B2 Ayatana Premier Hotel & Resort

Despite the name implying that this is a sprawling oasis outside of Chiang Mai, at its core the B2 Ayatana Premier Hotel & Resort is a more humble affair and almost resembles an old Thai home. The property is set on a residential street in a quieter part of Chiang Mai, and while there are charming local details throughout, much of the property needs some TLC. Mythical dragon-like stone statues guard the entrance, which features thick wooden doors with carved gold-plated Thai figures. Inside, the small lobby has a terra cotta floor, dark wood chairs with white cushions, and a computer for guests to use, along with a collection of brochures. It's nothing cutting edge, and in fact it's all looking a bit dated and worn, but the simple property has reasonable rates for the area. Still, you won't see many guests hanging out indoors, as the garden area is more attractive, with lots of small ceramic figurines placed all about the grounds and plenty of tropical greenery. Guests here are generally vacationers, mostly families and couples.

B2 Ayatana Premier Hotel & Resort is a fine enough option for those who want to escape the tourist crowds in Chiang Mai. It's located on a quiet road near Chiang Mai University and behind the airport. There are no shops or restaurants around the hotel, and the nearest vendors and other conveniences are out on the main road by the university, a good 10 to 15-minute walk from here. The hotel does have some free bicycles for guests to use, but you are really better off having your own transport here; plus, most taxis don't know the hotel and may charge inflated prices to come here. The B2 Ayatana is reasonably convenient for the airport, as it's only around 15-minutes away by car.  Most of the sights of interest to tourists require a drive of 10 to 15 minutes -- including Nimmanhaemin Road and the old city. It will take almost 20 minutes to reach the night market by car. It is relatively quiet here, although during our stay in 2016, a new hotel was being built across the street, making for a lot of construction noise during the day.

There are only 36 rooms at B2 Ayatana Premier Hotel & Resort. While they are dimly lit, they do have their own character, with northern Thai Lanna textiles used in curtains and other soft furnishings. Details like glazed concrete floors and painted murals on the walls also do a lot to give them personality, which is an interesting blend of urban, rustic, and local. Still, much like the hotel overall, things have seen better days and we saw plenty of chips in the woodwork and furniture, plus additions like old tube TVs. The Superior and Deluxe Rooms are exactly the same, except that Superiors Rooms are on the ground floor rather than upstairs, and lack mosquito netting over the wood beds and headboards. Luxury Rooms occupy corner positions and have large windows, making them brighter. Finally, the Junior Suites and Suites have separate sleeping quarters, with beds located upstairs lofts and living rooms downstairs. Starting at 32 square meters (344 square feet), the rooms are spacious. All rooms come with minibars, free Wi-Fi, kettles with tea and coffee, safes, and DVD players. They also have terraces out front with their own daybeds looking over the swimming pool and garden. Bathrooms feature terra cotta tile floors and have rainfall showers, bathrobes, and hairdryers. They are quite large, and have a rustic look, including wooden counter tops with plenty of space (though these were a bit worn when we visited). Plastic shower curtains are a bit underwhelming, from a style perspective.

B2 Ayatana Premier doesn't have too many facilities for guests, which is a bit disappointing given the lack of proximity to much of anything. One of its nicer features is the swimming pool in the garden, which is large enough for a few laps. Unfortunately, the area around the pool has seen better days, as the deck is worn, with cracks in the wood and some missing planks. The lounge chairs here are also old and worn, and not comfortable. There's an adjacent jetted tub and the entire area gets plenty of sunshine. The hotel has a small restaurant with a limited menu and a paltry breakfast, not included in all room rates. You're better off eating outside, and there are lots of street food vendors about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the hotel, just outside of Chiang Mai University. Wi-Fi is free and there are a few free bicycles for guests to use (though brakes and upkeep can be iffy).