Alongside the peaceful Kok River in Chiang Rai, northern Thailand, lies the quiet resort of Le Méridien Chiang Rai, now owned by Marriott International. Around three kilometers from Chiang Rai Walking Street, you are away from the busiest area of the town, ideal for a few days of relaxation around the pool with good food and comfortable rooms.
Walking into the opulent, open-air reception area you are immediately greeted by a sense of welcome as you gaze over the lake towards the pool and over to the Kok River. After you have been shown to your room and figured out the slightly confusing configuration of the hotel, take some time to settle in and then explore the grounds of the hotel. Soon you will discover the large tree in the garden, well over 200 years old. Make sure to have your camera ready and set to the widest angle possible to capture the splendor of its size. Make your way down, past the pool, to Favola Restaurant to make your dinner reservation for later in the evening.
Following that, how about an early evening cocktail at the Latitude 13 pub at the hotel? Here you will find a cozy atmosphere and a large selection of cocktails to ease you into a quiet evening. The pub is not large and I was the only person there on the evening that I visited but I visited during the Thailand quiet season so that is to be expected.
After a quiet evening, for breakfast, make your way to the ‘Latest Recipe’ restaurant where you will have a large selection of Thai and western food on offer. You can even order your own style of eggs, ranging from the basic scrambled eggs to a more exotic Egg Benedict with salmon. You will not be disappointed by the breakfast selection, and it’s everything you would expect from a five-star hotel. Perhaps it’s a little early to try the ‘Cake of the Day’ or the ice-cream that changes on a daily basis but then again you are on vacation so why not? You can always try the fruit-infused water or a lovely cappuccino to end your breakfast journey.
Perhaps you have already planned your things to do in Chiang Rai by reading our recommendations, otherwise consider one of the day tours offered by GetYourGuide by clicking on the box below.
Better still, enjoy a quiet day around the hotel enjoying the peace and serenity of the pool area. Perhaps it’s already time for happy hour where they serve the best cocktails from a trolley, appropriately called ‘Let’s Drink’, alongside the pool. Otherwise, just have a cocktail for lunch. It’s your vacation and no one will know.
How about making an afternoon reservation at Parvati Spa where you can relax and be pampered in a serene setting? I can only imagine this activity as I did not try it, but it’s bound to be amazing.
I suspect your dinner at Favola on the first night will have you making another reservation for the evening. This lovely Italian restaurant, alongside the pool and overlooking the Kok River, serves delicious food and they even had extra anchovies for my Hawaiian pizza. You could choose to sit outside if you are brave enough to face the Thailand humidity and a selection of the best mosquitos, otherwise select a nice table inside where you can marvel at the chic décor of the restaurant. Perhaps you will choose a nice bottle of wine from their extensive collection, or another alcoholic beverage to wind down your quiet vacation day.
By choosing Le Méridien Chiang Rai, you can be as busy or relaxed as you choose. There is plenty of on-site, covered parking, a great selection of bars and restaurants and even curio and souvenir shops from which to choose. The rooms are large and comfortable. They face towards the pool and the Kok River and from your balcony, depending on your room selection, you will have a lovely view of the sun as it sets over the Thai countryside.
I enjoyed my five-night stay at Le Méridien Chiang Rai and I would stay there again when I am next in Chiang Rai. The directions to Le Méridien Chiang Rai may be found on Google Maps here.
You are welcome to start your reservation at Le Méridien Chiang Rai with booking.com by clicking here or, elsewhere, in the box below or with Agoda by clicking here.
Booking.comIf you are looking for day tours while you are in Chiang Rai, start your planning with Viator by considering one of the tours below.
Our other posts on Thailand may be found here.
(Visited June 2024)