Nak Nakara

Nak Nakara has a large and pleasant lobby, with plenty of natural light, blonde wood-laminate floors, and bronze colored sofas and chairs. Cushions made of local textiles, including embroidered ones, as well as statuettes and paintings lend a bit of local flavor, and everything has an eclectic, homey look. The space offers a newspaper rack, a bookshelf, and a selection of DVDs for borrow, as well as a computer for guest use. As the hotel is right in the center of Chiang Rai, most guests head out for drinks and food. Still, there is a small lobby bar with some comfortable couches that's well-liked by guests -- it's a fine place for a nightcap. Overall, this is a simple hotel that attracts a mix of guests, including families and couples, who enjoy the proximity to downtown.

The hotel is conveniently located in downtown Chiang Rai. The immediate area is a mix of residential and commercial buildings, though the closest businesses are all small shops and local business. There are plenty of restaurants within a 10-minute walk toward the main road. The Golden Clocktower -- one of the city's main landmarks -- is a 10-minute walk away. The Saturday Night Walking Street Market, which features arts, crafts, food, and more, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, while the night bazaar is a 15-minute walk from here. Wat Phra Kaew temple is about a 15-minute walk, while the famous white temple, Wat Rong Khun, is a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Expect a 15-minute drive to the airport as well.

There are 69 rooms at Nak Nakara, and while on the small side, they are pleasantly furnished, with the upper-category Lanna Rooms featuring brightly painted murals and northern Thai Lanna decor. These rooms have light wood laminate floors, rattan seating, desks, and large mirrors. The abundance of dark wood paneling and contemporary furniture adds a nice layer of polish as well. The entry-level Deluxe Rooms and Executive Deluxe Rooms are not nearly as fresh, with spare and simple decor (though the Executive category rooms do also have bright, hand-painted wall murals that at least add a bit of color). Details include plain tile floors, limited white bedding, and thick old-school curtains over the windows. Thai silk pillows and bed runner bright things up a bit, as do the boldly colored accent walls. The hotel has plans to renovate these rooms in mid-2016. 

All rooms have modern conveniences like safes, electric hot water kettles, flat-screen televisions with cable channels, mini-fridges, DVD players (with a selection of DVDs available in the lobby), and free Wi-Fi (though some guests have complained of poor service). The rooms lack balconies and don't offer much in the way of views, although all rooms do have small windows overlooking buildings and backyards outside. Bathrooms are fine, though not the nicest we've seen. We spotted a good deal of dirty grout in the Lanna Room bathroom, and the tan tiling throughout all categories looks a bit tired. Some rooms do have more contemporary fixtures, or token modern details like glazed plaster walls in walk-in showers. It's worth noting that some guests have complained about noise from both inside and outside the hotel.

Nak Nakara is a small hotel and offers just a few facilities. There's a courtyard swimming pool, surrounded by a sundeck with umbrella-shaded loungers and larger circular loveseats. The pool is well maintained, with clean water, plus there's a kids' section at one end.

The hotel restaurant is located out by the street, and has both indoor and outdoor seating. The interior features red tile floors, while the outside has both rattan and bamboo chairs set out on a wooden deck. Free buffet breakfasts are served here, as well as Thai and Western dishes for lunch and dinner. There's also a small lobby bar with coffee, tea, and drinks -- it's well-liked by previous hotel guests.

Other facilities at the hotel include a set of meeting rooms and ample parking in the front lot. Bicycles are available for free, and guests can book various tours and excursions at the hotel. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but some guests complain of poor and spotty service.