Lonely Planet Review

A sprawling hotel near the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, with well-outfitted standard rooms plus plush suites. A coffee shop, three restaurants, fitness centre and two pools keep guests busy on the premises. Touring Thai bands play the ballroom regularly.

Opened in 1988, the 371-room Imperial Mae Ping has become a Chiang Mai institution. Aside from hosting visitors from Thailand and abroad, the ballroom is a popular venue for local middle-class Thais, who flock to frequent performances by everyone from Thai Elvis impersonators to the seminal Thai rock band, Carabao. Aside from the two swimming pools and fitness centre, the hotel boasts a pétanque court. The Royal Suites on the 14th and 15th floors are fully equipped business centres with butlers on call around the clock. The hotel sponsors a series of themed dinner parties for its guests, the names leaving no doubt as to the theme: including The Heritage of Siam Night, Amazing Lanna Thai Night, Viva Las Vegas Night, Sweet Aloha, Wild West Night and China Town Revisited.