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Published on January 26, 2008

It is no longer easy to count new hotels in Chiang Mai on two hands. You may easily stumble on one of them during a walk on any street in Chiang Mai.

Among the more attractive newcomers is De Naga, which recently opened up right in the heart of town near the Tha Pae Gate. It is located on Moon Muang Road, where bars and restaurants proliferate. The hotel is marked simply by a small red sign that says "de Naga". The hotel is filled almost to capacity for high season. A short  walk from the hotel can provide a sudden change of scenery - the hotel's grounds are definitely more serene than the urban surroundings. Although the hotel is built in a compact plot of land, guests can fully get a strong sense of place from the hotel's decor. Sophisticated Thai sculptures in the form of Lanna nagas (mythical water-dwelling serpents who protected the Buddha) tell you definitively that you are in Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the North, despite the many neon signs around town.

Visitors can have a good time just walking around and seeing how many nagas and other aspects of Lanna decoration are in evidence. Naga sculptures can be seen throughout the hotel from the entrance to decorative items in the rooms. A lovely ambience, blending  contemporary hotel functions and northern Lanna fashions, is in evidence. The hotel is easy enough to navigate as all 55 rooms are located in a low-rise U-shaped building. A small courtyard and a spa pool is set in the middle of the property.

The main lobby is designed to impress visitors. Located on the first floor, it boasts a few  comfortable sofas, plus a corner for Wi-Fi internet connection. Free wireless Internet is also available in each of the 55 rooms and throughout the hotel. De Naga has three room types to choose from - deluxe, premier deluxe and grand deluxe. A good option is a high-ceiling premier deluxe room on the fourth floor, where traditional Lanna painting are displayed. Guests in the 48sqm grand deluxe room have walk-in closet, plenty of space and a separate bathtub and shower. The rooms also features IDD phone, LCD TV with satellite channels, DVD player, tea/coffee making facilities and safety deposit box and a mini bar.

A few weeks ago de Naga's one and only suite was still under construction. The suite is located just above the lobby, and at 70sqm, promises to be very luxurious and comfortable.

All rooms feature neat craftsmanship and well-made designs. It makes for a good place to splurge, especially during the ongoing promotional period that marks the hotel's opening.

When the hotel first opened a month ago, its main restaurant had not yet been completed; Cafe de Naga will be the main restaurant of the hotel, located next to the lobby. Apart from that, there is a small pool bar, and bakery.

This is a prime location in Chiang Mai to be for a holiday, and perhaps ideal for those who want to walk about the city any time they want. It is 10-minute walk to the Night Bazaar, or an easy stroll to shop after shop on Tha Pae Road.

De Naga Chiang Mai

High points: This is the brand-new boutique hotel in a prime location in Chiang Mai Town. It has rooms well-decorated with Lanna accents.

Low point: Due to its location, it gives you a feel of being in the city as soon as you leave the premises.

Pay for it: Until October, a one-night stay in a deluxe room, including breakfast for two, costs Bt2,300.

Find it: De Naga Chiang Mai, 21 Soi 2 Ratchamanka, Moon Muang Road, Tambon Phra Sing, Muang District, Chiang Mai

Phone it: (053) 209 030

Browse it: DeNagaHotel.com, or Theuniquecollection.com

Vipasai Niyamabha

 Special to The Nation