The Legend Chiang Rai

The Legend Chiang Rai is an upscale boutique resort popular with leisure travelers. Its lobby is housed in a low-rise building with a triangular tiled roof -- like so many hotels in this part of the country, the space is built to resemble a temple pagoda. It's set back in a red-brick courtyard and there's a collection of old bicycle rickshaws out in front, along with a tall shrine-like structure guarding the entrance. The open-air lobby is filled with teak wood and rattan furniture, and the sofas and chairs are adorned with wildly colorful hand-embroidered cushions from the ethnic hill tribes that live in Thailand's north. These are in contrast to the rather soft tones created by the dark-auburn tiled floor, wooden furniture, and golden bell lampshades that hang from the arched ceiling. The setting feels intimate, both in the lobby and on the landscaped grounds and lush gardens fronting the sleepy Kok River. With this romantic vibe, it won't be any surprise that couples make up the bulk of guests here, though a few families pass through as well.

The Legend Chiang Rai sits right along the languid Kok River, in a lovely, quiet location outside of Chiang Rai. Just off an traffic-less street and up a short gravel entrance, the resort feels far more remote than it really is. The city center is less than a 10-minute drive from here, and the airport is only about 15 minutes away by car. There really aren't any great restaurants and shops within walking distance of the hotel beyond a couple of mom and pop places down the road. However, the resort runs a shuttle bus to the night market and also has bicycles available. Other local sights include Wat Rong Khun, the famous White Temple, which is a 15-minute drive outside of town, and Doi Mae Salong, a stunning natural area and mountain that's a 90-minute drive from town.

There are 78 rooms at The Legend Chiang Rai, the majority of which are Superior and Deluxe Rooms, differentiated only by their location on the property: Deluxe Rooms are right in the middle of the lush grounds, while Superior Rooms are at the back of the property. All units are spacious and have northern Lanna Thai decor with rattan and wood furniture plus romantic bed canopies and plenty of hand-carved wood details. The look is rustic, with details that can include woven jute headboards, bamboo lampshades, and splashes of color in the soft furnishings. All rooms include flat-screen TVs with DVD players, safes, kettles, minibars, and even heaters, a rarity at most hotels in Chiang Rai but useful at night in the wintertime. Bathrooms include handmade vessel sinks and stucco details, plus bright blue tilework in most rooms, and massive walk-in showers with stacked-stone walls. Unfortunately, some of the bathroom handiwork and furniture in the rooms is a bit worn. Higher-category rooms come with speaker systems, elegant stone bathtubs, and even double vanity sinks. The one- and two-bedroom Pool Villas are huge, with private plunge pools and lounge chairs, and even have diaper-changing rooms. All units have furnished balconies or terraces, many with hanging swings for two. 

The Legend Chiang Rai has plenty of amenities. There is a small infinity pool in the garden with views out on the river and an adjacent hot tub and tiny pool bar. There are also lounge chairs set up right out along the river banks. The resort features a small spa as well, both with outdoor salas and indoor treatment rooms, plus a small beauty salon. The fitness center is a welcome addition, with a small assortment of modern machinery -- it's a feature not often seen in the smaller hotels in the region. A breakfast buffet is served every morning at the open-air Sala Rim Nam, followed by a la carte Thai and international cuisine at lunch and dinner. There is seating both under the roof as well as right out on the deck, which looks onto the garden and river. Next door is Wine Casa, an upmarket Italian restaurant -- one of Chiang Rai's best-liked -- with a range of wood-fired oven pizzas, fresh pasta, and antipasti. The restaurant also has an attractive bar with black-and-white photos on the wall above bright orange couches. Other facilities include a furnished garden area that becomes a riverside restaurant during the November to February high season, a reading room with a couple of computers for guests to surf internet, and even a small souvenir shop out front. There are also free bicycles for guests to use as well as a shuttle each evening out to the night market. Vintage cycle rickshaws are also available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.