Chat House

Closer to the city centre than most of the area’s more peace-and-quiet-oriented hotels – Chiang Rai proper is just a five-minute walk away – Chat House is a small but long-standing and family-run hotel. Simple and traditional but comfortable, both fan-cooled and air-conditioned rooms here are especially budget-friendly, and come with a mix of private and shared bathroom facilities (all have hot water). There are even dirt-cheap dorm beds if you’re really looking to make your money go further. There’s an on-site restaurant, and Thai massage and cooking classes are available.