877-454-3672

Search Tours

Review: Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi (soon to be Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai)

chiang-mai-villa-deluxe-villa-with-pool-3

On arrival I was immediately welcomed into the (slightly) overwhelming Lanna-style main building, which houses the lavish lobby and a number of drinking and dining options, all with great views of the surrounding gardens and pool.

Although the entire property is beautifully decorated with great attention to detail, my favourite feature of this hotel definitely has to be the rooms. Spread over about 60 acres, guests have the choice of walking, borrowing one of the hotel bicycles or jumping in a golf buggy to make their way across the property to the Oriental’s rooms and villas.

chiang-mai-suite-deluxe-colonial-suite-bedroom (1)

The hotel has over 18 different types of rooms and private villas, but for me the simple Colonial Suite is the perfect choice. The spacious rooms — split between a living area and a bedroom — are great for single travellers, couples or friends, and are especially suited to families with young kids as a number of the suites are connecting. If you’re looking for something a bit bigger and travelling with older children then one of the Grand Deluxe Villas is an excellent option, with bedrooms and living space spread across two floors and a private outdoor pool and dining area to be enjoyed.

chiang-mai-restaurant-terrace-1

The hotel is currently changing management and moving away fromthe Mandarin Oriental Group to become simply the Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai. That said, the majority of the staff will remain and the hotel has no plans to make any big changes, so we will definitely be keeping a close eye to see how things progress!… Read more »

Northern Thailand in Pictures

Journeys Within founder Andrea and operations manager Anna have just crossed from the north of Thailand to Laos as part of Guide Training 2013.  

1

Northern Thailand is a place our guests have come to love; below are some of Anna’s favourite photos from a part of the country rich in culture, history and natural beauty.

3
Exploring rural Chiang Mai
4
Stuck in the mud — hey, some of the best memories are made at the most unpredictable moments!
5
Monk climbs stairway in Mae Hong Son
7
Elephants and their Mahoots at the Four Seasons Tent Camp
8
Chiang Rai’s Wat Rong Khun — the White Temple
Read more »

Review: Four Seasons Chiang Mai

cq5dam.web.1280.720 (3)

There is not much that can be said about the Four Seasons other than it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful properties, not only in Thailand but in the whole of South East Asia. Located about 30 minutes out of town, everything, from the service and design of the hotel to the extensive gardens and surrounding rice paddy fields, is flawless. For these reasons, it makes it almost impossible to leave!

cq5dam.web.1280.720 (1)

If you only have a couple of days in Chiang Mai, you definitely want to base yourself in town to make the most of exploring the area. If you have more time to play with and want to sample some of Thailand’s true luxury, then definitely plan to spend a few days at this stunning hotel.

cq5dam.web.1280.720

Insider tip: It offers some of the most exclusive private residences you can find, but for a classic room, with spacious balcony and the best paddy field views on the whole property, I would definitely recommend the Upper Rice Terrace Pavilion as a comfortable and more than adequate option. If extra special romance is what you need, try one of the pool villas, which add more space, your own private pool and all those added extras that give you that unforgettable experience.

 … Read more »

Review: Howie’s Homestay

Howie's 4

Over the past 6 months I’ve repeatedly come across adoring articles about this exclusive property in Northern Thailand. Located just outside Chiang Mai, this place is not without serious competition when it comes to exclusive luxury properties, some of them located just 15 minutes down the road. So naturally I was curious to find out what makes Howie’s stand apart from some of Thailand’s most fashionable hotels.

On arrival I was immediately met by the owner Howard and his wife Jerri. Boston-born, Howard moved out to Thailand 20 years ago and has since dedicated his life to making Chiang Mai his home. Howie’s Homestay is exactly as the name implies – you are staying at Howard’s home, as Howard’s guest. Originally the land was bought for the purpose of building a private home, with maybe one or two rooms for visiting guests. However the idea of an all inclusive experience soon developed, and with the help of the highly talented Bill Bensley, Howard designed the ultimate, highly exclusive ‘’homestay’’. The private property can only be booked by one group at a time, so whether you are a couple or a group of 10, the place is yours.  But it is clearly built for a group, with a huge al fresco dining area and numerous other outdoor spaces that are perfect for drinks and other gatherings.

As soon as you walk in you are greeted by some of the most stunning views in the area. The open-plan living area and pool look out over beautiful gardens decorated with colourful flowers and bamboo trees, stretching out for miles into the bamboo forests and mountains in the distance. And all inclusive apparently really does mean all inclusive, from the airport transfers to breakfast, lunch and dinner, to those added extras we always seem to find added to our bill at the end of the stay. Alcohol, he told me, is the only one he keeps an eye on!

From first impressions, I would definitely recommend this for a family or group of friends who really want that exclusive experience in their own tropical ‘’home away from home’’. Whether it will hold up against such properties as the nearby Four Seasons, only time will tell.

 … Read more »

Review: Ariyasomvilla in Bangkok

Andrea reviews the Aruyasomvilla, a boutique property in Bangkok.


947030_10151515132654601_1761163549_n

From the minute you enter Ariyasomvilla and have their Butterfly Pea Juice welcome drink, you know you have just found an oasis in Bangkok. The staff alone make this a worthwhile stay with Khun Mui being a wonderful host at breakfast and Khun Chantalak answering a myriad of questions at the front desk. The rooms are big and comfortable and all the bathrooms have separate showers and bathtubs. The pool backs on to the canal, but a high fence blocks the view; you just occasionally hear the boats rushing by.

ariyvilla

222947_10150200121424601_3554617_n

The hotel does not offer a shuttle to the Skytrain, but the Ploen Chit stations is a pretty easy 10 minute walk down the soi (street).

This lovely boutique property is the perfect example of a Journeys Within Signature Hotel partner.

Insider Tip: With the canal on one side and a chicken coop out back we recommend a ground floor deluxe room to get the quietest night’s sleep.

 … Read more »