Siripanna Villa Resort and Spa Chiang Mai

This resort outside of the city center has plenty of green space, so the focus is on taking it easy and enjoying the surroundings. The quiet atmosphere will appeal to couples, but families can appreciate the ample outdoor space, not to mention the Kids Club. Most guests go to bed early, and there is no nightlife on the premises or immediately nearby, so this isn't the place for partiers.

The lobby here is a gorgeous example of northern Thai design, with arched wooden ceilings, wooden columns, and intricate carved details. The property is meant to feel like a rural retreat, and the sprawling lawns, an operational rice paddy, wagon, and pond with decorative duck figurines, it succeeds.

The resort is located outside of the city center, across the Mae Ping River and away from downtown and the tourist zone. Still, it's only a 10-minute drive to get anywhere. Guests without cars will need to depend on tuk-tuks, taxis, or the occasional hotel shuttle bus. The hotel is on a street that has lots of traffic, but the resort is well hidden from it, and feels like a rural retreat out in the countryside.

The Siripanna Villa has large rooms decked out in beautiful teak wood. The attractive Thai Lanna decor includes Thai oil paintings with carved frames, hanging lantern-style lights by the bed, fabric accents in earthy colors (green, yellow, or orange, depending on the room), and in some cases, mosquito netting over the bed. The rooms feature enormous 42-inch LCD televisions, stocked minibars, stylish bathrooms with big bathtubs, free Wi-Fi, and balconies that look out at the gardens. Even the standard Deluxe Lanna rooms come with over 40 square meters (430 square feet) of space, which is often hard to come by in Chiang Mai. Every room has a big balcony, and beautiful bathrooms have showers and separate soaking tubs.

The pool at Siripanna is a bit of a disappointment; it's is a narrow canal that forms a square around the wooden deck with cushioned loungers. One section is wider than the others and includes a whirlpool, but the slightly cloudy green water -- despite being deliberate, to make the look more natural -- may strike some as unappealing. There is a small fitness center and a spa, but only one rather basic restaurant. It serves all three meals, including buffet options with a mix of Thai and Western cuisine. The spacious grounds are the highlight, and they include a unique real rice paddy, where guests are invited to help plant or harvest crops. There is also a stunning Thai Lanna teak wood house with its own lookout tower, where guests can get married or have romantic private dinners served.

The Kids Club provides arts and crafts, books, and toys for kids one to 10, but it is not a babysitting service -- parents must stay at the resort while their kids participate.