Nai r Kaad

Villa 5 gave us a perfect 180 degree view of the vanilla sky at sunset, and dinner had the best view. The staff were great and helped carry our bags from the parking lot. Parking is free, but getting up there takes a high level of driving skill.

The staff were friendly and efficient. They answered questions and requests quickly and were ready to help almost straight away. The food was excellent too, with fresh ingredients cooked well. Bugs were a big problem for us. Given the mountain location beside farm fields, bugs are understandable, but there were big flies all over the room, on the walls and in the toilet. They kept getting in because the sliding doors and wooden floor couldn't be fully closed, and it made sleeping difficult. We were unlucky with a heavy rainstorm that lasted through the night into early morning. The room was very humid even with the air-con on de-humid mode. The sheets and pillows felt wet and sticky, and we heard dripping inside. There was also a small pool of water beside the right side of the mattress, and we couldn't figure out where it came from. If humidity is a concern for you, keep that in mind. The water pressure was weak, and hot water was unpredictable, sometimes warm and then suddenly cold. I think that's a limitation of the facilities, and they seemed to be doing their best to give good service. It also felt a bit pricey. On top of the quoted rate, expect 17% tax and transport if you aren't renting a car. Drivers in Chiang Mai often charge extra for the mountain round trip. In my experience, budget around THB3,000 more for the trip.

The mountain view was good, but this was a very bad stay and we won't return. We booked one night and checked in late, around 6.30pm. They hadn't done the honeymoon setup we'd requested. They brought dinner to our balcony, but there was only one option, with pork and beef. We don't eat either and asked for chicken, but they didn't have any. There was no phone to call reception, and the WiFi didn't work. When we came back inside, the bed was covered in bugs. The bathroom opens to the balcony with only a short curtain, so there were lots of bugs in there too. The aircon was noisy and kept us from sleeping. At breakfast in the lobby the next day, the food was full of flies. The room didn't match the photos on Google.

The setting is quiet, surrounded by gorgeous mountain nature, and especially good in winter, around November to January. Check-in and checkout were easy, service was good, and the price attractive. It isn't a hotel, but more like a log house with full facilities, even better equipped. The room is sealed and has a bed, air con, refrigerator, hot kettle, umbrella, wine glass, amenities, hair dryer, and free minibar. There is air con for summer too. The toilet is semi-outdoor, separated by a curtain, so insects may get in at night. Dinner is Thai-style BBQ pork called Moo Kra Ta. Breakfast comes as a set meal with plenty to eat, made with fresh ingredients. Recommended to visit.