The pictures of Rai Saeng Arun and its surroundings are beautiful but they do not fully capture the special vibes experienced in this place. We were amazed by the abundance of frangipanis, bamboo trees, rice paddies, various crops and gardens, and the special view of the Mekong overlooking Laos . Extremely calm and quiet. Be ready to climb 200+ stairs every day if you're staying in one of the bungalows on the hill, but there are rooms on the river level - be sure to book the right room for your stay at the reservation stage. When showering, look up and witness trees and plants eclipsing your view of the sky. At night you will shower while looking up to the stars, and since it's a remote area, you will get a crisp view of the milky way. The food is predominantly Thai and delicious - fresh produce is grown around the area, so expect some of the freshest organic food from regions where top notch restaurants in Bangkok likely source from. While you can get much cheaper food in local areas of town, a meal for two here goes for around 600-700 Baht, quite inexpensive for the quality. The people are incredibly nice, as usual with Thai hospitality, but we were lucky to be invited by the manager's nephew on a mini road trip with his family to check out neighboring temples and the golden triangle. The couple didn't charge us a dime and even paid for our temple tickets and dinner. Not that all guests will be this lucky to be awarded this opportunity, but goes to show how genuine and kind the people here are. Advices: If staying on the hill (200+ stairs), pack light. While the hotel offers instant noodles, beverages and water in the rooms, feel free to bring evening snacks of your own as the hotel's restaurant closes at 5pm and the nearest supermarket/convenience store is definitely not walking distance. Reminder that this is a remote place. Most people come with their own cars or arrange drivers for the whole stay. Be sure to plan your day-trips and transportation ahead of the stay. Bring a good book, a good playlist, and unwind. 100% recommend.
We were extremely disappointed with this hotel. The room was in poor condition with broken doors poorly patched up doors into the bathroom, safe not working and a bed that was as hard as lying on concrete. The view was great from the balcony across the Mekong but that was the only good thing about this hotel room. There were a few other guests staying there at the same time as us but they left early because the noise from functions in their function room downstairs was extreme, and went on night after night until the early hours, Then the participants were allowed to go into other areas of the lower floor to continue the drunken behaviors without any intervention from staff. The other privately booked patrons all left early because nothing was done to control these people. We were the only ones left. Breakfast was determined by the choices made by the function groups, and is not the buffet breakfast the claim to provide and is not the breakfast we paid for as they describe. If you really feel the need to stay at this place you would be better going for a short walk along the river and having breakfast elsewhere because the breakfasts offered were poor and most of it was cold. The hotel also is reported to have a restaurant. True it does but they will only offered us a choice of 3 dishes that is the same as the function is offering to their participants. We had our order taken from these 3 dish menu only to then sit there for nearly an hour waiting for the food. The order was taken by the restaurant manager, but he chose to go to another table and sit with the hotel manager and drink beer and eat a huge bowl of chips. We are not sure if the order was even given to the kitchen staff, and when we asked what was going on there was no explanation, we were just asked to wait another 15 minutes. When we complained again it was magically there in about 5 minutes. We found other places to eat after that. The pool and the free use of hotel bicycles were pluses. The pool was well shaded from the sun, was clean and refreshing. There are bike tracks right outside the hotel along the river which are flat and easy to ride. Very few of the staff had any English, which is fine considering its Thailand, but even when you translated to Thai for them they were not helpful (particularly the management). They were solely focused on the groups in the functions and we felt very much like inconveniences in their way. I normally don't give reviews for a bad hotel but this place was exceptionally uncomfortable and poorly managed. In short we would never stay at this hotel again and suggest anyone that is considering this hotel look at one of the many other hotels that are nearby, and be assured any on the riverfront the same views of the river, with often better rates for their rooms and restaurants where they value your patronage.
Athita The Hidden Court Chiang Saen is an ideal destination for a family vacation. We stayed with our two children, and they absolutely loved the experience. The hotel’s peaceful environment allowed us to relax and enjoy quality time together. The rooms were spacious and well-equipped, making it comfortable for the whole family. We were impressed by the variety of activities offered, from cycling through the charming town of Chiang Saen to exploring ancient temples. The hotel staff were incredibly kind and attentive, always going out of their way to ensure our kids were entertained and happy. The traditional Lanna cuisine was a delightful culinary adventure for all of us. We had a fantastic time and will definitely come back!
Have stayed her a few tines over he years and it has always been a an excellent experience. A family run hotel overlooking the Mekong river which has been recently extended and modernised without losing its charm or friendliness. Lucky and staff are very welcoming and attentive. The rooms are comfortable, very clean with all you need for a short stay. Good bathroom and shower with fridge and tea/coffee in the room and also available in the breakfast room. Breakfast was good with 3 set options, Thai style, Northern Thai and European. Location is good to walk along the river and about 15 mins to the market and central area. Would highly recommend this hotel for an inexpensive but comfortable stay.