99 The Gallery Hotel

There isn't too much going on at 99 The Gallery Hotel. Due to its small size and great location, most guests are out during the day visiting the temples and sights that the historic old city of Chiang Mai has to offer. The pool here is a narrow rectangle beautifully tiled in deep teal, with a white stone deck dotted with several wooden lounge chairs -- this area, however, is pretty tiny, so not many guests hang out here. Hong Thong Arun breakfast niche is busy each morning, though, and is a pleasant room with white walls, dark wood tables topped with woven mats, and pops of bright red in the wall art and lamps. The artsy lobby offers an additional place to sit and relax, and is decorated with old photos, maps of the old town, and art pieces like rattan baskets interspersed among the comfy chairs and sofas. Most of the guests here are younger, enjoying one of the better value stays in the old town. As the rooms are not big, the clientele tends to be couples and friends, with not too many families.

99 The Gallery Hotel has the perfect location, right in the center of historical old town Chiang Mai. The hotel is just a two-minute walk around the corner from Wat Pra Singh, one of the most famous temples in the old city, and several other temples -- including Wat Chiang Man -- are within a 15-minute stroll. The Sunday Walking Street Market is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. There are plenty of restaurants and shops around the neighborhood, so guests have ample choice for dining, drinking, and shopping. The airport is a 10- to 20-minute drive from here, depending on traffic, and the downtown area of Chiang Mai is a five- to 10-minute ride.

Rooms here are fairly small, with the standard Superior not giving much beyond bed space. However, all rooms have contemporary Thai Lanna decor, comfy pillows, and wood flooring, and some have four-poster beds. The color scheme is generally bright and modern: either white and black, or white and pale-green with red accents. All rooms have electric hot water kettles, safes, large flat-screen TVs with cable, plus free Wi-Fi and inclusive breakfast. The Suite rooms are the nicest, with much more space, small balconies, and freestanding bathtubs. The Deluxe rooms also have balconies, but, like the Superior rooms, only have showers. The only blemish here are the lack of views, as even rooms with balconies only have wood-slat openings, so one really can't see much of the streets outside.

99 The Gallery is a small property and does not have many facilities. There is a small swimming pool downstairs, but it's hemmed in by four walls, so doesn't get much sun and isn't worth more than a dip on a hot day. Next to it is the Hong Thong Arun, a cozy niche where free breakfast is served -- a buffet of fresh croissants, fruit, cereal, and some main dishes. There is a small room upstairs with public computers for use, while the lobby area offers ample seating, as well. There's an upstairs terrace with a few tables and chairs overlooking Wat Pra Singh temple.