Poonyamantra Resort Chiang Rai

The place itself is beautiful and has a nice atmosphere, and I thought the accommodation was good. The food was delicious too. The one drawback was that the pathways didn’t have much lighting at night.

I loved my five nights here. It’s a great base, especially if you’re heading into the mountains of Chang Rai. I’d highly recommend it. The only thing I missed was a room safe, to be honest.

The room was clean and dry, though it smelled a little moldy to me. It wasn’t unbearable. I was in one of the four-digit rooms, separate from the villas with three-digit numbers. It didn’t look like the online photos, but had a quaint, old-time feel with plenty of marble and tile. I’d call the style classical. Some modern travelers may like it, some may not, and the villas might suit them better. In this room the bathroom had no separation between wet and dry areas. After a few trips to Thailand, I’ve come to expect little or no division there, so it’s just something to be aware of. The Wi-Fi was good, the beds were clean, the front door felt secure, and the lights worked. Complimentary water was nice. I’m not keen on the paid snacks and alcohol in hotel rooms, though it’s become more common. There was a bottle of whiskey available if you wanted it. The pool was interesting. The room’s broken door was the biggest problem, but Maintenance fixed it while we were out. Breakfast was complimentary and similar to what we had at another hotel. The open-air cafeteria did have ants near the sugar, gnats by the bread and jam, and flies around the fresh fruit and cucumbers. There was also a tasty dish with potatoes (?), tamarind, and meat with bones. By our fourth day, the insect issue seemed less of a problem. On the third day, we ate in the beautiful banquet hall next to the information desk. It felt quiet and inviting. Things weren’t perfect, but with a bit of patience I came to really enjoy the stay. It’s not a bad place at all.

Poonyamantra is a great starting point for trips around the area. Our bungalow was spacious, spotless, and had a very comfortable bed. Breakfast was excellent, with a range of choices for different tastes, including fresh vegetables and salads. I think the place is underrated and offers excellent value for money. Highly recommended.