A Stay at Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai - Accor MGallery Collection
A luxury class resort with the essence of the historical Lanna Kingdom
A couple of minutes of researching, location planning, image visualization, reviews scanning, and possibly asking for a recommendation from someone are among the basic paths one might take to book a room for vacation somewhere, and normally, it would be the approach taken by us as well. This time, however, a last-minute booking and an expiring membership point were the reasons that landed us at this resort. One glance at Google map photos, followed by one quick phone call, took us to a large plot of land, 30 minutes away from the city center, in the Mae Rim Valley.
On the way there from Nimman, after spending around 15 minutes driving and turning away from the main road with no one in front, and no one following behind, we found ourselves on a remote, narrow, two-lane winding road of a valley, thinking the resort was going to be in the middle of nowhere, deep in the mountains, just to later on come to our realization, when the road merged with the main path, that it was the map that had led us to an unused path. However, what might sound like a frustrating turn of events is actually a pleasant, albeit a bit concerning, drive where the sky is enveloped by the trees, leaving only small gaps between the leaves for light to pass through, creating a calming scenery illuminated with luscious greenery as if being embraced by nature itself. Although an unnecessary shortcut, which ended up being slower due to the need to be more cautious while driving, it was a wonderful little experience.
Upon entering the resort premises, we parked our car and were taken to the lobby. Situated in the middle was a structure made of red bricks in a style reminiscent of those from the Lanna period. The brick ground and walls paved the path up to the lobby, in a grand yet calming way, like stepping into a historical site or a ruin up in the mountain.
Upon checking in, we were served a welcome drink while looking out from the open area lobby into the whole resort area. The resort is divided into different buildings all surrounding a large garden in the center, which we were told was a miniature tea field. The buildings are divided by different types of rooms, villas, dining, a central pool, and general facilities–like a kids’ room and fitness.
Constructed in 2007, the 71-room resort is part of Accor’s M Gallery, in their luxury class category, thereby setting the standard high for expectation.
Here is a quick breakdown of the good and the not-so-good:
The Upside
- Service is exceptional, and the staff are helpful and uphold a good standard
- Facilities: great pool and general area, spacious, and peaceful
- Overall tranquility
- Photogenic spaces
- Clean room
- Smart TV (as a surprising number of older places we have been to do not have Netflix or YouTube)
- 4 pm standard late checkout (upon availability and inquiry)
The downside
- General older facilities trait: used marks on surfaces. The bathroom shows signs of aging, including minor rust and deformation, mineral buildup from water, and old tiles and flooring.
- Outdated amenities, old hair dryer, etc.
- A three-star breakfast buffet in a five-star establishment
The bathroom has a divider that can be pulled to close off the bathing area, for those travelling with friends, coworkers, or family, that is not looking to put on a whole show while showering, and although older, it is generally clean.
Overall, the upkeep of the room (Valley Deluxe Scenery) is good and clean, but with the natural aging and showing signs of use, certain furniture, appliances, and decorations could use a replacement. The decoration style is somewhat outdated; however, there is a charm to the aesthetic as a whole, depending on preferences.
The vibe of the whole area is great; one can feel the tranquility and peacefulness of nature. Being only a 30-minute drive from the city center and still surrounded by local cafes and diners, the hotel did a good job of separating itself from the outside. A perfect choice for those seeking a hideaway spot.
Note: In the whole, we would recommend this place; however, do note that we spent only around 1,000 baht by spending 4,000 leftover Accor points, this may influence the standard of satisfaction felt during our stay, and we would recommend you do the same, if possible, for maximum satisfaction, or stay during the lower season.
An additional thing we like to give some credit to is that, through our stays in many major hotel chains in various countries, Accor has so far been the most generous with their room upgrades and late checkouts in comparison to others. Thus, we improve the recommendation to stay at one.
The Closing
Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai was a good hotel with a relaxing environment. Although the rooms may feel a little old, the relaxing feel of the whole area, the charm of the Lanna structures, and the service quality and experience made up for it.
Review Summary:
Style of review: Rural, Peaceful
Do note that under this criterion, our evaluation will assume a personal (rental) car as the default form of transportation, considering the location. The criteria will also be set for a quiet rural area, which will not mark the lack of a convenience store or nighttime activity as a minus.
Our scoring has also taken into account the price point: 4000-5000 THB per night (standard room rate for up to 2 people)
Our recommendation: A Subjective Choice
A good stay for those who have to be in, or are exploring, the area, but a subjective choice that is highly dependent on your own preference!
*Hand-Picked → 1, Preferred Choice → 2, Selective Choice → 3, Subjective Choice → 4
The hotels that fall into these ratings are all satisfactory experiences; the categories capture how exceedingly it went over our satisfaction level, and are not a ranking that implies which hotel is good or bad. The rating is highly reliant on our preferences and personal experience.
Overall atmosphere:
Room type: Valley Deluxe
Very Clean 7/10
Location 8/10
Convenience of the stay 9/10
Ambience 8/10
Concept 8/10
Additional scoring:
Welcome drink and welcome snack +
Large bathtub +
Old Furniture, visible sign of use throughout most surfaces –
Can expect minerals buildup and lime scale in the bathroom –
Surprisingly old hair dryer –
Special consideration
*This section does not affect the overall recommendation scoring.
A hotel from a major chain will be compared to the hotel under the same name in the chain’s house of brands portfolio in other cities/countries.
Considering the price and the experience, this hotel falls short of what you can get from Fable Terrace Downs Resort by MGallery.
Why do we take this into comparison?
So that those looking for a specific experience or hoping to experience a standard a brand has to offer for the first time, or for a more special occasion, can use it as a comparison to aid in the decision-making of whether this particular hotel under the name should be their choice, or they should save some money for another day.