chiang mai for 3 nights. Don't want to stay at Westin- too farang and too remote from town.

Not averse to staying at a more trsditional Thai lodging, but no problem if it is a conventional high rise. Location near the Night Market or Mae Ping River would be optimal.

Thanks!

I found the Westin underwhelming and inconvenient last summer, especially since it rained a lot and tuk tuks in the rain are wet or hot if the plastic sides are rolled down.
We had a few good meals- The Antique House has the choice of dining in an historic house or in a lovely antique filled courtyard- not expensive, but not the cheapest place- very good and recommended by some Thai nationals. Also Gallery rstaurat- more upscale wth a lovely riverside terrace, if the weather is fine. Lots of local specialties- make sure you have some sticky rice while in Chiang Mai. Have fun- I am jealous

------------------

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by naxos:
&lt;snip&gt; Also Gallery rstaurat- more upscale wth a lovely riverside terrace, if the weather is fine.</font> Agree that it is a nice place. Food OK but overpriced for the tourists; a good location. Trivia point: it was supposedly Hillary (forget if she spells it with one 'l' or two) Clinton's favorite culinary venue in Chiang Mai... a repeat customer.

Guys-
Thanks for the assist on the 'eats'; now can you be equally specific about the 'sleeps'!!??

Have stayed at six hotels in Chiangmai during my four trips there. Seems like you prefer something fairly close in to the night market, so won't mention the Chiangmai Orchid, far to the northwest. So...

Empress Hotel- My favorite for the money, but hard to book during high season. Totally acceptable rooms. Very pleasant buffet breakfast in a nice setting. A 15 minute walk from the market, but this is my choice.

Chiangmai Plaza- Stayed there once in 1998. Price comparable to Empress, maybe slightly less. Room size and quality comparable, also. However, had buffet breakfast in a bleak room with no too firndly staff. Approx 7 minute walk to the market.

Royal Princess- Right next to market. Room price about 1/3 more than Empress or Plaza. However, they renovated rooms past couple of years and don't feel they are as attractive as before...rather stark Japanese style rooms now. Question their five star rating. Buffet is OK, but eating area rather stark and cramped.

Stayed at another 17 months ago, by the market, but can't recommend that one, even for the 1100 bhat price.

Don't know howyou are making room reservations for Chiangmai, but would highly recommend logging onto "www.chiangmai-online.com" websit and booking through them. Best prices anywhere for CNX hotels. You book them through a local tour company there, which arranges to pick you up at airport on arrival.

Hope this help. Go with the Empress.

ColoBill1-
THANKS for thorough response. All your suggestions duly noted.

Just stayed at Imperial Mae Ping. Little chaotic due to construction. Rooms average size, pool nice (but loud due to jackhammers!), breakfast good/ambience good not great, location near Market. Price was fantastic, about $21 for single.

Will return when renovations complete.

Had visited the Imperial Mae Ping last October, mainly to check out the rooms. Wasn't really impressed, as they looked abit smallish. Also, lobby area seemed rather congested, but location is good. Your $21 room rate is less than I have paid at the three hotels I commented on in my last post, even in the off season.

Still give the nod to the Empress, due to he spacious lobby and the good breakfast buffet.

But, always try to treat myself at the Westin for one night duing each stay. Where else can you stay at a hotel of that quality (also with a top notch breakfast buffet) for under $60?

Adding, for the record, River View Lodge, 25 Charoen Prathet Soi 2, Chiang Mai 50100, +66.53.271109, fax +66.53.279019.

Great location on the river, near the night market, but sufficiently away from the crowds.
Rich

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ColoBill1:
Don't know howyou are making room reservations for Chiangmai, but would highly recommend logging onto "www.chiangmai-online.com" websit and booking through them. Best prices anywhere for CNX hotels. You book them through a local tour company there, which arranges to pick you up at airport on arrival. </font>

One caveat I'd like to add - I've used chiangmai-online a quite a few times with no problem, but the last time I was there in Feb., I got to the hotel and discovered that they only had my room available for one night only instead of the 5 I had booked. I had paid one night in advance, as that is what they asked for, but I would have pre-paid the entire stay if I knew that this might happen. I was really annoyed, but you know the Thai attitude, getting angry doesn't help or change anything. Anyway, I schlepped over to the Chiang Inn for a walk-in rate of only 100B/night more than my super discount rate at the Suriwongse and the hotel didn't ask for the credit card surcharge. Chiangmai-online, BTW, wants 4% surcharge instead of the usual 3%. Also, any of the better hotels have a van at the airport to take their guests there, so you would save the 100B taxi fare in any event, no matter how you booked the room.

So, www.chiangmai-online.com (http://www.chiangmai-online.com) does have good rates, but their cc surcharge is high, abd they didn't seem to care that the hotel gave my room away.