It’s always great when you find a home away from home. A place where you can relax, regroup, unwind and return to and feel at home. For me Manee House in Chiang Mai is this place. I was brought into the family and embraced when I returned, welcomed home after my ventures into the jungle and Pai.
Every room I have stayed in has been clean, freshly renovated and well kept. Fan rooms are 500 THB and for air con it is 750 THB for twin and double rooms. These rooms have new modern bathrooms and all the mod cons. Pricier than other guesthouses in Chiang Mai, it is worth it, after long slogs of sleeping on bamboo floors and the doing without the little homely comforts a budget traveller sacrifices on a daily basis. The guesthouse also has a private pool, which is refreshing after a day out sightseeing in the Thai heat.
Located inside the walls of the Old Town, it is in a prime location to get around. You can easily walk to visit the sights. The guesthouse itself is across the street from a temple and there are great dining options on the very same street. Breakfast from Manee House is average but you can get much better meal options nearby, which are also cheaper, depending on your tastes.
The guesthouse has its own travel agency. They are very competitive with prices and have great deals. For a three day jungle trek, it cost me 1500 THB, which is almost half of what some other tour participants paid their agents. The three day slow boat journey to Luang Prabang, including one night’s accommodation, all transport and some meals cost only 1600 THB – again cheaper than many other travellers taking the same route. Whilst you are out trekking, the guesthouse is happy to store your luggage in their secure storage area and any valuables in the safe at no extra charge.
The staff at Manee House are always accommodating, and welcomed me back with hugs and smiles. I look forward to the day I return to Thailand to go and visit again.
All opinions are subjective to the writers personal travel experience. The writer travelled at her own expense.