After exploring the temples, tea plantations, and other attractions around Chiang Rai, it was nice to slow things down and enjoy a few days of resort life at Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort.
We stayed in one of the resort’s suites, and it was definitely a step up from the typical hotel room. The suite was spacious, comfortable, and had some features that made it feel more like a luxury apartment than a hotel room.
The walk-in closet was enormous, which is something you don’t often get in a hotel room. There was also a large soaking tub, a separate shower room, and even a separate toilet room. The suite opened onto a private balcony, giving us another place to sit and relax.
A Welcome Worth Coming Home To
Waiting for us in the room was a welcome dessert tier, which was a nice touch. We also had a surprisingly large minibar, so there was no shortage of snacks and drinks when we wanted something without leaving the room.
But one of the best things about staying somewhere like this isn’t necessarily what’s in the room — it’s being able to simply hang out and enjoy the property.
We spent time relaxing in the beautiful lobby, which became one of our favorite places to sit and people-watch. And, of course, there was the swimming pool.
After days of sightseeing in Chiang Rai, spending some time doing absolutely nothing except swimming and lounging around the resort was a welcome change of pace.
Breakfast Without Having to Think
Our stay included the buffet breakfast, and we took full advantage of it.
There was a good selection of both Western and Asian breakfast choices, making it easy to put together a different breakfast every morning. It’s one of those little luxuries of resort travel – waking up, walking across the beautiful property, and having a huge selection of food waiting for you.
No searching for a restaurant. No deciding where to go. Just grab a plate and start eating.
Burgers and Beer
For something more casual, we also ate at the resort’s Burger Bar.
It was exactly the kind of meal we were looking for after spending time around the pool – relaxed, casual, and easy. Sometimes you don’t want a fancy dinner. You just want a good burger and something cold to drink without having to leave the hotel.
Dinner at Favola
For a completely different experience, we had dinner at Favola, the resort’s Italian restaurant.
This turned out to be one of the highlights of our stay.
We started with a tableside-prepared Caesar salad, which was a fun touch and much better than simply having a salad arrive from the kitchen already assembled. Watching it come together right at the table made the meal feel a little more special.
The Italian food that followed was excellent, with the kind of traditional Italian flavors and presentation you’d hope for from a good hotel Italian restaurant.
More Than Just a Place to Sleep
What I liked most about Le Méridien Chiang Rai was that we didn’t feel like we had to constantly leave the property to have a good time.
We could spend the morning at breakfast, wander around the resort, relax in the lobby, go swimming, have a casual lunch, and then finish the day with a proper Italian dinner at Favola.
And when we finally headed back upstairs, we had a huge suite with a soaking tub, separate shower and toilet rooms, a massive walk-in closet, minibar, and balcony waiting for us.
After spending so much time traveling around Northern Thailand, Le Méridien Chiang Rai was a chance to slow down and enjoy the hotel itself – and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.