Sela Chiangmai
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Hotel Details
Location
Chiang Mai
Thailand, Asia
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Expert Review: Sela Chiangmai
Sela Chiangmai, a Michelin Key Selected property in Chiang Mai, Thailand, offers a unique blend of elegant country living and refined hospitality in a tranquil, natural setting. While highly praised for its stunning design and serene atmosphere, some aspects like dining consistency and location accessibility have drawn mixed feedback.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
Sela Chiangmai generally receives exceptional reviews, boasting high ratings on major booking platforms. It holds a 9.5/10 on Trip.com and a 9.4/10 on Booking.com, often described as "amazing" or "wonderful." Guests consistently highlight the property's pristine condition, beautiful landscaping, and exceptional service as key strengths, positioning it as a quiet, luxurious retreat from the city. However, a minority of reviews point to drawbacks, primarily concerning its remote location and inconsistencies in dining.
2. Key Highlights
Guests are particularly captivated by Sela Chiangmai's distinctive design and tranquil ambiance. The hotel is a 14-room, three-story colonial-style mansion, thoughtfully decorated with exquisite interiors that seamlessly blend French and Chinese styles, adorned with fine Eastern lacquerware, porcelain, and antiques from across Asia. Its setting amidst lush, sustainability-oriented gardens and scenic forests on the border of Ob Khan National Park provides a serene escape, offering a sense of "undisturbed relaxation" and "slow living." The heated outdoor swimming pool and a well-stocked library are also cherished amenities. Many guests consider it a "hidden gem" or an "under-the-radar boutique outfit" for its exclusive and artfully minded atmosphere. The use of high-quality room products and amenities, such as Byredo toiletries, further enhances the luxurious experience.
3. Room Quality
Sela Chiangmai offers 14 individually decorated rooms and suites, each featuring high ceilings and Indochina-inspired interior design. Room categories include Standard (27 sqm), Deluxe (37 sqm), Suites (52 sqm), and Presidential Suites (72 sqm). All rooms come equipped with luxury bed linen, duck down pillows, air-conditioning, a minibar, writing desk, smart TV, in-room safe, and complimentary bathroom amenities. Standard rooms feature a walk-in rain shower and a separate toilet, while Deluxe, Suites, and Presidential Suites boast a luxury air-jet bathtub and shower. Rooms generally offer views of the gardens and mountains, contributing to the tranquil experience. However, some guests have noted that the basic room types can feel somewhat minimal in their interior, and there have been isolated complaints regarding average hygiene (e.g., "yellow stuff on the back of the pillow"), shower leaks, and poor sound insulation in older sections of the property.
4. Dining Experience
The hotel's "Windows Café and Restaurant" serves both Northern Thai traditional cuisine and Western classics, with dishes inspired by the head chef's personal memories. Breakfast is an unlimited à la carte affair, with options including fruit, Greek yogurt with granola, homemade jams, local specialties, and various hot dishes (buffet, full English/Irish, vegetarian, and Asian choices). Many guests praise the breakfast as "delicious" and "excellent." Despite positive feedback, there are notable criticisms regarding dining. Some guests experienced communication issues with breakfast staff, such as ignored requests for non-dairy milk, and found the pastries to be "limp," juice to have a "rancid smell," and chicken porridge to be "salty." The Western restaurant food has also been described as "terrible" and "worse than airplane food."
5. Service & Staff
The service at Sela Chiangmai is frequently lauded as exceptional, attentive, preemptive, warm, and professional. Guests appreciate the staff's dedication, with instances of managers going "above and beyond" to ensure a welcoming and special stay. Housekeeping and turndown services are often described as seamless and unobtrusive. The team is also helpful in organizing local activities such as horseback riding, elephant sanctuary visits, and temple tours. However, isolated negative feedback includes "superficially polite" and "embarrassing" service interactions, particularly during checkout, where some staff members reportedly made guests feel interrogated about their next destination. Communication issues with breakfast staff regarding specific dietary requests were also mentioned.
6. Location & Accessibility
Sela Chiangmai is situated in Nam Phrae, within the Hang Dong district of Chiang Mai, offering a tranquil countryside setting. It is approximately a 25-minute drive (14 km or 8.7 miles) from Chiang Mai International Airport and about a half-hour drive (19 km or 11.8 miles) from the bustling city center. The hotel's rural location provides direct access to nature, bordering Ob Khan National Park (a 10-minute drive) with opportunities for walking trails and enjoying waterfalls. Nearby attractions also include the Grand Canyon Water Park (2.5 km) and Wat Ton Kwen temple (15 minutes' drive). While the peaceful environment is a major draw, a recurring complaint is its remoteness, with some guests finding it too far from the city, lacking nearby facilities, and experiencing difficulty in arranging taxis. Bicycle rental is available for exploring the local area.
7. Value & Pricing
As a Michelin Key Selected property, Sela Chiangmai is positioned as a luxury boutique hotel. The average room price is around $246 USD, with starting prices noted at $195 USD per night. Many guests perceive the hotel to offer "exceptional value for money," giving it a high rating of 9.3 for value. Special packages, such as a 3-night luxury escape for THB 60,000 (for two guests, including transfers, activities, and dinner), are offered. While a premium price point, guests generally feel the high quality of service, unique design, and luxurious amenities justify the cost. A paid airport shuttle service is available at THB 700 per SUV car per way for 2-3 people.
8. Common Complaints
Despite its many accolades, Sela Chiangmai has faced some recurring criticisms:
- Remote Location: The most frequent complaint is the hotel's distance from the city center, leading to a lack of readily available dining or entertainment options nearby and challenges in securing taxis.
- Dining Inconsistencies: While often praised, the breakfast experience has received criticism for issues like unfulfilled dietary requests, poor quality pastries, and off-tasting juice. The Western menu at the on-site restaurant has also been described as subpar.
- Room Maintenance/Soundproofing (Standard Rooms): A few guests have reported issues with basic room hygiene (e.g., stained pillows), shower leaks, and poor sound insulation, particularly in the standard room category.
- Service Interactions: Some guests found certain staff interactions, particularly at checkout, to be less hospitable or "embarrassing."
Sources
Points to Consider
- •Despite its many accolades, Sela Chiangmai has faced some recurring criticisms:
