De Hug Hotel & Residence

De Hug Hotel & Residence is mainly aimed at the domestic Thai crowd, and the kitschy setups throughout the lobby make for cute Instagram and social media posts. Hence, the hotel is adorned with lots of dolls and stuffed animals, that are supposed to go along with the "hug" motif for which the hotel is named. Some may find the setup charming, but others might find it slightly tacky.

The entrance into the hotel has a small pebble garden on one side, which is filled with ceramic dolls and a few plants. Behind this, there's a small patio where a white bench and a frame filled with pictures of past guests hugging. The lobby keeps up this playfulness, with a "wall of hugs" that has stuffed teddy bears sitting underneath. Chairs feature cushions that have arms, all the better to hug. There's also a back area here with bright orange chairs, settees, designer lights, a computer for guests to use, as well as a few English paperback books. There's a large map that shows local restaurants and other places guests might find useful in the neighborhood. 

De Hug Hotel & Residence is located on the west side of Chiang Rai, in a neighborhood that has a decidedly local vibe to it. While it isn't smack in the middle of the tourist zone, it is nevertheless a convenient spot, as there are lots of restaurants and shops around the hotel. The hotel has free bikes for guests to use, making it easy to get around and avoid taxis. Otherwise, it's a five-minute walk to the Sunday night market, and a five-minute drive to the center of town. The airport is a 20-minute drive from here, and there is quick access out to the main highway without having to drive through the city center. The main drawback to this area is that the road outside the hotel has lots of traffic on it throughout the day and can be quite noisy. Those wanting to explore father sights will find the famous White Temple a 15- to 20-minute drive outside of town, while the Golden Triangle is a bit over an hour away by car.

There are 60 rooms at De Hug Hotel & Residence, mostly divided between Superior and Deluxe categories, with a couple of larger Junior Suites thrown into the mix. In general, the look is modern and pleasant, if entirely simple. Expect to see light and dark wood-veneer furniture with clean lines, along with dark accent colors like brown and gray. A bit of abstract art or quirky photos hang on the walls. The standard Superior Rooms have white tile floors and the Deluxe Rooms have faux wood floors and look a bit more upmarket. They have a large stand alone desk away from the wall. The Junior Suites are much bigger, but nothing is done with the additional space.

The rooms are a bit more spacious than most budget hotels in town, and have a few extra perks, like small balconies (though they aren't furnished) plus mini-fridges in some. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs and cable channels, electric hot water kettles for making free tea and coffee, air-conditioning, wardrobes, and free Wi-Fi. There are no in-room safes, only a safe deposit box downstairs in the lobby. Bathrooms are a bit drab, with stall showers and a bit of space on the black quartz counters around the sink. Soap and shampoo are provided, but a shower cap and cotton buds are the only extra toiletries. We did spot a bit of dirty grout in some of the showers that we saw. 

As a budget hotel focused on long-stay guests, De Hug Hotel & Residence doesn't offer much in the way of features or facilities. There's a restaurant on the premises -- it's a cute little cafe with green and orange chairs, bright natural lighting, and lots of hug placards on the wall. Unfortunately, it's only open for breakfast, which includes a nice array of options. Other facilities at the hotel include a small meeting room, free bicycles for guests to borrow, and free Wi-Fi. There's plenty of parking space, both outdoors and in a covered adjacent area. The hotel also has a small corner of the lobby where guests can buy drinks and snacks.