Chiang Mai – Hotel History

Via: Chiang Mai Citylife

It’s hard to imagine Chiang Mai without the smattering of hotels that now occupy almost every block in the city. Before 1921, however, there were none.

Then came the Terminus Hotel (see photo above), Chiang Mai’s first accommodation built for tourists, which was founded by Queen Rama VII. Even though the opening of new hotels seems like somewhat of a daily occurrence these days, some hotels have become part of Chiang Mai’s deep history. For example, The Sriprakard Hotel was opened by the first mayor of Chiang Mai, Luang Sriprakard. A short time later, a group of hill tribe people began to sell things in front of the hotel on Chang Klan Road. Little did they know, many years later, this tradition would carry on in what we now know as the famed Night Bazaar.

Some of Chiang Mai’s hotels are more famous than others. The Chiang Mai Orchid (then Hyatt), for example, housed the likes of Lady Diana and Prince Charles and Prince Chow and Rkihito (the Prince of Japan) during what was called ‘Visit Thailand Year’ in 1989. The Orchid was also used as one of the locations in the film ‘Rambo’ as well as being Mel Gibson’s stomping ground during the filming of ‘Air America’.

Chiang Mai is home to some of the best luxury resorts in Thailand. Travel + Leisure Magazine has recognised The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi and The Four Seasons Resort as being among the BEST in the WORLD, recently awarding them the No. 1 and No. 4 spots respectively.

http://www.chiangmainews.com/ecmn/viewfa.php?id=3431

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Chiang Mai – Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/chiangmai/

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Chiang Mai – Four Seasons

http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai/

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Chiang Mai – Hotel deny using bug kill spay

Via: Bangkok Post

The manager of the Downtown Inn Hotel in Chiang Mai yesterday denied the hotel has been using a bedbug killer containing chlorpyrifos.

His comments followed reports in the New Zealand media that an independent investigation had found traces of chlorpyrifos, a potentially lethal toxin used to kill bedbugs, in samples from hotel rooms where guests had developed fatal illnesses and some died either right in their hotel rooms or elsewhere.

Thanthep Bunkaeo said Downtown Inn Hotel, which is in Muang district, had stopped using the bedbug killer a long time ago.

He insisted there was no chlorpyrifos in any of the hotel rooms.

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Earlier, the findings from an independent investigation were reported on the New Zealand television programme 60 Minutes.

The investigators noted that SEVEN QUESTS who had stayed at the hotel and died later on MIGHT have died because of high levels of pesticide in their hotel rooms.

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Investigators found traces of chlorpyrifos on bed linen in one of the hotel rooms.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/236551/hotel-denies-using-bug-killer-spray

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Conventional wisdom is that seven tourists died in Chiang Mai with ‘very similar symptoms’ to the New Zealand woman, Sarah Carter, age 23.

I still would like to know whether any Thai people or local expats died during this period, with ‘very similar symptoms’.

khup khun krup, thank you

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ภูมิปัญญาดั้งเดิมที่เจ็ดนักท่องเที่ยวเสียชีวิตในจังหวัดเชียงใหม่กับ’อาการคล้ายกันมาก’เพื่อผู้หญิง New Zealand, Sarah Carter, 23 อายุ

ฉันยังคงอยากจะรู้ว่ามีคนไทยหรือชาวต่างชาติเสียชีวิตในประเทศในช่วงเวลานี้ด้วย’อาการคล้ายกันมาก’

คุณขอบคุณ

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Chiang Mai – Downtown Inn deaths linked to pesticides

Via: TVNZ.com

A toxic bedbug spray may have contributed to the death of New Zealander Sarah Carter in Thailand.

The 23-year-old died in February while holidaying with friends in Chiang Mai.

Initial reports indicating toxic seaweed was to blame have since been discounted by the families, but investigations are ongoing.

A 60 Minutes investigation has revealed the hotel rooms had been sprayed with a potentially lethal toxin called pyrophus which has been banned from indoor use in SOME OTHER countries.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/bedbug-spray-linked-thai-deaths-4160542

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UPDATE:

‘According to New Zealand-based United Nations scientist Dr. Ir. Ron McDowall, chlorpyrifos poisoning is the likely cause of death of New Zealand tourist Sarah Carter and several others in Thailand in 2011.’

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorpyrifos

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earlier blog:

“Chiang Mai hotel connected to four deaths gets police all clear”

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/cm-hotel-connected-to-four-deaths-gets-police-all-clear/

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Thai Visa (dot) com

I think this is the BEST ‘expat’ source of information for people who:

- LIVE in Thialand

or,

- are considering MOVING to Thailand

or,

- are simply thinking about VISITING Thailand

http://www.thaivisa.com/

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Chiang Mai – now SEVEN deaths linked to Downtown Inn

 

A Canadian man from Edmonton has become the SEVENTH MYSTERY DEATH in a MONTH in a controversy which has rocked the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai.

Canadian Bill Mah, 59, died after using  the facilities of the Downtown Inn in Chiang Mai, where a British couple and a Thai tourist guide were found dead in their rooms, and also from where a 23-yr-old New Zealand woman was taken convulsing and vomiting  before her death in hospital.

Today friends and relatives of Mr. Mah, who worked for Telplus Communications in Edmonton as a telephone installer and repairman, were seeking clarification of the cause of his death saying Mr. Mah had no history of any heart problem. The death was not made public at the time.

Ken Fraser, who was on golfing holiday with his friend from Alberta said: “His death is a complete mystery. He seemed fit enough with no history of heart problems. We have not been told his cause of death. We only have an initial report.

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“That report states ‘Suspected natural disease pending lab reports and toxicology’, but we have not been given the results of the tests and we have pressed the Canadian consul to try and get answers for us.  I know Bill used the facilities at the Downtown Inn because he asked me to go there with him but I had other things to do. What natural disease are they saying he had?”

RELATED:

‘CM- hotel connected to four deaaths get police all clear’

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/cm-hotel-connected-to-four-deaths-gets-police-all-clear/

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PERSONAL NOTE: 

In early February, I spent three nights at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital with, what I think of as a SEVERE case of diarrhea and nausea.  I thought the care was EXCELLENT; however, they were unable to diagnose the cause.

And YES, I take sensible precautions on what I eat.

CM hotel connected to four deaths gets police all clear

Police have ruled out foul play after four people staying at a Chiang Mai hotel died over a 16-day period.

Two foreign tourists and a Thai tour guide were all found dead in the DOWNTOWN INN Hotel in Chiang Mai’s Muang district last month. A third foreigner staying at the hotel later died in hospital.

Despite some coincidences and similarities in the deaths, police do not believe any of the victims were murdered.

The first death was that of Thai tour guide Waraporn Yingmahasaranont, 47, whose body was found in front of the bathroom inside her fifth-floor room on Feb 3. Police said she had suffered from diarrhoea before her death.

On Feb 18, New Zealand tourist Sarah Carter, 23, was killed by an apparent bout of food poisoning.

Hotel staff interviewed by police said Carter and two foreign friends, who had also checked in to a room on the fifth floor, had brought barbecued pork and chicken back to the hotel that night and later became violently ill.

The staff took them to a local hospital, where Carter died. The two friends recovered and have since left Thailand.

Pol Lt Col Sawat Lakas, deputy chief of Muang district police in Chiang Mai, said investigators were still waiting for results of the post-mortem examination on Carter and Waraporn.

The next night, an elderly British couple died in their fourth-floor room.

A post-mortem examination confirmed both George Everly, 78, and Elean Everly, 74, died as a result of an unusual enlargement of their heart muscles with blocked arteries, Pol Lt Col Sawat said.

However despite the coincidence, doctors found no trace of poison in their stomachs, nor did police find any evidence of a struggle in the room.

The deputy chief said all three of the guests who died at the hotel had locked their rooms from the inside.

Hotel manager Thanthep Boonkaew has been called for questioning by police.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/225026/chiang-mai-hotel-connected-to-four-deaths-gets-police-all-clear

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current promotion: DAILY AMERICAN BREAKFAST – FREE

Coincidentally, I don’t believe in coincidences.

Amari Rincome Hotel will close 1May-2011

The following was sent to hotel executives in the Chiang Mai area:

Dear all executives,

Greeting from Amari Rincome Chiang Mai ka. I’m Ping- the HR Manager of Amari Rincome.

It is my sadness to announce that on 1st May 2011, the 42-year old Amari Rincome Chiang Mai will close its doors to facilitate a new urban development project which will include a new, smaller Amari hotel. The 85-room property will be part of a larger redevelopment project which includes a community mall, retail areas, cinemas and restaurants.

Amari Rincome has been an integral part of the local community for over 40 years. It is therefore with sadness that we announce the end of this particular era. My team members were officially informed yesterday regarding to the transformation plan issue and their last working day will be on 30th April which coming very soon.

However, it will be my great pleasure to have your kind support for the list of vacancies in your property. This will be very useful information for my team to prepare and plan themselves for those who could not travel out to be a part of others Amari properties.

Hope to hear from all of you very soon. And sorry if I miss some contact.

Thank you very much in advance for your kind support and regards,

Ping

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It’s a very nice hotel, and wish them the very best with their  new venture.

However, what I’m going to miss most is the wonderful lunch buffet at the La Gritta Restaurant.

Chiang Mai – Viangbua Mansion – review

STRUCTURE:

The building is a modern eight-story high rise, and is approximately five-YEARS-old.

Note: The maintenance, unlike many places in S.E. Asia is outstanding, and could easily be, ‘five-MONTHS-old’.

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ATMOSPHERE:

The lobby and the rooms are beautifully designed in the Lanna (Northern Thai) style.

Reference – Photo Gallery: Rooms, Lobby, Coffee Shop, and City View.

http://www.viangbuamansion-chiangmai.com/photo_gallery_service_apartment.htm

Note: They might not always be available when you book, but if I were you, I would request to be on the mountain side; i.e. the Doi Suthep side.

Reference – “Freeing the Birds – by Ed Liembacher’ post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/freeing-the-birds-by-ed-liembacher/

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LOCATION:

First of all, it’s NOT in the touristy Night Bazaar/Thapae Gate area, nor is it in the yuppified Ninmanheiman area; which by the way, I love both areas of town.

Q:  Where is it then?

A: It’s in a very Thai neighborhood called Chang Puek, which is located about a mile north of the moat.

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Q: Why would I want to stay there?

A: Well, presumably you are coming to Thailand to ‘experience Thailand’; in Chang Puek you can do that, 24/7.

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Q: How?

A: Right next door to the Viangbua is the Thanin Market, which I believe is the FINEST market in Chiang Mai.

I mean it’s got everything: food stalls, fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery goods, everythinggggg!

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Q: What if I want to buy a bag of Pepperidge Farm Milk Chocolate Macadamia Cookies ®; does the Thainin Market have those; huh, huh, huh?

A: Possibly/probably not, but a five-minute walk up the main road is a newly renovated Tops Supermarket, and they got ‘em, plus a gazillion other items to cure the ‘homesick blues’.

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Q: I KNOW I will want to go the Night Bazaar/Taepae Gate and the Nimmanheiman areas; how do I get there?

A: If you ended up eating the WHOLE bag of Pepperidge Farm Milk Chocolate Macademia Cookies ® I would suggest you might want to spend twenty-thirty minutes walking to the above mention areas via the very colorful  back streets (sois).

>>> Reference – ‘Chiang Mai –Buddhism’ post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/chiang-mai-buddhism/

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>>> Reference – “I believe the literal translation of …” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/i-believe-the-literal-translation-of/

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Q: Are there other means of transportation available?

A: Of course.

>>> Reference – “Chiang Mai – toolin’ rond town” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/chiang-mai-%e2%80%93-toolin%e2%80%99-round-town/

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>>> Reference – “Chiang Mai –Samlors” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/chiang-mai-samlors/

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CLEANLINESS:

In one word, SUPERB!

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SERVICE QUALITY:

From the guard out front, to the desk staff, to the housekeepers, to the Manager, it is ‘absolutely top of the line’.

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FACILITIES:

There’s a beauty shop, and a room with washers and dryers on the ground floor; and a fitness room on the second floor.

Viangbua Mansion has cable TV and WIFI in each room, and free internet access in the lobby.

Unlike many hotels in Thailand, the rooms come with very good American style showers, and ALWAYS a sufficient supply of hot water.

>>> Reference – Photo Gallery:  restaurant, fitness room, etc, etc.

http://www.viangbuamansion-chiangmai.com/facilities.htm

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FOOD and BEVERAGE:

The restaurant is open from 7 until 3 and serves both Thai and Falang (foreign) dishes. Room service is available, as is a coffee shop in the lobby.

In addition to the food stalls next door at the Thainin market, directly across the street is the Spirit House Restaurant and Bar.

>>> Reference – ‘Chiang Mai – Spirit House Restaurant and Bar’” post:

http://seattle99.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/chiang-mai-%e2%80%93-spirit-house-restaurant-bar/

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SECURITY:

In addition to the guard out front, security is tight throughout the building because you need a electronic floor specific keycard to access the elevator and stairwell, and of course the guest rooms.

Every room has a safe.

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PRICE:

There are several types of rooms, ranging from studios to one bedroom; with daily, weekly, and monthly rates.

>>> Reference – Viangbua Mansion ‘Room Descriptions’ and Rates:

http://www.viangbuamansion-chiangmai.com/room_rate.htm

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SUMMARY:

First of all, Chiang Mai has an incredibly wide range of accommodations, ranging from the top end Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental, to very good Guest Houses, to unbelievably skanky Guest Houses.

However, baht for baht, dollar for dollar, I believe the Viangbua Mansion is a TERRIFIC VALUE, whether for a single night, or an extended stay.