Panviman Chiang Mai Spa Resort

The setting is beautiful, up on a hill with a pleasant view of nature, and the room was spacious with fresh, clean bedding and towels. The bathroom had all the necessities, the food was good, and the service was great. Reception, drivers, and waiters were all friendly and attentive to guests’ needs. I’d arrived with low expectations after reading negative reviews, but they disappeared as soon as I got there. A couple of things could be better. The coffee I tried didn’t taste very good, probably because of the beans, and soy milk was the only alternative. The soy latte tasted bad too, so oat or almond milk would be better. I think guests would appreciate better coffee. I also arrived on my birthday, on my own because my husband had to stay in Bangkok for work. A warmer welcome, or even a mention of my birthday, would have made me feel more valued. No one said anything, as if it were just an ordinary day. Those things didn’t really affect my stay. I’m very happy with the experience and will definitely come back.

Check-in went smoothly, the workers were really friendly, and the food was better than average. My room had what I needed, including a bathtub, sitting area, and balcony with a view. Still, the place felt a little weird and not very well maintained or clean. The bedding and linens need improvement, and the old TV doesn’t connect to Netflix, which seems basic these days. The pools were pretty much unusable. There were very few chairs lined up with pool access, and the water was either like an ice bath or a not-very-hot, dirty Jacuzzi. Nobody was working at the pool, and there were no towels, so I had to call and ask for them. The GM talking loudly on speakerphone was odd, too. Calling this five star doesn’t seem right. I’d say 3.5 to 4 star. The worst part was seeing birds kept in small, dirty cages. They seemed neglected, and I see it as a serious animal welfare issue.

We felt very welcome as a gay couple, which meant a lot. The staff were lovely, attentive, polite, and all spoke English. They’ll drive you anywhere on site, and even picked us up from a village about a 15min drive away after we got stranded there by accident. The resort has beautiful Lanna architecture, lots of plants and trees, and a calm, quiet feel. Our room and balcony were peaceful. It’s about an hour from the airport and city centre, so I’d recommend it to couples wanting a break from Chiang Mai City. The bed was very large and comfortable, and the shower was great. Our room didn’t really have a view, as mentioned in the room review.

The staff were super friendly and amazing, and the pool views were awesome. The rooms were gorgeous and the whole place had a zen feel. Food was nice, though nothing out of the ordinary, and I thought the spa prices were a bit high. There were activities for families, too. I had an amazing stay and would highly recommend it.