Shangri-La Chiang Mai Review

It was a beautiful Saturday morning. I woke up to the sun rays, casting shadows along the walls and bed of my spacious, modernly designed Thai king sized suite. As I opened the doors to my balcony, I was welcomed by the fresh air of Chiang Mai. There wasn’t quite a visible sunrise, but that was alright with me, knowing that I was in a beautiful city and despite the fog, I was surrounded by mountains, jungles and rice fields.

I spent two nights at Shangri- La Chiang Mai and those two nights were better than some of my weeks in NYC. I’ve been told by those who have visited that I would fall in love with the “Rose of the North” because its 400 miles distance from Bangkok provides a different sense of ambiance, a more cultural and quiet environment that is famous for its arts, crafts and culture. Little did I know, it was just what I needed after staying at Bangkok three nights earlier.

Shangri-La Chiang Mai has 227 rooms and is located conveniently off Chang Klan Road, which is near the famous night bazaar and close to the airport. It is influenced by northern Thailand’s “Lanna” culture: “Lanna means “Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields” and is also the name for the culture, language, art and ethnic identity still strongly evident in the people and way of life in the region.”

The hotel’s guest rooms are divided into four main categories:

Deluxe Room and Horizon Club Deluxe Room: 225
Premier Room and Horizon Club Premier Room:   37
Executive Suite and Horizon Club Executive Suite:   12
Signature Suites:  (Aranda, Lotus and Presidential): 3

There is also the Horizon Club, which is a only accessible by the top three floors of the hotel. I was lucky enough to have access to the private lounge, which offers breakfast and snacks throughout the day. Guests who want a more quiet stay are advised to stay here as it’s located on a different side of the hotel.

The hotel’s seven acres of green lawns consisting of the CHI, The Spa, rooftop outdoor tennis court, large form swimming pool, Kid’s Club, fully equipped Fitness Centre with classes, and ponds and gardens offers something for all guests. There are two dining options including Kad Kafe, also known as the “Culinary Theatre Cafe”, which offers all day dining with Asian and international specialties and China Kitchen, “an authentic Szechuan restaurant featuring a Chinese chef who serves Szechuan and a selection of Cantonese specialties honoring the taste of traditional southwestern Chinese cuisine.”

I dined at Kad Kafe for breakfast and was obsessed with their wheatgrass smoothie along with their Thai Omelette and Custard dim sum buns. I was also delighted to dine at China Kitchen, since Chinese food holds a special place in my heart. You surely won’t be disappointed with either options!

Visiting Thailand wouldn’t be complete without experiencing a Thai massage. Unlike the inexpensive ones that you can get throughout Chiang Mai which doesn’t offer privacy, I was treated to a Thai and Oil Combination massage at CHI, The Spa. There are nine spacious Thai-inspired villas incorporating the signature CHI “spa within a spa” concept” and I loved that guests are entering what seems to be a private sanctuary space, rather than just a spa room at any other hotel.

I like to think that I’m a spiritual individual, who values holistic habits and Chinese medicine, which is why I was drawn to CHI because “all CHI therapies are based on the Asian philosophy of the traditional five elements, in which metal, water, wood, fire and earth should be in balance with the positive yang and negative yin energy to restore balance and re-energise the mind and the body.” After any spa treatment, I check in with my body to see how I feel and assess my stress levels, mindset and overall experience. I was completely relaxed throughout my 60 minute treatment and knew that I would have a wonderful sleep ahead and spoiler alert, that’s exactly what happened.

The staff at Shangri-La Chiang Mai are all angels sent from heaven. I know that people who work in hospitality are required to have a welcoming vibe, but the staff at Shangri-La Chiang Mai were all genuine in their service. Every time I entered the hotel, I had to put my bags for screening, which I didn’t mind but the staff made sure to greet me and even ask how my day went. They were always open to providing assistance, whether that meant calling me a taxi or tuk tuk or simply offering suggestions of what to do.

I wouldn’t have known about the Saturday Night Market had it not been for one of the staff at the concierge. I was originally planning to go to a different night market but since the Saturday Night Market only happens on Saturdays, I knew I couldn’t miss it. There are many activities to enjoy at Chiang Mai, including visits to the 300 temples, Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, Long Neck Village, Bazaars, Pedestrian District, and outdoor activities. Whether you prefer to stay at the hotel or go outside and explore the city, Shangri-La Chiang Mai is the perfect accommodation that will satisfy your every request. If I find myself in Chiang Mai again, I will surely stay at Shangri-La since my experience was more than I could ask for.

*Thank you Shangri-La Chiang Mai for hosting me!

Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai
89/8 Chang Klan Road Muang Chiang Mai 50100
Tel : 66 53 253 888