The Empress Chiangmai

Upon check-in, we received a welcome gift package. The surrounding area isn't as bustling as it used to be, but it's still conveniently close to Big C shopping mall for dining and shopping. The hotel is within the pickup/drop-off range for almost all day tours. The room was clean, and the elevator was fast and smooth. The staff were warm and polite. There's a smoking area outside the lobby, and the pool is fantastic.

Let me start by saying this is the worst hotel I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in many over the years. Firstly, putting aside the fact that the hotel is old, I was on the 9th floor. The red walls in the room were incredibly eerie, and there was no overhead light. The only lighting came from wall-mounted lamps and bedside lamps, making the room extremely dim. Secondly, the room temperature couldn't be adjusted. There was only a central control panel that could adjust the fan speed, with three settings. For the first two days, the air conditioning was inexplicably super hot. Even with the fan on high, it was still sweltering, much hotter than the hallway. The room also had no ventilation and felt incredibly stuffy. Although the window could theoretically open, it was locked with a master key, so there was no way to get fresh air. With no exhaust fan and no ability to open the window, how was I supposed to ventilate the room? Thirdly, the showerhead in the bathroom was fixed and couldn't be taken off. Plus, you had to stand in the bathtub to shower. This was a very old-fashioned tub with a curved bottom, making it very slippery and extremely dangerous! Fourthly, the hangers in the wardrobe were fixed to the rail and couldn't be removed. This made putting clothes away or taking them out incredibly complicated. Hanging clothes was a real struggle. Was this design meant to prevent us from stealing their hangers? The only thing worth praising was the Christmas gift bag we received on the first day of our stay, which included juice, nuts, and snacks. I was so happy then, and I had high hopes when we checked in. The lobby architecture is very classic and spacious, and receiving the gift made me anticipate a joyful holiday. However, my mood soured from the moment I walked through the door.

This hotel is located in the heart of Chiang Mai, very close to both the night market and the old city. The service was incredibly warm and attentive. I booked an executive floor room and a junior suite, and they automatically upgraded me to the junior suite type, saving me the hassle of changing floors within the hotel. They even provided a fruit basket service. The central air conditioning was very efficient, and the mini-bar drinks were reasonably priced. The room was spotlessly clean, and hot water was readily available. The breakfast offered a wide variety of choices. The hotel has a swimming pool on the 3rd floor, with depths ranging from 0.7 to 1.6 meters. Although the hotel has a long history, its facilities are extremely well-maintained. The prices are also very reasonable and friendly. Next to the hotel, there's a separate luxury hotel building, catering to different types of guests. I'll definitely stay here again on my next visit to Chiang Mai. During our stay, which happened to be Thanksgiving, the hotel was fully booked every day. However, the service remained highly efficient, and there was no strange odor in the rooms. The soundproofing in the rooms was also excellent.