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Review Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort
A wonderful resort with an eye for people and nature!
In July 2023, we finally visited the northern city of Chiang Rai for the first time. There we stayed for several nights at Le Méridien Chiang Rai, which opened its doors in late October 2008. This impressive five-star resort is part of the Marriott group and is located in a beautiful environment with lots of greenery and water. After our adventurous Mae Hong Son loop, we found the peace we so desperately needed here. During our peaceful stay, we enjoyed excellent ingredients and beverages in the open air and had an unforgettable massage treatment in the resort’s spa.
Where is Le Méridien located in Chiang Rai?
Le Méridien Chiang Rai covers a green strip of land of about 4 hectares (26 rai) bordering the Kok river. With its favorable location, Le Méridien Chiang Rai is precisely in the middle between the city center and Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI). Both are about a ten-minute drive by car, while the White Temple is just a fifteen-minute drive away. Another major tourist attraction, the Blue Temple, is just a five-minute drive from this stunning resort. As you can see, Le Méridien Chiang Rai is ideally located, just outside the city center for peace and yet close to numerous attractions.
The accommodation
After passing the gate of Le Méridien Chiang Rai with our car, we parked in a small parking lot at the top where we were welcomed not only by a group of friendly porters but also by colorful elephant statues from Elephant Parade. Elephant Parade is a wonderful project that supports the welfare of Thai elephants through artistic small and large elephant statues. These elephants can also be found in the resort itself, it’s great that the Marriott group pays attention to this!
Our luggage was taken by two friendly gentlemen and we were immediately warmly received with a drink and a moist refreshing towel at the reception. The check-in procedure went smoothly and all necessary information was clearly explained. Since we arrived early in the morning our room was not ready yet, it was suggested to take our luggage into custody and place it in our room as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we had to leave quickly due to a full programme that day. On our schedule was a visit to the Golden Triangle, the border area of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. From Le Méridien Chiang Rai, the Golden Triangle is about an hour’s drive.
When we returned late in the evening that day, it immediately became clear to us that we had made a good choice with Le Méridien Chiang Rai. Our room felt like a warm bath right away, and that’s exactly what we did: having a nice bath and going to bed afterwards. We slept wonderfully in our comfortable spacious room! While we slept, our phone could backup all photos and videos to our cloud via the fast and stable WiFi connection.
The next morning we were up very early again and took a walk through the stylish resort. The architecture of Le Méridien Chiang Rai is truly fantastic! It’s a combination of traditional Lana style and modern elements, using many art objects. You come across art everywhere, which makes walking through this accommodation a pleasure for the eye! After we discovered the inside of the resort, we took a morning walk through the garden of Le Méridien Chiang Rai. It’s so peaceful there that we make a relaxing walk around the grounds every early morning, highly recommended!
The different type of rooms at Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort boasts 159 rooms, which are divided into five categories with three types: large (Deluxe), larger (Grande Deluxe) and largest (Grande Suite). These categories are better understood as Deluxe Garden View, Deluxe River View, Grande Deluxe Pool View, Grande Deluxe Garden Terrace, and the exclusive 132 m2 Grande Suite – of which there is only one in the entire resort.
These rooms are further divided across five wings each with four floors. During the Covid-19 period, all rooms have been renovated and upgraded with timeless furniture and comfortable amenities. From a deep bathtub in the bathroom to a generous sitting/lounging couch on the balcony/terrace. Obviously each room is well equipped, they all come with modern conveniences like a fridge, safe, flat-screen TV, and air conditioning.
Grande Deluxe Room
Grande Deluxe Room
What varies are the square meters and the view that guests enjoy from their rooms. The rooms with garden or river views, which are among the most affordable, offer a space of 53 m2. The larger rooms, with pool views or a terrace by the garden, have an area of 66 m2. Each room can be booked as a double with one large king-size bed or as a single with two single beds. Traveling with children? No worries, Le Méridien Chiang Rai also has suitable options for that.
Grande Suite
Grande Suite
Our Room, the Garden View Room of Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort
During our stay at Le Méridien in Chiang Rai, we occupied the most economical room, the Garden View Room, which nevertheless felt far from cheap. The spacious 53 m2 room immediately provided a pleasant feeling. As a welcome gesture, there was a basket of fresh fruit ready in the immaculate room – a heartwarming gesture from the attentive staff!
As soon as you step inside, you almost immediately have access to the bathroom on the left. This is equipped with a freestanding bath and a separate shower cubicle that has both a shower head and a rain shower. The heat regulator and water pressure function works excellently, which is not always the case in Thailand. The bathroom is furnished with products from the American cosmetics brand Malin + Goetz. The partly marble bathroom tiles enhance the feeling of luxury, as do the fluffy towels, something that always makes us very happy!
In the hallway, you will find a wardrobe with a small safe and ironing facilities. A little further into the spacious bedroom, there is a small cabinet on the same wall with coffee and tea facilities, and also a minibar. There is no shortage of drinking water; two glass bottles are on the small cabinet and another two in the bathroom. These are replenished daily.
The bedroom of the Garden View Room is furnished with a king-size bed flanked on both sides by bedside tables with pendant lamps. Further on is a chaise longue that can also serve as a bed for a small child. Opposite this daybed is a desk with a comfortable chair.
Through sliding doors, you have access to the covered balcony at the end of the room. There you will find a table with two chairs and a couch where you can chill out together very nicely. From the balcony, you have a view of part of the garden and in the distance lies the Kok river. An idyllic spot that we would book again without hesitation.
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The resort’s facilities
Le Méridien in Chiang Rai features various facilities such as a spacious outdoor pool, a well-equipped gym, and a luxury spa with various wellness treatments. During our stay, we decided to take full advantage of all these facilities for one day. Before and after our relaxed recreation day, we enjoyed the culinary delights in the resort’s two restaurants, but more on that later. Our most memorable moment was undoubtedly at Le Méridien Chiang Rai’s Parvati Spa where we were able to enjoy an excellent wellness treatment.
Parvati Spa, maybe Chiang Rai's best wellness center
During our Mae Hong Son loop, we had already experienced five amazing wellness treatments, but the treatment at the Parvati Spa was one to remember as well. Everything was perfect! For anyone considering staying at Le Méridien in Chiang Rai after reading this review, it is highly recommended to book a massage or other treatment in this spa!
From the very first moment, we were in good hands. The check-in was smooth and professional, as you would expect from a high-quality spa. The therapists were extremely competent and their massages were top-notch. We were escorted to our private room where we could change and lie down on a heated massage table – an experience we had never had in all those years of massages!
The Parvati Rejuvenating Spa, as this spa at Le Méridien in Chiang Rai is also called, offers its guests a wide range of wellness experiences. There are two special “signature” treatments: the 90-minute Golden Siamese and the Lanna Retreat lasting a whopping two hours. In addition, there are various massages and other body care treatments to book. You can find the ‘menu’ below.
Ilonka took full advantage and decided to put together a three-hour combination package, consisting of the Romance aromatherapy massage, a red clay body wrap, and a facial. I chose the Energized aromatherapy massage and an Indian Ayurvedic head massage, a fantastic two-hour package. Our experience at Parvati can be summarized in one word – PHENOMENAL! A warm towel at the end completed this amazing wellness experience.
For our wellness treatment, we paid together about 7,000 THB, a more than reasonable price for five sublime hours of relaxation! The Parvati Spa is located right across from the resort’s enormous pool, behind Favola, the Italian restaurant. The spa is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and it is especially advisable to make a reservation during the high season, in December and January. Ask at the reception for more details.
The outdoor swimming pool with great views
The charming Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort has a 300 m2 swimming pool placed at the back of the idyllic garden. The pool actually consists of three basins, each with different depths and views over the Kok River. Scattered across the pool area are various comfortable sun loungers.
We were privileged enough to score an extra large double lounger. The small pool bar by the pool provides fresh bath towels, and refreshing ice-cold water can be tapped at will – absolutely fantastic customer service! If you get a craving for something other than water or get hungry, Favola is at your disposal. This is the resort’s Italian restaurant that serves snacks and other drinks directly to your sunbed.
The gym
The spacious 1500 m2 gym, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is located on the second floor of the main building. This expansive space offers various machines and supplies for effective strength training. Of course, it also does not lack cardio equipment. Extra facilities such as free water, towels, and an excellent air conditioning system ensure that you stay fresh during your workout.
Open air
The sprawling grounds of Le Méridien Chiang Rai are truly a unique sight. A huge natural setting filled with carefully maintained lawns, designed lakes, and waterways that end on the banks of the impressive Kok river. Walking around the grounds in the morning is so incredibly nice!
The two biggest attractions are two giant trees, both over a century old. The resort cherishes these trees as symbols of the estate. They are often adorned with lanterns and other decorative elements that further emphasize their grandeur. Added to all this is the footbridge, adorned with large, hanging banner flags. From this strategic position, one gets a formidable view of the beautiful resort
Food and Drinks
Le Méridien Chiang Rai has two restaurants and a bar, all three serving (delicious) local and international dishes and drinks. Every morning we feasted on a delicious breakfast at the Latest Recipe restaurant. At Latitude 19 we regularly got tasty iced coffee and on our mega chill day, we dined at Favola.
Breakfast Buffet at Latest Recipe
We were able to enjoy the extensive breakfast buffet at Le Méridien Chiang Rai from 06:30 a.m. where we were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff and greeted with the “Eye Openers”, two different drinks that start your day energetically. One drink was a mix of mango, kaffir lime, and chili, while the other was a mix of strawberry, watermelon, and lime.
Latest Recipe has various buffet stations to choose from. There is a bread station that is richly stocked with bread, pastries, and other sweet delicacies. A healthier alternative is the “green” station where lettuce, other greens and salad ingredients are served, or that with cereals and fresh (soy) milk and yogurt. Of course, no breakfast buffet in Thailand is considered complete without fresh juicy tropical fruit – check! This fruit is not only available fresh but also as juice or smoothie!
There were also plenty of hot Asian and hot Western dishes, as well as the different egg dishes that could be ordered at the egg station. Every day we enjoyed a fresh and high-quality breakfast with our compliments to the F&B manager of Latest Recipe and her team for their exceptionally pleasant service!
Favola, the Italian-oriented restaurant at Le Méridien Chiang Rai
The idea of an exquisite Italian restaurant in Thailand always melts my Italian heart, for me it is the perfect fusion of two extraordinary cultures! Favola, which means “the fairy tale” in Italian, is the Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort’s specialty restaurant. It is open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, allowing guests to enjoy lunch or dinner of their choice during their stay at this beautiful resort.
We enjoyed various (Italian) dishes such as the homemade pasta and exceptionally tasty pizza. Our meal ended with – how could it be otherwise – a tiramisu together with an excellent cup of coffee. Besides that, we added a special scoop of ice cream from Sapparod Phulae, a variety of pineapple that is small in size but intensely sweet.
Favola is a wonderful restaurant, thanks to its interior, location, outstanding staff and high-quality ingredients. The restaurant is a great addition to a classy resort like Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort!
Latitude 19
The name Latitude 19 refers to its location on the 19th latitude, as is the case with every Le Méridien. Latitude 19 is a wonderful combination of a bar, coffee shop, and bakery. We have enjoyed delicious coffee shakes accompanied by tasty homemade pastries, created by the in-house pastry chef.
Latitude 19 is open every day from 08:00 a.m. until midnight. This offers guests ample opportunities, such as a strong coffee in the early morning, a refreshing fruit shake in the afternoon, or maybe even a nice beer as the evening falls.
Super service!
The level of service from the staff at Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is truly unparalleled. From the welcoming reception at the front desk to the diligent work of the housekeeping team, and from the charming bartender at Latitude 19 to all the dedicated staff at Favola – every team member is always ready to provide excellent service with a wide smile. We would like to express our deepest appreciation for this amazing team!
Five reasons to stay in Le Méridien Chiang Resort
- Value for money
- The super super from the exceptional staff
- The location and setting
- The wellness treatments at Parvati Spa
- The breakfast buffet at Latest Recipe
General informatiin about Le Méridien Chiang Rai
Check-in at the Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is available from 15:00 and check-out is allowed until 12:00. For current prices of this great accommodation just outside Chiang Rai city center, check Booking and/or Agoda. In addition, you support Thailand Magazine by booking through our partner links. We receive a small commission on your booking. This costs you nothing extra and this allows us to continue working hard on our great passion, sharing our deep-rooted love for Thailand and thus promoting the land of smiles.
Address: 221 / 2 Moo 20 Kwaewai Road, Tambon Robwieng, Amphur Muang, Chiang Rai
Phone: +66 (0)53 603 333
Website: www.lemeridienchiangrai.com
Facebook: LeMeridienChiangRaiResort
Instagram: lemeridienchiangmai
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