Goldenbell Hotel Chiang Mai Review: Ish Meets Thailand
Chiang Mai,the northern capital of Thailand, has become one of the most popular destinations for tourists from all over the world. We are often overwhelmed with choices when it comes to accommodations so let me tell you why I highly recommend staying at the Goldenbell Hotel.
First of all, let me make it clear that I’m not a backpacker. I like to immerse myself in local culture when I travel but I don’t see why that should mean giving up creature comforts. On the other hand, it doesn’t mean I want to spend a fortune either.
- Value for money: Just like you, I don’t want to spend atrocious amounts for my hotel room. I’d rather spend my money on food, experiences, souvenirs and other things. Rooms at the Goldenbell come reasonably priced. We got a triple room for only approximately US$100 a night. That means it’s only about $33 per person. Considering what hostels are charging these days, that’s not too far off. Here are some photos of our room:
As you can see, there is more than enough room for three people. Their standard rooms for 2 are also fairly spacious, clean and comfortable. They also come out to about $30 a night for two people in a room. the rooms have all the usual amenities like a mini bar and a flat screen TV. There are a few cable channels with English programs too. - Cleanliness: As mentioned, everything looked fairly new. The sheets were fresh, the pillows were still fluffy, and all the surfaces were clean. I also put a huge premium on the bathroom situation. Here, the bathrooms were very clean and spacious. there’s a bidet for the toilet, thank God, and the water pressure was great.
- Amenities: Being in Thailand, I don’t really expect to spend much time in the hotel itself. However, I always like having a pool around. Our room at the Goldenbell had a lovely view of the pool. It wasn’t very big, but it was good enough for a nice afternoon dip after a day out touring. There’s also a poolside bar that offers some happy hour discounts.
View from our room
There’s no fitness center haha but frankly, I don’t have time nor desire to work out. Besides, all the walking during the day is enough exercise for me. You can also rent bicycles from the hotel if you wish to work up a sweat while going around the city.
4. Food: There’s a small restaurant at the ground floor that serves the buffet breakfast. there’s usually a selection of Western-friendly safe items like bread, eggs, cakes, pancakes, cereal and bacon. However, there’s also a good selection of local staples like rice, curry, noodles and other traditional Thai dishes. Frankly, there’s no need to step outside to sample authentic local fare! I immensely enjoyed the noodle soup, which changes everyday. 
5. Location: This is the best part. The hotel is located just 100 meters away from one of the main gates entering Chiang Mai city center. From here. you can walk around the center and explore all the temples and sights. Best of all, just steps away, there is a big night market selling all kinds of authentic Thai food. For less than US$5 a night, we were able to stuff ourselves silly! That deserves another post, so stay tuned for that!
Overall, this hotel is a great jump-off point for your daily tours in and around Chiang Mai. while we were here, we spent some time touring around neighboring cities as well. Here’s a feature on our visit to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, one of my highly recommended activities if you ever find yourself in Chiang Mai:
Read Also: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, The Best Place to Visit in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Goldenbell Hotel Chiang Mai Address: 50/1 Rajchiangsaen Rd. T.Haiya Muang Chiangmai 50100
Visit their website to book online: http://goldenbellhotelchiangmai.com