Chiang Rai Grand Room Hotel

There’s plenty of parking, with a 7 eleven and food stalls across the road. The junior suite had a kitchenette, fridge and living area, plus three beds and two bathrooms, one with a bath. It was comfortable overall, though the mattresses were very firm. A few kilometres from the main town.

Breakfast was okay, with toast, drinks and a choice of meals, all served with rice porridge. The place was clean enough, but the hotel itself felt very dark, old and run-down, like an office building in a military camp. I booked it through a tour, and the room’s plain wooden door used an actual key, which didn’t make me feel very safe. I was used to much more modern hotels, so it was a culture shock. The bed was very hard and left several of my family with sore backs.

After a day out sightseeing, the garden was a peaceful place to relax.

Get up before 8 if you want to beat the crowds at the unusual wat Rong Kung, the white wat. The place itself is clean, modern and nice, and the staff were friendly and keen to help. The beds are hard, but that’s expected since it isn’t aimed at non-Thai guests, so I can’t really complain. Watch for the turn when driving, because if you pass it you’ll have a bit of a trip before you can make a U-turn.