The Grand Napat

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.

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.

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. 

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.