The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Chiang Mai

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Chiang Mai

Rice Fields near Chiang Mai Rice Fields near Chiang Mai

Visiting Chiang Mai, Thailand for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Chiang Mai, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Chiang Mai based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Chiang Mai for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Chiang Mai before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Chiang Mai for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Chiang Mai for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Shangri-La Chiang Mai

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $86 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Chiang Mai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.

Located at 89/8 Chang Klan Road, Muang, Shangri-La Chiang Mai has great rooms from $86 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a water park, and a restaurant. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2.4 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a fitness center, a bar, outdoor tennis, mountain views, and rooms with kitchenettes at this relaxing hotel. Don't miss the pool bar which offers drinks and a fun area to unwind.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


The Opium Serviced Apartment & Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $19 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is The Opium Serviced Apartment & Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $19. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a kid-friendly buffet, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 41/1 Soi Viangbua Chottana Road. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and city views which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.7 km from the city center. Don't forget that there's a kitchen in the room to cook your meals, too. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Chiang Mai Thai House

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $11 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Chiang Mai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

We found Chiang Mai Thai House to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $11. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, parking, hiking, and mountain views, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.50 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 5/1 Tapae Road Soi 5 T. Chang Klan Amphur Muang. You'll also find laundry services, city views, cooking classes, a hot tub, and car rentals which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.5 km from the center of town. We love relaxing in a hot tub after a long day, and the one here is really nice. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Empress Hotel Chiang Mai

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $40 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $40, Empress Hotel Chiang Mai, at 199/42 Chang Klan Road provides an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 9.20 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, mountain views, child care, laundry services, and city views. It's located just 2.6 km from the city center, too. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Sireeampan Boutique Resort and Spa

5-star Resort with prices starting at $160 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Chiang Mai
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Sireeampan Boutique Resort and Spa has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $160 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 88/8 Moo 1, Liab Klong Chonlaprathan Road, Tambon Changpuak, Muang District. Furthermore, it also offers breakfast, mountain views, child care, laundry services, and golf, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 3.4 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Sanae' Hotel Chiang Mai

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $35 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Sanae' Hotel Chiang Mai is 9.00 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar, mountain views, and city views. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $35, and it's located at 8/1, Soi Suk Kasame, Nimmanahaeminda Road. We also love the free parking, kids meals, car rentals, laundry facilities, and family rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just 1.9 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Thapae Loft

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $20 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Thapae Loft because it has great rooms that start at $20. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and mountain views, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 142. Ratchapakinai Rd. Tumbol phasing Amphur muang Chiang mai. Only 1 km from the city center, travelers will especially love laundry services, city views, free parking, laundry facilities, and bicycle rental at this convenient hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Saltwater pool


Viang Thapae Resort

4-star Resort with prices starting at $26 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Chiang Mai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Viang Thapae Resort offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $26 (before taxes). It's located at 47 Soi 4 Thapae Road., Chang Klan., Muang, Chiang Mai and has earned a guest rating of 8.90/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, hiking, laundry services, golf, and cooking classes which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.5 km from the city center. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Child pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool
  • Saltwater pool


Dusit D2 Chiang Mai SHA Plus+

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $45 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 100 Chang Klan Road, Dusit D2 Chiang Mai SHA Plus+ has great rooms from $45 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find child care, laundry services, golf, city views, and cooking classes which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 2 km from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Le Meridien Chiang Mai

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $77 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Chiang Mai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Le Meridien Chiang Mai which has nice rooms starting at $77. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 108 Chang Klan Road, Tambol Chang Klan. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a bar, mountain views, child care, laundry services, and city views. It's located just 2 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Pai, Mae Rim, Hang Dong, and Lampang.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Chiang Mai, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Chiang Mai, Best Cheap Hotels in Chiang Mai, Best Luxury Hotels in Chiang Mai, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Chiang Mai, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Chiang Mai, Best Hotels for One Week in Chiang Mai, Best Hotels for One Night in Chiang Mai, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Chiang Mai, Best Adults Only Hotels in Chiang Mai, Best Party Hotels in Chiang Mai, Best Business Hotels in Chiang Mai, or Best Party Hotels in Chiang Mai.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$32

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Chiang Mai, Thailand based on data from 266 hotels is an affordable $32. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Chiang Mai.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $99
  • 4-star hotels: $38
  • 3-star hotels: $23
  • 2-star hotels: $29


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