11 Sotesueksa Road, Changphuek Subdistrict, Chiang Mai, Thailand | (586) 210-9239
Quiet Thai neighborhood with few tourists
Guesthouse has free bicycles for guest use
Simple, clean rooms have a TV and most have air-conditioning
Good value option for backpackers and budget travelers
Cute Cat Cafe downstairs, with inviting outdoor seating
Free Wi-Fi
DVD library in lobby
Rooms have no amenities other than TV and Wi-Fi
Bathrooms are on the dingy side and are outside of the room on the balcony
No facilities at the guesthouse other than the cafe downstairs
Single rooms don't have air-conditioning
The 25-room Banilah is a small, budget backpacker guesthouse located in a quiet, non-touristy part of Chiang Mai. It is near local markets and cheap restaurants and offers good value for those looking to save their baht. The rooms here are quite basic, just Single, Double, and Twin rooms that access their bathroom out on the balcony. Rooms have small TVs, free Wi-Fi, and little else, and the Twin and Double rooms come with a choice of fan or air-conditioning, while the Single rooms are fan only. The hotel has no facilities other than its cute Cat Cafe downstairs, where the owners 11 cats have the run of things, and there are a couple of computers for public use. The guesthouse also has free bicycles. For those looking for a budget guesthouse in a quiet neighborhood, this is a solid choice, although there are smarter looking guesthouses around for the same price.
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Scene
Quiet guesthouse with an appealing cafe
There isn't much happening at the Banilah as it's a small, affordable, backpackers' guesthouse. Most visitors use it as a crash pad for the night and spend their days sightseeing around the old city. However the guesthouse does have a cute Cat Cafe downstairs which is a fun place to hang out if one likes cats (there are 11 cats total). There are wooden tables outside or comfy chairs inside to relax on and watch TV (they have a selection of movies) or pet the cats. This is strictly a budget travelers' spot. The atmosphere in this no-frills guesthouse is laid back.
Location
On a quiet side street five to 10 minutes from the old city in a traditional Thai neighborhood with cheap markets and restaurants
The Banilah Guesthouse is located in a relatively quiet and non-touristy area of Chiang Mai, north of the old city and between Highway 11 and 107. It's near the traditional Thanin Market, and the small leafy streets around here are home to cheap restaurants and food stalls. It's only about 10 minutes on foot into the old city, and with the free bicycles that the guesthouse has for use, one can be anywhere in 10 minutes. For those who don't want to walk or ride, it is a bit out of the way, and will force most of these guests to rely on taxis or tuk tuks. However, the guesthouse is a good choice for those looking to save money and stay in a quiet neighborhood near enough to all the sights without the crowds or expenses.
Rooms
Basic rooms with small TVs, a desk, chair, and free Wi-Fi though bathrooms are on the balcony
Rooms here are basic and cater to the backpacking crowd. There are only 25 rooms total, either Singles, Doubles, or Twins, and all are pretty much the same style of decor. Each room has a small TV, an old fashioned telephone, a few bottles of free water, a small desk and chair to sit at, and that is about it. The Double and Twin rooms come with choice of fan or air-conditioning, while the Single rooms only have fans. The bathrooms are not inside the room proper, but accessed through the private balcony that each room has. The bathrooms are a bit dingy and cave-like, although they do provide soap, shampoo, towels, and toilet paper. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi.
Features
Cute Cat Cafe downstairs with public computers, free bicycles for guest use, and free Wi-Fi
The Banilah is light on facilities -- in fact there isn't even a lobby or front desk. However, there is the aptly named Cat Cafe downstairs, a small coffee shop that is the stomping grounds of the owner's 11 cats. Pet and cat lovers will truly appreciate this cute spot, with cozy chairs and spaces to relax in, watch TV, have a drink, and pet the numerous felines. There are also a couple of public computers here for guests to use. Additionally, the guesthouse has some bicycles that can be used by guests free of charge, a great way of getting around Chiang Mai and avoiding the traffic jams and expensive tuk tuk drivers. Wi-Fi is free.
