Yes! Finally, travel restrictions have been removed & off I went to Thailand for 2 weeks to write about the beautiful attractions, yummy food & where you can call home when you are in 'The Land of Smiles'. This is the 1st time I visited Chiang Mai & decided on staying at the Meliá Chiang Mai for 4 nights. Towering over Chiang Mai’s River Ping & bustling Night Bazaar in Thailand’s mountainous north, Meliá Chiang Mai only opened its doors for business on the 10 April 2022.
Lobby
The leisure hotel is situated six kilometres from Chiang Mai International Airport on vibrant Charoen Prathet Road, close to a broad spectrum of tourist attractions, markets & many beautiful Buddhist temples. With a design that pays tribute to Chiang Mai’s charming history & culture with a contemporary flair, the hotel comprises of a striking 22-floor tower fronted by an adjoining seven-floor podium building. When I arrived at the hotel, I can feel the warmth & see the sincere smiles from every staff's eyes (everyone was masked up). It is definitely the most welcoming hotel I have ever set foot on.
The Lobby Area
The hotel has a total of 254 rooms & I was checked into one of the 40 Premium Rooms which has a generous size of 44 sqm. Bright, modern & elegant, is how I felt when I stepped into my room. The ambience of the room feels likes a cocoon of tranquility, peaceful & yet illuminates this luxurious element to it. The well thought design marries modernity to traditional Thai elements, giving it an interesting fusion flavour.
Premium Room
The pillows & bed are so comfortable it's as though you are sleeping on top of the fluffy clouds. The room has a dining table, an enormous day bed, a sofa & the bathroom & amenities are just perfect for the discerning traveler.
Premium Room
Breakfast offered was more than an abundance with the freedom to savour as much good food as you can, without (that much) judgement from others. The Chefs here are excellent. They whip up an array of Thai & Asian cuisine together with an International spread. The service staff pays attention to you, something that is extraordinary.
Laan Na Kitchen
The restaurant provides a culinary experience like no other & breakfast diners are promised a theatrical gastronomic tour. You can have a more interactive buffet experience as diners get to communicate with the chefs directly in a hygiene manner & enjoy dishes prepared in an open kitchen.
Chef Cooking a Bowl of Noodles
The outdoor swimming pool is situated on the 2nd floor. Conveniently connected to Tien Pool Bar, the swimming pool has this relaxing atmosphere with a spacious terrace dotted with large sun beds.
Swimming Pool
Meliá also offers a signature YHI Spa with seven treatment rooms, a fully-equipped fitness centre, a ballroom & four other meeting spaces.
Up & coming is Meliá Chiang Mai’s jewel in the crown. It is a 360-degree rooftop bar called "Mai The Sky Bar" which is on the 22nd floor - the highest bar in the city. Featuring two bars connected by a glass bridge, Mai The Sky Bar offers spectacular views of the River Ping to the city’s east & famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west.
Fitness Centre
People who know me well knows that I can be very picky. Perhaps being a former hospitality professional, I may be a little more particular. I can confidently say that Meliá Chiang Mai provides memorable experiences rather than plain service. Excellent hotels like Meliá Chiang Mai incorporate the latest trends in their services & know how to shift from service delivery to creating personalised & unique experiences that guests love. The attention to detail & the heart of hospitality from every single staff from the back of the house to the front of the house at Meliá Chiang Mai is simply exceptional.
Ms Alejandrina, Ms Ribbin & Me (R to L)
I would like to give my sincere thanks to Ms Sukanya, Ms Ribbin & Ms Alejandrina (Front Desk), Mr Toon & Mr Jason (Concierge), Ms Janeyira (Housekeeping), Ms Nipaporn & Ms Patipan (Reservations), Ms Vipasiri (Marketing), the 2 Chefs who posed for my video & photo & the rest of the wonderful people at Meliá Chiang Mai whose name I cannot remember. My sincere apologies for not doing better to remember all your names. See you again soon, stay safe & stay well.
* My stay at Meliá Chiang Mai is fully paid by myself & all my reviews are absolutely unbiased.
For more information & reservations, visit Meliá Chiang Mai's website here or call+66 52 090 699 or email reservation.chiangmai@melia.com
Join the Meliá Rewards Program here
Meliá Chiang Mai has obtained “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health: SHA+” certification, developed by Thailand’s Ministry for Tourism in collaboration with public and private sector partners to mitigate the threat of COVID-19 & elevate the country’s tourism industry standards. Under the certification, Meliá Chiang Mai follows strict COVID-19 control guidelines by Thailand’s Department of Disease Control & Ministry of Public Health regarding sanitation & social distancing.
Meliá Chiang Mai has a raft of stringent health, safety and hygiene measures in place under a global program called “Stay Safe With Meliá” developed in collaboration with certification, inspection & testing company Bureau Veritas.
The “360 degree” program entails a strict cleaning & disinfection plan endorsed by supplier Diversey, & uses technological solutions to minimize physical contact between guests & staff as well as occupational health measures to identify people at risk & management of possible cases of infection. The program also includes post-COVID-19 standards to ensure the safety of food & beverage, wellness, entertainment & in-room experiences as well as operational guides targeting staff procedures, training & maintenance of facilities.