Chiang Mai

[TMax]

Hey guys, I am taking my first trip up to Chiang Mai later this year, around July-August and am after an opinion on the hotel I am looking at. Has anyone stayed at or have any experiences with the Lavender Lanna Hotel? It certainly looks like a good place to stay for a first timer to Chiang Mai.

[Guest]

I have not stayed at Lavender Lanna but if you do a search for the name, you will find others who have.

 

I also recommend PJ's-Place. They are great Bed and Breakfast.

 

I also like the Holiday Inn and had a good time there my last few visits.

[Gaybutton]

If you're looking for a less expensive place in Chiang Mai, I like Come-On Place. It's a garden room setting, with surprisingly large rooms, the quality of which would be about what you would expect at Howard's. It's gay owned and gay staffed. There are no problems about bringing someone to your room. It's 800 baht per night. They do have breakfast, but I didn't like it.

 

http://www.comeonplace.net

[Guest fountainhall]

I also like the Holiday Inn and had a good time there my last few visits

The only slight problem is that it's a little near the outskirts of town on the wrong side from most of the bars. If you are looking for a top quality hotel, I have no hesitation in recommending Le Meridien which is right at the Night Market. It's not cheap by any means, but it does offer promotions from time to time and has a 2 nights for 3 offer presently on its website. I've had no problem with joiners.

[Bob]

I've never stayed there but PJ's place has gotten fairly universal praise on the boards I visit. The reviews for the rooms at Lavender Lanna have been mixed (although it's very close to one of the bars - Power Boys which is on premises). PJ's place, Soho Bar, the Kad Suan Gaew mall, and Lavender Lanna are all within short walking distances of each other.

 

LeMeridien certainly is a swanky joint but rather pricey. It immediately abuts the usual night market street (Chang Klan) and is very close to the 4 or so night-market bars that are still open; however, it's a long way to any of the so-called gogo bars.

If you want to stay in that area, a cheaper alternative would be the Centara Duangtawan (almost right across the street from LeMeridien) or Porn Ping Hotels (a fairly short walking distance away). Both are older hotels with somewhat tired rooms but there is no hassle with joiners at least if you've booked a double in the first place. I've stayed at both times many, many, times within the last 10 years (and sorta favor the Duangtawan).

[Guest fountainhall]

LeMeridien certainly is a swanky joint but rather pricey. It immediately abuts the usual night market street (Chang Klan) and is very close to the 4 or so night-market bars that are still open

Bob is correct about the price. I checked Le Meridien's website and in July/August they have a 3 nights pay for 2 or 6 nights pay for 4 promotion. With the base rate of Bt. 3,200 ++ for the paid nights, you'd be looking at around Bt. 2,500 total for each night. Great if you want a touch of luxury, but other hotels are certainly cheaper. The Porn Ping internet offer is around Bt.1,100 per night, but it includes breakfast as well as service and tax. agoda.com's advance booking rates are around 900 Bt. for the same deal.

 

I counted about 7 bars now open just behind the D2 hotel (about 150 meters along from Le Meridien). Did not get as far as the old Peak bars and so do not know how many still operate.

[Bob]

I counted about 7 bars now open just behind the D2 hotel (about 150 meters along from Le Meridien). Did not get as far as the old Peak bars and so do not know how many still operate.

 

7 of them there? Damn, I've got to get my eyes checked. I haven't been over there for a little over a month. I thought there were three on the left (Secrets or something like that, the next one's name being unknown to me, and then the Cruise or Cream Bar in the back left) and maybe three on the right (Cruise or Cream Bar being the one on the back right, some cubby hole in the middle, and the Old Dragon King on the front right being sorta set up as some kind of bar). I wasn't really counting the front two on the right as real bars (never seemed too populated when I was there a few times this fall).

 

The "peak bars" are no more. Last day was November 17th or 18th (I know, I was there for the closing parties). The Chang Beer outfit bought the land a long time ago and finally kicked out the tenants (which was kinda dumb since the places have sat empty since then). I've heard rumors that Chang is going to either build a hotel or a retail shopping place there.

[Guest]

I stayed at the Lavender Lanna.

 

It has rooms ranging from something like 650~1800 baht (approx).

 

The brochure in reception indicated the cheapest room with a room safe was 1150 baht.

That room was compact, but quite tidy.

There was no room safe, so after a quick stroll down to reception a free upgrade was secured (well the room they moved me to was much larger).

 

The room had a nice large new bed & was quite spacious. Room was generally clean, although carpet has probably been there for a while. Bathroom average, although the shower hose was rather short, requiring bent knees to shower the head. Rooms facing the road get some traffic noise even on the 10th floor.

Breakfast included.

My bill had a restaurant bill wrongly added & this was removed without any dispute.

 

Has swimming pool & steam room.

 

I would stay there again. Some of the people reviewing it on Pattaya Passions are less complementary.

 

The in house massage service was dreadful:

On the night I visited, they closed early and my requested 1.5 hour oil massage lasted only 30 minutes. To try & make this deception work, when I entered the room at about 9:50 pm, the non-working clock was already showing 11:20 pm. Then the grumpy ladyboy running the salon tried to charge me for the full 1.5 hours. They need someone more friendly and honest in that job.

[Gaybutton]

Then the grumpy ladyboy running the salon tried to charge me for the full 1.5 hours.

Don't leave us in suspense. What happened when you pointed out that you received only 30 minutes and you're not going to pay for 90 minutes?

[Guest fountainhall]

Since another thread is discussing massage in Chiang Mai, I wonder if anyone has any recent news about the Lavender Lanna Hotel whose owner very sadly died last a few weeks ago. Is the hotel still running? Is the excellent PowerBoys show still on?

[Guest beachlover]

Don't leave us in suspense. What happened when you pointed out that you received only 30 minutes and you're not going to pay for 90 minutes?

 

Yeah, that is a shocker. How stupid are they to think they could get away with charging 90 minutes for only 30 minutes... yo might be able to make 60 minutes feel like 90, but not 30.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Damn!!! Now we are back to 7 months.

[Guest fountainhall]

Damn!!! Now we are back to 7 months.

. . . and there's still another 40 or so to go!!

[Guest GaySacGuy]

. . . and there's still another 40 or so to go!!

 

I would think that the post that GT has done regarding old post should stop it a long ways from 40...but understand your concern.

[Guest beachlover]

Damn!!! Now we are back to 7 months.

 

Actually, 5 months since the last post.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Actually, 5 months since the last post.

 

You don't back off at all do you??? Will you be posting on this board a year from today with no contest???

[Guest beachlover]

I don't see any reason not to right now... I've been posting on SGT for 2-3 years and GTT For a couple of years.

[Guest fountainhall]

I don't see any reason not to right now... I've been posting on SGT for 2-3 years and GTT For a couple of years.

From what you tell us, you are a relatively young man (relative to most of the rest of us, that is). I am curious. With all your posting activity on three separate Boards, how on earth do you find any time to work?

[Guest beachlover]

I usually post when I'm chilling out having a beer and watching TV at the same time at home... Today, just happens to be a very slow day in the office. Only a couple of phone meetings booked and I'm waiting for people to send me stuff to review... so bored I went out and bought a new suit earlier today.

[Guest YardenUK]

You don't back off at all do you???

 

With that, the nail has been well and truly hit on the proverbial

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Totally clueless!

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I usually post when I'm chilling out having a beer and watching TV at the same time at home... Today, just happens to be a very slow day in the office. Only a couple of phone meetings booked and I'm waiting for people to send me stuff to review... so bored I went out and bought a new suit earlier today.

 

Must be some professional office where you spend your whole day posting on gay websites.

[Guest beachlover]

Are you saying this is unprofessional? LOL

 

I have my own glass-partioned room and my desk faces outwards from the wall so no one can see what's happening on my screen. It's my business so it's nobody's concern anyway... I could look at porn all day if I wanted.

[Guest fountainhall]

I could look at porn all day if I wanted.

Now that would be a good idea. Please try that every day.

[Guest Kurt]

For my opinion the best place to stay in Chiang Mai is www.cluboneseven.net

with one word FANTASTIC