Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Indulge your five senses when you step onto the grounds of the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai.  Just seeing a tropical jungle paradise amidst rice fields, smelling the fragrant flower displays found all around the resort, hearing the various exotic birds calling, touching the cool waters of the terraced pool or tasting the spicy sweet flavors of Thai food, your entire body is sure to awaken and be heightened like never before.  Whether you are traveling as a getaway vacation from the children, or making it a family affair, the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai will make sure your stay is just as you dreamed.

My family and I had the amazing opportunity to be welcomed by the Four Seasons Chiang Mai Resort recently, and we are now longing to return. There’s something about the reputation of Four Seasons, how it equates with not only an excellent business model, but with true hospitality. To me, it’s like bringing the pencil and paper letter writing back into your life versus the quick SMS or email greeting. The Four Seasons takes the time to know you and the travelers in your group, personally, and makes you feel at home. From the welcoming smiles of the staff to the little surprise touches found in your room chosen for your family, you feel like time was taken to plan your stay just for you. Each experience we had at the Four Seasons will be remembered for a lifetime. Here are some of the highlights of our stay.

Five-Star Room Experiences

Upon our arrival to the Four Season Resort, we spotted the gorgeous flower filled water pots and the expansive view from the lobby, which took our breath away.

To top it off, every member of the staff standing in the lobby greeted us by name, even the children. After a lovely glass of juice and a greeting of jasmine leis, we were taken by buggy to our Family Residence.  A family residence is just one of the many options of accommodation at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai. The Pavillion Rooms are what we know as hotel rooms. There are 64 of these rooms scattered across one side of the resort, each coming with its own private outdoor lounge area. Relaxation, home and privacy exudes with these precious details, often overlooked at other resorts.

The next level up in accommodation is the Pool Villa.  With 12 to choose from, the idea of having your own plunge pool somewhere secluded amongst the lush landscape of the property might be just what the doctor ordered. Lastly, the Private Residences, which range from two to four bedrooms, including the two bedroom family residence we stayed in, are the creme de la creme of this resort.

Each residence is privately owned and beautifully maintained. Because these are homes-away-from-home, the attention to detail, decor and the comforts of home are highly attended to in every way. Our Family Residence experience was more than we could have asked for of any holiday stay. Pulling up to an actual residence, we were warmly greeted by our own mae baan, housekeeper, named Noi, whom the children took to immediately.   You have the option of having a housekeeper or not, but she was such a welcomed addition to our family for the short time we were there, that we couldn’t imagine not having her. Besides keeping the home tidy, Noi provided snacks throughout the day, set up our daily breakfast in the dining room, and she even tended to my very ill husband, offering different types of teas to soothe his cough. The home offers a sound system, multiple TVs, board games, plunge bath tubs and a few other hidden gems my kids discovered that you need to discover for yourself. For pricing of each type of accommodation and custom experiences for your stay, please contact the resort directly.

The Sights and Experiences of the Resort

The Four Seasons Resort has thought of everything in order to make your stay as relaxing or as adventurous as you want it to be. Whether you wish to relax by the pool or in the spa, put the kids in the kids club or send them on a water buffalo or rice planting experience on site, or rent some bikes or get your workout in, the options seem endless. There’s even a cooking school, and if you hit the timing right, you can partake in your own sort of Master Chef experience!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that although the kids club was simple, it offered a selection of wooden toys and puzzles, hands on arts and crafts as well as expeditions around the resort to teach eco friendly concepts, such as gardening. The children will also love the nightly parade of the rice farmers and landscapers parade through the rice fields, ending the day’s work, as well as the morning rise and shine activity of bathing a water buffalo and walking with it to the lobby for a photo opportunity.

There’s a lot of culture and history built into the concept of the Four Season Resort in Chiang Mai. The staff, no matter where they are located on site, are friendly, knowledgeable and want to share their love of their hotel and country with you. Just take a stroll around the grounds and soak in the amazing variety of flora, notice all the statues hidden in the grasses and under stairways and take time to smell the flower arrangements which are created fresh, every morning.

 

Excite Your Tastebuds

One thing my family and I love about every vacation we take is trying the local cuisine.

Fortunately, most places we visit do not have chain restaurants nearby, forcing my kids to really indulge and appreciate the country’s food. This experience keep the tradition going, as we ate on site during our stay. While we enjoyed some mornings in our residence with in-residence dining, we did venture out to the restaurants of the resort during our stay. Sunday provides an scrumptious brunch, offering a wide-array of foods in a buffet style, as well as a menu of made to order options. With live music and open air seating, escape for your Sunday afternoon and then take a dip in the pool right after.

Sala Mae Rim Restaurant was delightful and suited the kids tastebuds well. Specializing in traditional Thai food, Sala Mae Rim satisfied every flavor I was craving. My daughter ordered the traditional Northern Thailand Khao Soi dish, a curry based soup with both soft and crunchy noodles, and accompanied by chicken or beef. My son indulged in his favorite, Pad Thai, and I savored every bite of the green curry.

Two of the kids’ favorite items they insist future visitors try are the Thai Iced Tea and the Patengo, which is a Thai donut served with condensed milk, sugar and soy milk. Once again, the staff was completely involved with the children, making suggestions for them to try and making sure they were not going away hungry. For two lovely days we had the same wonderful server, Lucy, who once again, my children adored. We always seem to leave our Four Seasons experiences bonding with the staff, as they go the extra mile to really make the children feel welcomed.

 

 

A Few More Photos I Couldn’t Resist Sharing

I hope you’ll get the chance to come experience the Four Seasons Chiang Mai Resort sometime in your lifetime. We arrived in awe and left with a piece of it in our hearts because of the experience we had.