Publishers Review: Eurasia Hotel Chiang Mai
Saturday, 10 Oct, 2016
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That’s the beauty of low season travel. Even in crowded Chiang Mai you can find pockets of peace quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Just what the doctor ordered after a week of urban mayhem in Bangkok. We chose the Eurasia Hotel Chiang Mai specifically to recharge the batteries although we didn’t expect it to be so serene.
First impressions perhaps aren’t to everyone’s taste. It was a workmanlike four storey block in a contemporary design that certainly wouldn’t make the hotlist in any style bible. Thankfully we’d done our research and booked the detached bungalows set in their own expansive grounds at the back of the main hotel. They were everything I expected and more – a cosy haven that somehow mixed the elegance of an Art Deco style summer house with the warm ambience of a Hobbit home.
They had tons of character. The high ceilings were topped off with a tall lantern-style skylight. Moonlight streaming into the room via the skylight was a constant source of fascination for my 10-year son. Interiors were deceptively spacious with an ample wordesk, flat screen TV, minibar and plenty of storage space.
All around was a thick sea of emerald green. The lush landscaping of tall trees and colourful foliage provided constant entertainment day and night. Hidden among the undergrowth were myriad small critters – squirrels, geckos and the occasional feral cat. We were also serenaded by birdsong throughout the day. The only downside to this was the constant downpours exacerbated the mosquito problem.
Throughout our week’s stay we barely encountered other independent guests, although the hotel was far from empty. During the first few days it was populated by a large group from China, being replaced later on in the week by an even bigger (and more boisterous) group of college grads from the US. In both cases they left en masse right after breakfast and didn’t return until late in the evening. We virtually had the whole place to ourselves each and every day. Bliss.
No race to get the pool loungers at the crack of dawn for us. The hotel pool was fairly small but who really cares when you have it all to yourself. The adjoining restaurant had an ambitious Thai influenced menu which covered most bases – from the obligatory Pad Thai to steak, pasta and Oriental fare. Service, food presentation and restaurant decor were all fuss-free and unpretentious.
Eurasia Hotel also has a small business centre and library. The hotel’s location adds to its hidden gem appeal, set out in the sticks off the main superhighway but is nothing a 15-minute tuk-tuk ride can’t cure.
This location will obviously not be to everyone’s taste as staying in and around the old city is the big draw for most visitors. But I’d hazard a guess few other places in town offer the same level of three-star comforts for the princely sum of just $25 a night.
Web site: http://www.eurasiahotels.com/
By Charles Kao
Charles Kao
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