Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai - MGallery

Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai - MGallery, a Michelin Key Selected property, is widely regarded as a tranquil and luxurious retreat nestled amidst the verdant mountains and rice terraces of Chiang Mai. It offers a serene escape from the city's hustle and bustle, blending contemporary design with traditional Northern Thai aesthetics.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai - MGallery is overwhelmingly positive. It consistently receives high ratings, with an overall score of 8.6 on Agoda and strong scores on Booking.com, including 9.5 for staff and 9.1 for comfort. Michelin Guide guests have rated it 18.2 out of 20. Guests frequently describe the resort as a "gem," a "peaceful oasis," and a "beautiful resort" offering a truly tranquil experience.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the resort:

• Service: The staff receives exceptional praise for being "helpful," "excellent," "friendly, considerate, attentive," and "welcoming." Many highlight the personalized service as a hallmark of the Veranda High Resort experience.
• Location: Its secluded setting in the lush mountains, surrounded by rice and tea terraces, provides breathtaking panoramic views and a quiet, peaceful environment away from city noise.
• Design: The resort's design, which harmonizes local materials with contemporary style, is often commended. Guests appreciate the "stylish design" and the picturesque quality of every spot on the property. The architecture, combining planting, landscaping, and modern concrete, is considered quite beautiful.
• Amenities: The stunning infinity pool with magnificent mountain views is a signature feature and a major draw for guests. Other notable amenities include a full-service spa, a fitness center, two restaurants, various bars, 24-hour room service, and convenient airport transfer and shuttle services.

3. Room Quality

The rooms and villas at Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai are generally described as spacious, comfortable, and clean, providing a lavish retreat. Many offer private pools or jacuzzis, along with balconies boasting mountain, valley, or garden views. Accommodations often feature open-plan bathrooms with separate rain showers and bathtubs. Modern amenities such as air conditioning, bathrobes, in-house movies, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and iPod docks are standard.

However, some guests have noted that certain rooms are showing their age, with minor issues like dimly lit bath areas, impractical sink designs, weak hair dryers, low water pressure, and older charging sockets. One guest also reported issues with hot water and the presence of wasps and mosquitoes in their room.

4. Dining Experience

The resort offers a delightful culinary journey through its two main restaurants. "The Higher Room" provides international and local cuisine, serving an excellent buffet and continental breakfast, as well as lunch and evening bar service, all within an elegant ambiance with panoramic mountain views. Guests particularly enjoy the live stations at breakfast offering local delicacies like Khao Soi and eggs-to-order, alongside a selection of hot Thai and Western dishes, fruits, cereals, and cold cuts. "The Rabiang Cha Restaurant," situated in traditional teak houses within the gardens, focuses on Lanna Northern Thai dishes, offering a more intimate dining experience. A poolside bar is also available for cocktails and light snacks.

A recurring criticism regarding dining is that the breakfast and lunch restaurant's proximity to the main pool can lead to noise from the kitchen, clanking cutlery, loud conversations, and food smells, which can detract from the peaceful pool atmosphere.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai is consistently highlighted as a major strength. Staff members are frequently praised for being "superb," "friendly," "attentive," and "welcoming," scoring a high 9.5 for staff performance on Booking.com. Guests appreciate the attention to detail and personalized care, noting that staff go out of their way to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay. The availability of airport transfers and daily shuttle services, along with buggy services for navigating the resort, further contributes to a seamless guest experience.

6. Location & Accessibility

The resort is situated west of Chiang Mai, near Banpong, about 30 minutes from Chiang Mai International Airport. This location is celebrated for its tranquility, offering a serene escape with stunning views of mountains, rice paddies, and forests.

While peaceful, the secluded location means it is "quite far from the city" (approximately 35 minutes from the city center), which can be inconvenient for guests without their own transportation. Although a shuttle service to town is provided, some guests find it "insufficient" due to limited trips that may not align with typical desired travel times. Finding ride-share drivers can also be challenging, with some drivers reportedly demanding extra cash tips due to the distance. Renting a car is often recommended to explore local attractions like Bhubing Palace, Doi Pui Mong Hill Tribe Village, and Doi Suthep mountain more freely.

7. Value & Pricing

Veranda High Resort Chiang Mai is generally considered to offer good value for money, especially given the size and luxurious nature of its rooms and the overall resort experience. Room rates typically start around £100 per night. Guests who are members of the ALL Accor loyalty program can also redeem points for their stays. Breakfast, if not included in the room rate, is priced at 683 THB for adults.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:

• Maintenance: A few reviews suggest that the resort "had seen better days" and that maintenance could be improved, citing examples like empty water features, rusting structures, and rooms that could benefit from updating.
• Room-Specific Issues: Beyond general wear and tear, some guests have reported issues with dark bathroom lighting, impractical sink designs, weak hair dryers, low water pressure, and outdated electrical outlets. Instances of hot water problems and insect presence (wasps, mosquitoes) have also been mentioned.
• Pool Area Ambiance: The shared location of the infinity pool with the main breakfast and lunch restaurant can disrupt the desired tranquility of the pool area due to noise from the kitchen, clattering cutlery, conversations, and food odors.
• Accessibility and Shuttle Service: The resort's distance from the city center and the perceived inadequacy of the shuttle service (infrequent trips, inconvenient timings) have been points of frustration for guests relying on hotel transport or ride-shares.
• Limited On-Site Activities: Some visitors felt there was "barely anything to do at the resort itself," leading to boredom and a feeling that it didn't fully deliver a comprehensive "resort experience" beyond relaxation.
• Discrepancy in Photos: A few guests have commented that the actual appearance of the resort, while beautiful, might not live up to the enhanced imagery seen in some promotional photos.

Sources

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