We booked the hotel on the internet

April 29, 2009

We booked the hotel on the internet, after hunting for somewhere that seemed as though it would be near the city but not in it. (We wanted to visit the night market, not live in it!). Booking was easy and we were offered a free shuttle service from the airport to the hotel. When we arrived at the airport the driver was there. He provided us with bottles of water, for which we were very grateful, and took us to the hotel. The open-air lobby was impressive, checking in was simple and efficient, and our rooms were very nice. The rooms had wifi, at a more-than-merely-acceptable speed, that cost 500 baht (approximately 10 euros) for 7 days continuous use. Breakfast was an interesting mixture of Thai and European dishes, and the evening dinner menu satisfied the adults, the teenage girl and the eight year old. It was not expensive either. The Horizon is set in wonderful grounds, and the swimming pool was clean and well serviced. The hotel is actually inside a botanical garden large enough to spend several afternoons exploring. It is close enough to the lobby to walk, although the hotel provides golf carts and drivers if you want an effortless tour. The Horizon is about fifteen or twenty minutes from Chiang Mai city, but there is a free nightly shuttle service to the Night Market area. It left at 18:30 and returned at 22:00. We went four or five times in a week, and it was a satisfying way to explore the city in the evening. 3,5 hours was long enough to wander through the centre, but not long enough to make the children tired and grumpy. On a couple of occasions we took a taxi into the centre in the morning to see the temple area. The taxi cost 400 baht (approximately 8 euros). Coming back was much cheaper, about half the price, because we were able to bargain in the centre. The staff were all very, very friendly and very, very helpful. Communication was never a problem at any point. I would not recommend The Horizon for people who want to live right in the heart of Chiang Mai, or people who want to drink and dance the night away. The hotel has no night-club or disco, there is no cinema or dvd library, and the television has only a few channels. For relaxation and quiet enjoyment, with the prospect of as much noise as you could possibly want twenty minutes away, it is unbeatable. Everyone we spoke to while we were there was as happy with the hotel as we were. We will certainly be going back. (www.tripadvisor.com)
(Finland)
Irma Owen