In
Chang Phueak -- walk to trendy Nimmanhaemin Road in 10 minutes
Clean,
homey rooms all have balconies plus en-suite bathrooms
Good value option for budget travelers and backpackers
Welcoming
owner knows the area inside-out, from restaurants to tours
Lounge with microwave plus free coffee and tea
Computer station with free printing
Coin-operated laundry convenient for those on extended journeys
Free
Wi-Fi throughout
Some
rooms pick up traffic noise
No
elevators and no breakfast
No safes in the rooms
The budget, 50-room Varada
Place is in Chang Phueak, just a 10-minute walk from the walls of Chiang Mai's iconic Old CIty. Air-conditioned, pleasant rooms are basic and impeccably clean, with balconies and en-suite bathrooms; however, some
rooms suffer traffic noise. Wi-Fi is free and the friendly owner has a wealth of local knowledge (a highlight for many guests), but no breakfasts are served. There are plenty of trendy restaurants and street food on Nimmanheiman Road, also just 10 minutes away on foot. Guests looking for more amenities should consider the similarly priced
Awanahouse in the Old City, with its outdoor pool and on-site restaurant.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
A homey, basic hotel with a welcoming, helpful atmosphere
The clean and pleasant Varada
Place is housed in a generic modern building with gold lettering on the front. The hotel has a friendly atmosphere and is a hit with budget travelers, backpackers, and flashpackers. This isn't a high-design, high-gloss Thai hotel by any stretch of the imagination, and green chairs stick out against
brown linoleum in the small, functional lobby. A basic, but cozy, guest lounge has free coffee and tea in
addition to a flat-screen TV, and gold Thai statues and wood bench seating line the hallways. There are no elevators, though. The hotel is a simple, no-frills place to rest and is a good value that's not far from Chiang Mai's trendy and historic sights.
Location
In Chang Phueak, a 10-minute walk to Old City
The Varada Place is in on a slightly gritty block in Chang Phueak, with plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops in the immediate area. The Kad Suan Kaew Mall is a five-minute walk around the corner. Nimmanhaemin Road, a busy street lined with street food, trendy boutiques, high-end eateries, and bars, is only a 10-minute walk from the hotel, as are the nearest entry points to the walled Old City. Tuk-tuks and taxis can also make the trip into the Old City, taking less than five minutes. The famous hilltop temple, Wat Doi Suthep, is about 30 minutes away by car. Chiang Mai International Airport and Chiang Mai Zoo as well as the Night
Market are a 10-minute car ride away.
Rooms
Comfy and clean with en-suite tile bathrooms and air-conditioning
Exceptionally clean rooms are basic and straightforward, with linoleum tile floors, white walls, and pops of color in the
pillows and desk chairs. All air-conditioned rooms have balconies, some with
sinks, in addition to microwaves and mini-fridges. Free bottled water is also
available, but TVs are tube-style and there are no safes. Additionally, some
rooms pick up traffic noise. En-suite bathrooms, some of which had a slight musty smell, have red and white tiling. Multicolored shower curtains close off the
tile shower cubicles, where we did spot some dirty corners, and generic toiletries are provided.
Features
Free Wi-Fi plus computer station and laundry facilities
Like most budget hotels in Chiang Mai, the features here don't run deep. There is a computer in the guest lounge with printing, and coffee and tea are available for free throughout the day. The hotel has coin-operated laundry machines, which are convenient for the many backpackers and budget travelers on long journeys throughout Thailand. Free Wi-Fi runs throughout the hotel, but
on-site parking is limited. No breakfast is offered.
