Gategaa Village — Hotel in Chiang Mai Province

A very mean, bossy, impatient recep (or maybe she is the supervisor. Her name is Nok.) & the menacing stray dogs are main reasons i'm glad i left after 1 night. Also, unlike what's been indicated as facilties available in the studio room, there is NO washing machine and NO dryer.

If u need them, go use the one at the communal area at a charge. Dryer for 10mins cost 10Bhatt. U probably need several 10Bhatt to get a few pieces of laundry to dry to a decent level (not 100%). Forgot the rate rate for washing machine. It wasnt worth it.

Bicycles available. But only 5 of them. And u can only ride between 7am to 6pm. I'm not sure what kinda penalty if u return after 6pm. It's not an impossibility that Nok may send u to the electric chair.

Back to the room. Watch out the place where u hang your clothes. Look up that wooden plank, notice that fuzzy layer of moss or green mold?? Totally thriving in the humidity. The place where u hang clothes is integrated into the bathroom and ventilation is poor. But the mold/moss is happy. Not that im complaining. I will leave the room to them and never return because they make me sneeze a lot.

Location of the place is fantastic like phuck. If u drive, good luck navigating with the gps. I didn't know i could feel claustrophobia until i started getting lost and going around the narrow concrete maze with tonnes of blind spots also known as soi. And after i finally got to the place (safe and sound and without any scratch to the car or accident), i had a very warm welcome by Nok which i won't go into details. It was terrible and i don't want to live it thru again in my head. It all just propel the whole experience to the suckiest ever anyone could get in Chiangmai. One disgusting encounter with Nok wiped out all the zen and happiness i got from my Chiangmai trip. I dun wish this on anyone.

And if your coming back late like after sundown, u got the very territorial strays to deal with. I wonder why Gategaa won't statiom Nok by main entrance instead. Maybe the stray dogs would migrate elsewhere.

U gotta be very firm and continue walkin on in a steady pace. I lifted my right arm to look taller if that even help deter the strays from thinking of launching an attack. Not sure but seems to help. But they got bolder with every step i made. I then whipped out my mobile and turned on the flashlight on them. That made them backed off abit. Then i could march on with my roght arm lifted and pointing to them as i say very firmly 'Go'. Turned it off and switched back one again. It worked for about 2 to 3 times befofe they realised there's nothing more the light could do. Seeing that i was nearer Gategaa, i shouted for the last time go and i run and charged at them towards the entrance. Well, they scattered and i made it. I was thinking if the strays decide to chase me, i'll lead them to Nok's comfy recep area. It's just about a 100m dash anyway. On not-so-nice-to-walk-uneven-plus-gravel-path though.

Right now, im just so glad im no longer at Gategaa. The regret is mine. For trying to be adventurous and hotel hopped. The previous stay is oh so perfect! Somewhere i would return, unlike...

This was my fourth time staying at this hotel, and it has consistently been one of the most comfortable places I’ve stayed at in Chiang Mai. There’s something about this place that keeps drawing me back every time I visit the city. The rooms are cozy, spacious, clean, and overall very satisfying. The location is another highlight—it’s not right in the city center, but it’s incredibly convenient, allowing easy access to any part of Chiang Mai in very little time. The accessibility of the location is truly a standout feature.

Another major plus is how affordable it is. For the price, it offers fantastic value, including a great breakfast buffet that has consistently been a treat during my stays.

However, this time around, I noticed a few downsides that left me questioning whether I’ll return in the future. The most disappointing aspect was an inconsistency in the service that was hard to ignore. I felt that the staff were noticeably more inclined and friendlier toward foreign guests, particularly white foreigners. As a Thai person, this left me feeling a bit unwelcome, which is disheartening given how much I’ve loved staying here in the past.

One specific interaction stood out during breakfast. A staff member mentioned that the juice of the day was pineapple-carrot juice, but later, we overheard them offering watermelon juice to other tables. This inconsistency, while small, gave me an odd sense of being overlooked.

Additionally, the upkeep of the room this time was not up to the usual standard. For example, the bed wasn’t fully made, and the soundproofing in the rooms is lacking—you can hear noise from neighboring rooms as well as outside. On our last night, we were disturbed by loud conversations in the garden area below us around 1 AM. It was disappointing that the staff didn’t seem concerned about how these disturbances might affect other guests.

While I’ve had many positive experiences here before, this visit left me feeling conflicted. I’m not sure if I’ll return on my next trip to Chiang Mai or explore other...

I had an excellent stay at Gategaa Village and was incredibly impressed by the helpfulness and friendliness of the staff. They not only provided all the necessary details but were always willing to answer any questions, which made my stay truly enjoyable.

Upon arrival, I was delighted with my studio room. It was spacious, well-equipped with everything I needed, and featured a unique bathtub on the balcony. The bathroom amenities were from Mareeji, a brand with a lovely scent—I even purchased a large bottle of their shower gel to take home! The bed and pillows were exceptionally comfortable, and I found myself loving the overall ambiance of the room. Although the hotel doesn’t have an elevator, the three-story building wasn’t an issue, especially since they provide a luggage lift.

The lobby area was another highlight, offering complimentary drinks and snacks throughout the day—a thoughtful touch. Adjacent to the lobby is the dining room, where I enjoyed breakfast. The international buffet was satisfying, and I appreciated the authentic Thai dishes available. My favorite was the baked spinach with cheese—it was delicious!

On my departure day, the staff surprised me with a complimentary snack bag, which was such a kind gesture and left a lasting impression.

While the entrance to the hotel is quite narrow and parking is limited to about 4-6 cars, the additional parking 70 meters away is a helpful alternative.

Overall, my stay at Gategaa Village was fantastic. The excellent service, cozy accommodations, and thoughtful touches made my experience unforgettable. I’d highly recommend this hotel to anyone...