was always ready to help with small things. Viya Lodge is within walking distance of temples, local markets, massage shops, sports bars with live music, restaurants, and cafés. The rooms, modern facilities, friendly service, and location were the highlights for me. If room comfort and cleanliness matter more to you than breakfast variety, it’s a strong choice in Chiang Mai.

The location is right in the city center, about five minutes on foot from Ta Pae Gate. Our room was large and clean, and the staff were really friendly and helpful.