70/1 MuenDamPraKot Road, T.ChangPhuk, A.Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand | 66-5323-1777
In
residential Chang Phueak, a five-minute drive to Old City
Bright,
contemporary rooms with kitchenettes and balconies
Some
rooms have fully-equipped kitchens and mountain views
Beautiful
outdoor pool with fountains and children’s area
Thai
cuisine at the on-site restaurant
Free breakfast and airport transportation
Spacious fitness
and business centers
Room
service plus laundry and dry cleaning services
Free
Wi-Fi throughout and outdoor parking
Monthly rentals are available
20-minute
walk to main tourist area
Lingering smoke smell in some rooms
Monthly
rentals lack daily housekeeping
The upper-middle-range, 60-room Grand
Napat is in the residential Chang Phueak neighborhood of Chiang Mai, a five-minute
drive from the historic Old City. Modern serviced apartments all have balconies and
kitchenettes, and some have lovely mountain views, though we did notice a lingering smoky
odor when we visited.
Breakfast, Wi-Fi, parking, and airport transportation are free, and there is an
on-site Thai restaurant plus a marvelous outdoor pool with a children’s area plus a spacious fitness center.
Guests looking for an upscale downtown hotel should consider the Le Meridien Chiang Mai,
with its luxurious vibe and rooftop pool.
Scene
A contemporary, business-style hotel with a relaxed feel
This tranquil hotel sits inside of a cream-colored modern building. Neutral
tones run throughout and wood or tile floors line the common areas, with
floor-to-ceiling windows brightening spaces from the open lobby to the
restaurant. There are brown wicker chairs and a flat-screen TV in the relaxation room and an outdoor seating area off of the restaurant offers lovely pool views. The restaurant itself is spacious, but feels a bit like a cafeteria. The hotel seems like it was designed with business travelers and long-stay guests in mind -- there are conference facilities and the common spaces all have a straightforward, slightly-bland aesthetic -- but guests here are typically couples and
families on holiday.
Location
Outside the main tourist area, a five-minute drive to most sights
The Grand Napat is in a
quiet residential area of Chang Phueak. It's an authentic, slightly suburbanized area of Chiang Mai, and there are lots of cheap local eateries in the immediate area, as well as a grocery store. The main tourist area of the city, Chiang Mai's Old City, is a long walk from the hotel (20 minutes), though the trip can be done in just five minutes by taxi or tuk-tuk. The Old City is filled with temple after temple, as well as plenty of cute cafes and restaurants plus boutiques selling crafts and gifts. The vibrant Chiang Mai Night Market, with local eats, entertainment, and indie designer stalls, is a bit farther, and will take about 10- to 15-minutes to reach by vehicle. Trendy, upmarket Nimmanhaemin Road is about 15-minutes drive away and the Chiang Mai International Airport can take up to 20 minutes to reach by car.
Rooms
Contemporary, with balconies and kitchenettes; some have superb mountain views
Studio through Two-Bedroom Apartments are contemporary and bright, but feel like they were designed for corporate guests and lack much personality. Rooms are large, starting at 40 square meters (431 square feet). Wood
floors and dark wood furniture stand out against white walls, and there is an abundance
of neutral tones throughout. There isn't much in the way of wall art, though decorative flourishes, like slatted wooden features between sleeping and living areas in the Studio we visited, are a nice touch. Beds have white duvets and sit beneath wicker headboards. All rooms have balconies, and some offer
gorgeous mountain views. These air-conditioned apartments have 40-inch
flat-screen TVs as well as kitchenettes with minibars, coffeemakers, and microwaves.
Free bottled water plus bathrobes and slippers are provided. Certain room types
also have living rooms in addition to fully-equipped kitchens. However, we did notice a lingering smoky smell in some rooms and long-term guests should know that there is a fee for electricity and limited house keeping for monthly
rentals. Short-term rooms receive daily housekeeping. Vibrant green or red tile looks sharp in the stylish bathrooms while walk-in
tan tile showers have rainfall showerheads and toiletries; some bathrooms also have jetted
tubs, but we did spots some dirty grout in shower areas.
Features
Superb outdoor pool plus on-site restaurant and free airport transportation
Fountains
flow into the blue-tile, rectangular outdoor pool, which has an attached children’s pool,
wood seating, and outdoor showers. Thai cuisine is served for breakfast, lunch,
and dinner at the on-site restaurant, and the free breakfast receives good
reviews. Free weights plus cardio and weight machines are available in the
fitness center while computers are provided in the business center and there is meeting and conference space available. The front
desk and on-site security are 24-hour, and both Wi-Fi and airport
transportation are free.