A Dream Home: Our Airbnb in Chiang Mai
We don’t think that we can say enough positive things about our Airbnb in Chiang Mai. It feels like a home away from home. It’s just what the doctor ordered after our month in Bali in an open air villa that was much more exposed the elements — and to any critter large or small that decided to cohabitate with us.
Our Chiang Mai Airbnb is a detached home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living and dining area, a spacious kitchen, and a nice private gated garden. It also has a huge covered porch with plenty of seating, as well as its own parking area, which we didn’t use. (We have seen plenty of booted cars as we’ve wandered the area, so for those planning on renting a car, it’s definitely not a place to try street parking!). The kitchen is well-equipped, and has been helpful for us to have since it’s meant that we can prep kid-friendly meals when needed. The bedrooms are also right beside each other, which has allowed us to keep an ear out for the kids during the night.
In contrast to our villa in Bali, our place in Chiang Mai is much more enclosed — it has screens in all of the doors and windows for the main living and dining room, the two bedrooms, and the indoor portions of the bathrooms, so that we’re able to largely keep mosquitoes out of these living spaces. Other spaces — like the kitchen, the large covered patio, and the outdoor bath/shower, are more exposed — but we’ve found that this has struck the right balance for us. Overall, on this trip we’ve come to the conclusion that while open-air living sounds nice in theory, having at least some main living spaces that are sealed off works best for us.
Our Airbnb is located on a surprisingly quiet street in the heart of the Nimman district, a trendy neighbourhood just northwest of the Old City. The last time we’d visited Chiang Mai, our travels had mainly been limited between the Old City and our hotel in the southeast, so we’d booked it without really knowing what to expect from the area, aside from what we read about it in some blogs and other reviews. And we got lucky. Nimman — with its abundance of stylish shops, restaurants, markets, and even a small shopping mall with a movie theater (both key for the many rainy days we encountered during our stay!) all within walking distance — has ultimately been perfect for us.
While we have everything we could possibly need right at our doorstep, this area is also pretty convenient to the rest of the city. It’s within easy striking distance of the Old City via a quick Grab ride — generally between 100 and 150 THB each way. And the popular night markets on the opposite side of the Old City are only a 15 minute drive away, so still very easily accessible.
Overall, in terms of our accommodation so far on our trip, this Airbnb has been our favourite. While the decor isn’t super modern — it’s a bit more of a traditional Thai home — it has all the modern amenities we need, from wifi that’s fast enough for Zoom calls or streaming Netflix, to a large TV and even an Xbox, to newer air conditioners in the bedrooms and the living area. Our hosts have been absolutely lovely, and have really thought of everything when it comes to equipping the house for their guests’ needs. And most importantly, it’s a decidedly comfortable spot to unwind and rest after a busy day of touristing around.
Cost of our Airbnb: $1185 USD for 16 nights.