Baan Tawai: Cheap Furniture and Handicraft With Quality

Chiang Mai is a city of artists: no traveler can doubt this after having stepped into one of the many handicraft centers located throughout the provinces, where there are flowing abundances of paintings, exquisite fabrics, umbrellas, furniture and silverware. It is no surprise, therefore, that in January 2011 the governing body of Chiang Mai initiated a procedure to apply for a Creative City Status with UNESCO for the province as a joint effort between the municipal authorities, the communities of Chiang Mai, and the Chiang Mai University. Toward this, efforts have been made to coordinate different sectors of the city's economy, from cottage industrialists to hospitality to independent artists to develop human resources, increase jobs, and encourage the development of the arts.

While most travelers will be more readily familiar with the Night Market and the Walking Streets, both of which are within the city center and therefore more conveniently accessible, you might want to consider going a little off the beaten track and trying the Baan Tawai, an OTOP (One Tambon One Product, a program to encourage and sponsor Thai artisans) village. Located on Route 108 in Amphur Hang Dong, about fifteen kilometers south of the city center, it has in recent years streamlined into convenient "zones" of shops, eateries and cafes while the main street itself is home to furniture shops that sell some of the most creative furniture and home décor items found anywhere in the world: there you will find chairs and couches in flowing abstract wood, delicate forest nymphs, and beautiful bamboo lanterns. Prices are also ridiculously cheap for such workmanship, material and artistry; the only possible concern you might have would be shipping logistics, but you can be assured that if you're buying furniture or decorating a new house then you can certainly do worse-and do more expensively-than browsing through several Baan Tawai shops.

Your next stop should be some of the inner zones. Zones 2 and 4 are particularly popular, flourishing with little art galleries full of oils and acrylics in styles both modernistic and traditional Thai, unique pieces that can be had for as little as $20. Zone 4 also features a corner with upscale shops selling fantastic glassware, celadon ceramics, and a little café that offers free WiFi, decent bakery, and killer frappe coffee made to order as well as a small menu of traditional Northern Thai fare. The style of goods in general are very particular to Chiang Mai, quite distinct from that found in other regions of Thailand (or any other parts of Asia) and the quality is consistently high: did you know that some ceramics from Whittard of Chelsea are, in fact, made in Thailand and indeed right in Baan Tawai itself?

While the area is somewhat remote from city conveniences, there is a smattering of eateries throughout the village that will more than serve the need for light lunches and breakfasts. Pharmacies and convenience stores, such as 7-11 and others, are also scattered about the zones should you feel the need for a quick drink or need to top up your pay-as-you-go phone cards. The shopkeepers price their goods fairly, and often the salesperson and the artist (or sculptor, or weaver) are one and the same. Incenses, novelty candles, papier-mache dolls, Thai silks and more can likewise be found in the village. It's the perfect alternative to shopping therapy in air-conditioned malls, and sure to offer everyone something to like.

Insider's Tips and Tricks to Chiang Mai Boutique Hotels

All over Thailand’s tourist hotspots like Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Phuket, “boutique” hotels have been cropping up harder than mice on a cheese. You can hardly turn a corner without running into a bed-and-breakfast or tiny guesthouse touting themselves as boutique, charming, and most of all cheap. Strolling around town or Googling up hotels, you are bound to find one or two that are going to look astonishingly reasonably-priced and amazingly luxurious: complimentary treats and meals, opulent design, extra packages at killer bargains. It’s even situated in a fine spot in Chiang Mai. Stop a moment. Did you do some research? The small price and large comforts don’t come without a price. But what could go wrong, you ask? Plenty! If you don’t know where to begin, I offer this checklist to glance through before you make your booking.

1. How's their location? Many small hotels are owned and run by newcomers to the field, who have relatively little capital to invest. This means they will minimize cost on all fronts, including by building on cheaper land-land that is located well away from the tourist attractions and the city center. You don't want to stay at a hotel that's located in the middle of nowhere!
2. Have they been certified by the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) and do they operate with a hospitality license? This doesn’t seem that important to the average traveler—the paperwork and certificates aren’t your business. It’s worth keeping in mind that legitimate, licensed hotels need to pass inspections and follow rules and regulations: safety laws being foremost. There’re officials going through their fire exits, fire extinguishers, climate control, hygiene, even staff offices. So this wonderful hotel may have a gorgeous swimming pool and they offer Thai massage for free, but did you ask if they’ve got fire exits and alarms in the right places? When you start cutting corners, it’s easy to keep going. Unscrupulous owners don’t forego official licenses without a reason. Some properties dodge these requirements by badging themselves as “serviced apartments” and, though these will adhere to safety laws more vigorously, they aren’t a hotel and if you see “four-star serviced apartment” you should know it’s not much more than optimistic—and false—advertisement. Serviced apartments don’t get to apply for stars and don’t meet qualification guidelines.
3. How many staff do you see around the premise? Small hotels cut cost in another area: salaries. Sure, you won't want people to bustle and invade your personal space, but you will want prompt service in the restaurant, the reception, and most importantly the housekeeping. Small staff rosters mean that less manpower will be dedicated to keeping the place in tip-top shape, including but not limited to plumbing, washing out the swimming pool, and more. Did you know how dirty water in pools can get? Trust me, you don't want to. With all those dead skin cells, body fluids, diseases: let's just say you don't want to look at them through a microscope. Best practice is to drain out the water every day and making sure the water going in has gone through disinfectants, but if a hotel doesn't have enough staff you can almost be certain they'll skimp on this.
4. Security. Again, this relates to the problem of limited personnel: how many do they have in their security? Do they have someone to constantly monitor their CCTVs (if there are even any, and are there enough cameras)? This is one more area for which you don't want to accept compromises.
5. How much maintenance do they perform, and how often? Fire drills? Power systems, elevators and drainage are inspected routinely by the authorities in licensed hotels. The ones operating without a license have no such motivation to keep them up to snuff.

There are plenty of trustworthy and officially licensed boutique hotels in Chiang Mai and elsewhere that fulfill all these requirements. Don't let yourself be lured into ones that don't.

Chiang Mai Hotels: Royal Treatment at the Empress

Chiang Mai is the jewel of northern Thailand, a popular destination today for travelers looking for class, elegance and comfort as well as affordable prices. Regardless of your reasons for traveling or the time of the year, choosing the right accommodation is the paramount factor in ensuring that your vacation in Chiang Mai is a wonderful, memorable experience. Find an optimal balance in price, style, and comfort at the Empress Hotels Group, a family of three- to four-stars hotels, each of which is located at a premium spot in the city.

Foremost among the three hotels of the group is the Empress Chiang Mai, a 17-storey glass tower located at the heart of the city's business district, offering specialty fine dining from the best Chinese and Thai chefs. Only five minutes away from the iconic Night Market/Night Bazaar and fifteen minutes from the Walking Markets, this hotel maximizes convenience, pleasure, and comfort: 375 rooms and suites equipped with the finest amenities are built for the needs of the solo traveler, couples, and families as well as business travelers. It is also unique in that it was the first hotel in Chiang Mai to build a dedicated convention facility with state-of-the-art equipment and enough space to host all events from small meetings to reception parties for over a thousand guests.

The hotel is well-known for its unmatched service, responsive and empathic staff, as well as an extraordinary breakfast spread. It boasts three specialty restaurants: the Chao Nang Coffee Shop, which serves Thai and western food; the La Brasserie, a grillhouse, and the Panda Palace, a Chinese dining house that serves authentic Chinese dishes ranging from Dim Sum to characteristic Cantonese cuisine; Peking Duck and shark fin soup are house specialties. The Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai often dines at the Panda Palace, attesting to the peerless quality and authenticity of the restaurant's cuisine.

Though the hotel is rated at four stars, it operates at a five-star standard. Renovations are done on a yearly basis to keep the premises fresh and the standards of quality consistently high. Accept nothing less: choose the Empress Chiang Mai for royal treatment.