Chiang Mai has one of Thailand’s best accommodation scenes. There are hotels, resorts, city guest houses and boutique hotels scattered all over the old quarter as well as in the surrounding valley.

Guest houses dominate the scene, catering to backpackers and budget travellers, but many of them are quite comfortable. There are also plenty of mid-range hotels and some very nice resorts located in and just outside the city centre.

The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is 20 minutes outside of Chiang Mai. Designed to replicate a traditional northern Thai village, the resort has working rice paddies, beautiful landscaping and all the amenities you’d expect from a hotel in the Mandarin Oriental chain.

The Chedi was once the British Consulate, but now this riverside resort uses its central location and charming mix of eclectic architecture to lure visitors. The standards are top class, and its location puts you near the Night Bazaar, local markets and of course, the Ping River.

Within the old city walls, a number of posh little boutique hotels are springing up from historic compounds. The Rachamankha is one of the best. Its deluxe rooms could have stepped out of a history book from ancient Lanna, and its location behind Wat Phra Singh is ideal for exploring the inner city. Tamarind Village is a similar concept, creating a traditional northern Thai compound with excellent service, charming rooms and a perfect central location.

Most of the budget and mid-range accommodation is located within the moat-enclosed boundaries of the old city. There are dozens of family-run guest houses tucked down tiny lanes that offer a range of quality and service. Prices are incredibly cheap, but you often get what you pay for.

Besides these backpacker hangouts, there are also a number of truly inspiring boutique hotels. Old Lanna compounds that are centuries old have been restored and transformed into hotel resorts that blend traditional architecture with modern amenities and comfortable rooms. The old town area is the best place to experience Chiang Mai’s true style.

The city’s main river, the Ping, is home to several places to stay. They range from simple guest houses to more typical high-rise hotel chains like the Sheraton. Huay Kaew Road is a major thoroughfare running towards the mountain. It has a number of mid-range hotels along its flanks, and its central location makes it easy to get around the city from your hotel.

If the bustling city isn’t what you want, there are plenty of nice resorts just minutes outside of town. Mae Rim is home to luxury resorts like the Four Seasons, while Mae Sa Valley has a dozen Thai-style resorts featuring natural surroundings and decent rooms at reasonable prices. There are plenty of options in the countryside if you want to stay put for most of your stay.