Marriott Chiang Mai (former Le Meridien), Thailand [Master Thread]
 

So I was there for two nights on 4th of this month. Paid the Discovery rate, although I could have used a corporate rate that was 1500 THB cheaper, to get free breakfast at the restaurant and the free night voucher for the LM Bangkok (once it opens).

During the stay I spoke with the GM at least three times. He was there welcoming guests who were checking in and then observing at the club lounge and other areas of the hotel to make sure that everything was running smoothly. This guy used to be the GM of LM Siem Reap but has been overseeing this Chiang Mai project for year and a half already.

I was quite surprised to learn that they didn't have soft opening at all but rather went to "full" mode from the getco. The occupancy was low and thus the attention given to guests sometimes almost overbearing i.e. five employees taking care of just myself at the club lounge.

The hotel is fairly typical modern hotel. It seems that they have four junior suites that are actually corner suites on each floor. This is what I received. The suite was exactly as shown on the SPG.

The club lounge was nice and the spread there would have been just fine for the breakfast. They had afternoon tea with scones and small bites and the evening happy hour consisted wines, liquor, and cocktails. Cocktails, to my surprise, were actually good. For the happy hour they had couple of hot items, the usual cheese and crackers spread, and finger sandwiches etc.

There was couple of public computers in the lounge but you could use free wireless there as well using a code that was provided.

Didn't use the pool or the fitness center but had a quick look at them. The fitness center had the typical Technogym cardio line up and separate weight machines. The pool wasn't that big but then why anyone would go to Chiang Mai for that purpose anyway.

The location is good - just on the night market.

I booked a taxi for the whole day using the concierge, who actually had worked previously at the Four Seasons.

There was couple of small things that were not quite right yet that I told the GM about. These were minor and he was already aware of one of them i.e. the lights at the elevators were too strong.

BTW it is the same company who opened the Chiang Rai LM and in the process of opening the new Bangkok one who owned this one too. Didn't ask if they own any of the existing LM or other SPG properties in Thailand.

Overall a good hotel and ready for business. The points posted to my account the day after so no problems there either. The amenity points posted as service recovery though.

I'll be staying there next month (using points) and appreciate your thorough review.

No other Starwood properties in Thailand, but they also own Le Meridien Angkor, Siem Reap and the Westin KL.

I had the pleasure of staying at the Le Meridan Chiang Mai last month. The hotel was great. The service great, as expected.

The hotel towers above the night bazzar in Chiang Mai, at the corners of Chang Klang and Loi Crow roads. Clean and crisp, it looks great. Elephant statues greet you at the porte-cochère, and the large marble laid lobby welcomes you even before the warm smiles of the staff do.


I was greeted and led to the registration counter, with the staff very eager to showcase themselves and the services they've been trained to provide. The concierge introduced herself as the duty manager that weekend and invited me to enjoy myself and to let them know how they could make my stay any better.


After a scurry to find my Platinum Folder, I was pleased to be informed that I'd been upgraded to a corner suite. I had to ask about a lounge, but was happy to hear they had one and access to the floor was already programed to my key card.
The check-in agent showed me up to my room. A lovely large and very comfortable corner suite.


We took care of the credit card and passport details and the usual in-room check-in formalities and she proceeded to show me the suite. Here are some more photos of the room.



As I said before the room was lovely. I quickly took some photos, then took some time to freshen up and enjoy the privacy of the room.


I've just posted all the pictures... will add comments and then a small report on my stay ASAP

Ditto on a beautiful property and an eager, friendly staff providing a warm welcome.
We were there Nov17-20, they didn't have the executive floors ready yet as they were waiting for the furnishings. Definitely a good addition to Chiang Mai and right in the middle of the city's offerings.

Just checked into the Le Meridien last night, and it has been great so far. The front desk escorted us to the club lounge to check in, where they gave us some chilled tea tree oil towels and apple juice while we waited. The food at the club lounge is not local, but it was very good. We were upgraded to a junior suite, which is beautiful. The location can't be beat either; it is right next to the night bazaar. As we bought stuff last night, the valet took our stuff and put it in our room so we could continue shopping. More to come later. ^

I enjoyed my stay. The reception and the Platinum benefits were great. Staff was friendly and for the most part seemed genuine.

Lounge was wonderful, although the breakfast was quite dissapointing. Heavy stale bread/croisants and items of a European Flair, it makes sense, as most of the Upper Management seems to be of European background. Fresh, tasty pastries are in every corner of this country... there's no excuse for stale pastries in Thailand. They need to take a trip to the ROS in BKK, where the lounge food is amazing, especially at breakfast.

I ordered fried eggs. They arrived. The 2 fried eggs, one slice of bacon, and a small cherry tomato arrived on a huge square plate. The dish looked empty, and hardly enough for a child. Breakfast is not the time to have your dishes look like the trendy Bistro.

The afternoon tea was small and tastefully done (whipped cream with scones?). And the evening coctail food menu was good, but I seem to remember that there were no sweets with the evening food selection.

They have 2 computers in the lounge and wifi for a short period after obtaining a code from the lounge staff.

All in all, the Staff were engaging in every encounter. The Asst GM seemed preoccupied while conversing with us, but was friendly enough for idle chitchat.

My stay was so good, I'll definitely be back. The only caution is that the Hotel is so comfortable that you may be just a bit too isolated from the real Chiang Mai, a real gem of a city within Thailand.

Considering the hotel had just opened, they were great. Platinum benefits are super. Room was perfect.

We were there from Nov 18 to 21 and enjoyed the stay. Had some problems with the Starwood points but they posted. Staff seemed not to know what to do about points. The infinity pool was very striking but the water was pretty cold. We were busy sightseeing so missed out on the pool. I liked the location. We walked to the river and down a commercial street parallel to the night market street. We did not have lounge access so had breakfast every morning at McDonald's across the street. It was pretty expensive at the hotel's restaurant.

Don't waste your money on the folkloric show in Chiang Mai. It was a rip and the food bad. Supposed to feature the tribal dance and food of the indigenous people but was a very hokey show and there was nothing special about the food.

I wish I was there. The Bangkok Airport closure forced me to go Langkawi instead. Bummer. :(

Platinum treatment?
 

Can any Platinums share their recent treatment at this hotel, especially as it relates to offering free breakfast for Plats?

I'm trying to decide between a room-only price, and a package that offers breakfast for $20-25 more. If they offer Plats breakfast (as their sister property, Le Meridien Siem Reap does), I'll go with the cheaper option.

Thanks for any input you may be able to provide!

Bostonbali

You can have breakfast at the club lounge. Breakfast at the restaurant downstairs is more substantial, although the lounge offering is not bad at all.

$20-25 more... per day? Go with the room-only package. Breakfast is not that expensive in Chiang Mai.

I've stayed at this hotel 3 times now. Most recently last week.

I received breakfast as a platinum benefit on every stay. You can choose to eat upstairs in the lounge or dine from the extensive buffet breakfast downstairs.

The staff and service are improving greatly and this hotel provides a great Platinum experience.

Great, thank you all for the feedback. Room only price it is then!

Just got back myself from a stay at Le Meridien Chiang Mai. I echo the sentients of seanthepilot and holtju2.

upon arrival to the hotel the Executive Lounge Manger was waiting to escort me to the Lounge for check in--while waiting was given a cool towel and an amazing lemon mint iced tea.

The customer service was superb--they remembered my drink and meal preference each time and even had set out the ingredients for my mojito by the second visit. The Lounge staff had great suggestions for local sights and activities and were eager to please and quite friendly.

On my last day I was the only lounge guest that evening and in the morning-so they made my breakfast A la carte.

btw Chiang Mai was the favorite part of my trip--an incredible city with incredible people to match.

sdcarver