Lonely Planet Review

The YMCA-managed International Hotel Chiang Mai, tucked away in a quiet location to the northwest of the northwestern corner of the moat, offers 88 well-maintained rooms across a wide price range. Facilities at the hotel include a travel agency, 24-hour massage centre, handicraft shop and cafeteria.

The 'YMCA' may appear in brackets but the International Hotel Chiang Mai is obviously an integral part of the city's YMCA headquarters, with various offices related to the organisation found on the ground floor or in adjacent buildings. The six-storey, L-shaped hotel has a rather institutional feel, but then many travellers treasure the perceived safety and 'wholesomeness' of the 'Y'. In fact the rooms and public areas are spotlessly clean, the service efficient and the staff friendly (most speak English). Although the bunk-bed-style, four- and six-bed rooms are referred to as 'dormitory rooms', you can't book a single bed in them, only the entire room, so this is a misnomer. There's a swimming pool in a separate compound a five-minute walk away. Income generated from The International Hotel Chiangmai supports the YMCA's rural development programs.