Lampang Wiengthong

At 900 baht, this was more expensive than nearby hotels, and I regretted paying for two nights upfront. The area wasn't interesting, and the breakfast was awful. You also had to show a ticket for it, as though someone from outside the hotel would want to eat there. The room felt dingy and poorly lit, the Wi-Fi was weak, and the air conditioner control on the wall was falling apart. There was even a hole partway through the wall, so I could hear kids fighting in the next room. “Faded grandeur” is about as generous a description as I can give it.

The location is handy, with the horse carriage spot right outside and Central mall, Bog C, Tesco Lotus, Home Pro, and Makro all walkable. It's an old, quiet hotel with decent facilities, though the look isn't contemporary. If money is tight and you need to accommodate a lot of guests, it can be a good choice.

I tried several times to book, but couldn't get it to work. The website was useless.

The architecture really impressed me, and I'd congratulate the Architect who led the design. It's an interesting style that feels appropriate for Thailand. The hotel has good services, free breakfast, and it's a short walk to the new large mall. They've recently expanded the Wi-Fi so all rooms and the lobby have free internet, which made working and staying in touch much easier. I visit Lampang occasionally and have found it a great place to base myself. The facilities are good, but they don't seem to get much use from the local community. We often ended up going elsewhere for dinner and evening entertainment. A bit of imagination could help the nightlife, perhaps a Thai and English karaoke room or live music.