There must be a thousand hotels, guesthouses, and hostels in Chiang Mai. The amount of options can be overwhelming. I was on a bus from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai scrolling through Hotels.com, and I stumbled on the Mandala House.
Mandala House amenities
I was looking for a pool, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, hot water for the shower, and a relatively budget priced room. I also wanted a spot close to the action in Chiang Mai, which meant close to the night bazar. My plan was to book a tour the next day in Chiang Mai, so I wanted a place I could walk to a local tour office. Mandala House checked all of those boxes and also offered breakfast, so I booked.
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Bus drop off
My bus from Ayutthaya dropped me off at the bus station a little outside of town. I got a tuk-tuk ride to the Mandala House for 50 baht. The nice thing about booking on an app is the app shows the location on Google maps. Therefore, I could follow the progress to the location and even give navigation tips to my driver if he did not know where the location was. With so many lodging options in Chiang Mai, even local tuk-tuk drivers will not know where every place is.
Easy check-in
Mandala House was located in a narrow street just off the main drag in Chiang Mai. I showed my passport, and dropped off my backpack in my room. My room was clean and spacious enough for one person. Staff was of course exceedingly friendly and helpful. Every hotel staff in all of Southeast Asia pretty much is.
Mandala House super convenient location
I immediately departed to hit the night market area. The booking app indicated Mandala House was .6 miles from the night market. It turned out it was even closer to the main action. In just a couple of turns I was on the main road. Before I even came across the night market, I found a booking agent for the next leg of my trip. I then proceeded to the night market and bought dinner and some clothes. I could not have been more happy with the location.
Breakfast and check out
Next morning, I walked down to the entrance and had a choice of breakfast. I choose the fried egg option, and I inquired about the pool because I had not run into it yet. I was informed it was across the street. Sure enough, the pool was conveniently located right across the street. This was not far because the street was quite narrow.
Conclusion
The Mandala House in Chiang Mai was exactly what I was looking for. The price for the room turned out to be only $16.00 and the breakfast was around another $3.00. I know some backpackers prefer to spend under $10.00 and sometimes even under $5.00. There are plenty of options available in Chiang Mai for those prices, but I was looking for a single room, a pool, and A-C, so I was willing to spend a little more. I am glad I chose Mandala House and would happily return.