Wednesday 9 September 2009

Chiang Mai and the Dhara Dhevi Mandarin

I've just come back from the most wonderful vacation in Chiang Mai, so just wanted to share a little about where my husband and I were lucky enough to be able to stay: The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi. We booked the vacation at the very last minute and had explored all the usual beachy options such as Phuket, Cebu etc., but just weren't finding anything that felt terribly exciting. I had always wanted to go to Chiang Mai, as it sounds so mysterious, and I loved the idea of escaping to somewhere cooler from the Hong Kong heat. We stumbled across the Mandarin Dhara Dhevi, and were initially a little wary, as we generally try to choose small hotels rather than big resorts. Then we realized that even though the resort is spread over an incredible 60 acres, the hotel actually only has 90 rooms, so isn't enormous.
When we arrived at the hotel, we had read some reviews on Tripadvisor that accuse the place of being a little Disney-fied, as it was only built 3 years ago, but made to look old, e.g. fake rice paddies, imitation temples, over-the-top theme park-sized dragons. We did see that point of view, but also fell in love with the huge pool, our incredible villa and the amazing service. The fact that the resort has been created to be larger-than-life just made it feel more fun for us, and more of a contrast with Hong Kong aesthetics. It felt like a vacation for the eyes to be surrounded by so much beauty. The current financial climate also means that you should be able to get a great deal - free nights, spa packages and room upgrades are all among the extra perks you can negotiate.

Our trip to Chiang Mai ended up being our most relaxing vacation for years - now we're hooked on countryside rather than beach holidays!

5 comments:

  1. The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel, Chiang Mai is set in over 60 acres of gardens and grounds in a peaceful rice field area. It is built in a modern Northern Thai style and provides a wide range of services and facilities to meet the needs of all guests including children. The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel is the perfect, luxury retreat for any special occasion.This is luxury. Spread over 60 acres of untouched landscape in the beautiful Thai province of Chiang Mai, the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel is nestled between rice paddies and thick jungle. Contained within the hotel are facilities for beauty therapy and wellness treatments, as well as a cultural museum detailing the history of the Lanna kingdom. The Dheva Spa is the pinnacle of relaxation, while the Kids’ Club will keep youngster entertained. Each of the suites and villas has been decorated and furnished with distinct Lanna style.
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  2. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel was our honeymoon accommodation last year. We enjoyed the luxurious room at Dhara Dhevi and the nice landscapes of Chiang Mai in Thailand.

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