Phu Pai Art Resort

It was nice being surrounded by nature, with hens and chicks, ducks, birds singing, horses, cats, and dogs wandering around. The staff were very helpful, and we liked the spacious rooms, strong water pressure, hot water, and shuttle service at Phu Pai Art Resort. Breakfast was simple, but that was fine for us. The resort seemed to depend a lot on Chinese tourists. There were some loud voices around the grounds during our visit that interrupted things a bit, though it was okay at night.

We had an issue with our first bungalow: there was a large fungus on the bathroom ceiling and water stains on the curtains. We asked to move and they agreed right away. The second room was cleaner. Water from all the pipes, from the pool showers to the room sinks, needed to run for a few minutes because it smelled foul at first. The staff seemed short on motivation. The pool is the hotel's main draw. It's large and the water temperature felt right, but it wasn't well maintained: some tiles were missing and the bottom felt a bit slimy. It closes at 7, drinks aren't allowed in the pool area, and the restaurant shuts early. The bungalows are comfortable, with a good-sized bathroom, hot tub and separate shower room, an outdoor shower, a big room, a comfortable bed, and a large balcony for relaxing with a beer and conversation. It seems ideal for couples. The location is good if you want to unwind away from everything, and it's only a 10-minute motorbike ride from Pai's main street if you want to go out and meet people. We visited in the dry season, so the scenery was brown and dusty. In the wet season, I’m sure the rice paddies and mountain range make for a lovely view.

We stayed in a Honeymoon Suite overlooking the rice fields, right beside the river. The countryside setting was beautiful, peaceful, and deeply relaxing. It was way better than staying in central Pai, and the price felt totally reasonable for the room's size and quality. The service was kind and courteous from the start. They even sent a car to collect us at the bus station, for less than the other options. The staff were always lovely, and the owner came by every morning at breakfast to greet guests with freshly ground Thai coffee. We really didn't want to leave. We'd happily come back, and you should stay here!

Pai is lively and hippy friendly, but the resort's restaurant and bar shut at 20:00. The place is a bit far from town, so you need to take a taxi. The cottages are huge, though more than half the space seemed to be taken up by the bathroom. There wasn't any art, despite the name. When I asked, I was told, "it's just a name sir".