We stayed at The Regent Chiang Mai resort and it felt like we were on our honeymoon because the place was so luxurious, elegant, and gorgeous. The Regent is actually built on a working rice farm, and our room and veranda overlooked real rice paddies. We visited during the rainy season and the daily rains made it an even more exotic and lush setting.The resort is designed in the airy and spiritual Lanna-style architecture of northern Thailand, and the rooms are designed to be spacious and simple, and the buildings are hidden behind trees and foliage. Some real artful thinking went into the design of this place. Each room is a remarkable 750 square feet! That's bigger than my NYC apartment! The hard part about staying here is you really won't want to leave the grounds.
Every morning we enjoyed an amazing outdoor breakfast buffet. An international selection of Asian and Western breakfast foods, fresh-baked pastries, and a wonderful assortment of fruits. It was my first time tasting Dragon Fruit here.
For the more active traveler, you can borrow a high-quality mountain bike for a ride in the valley and a visit to some country temples and the Mae Sa Waterfall park. During my memorable ride, I caught a glimpse of daily life in the countryside-kids playing soccer, moms grilling chickens outside, people riding motorbikes and scooters on their way home. After the bike ride, you can enjoy the Regent pool area, and you can enjoy great mountain views from there.
The service was quite special, and all the concierge staff know your name. This resort is located in a secluded valley outside of Chiang Mai, so you'll really be getting some amazing peace and quiet. There is a bus that leaves several times a day for trips into Chiang Mai and the night market.