Thailand › Chiang Mai › Family Hotels
Updated: January 17, 2024
By Santorini Dave
Our Favorite Hotels in Chiang Mai
• 5-star: Four Seasons
• 4-star: Maladee Rendezvous
• 3-star: JARITT NyMMANH
• New Hotel: Maladee Rendezvous
• Boutique: Inside House
• Cheap: BED
• For Families: Shangri-La
• Couples: Ping Nakara
• Pool: Na Nirand
• Near Airport: Smile Lanna
The 8 Best Hotels for Families in Chiang Mai
1. Shangri-La
Family-friendly 5-star resort and spa. On the outskirts of the Old City, it’s an easy stroll to the Ping River and the renowned Night Bazaar, home to many eateries. However, the resort has two restaurants and two bars to choose from. Rooms transform to accommodate children with bed guards, cartoon bedding, playpens, child-sized bathrobes and slippers, a kid’s stool, and toilet seats. There are daily supervised kids’ activities for all ages, a kids club, a pool with a waterslide, a playground, and a tennis court on the fourth floor. The spa offers special kids treatments like a chocolate foot massage. The hotel also offers child care and has an on-call doctor.
2. Phra Singh Village
This beautiful hotel is all about the location inside the old city’s walls. It has two family room options: the Grand Family Superior Room with two king beds or the Grand Family Suite with Balcony with two full beds. All are designed with golden teak wood. There isn’t a kids club but there is a mineral swimming pool and fitness center. It’s also within walking distance to temples and restaurants, or you can rent their free bikes to explore the city.
3. Villa San Pee-Seua
The family-owned boutique resort offers space and quiet 5 km north of the city center and next to the Ping River. It has Family suites and family apartments (two floors, three bedrooms, four bathrooms). There’s so much to do here. The outdoor swimming pool sits next to the river. There’s a library and in-house games like chess, bingo, and dominos. Let go of bad energy with a moonlit lantern release over the river. The hotel offers a shuttle bus service and boat rides to the city. They offer kayaks, fishing, and bike rentals—also, laundry service and Thai Massage.
4. Chala Number 6
A modern hotel inside the old city walls across from Wat Chedi Luang temple. For families, there are two-bedroom suites and suites with sofa beds. There’s a swimming pool, gym, and an on-call doctor. Family fun includes cooking classes or dressing up in rented Thai costumes for photos. One of the restaurants is a recreated traditional Lanna rice barn that also hosts afternoon tea and has a bar with fresh cocktails. WAYA Spa offers massages and has a kid’s pool. It’s within walking distance to the City Art & Cultural Center or venture out on bikes inside the city walls with rentals from the hotel.
5. Kantary Hills
This contemporary hotel in Nimman is close to shopping and restaurants and 2km from the northwest corner of the Old City. It’s more quiet in Nimman than in the other areas. The hotel offers modern studios and suites. The large pool has lounge chairs and a whirlpool. There is also a fitness center, sauna, and steam room.
6. Meliá
A luxury resort within walking distance of the night markets. The family room with additional sofa beds features a kids’ play area with toys. There’s an excellent kids club, an outdoor swimming pool, and a kids pool. On the 22nd floor is Mai The Sky Bar, with panoramic views of the city and Ping River. There’s also YHI Spa and a gym.
7. Empress
This large, high-rise hotel offers family suites with two bedrooms and a living room. There’s an outdoor pool, fitness center, and sauna. It’s a 10-minute walk to the night markets, but the hotel also offers bicycle rentals.
8. Anantara
Riverside, historical, chic design and functional for families. The wing of suites across the road resembles a parking garage, but the hotel’s setting is superb. It’s built around the whitewashed century-old former British Consulate, which now houses a fashionable restaurant. Well-designed but unremarkable, the suites are similar inside, with a fully-equipped kitchen, dining room, laundry, and 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms – but not all have an attached bathroom or outside window. The infinity pool on the rooftop offers beautiful views of the city, mountains, and river. But the hotel rooms are more appealing: ultra-modern, with an open-plan bathroom, plenty of storage space, and a massive balcony for views of the garden or river. And the pool is long and inviting. The location is also ideal: quietly removed from the Old City bustle (but only a short taxi trip away), along a quiet dead-end street parallel to the river, and within walking distance of the food stalls and cafés at the Night Bazaar.
These hotels have large suites or family rooms
- Four Seasons
Two, three, and four-bedroom villas accommodate up to 12 people: kitchenette, dining room, living room, and some with private pools.- Panviman
Family Two-Bedroom Suite with a hot tub and garden views from the terrace.- Rimping Village
Large family rooms. Very nice property.- Yaang Come Village
The Family Room offers two rooms, each with a bed.Read More
Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in 
Just found your website and I am enjoying exploring it. We are headed to SEA in April/May. This is a loose itinerary. Travelling with 2 kids ages 11 and 13. I am wondering if it seems rushed or doable.
Thailand:
1. Bangkok – 3 nights
2. Koh Samui – 4 nights
3. Chiang Mai – 3 nights
4. Chiang Rai – 2 nights
Laos:
1. Huay Xai – 1 night
2. Gibbon Experience – 1 or 2 nights
3. Luang Prabang – 5 nights
4. Vang Vieng – 2 nights
5. Vientiane – 1 night
Vietnam:
1. Hanoi – 2 nights
2. Halong Bay – 2 nights
3. Hoi An – 3 nights
4. HCMC – 3nights
Cambodia:
1. Siem Riep – 4 nights
2. Phnom Penh – 2 nights
Many thanks,
Tricia
I think it’s doable, certainly a lot of fun. If I were to change anything (with the goal of slowing down a little) I would take 2 (or all 3) nights from HCMC and spend them in Hoi An. Hoi An is a great town and 5 or 6 nights would give you a bit of a breather where you could stay in the same hotel, unpack your stuff, and relax a bit. But otherwise, looks great.
Hi David,
We have 6 nights to explore northern Thailand. Is there anywhere else besides Chiang Mai that you would recommend with kids?
Thanks
Faye
Chiang Rai has some good family-friendly things to do. Ayutthaya makes a good stopover on the way north (and then catch the overnight train to Chiang Mai).
Hi David. Nice posts. We will travel to Bangkok in April for 10 days. I am also thinking to get away to Chiang Mai in the middle of the trip with 2 kids (10 and 6). Are 4 days enough? Fact that we may only have 2.5 days to tour around. What are top priorities? Is it worth travelling there if we can only squeeze 4 days (including air time)? Or just stay in BKK in the entire trip?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Maria
Yes, it’s definitely worth it. The flight from Bangkok is short and the airport is pretty close to central Chiang Mai. Visit some waterfalls (and swim), elephant camps, and the night market. Chiang Mai is good for cooking courses and market tours (kids love both).
Hi David, we are travelling to Karon beach for Christmas and New Year’s. I want to break the trip up with a few days somewhere else. We are two families with kids aged 9 and 5. Where would you recommend Bangkok or Chiang Mai? What are the pros and cons for each or do you have any other recommendations? Thank you, Emma.
Both are great places but very different. Bangkok is a huge city with lots to see, malls and western shops, and frenetic energy. Chiang Mai is much smaller, feels more like a cultural destination with lots of temples to see, much more relaxed but also fewer kid-friendly destinations (though there are the elephant camps which most kids love). Also, I’m sure you’re already flying through Bangkok so no added travel is necessary, whereas Chiang Mai is another flight. The Bangkok to Chiang Mai overnight train is a lot of fun.