After sharing some of the best things to do in Chiang Rai recently, it's time for me to review the accommodation where we stayed for two nights there. We stayed at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai, and I have mixed opinions about this hotel. If I can be honest, staying at Pimanninn is probably my least favorite decision in Chiang Rai.
Don't get me wrong, the hospitality of their staff is great, but they can surely improve in some other aspects. So in this post, I'm going to share my firsthand experience of staying at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai.
I think one of the main reasons we ended up booking a room at Pimanninn Hotel was that we could get a suite room at a pretty affordable rate. We paid $59.82 USD for our 2-night stay in the Suite room at Pimanninn Hotel, but here's the catch… The receptionist told us when we arrived at the hotel that all the Suite rooms they have only provide twin beds.
While we were okay with that, I think you may want to consider this if you plan to travel with your partner to Chiang Rai and stay in the Suite room at Pimanninn Hotel.
We arrived early in the morning as we took the first flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. I already expected to leave our bag at the hotel's concierge since I assumed we weren't allowed to check in early. The hotel receptionist was friendly, and she was quite helpful too since she was the one recommending us to go to Singha Park after the White Temple on the first day.
The downside of staying at Pimanninn Hotel was probably the location, as it's around 2-3 kilometers from the city center where the night bazaar is. On the first night we managed to go to the Chiang Rai night bazaar, and we walked as we thought it wouldn't be so far. Not gonna lie, we should've taken a taxi instead since it was quite a distanced walk and the alley that we passed through when walking didn't seem safe at all.
First Impression
Lobby at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Apart from the friendly staff, the first impression that I got when I arrived at Pimanninn Hotel was that it's a typical old hotel in Asia that had passed its glory. A little bit different from SC Heritage Hotel in Hat Yai, Pimanninn Hotel seems to be the kind of hotel that used to be high-end at its peak.
It was even more obvious the next day when my boyfriend and I had breakfast, as so many guests staying at the hotel were some old Asian uncles and aunties. I wouldn't be surprised if they were also local Thai visitors coming to Chiang Rai, since the hotel seems to be a great accommodation choice if you have a car.
Their parking space is huge, you don't have to worry about parking if you drive to Chiang Rai. It's also convenient for us since we rented a car in Chiang Rai, and we could park the car overnight for free there too. I'm not even sure how big the hotel is, but given the idea I stayed at the front pavilion close to the lobby; the hotel seems bigger than I thought.
The parking space at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Check-In Process
After visiting the White Temple and Singha Park, we arrived back at the hotel at the exact time we were allowed to check-in at around 2.30 PM. When we headed to the receptionist, the same staff was still in charge of the desk. She checked us in and gave us the breakfast coupon for the next day. Since we booked for two nights, she also told us to pick up another coupon for our last day at Pimanninn Hotel.
Personally, I'm not a fan of their breakfast system since I feel like they could've just given us breakfast coupons for the whole stay. But then again, the lobby is located next to the restaurant so that wasn't a big issue. On the last day, we picked up the coupon before we went to the restaurant for breakfast.
Suite Room
Considering it's a suite room and the night rate wasn't even $30 USD, it was definitely worth the money. The Suite Room at Pimanninn Hotel is spacious, and my first thought was that the room is suitable for family traveling with kids.
The first section of the Suite Room is a small pantry where you can prepare food. There's no stove or anything like that, but if you want to prepare something simple like sandwiches or even cereal, you can do it there. There's also a dining table in this section.
As mentioned, the Suite Room at Pimanninn Hotel only has a twin bed. It wasn't a big problem for us, especially since the bed was quite comfy. In fact, I think Chiang Rai is the place where we spent so much time taking a few naps. I had a video call with my boyfriend a few days ago, and I asked him what we had for dinner on our last night in Chiang Rai since I couldn't remember. After none of us could remember what happened, we agreed that we probably skipped dinner to sleep in.
Twin bed at the Suite room in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Another thing that I like about the bed is that each bed comes with two pillows. It's probably nothing for some people, but I love it. It's probably another reason why we slept so well at Pimanninn.
Also, since the hotel area is split into several pavilions, you can expect a quiet night that gives you the quality sleep you need after exploring Chiang Rai in the daylight.
Since the hotel itself is so big and depending on your room, it can be quite far to walk from your room to the lobby. The good news is that the room comes with an intercom too, so you can just call the receptionist if you need anything. However, when we entered the room and we realized that we were running out of toilet paper, we called the receptionist, but no one came until we stopped by the receptionist when we left for dinner.
The bathroom in the suite room at Pimanninn Hotel was also quite impressive. It is so spacious, and it's split into three different section: the sink, the toilet, and the shower. The shower section has a door, so you can maintain privacy without locking the bathroom.
Pimanninn Hotel also provides standard amenities for toiletries, including a small tube of soap and shampoo along with the toothbrush kit. We didn't really need it, but if you're the type of traveler who relies on the hotel's amenities for showers, it has everything you need!
Breakfast
The restaurant is located across the lobby where you checked in, and you need to present the breakfast coupon during breakfast time from 7 to 10 AM. I was actually quite surprised when I entered the restaurant area since it's definitely bigger than it looks from outside.
The breakfast menu at Pimanninn Hotel isn't that fancy, but it's not too bad to start the day. Their buffet menu is Asian food like fried noodles, veggies, etc, and the menu was the same during my stay there. I'm not sure if they have a default menu for breakfast, or I just happened to stay when the menu was the same for two days in a row. Taste-wise, it was okay. Nothing special, but it's edible. 😛
Apart from the Asian buffet, there's also a toast section with a pretty old toaster. The only downside is that they only have strawberry and pineapple jams, which is a bit odd since I feel like having peanut butter or chocolate jams is almost a default for breakfast at hotels.
My boyfriend had toast for breakfast, and I had the buffet since the jam wasn't appetizing for me. They also serve orange juice, although it's not fresh if that matters to you.
Breakfast at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Other Facilities
Pimanninn Hotel also has a swimming pool and fitness center, although we didn't get a chance to use them during our stay. The swimming pool and gym are next to the restaurant, which reminds me… Pimanninn Hotel seems like that old country club where senior citizens come to hang out and have some exercise.
Final Verdict: Staying at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai, Thailand
Staying at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai can be a great choice if you travel to Chiang Rai with a car, not only because the location is pretty much out of nowhere, but also because they have a big parking space.
The Suite Room at Pimanninn Hotel is also suitable for a family with young kid. Although given the idea they only have a twin bed in the Suite Room, I think it's better to downgrade to VIP or Deluxe room so you can get a double bed instead.
Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
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The night rate is super affordable, even for the Suite Room. It's barely $30 per night for Suite, including free breakfast.
The staff is friendly and quite helpful.
Pimanninn has a big parking space, suitable if you travel by car or plan to rent a car in Chiang Rai.
They have some good facilities too, including swimming pool and gym.
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The location is in the middle of nowhere. If you plan to stay in Chiang Rai, I suggest you find accommodation within a radius of 1 kilometer from Chiang Rai Night Bazaar or Chiang Rai Bus Terminal.
The breakfast isn't that good, but given the idea that the night rate at Pimanninn Hotel is also quite cheap, I wouldn't complain.
I think staying at Pimanninn Hotel in Chiang Rai is worth the price, although if I ever come back to Chiang Rai I'll definitely want to book another accommodation that is closer to the city center since the location of the hotel is pretty awkward. Like it's too far for a nice walk, but too close for a drive.
Do you have any hotel recommendations in Chiang Rai? Drop the name in the comment below, and cheerio!
Marya The BeauTraveler
I am the founder and main editor at The BeauTraveler. I spent 4 years working in the aviation industry but ironically got to travel more right after quitting the industry in 2015. Born and raised in Indonesia, I started working remotely in 2017, and while I stay at home most of the time, I also regularly spend 2-3 months living a semi-digital nomad life elsewhere every year.
